The Chair Of Saint Peter

As you enter the central nave of the basilica, directly ahead in the main apse, you will see the monumental Chair of Saint Peter, known in Latin as Cathedra Sancti Petri Apostoli .

According to Christian tradition, this chair is believed to be the episcopal throne of Saint Peter, used by him as Bishop of Rome and the first Pope. It is a powerful symbol of Saint Peter’s primacy and of the papal authority passed down through his successors.

The ancient wooden chair itself is richly decorated with ivory panels, carved with scenes of Hercules and other ornamental ivory friezes, dating back to tthe 9th century.

To protect and honor this sacred relic, the great architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed an enormous gilded bronze structure, a project that took ten years to complete. The bronze casting alone weighs an extraordinary 74 tons.

The relic of the original Chair of Saint Peter is enclosed within this monumental structure, flanked by two angels, and surrounded by papal symbols: the crossed keys and the papal tiara.

Behind the chair is a representation of Christ entrusting the leadership of the Church to Saint Peter. On either side are reliefs depicting two key Gospel scenes:

– on the right, the giving of the keys,

– on the left, Christ washing the feet of the Apostles.

The chair appears to float, supported by four massive, curved brackets, carried aloft by the statues of the Four Doctors of the Church, each standing nearly six meters tall. These four saints symbolize the unity between the Western and Eastern Churches.

On the outer sides are Saint Augustine on the right and Saint Ambrose on the left, representing the Western Church, both shown wearing episcopal mitres.

Closer to the center are Saint John Chrysostom on the right and Saint Athanasius on the left, representing the Eastern Church, both depicted bareheaded.

At the base, carved into black Aquitaine marble, is the coat of arms of Pope Alexander VII, who commissioned Bernini to create this masterpiece.

Additional Information about the Chair of Saint Peter

The Chair of Saint Peter is a highly significant relic, shaped as a wooden oak chair that bears visible marks of age and wear. The chair symbolizes the continuity and leadership of the Church, and above all, the spiritual authority of the Pope as the successor of Saint Peter.

According to tradition, the chair was a gift from Emperor Charles the Bald, Holy Roman Emperor, to Pope John VIII, reflecting the close historical relationship between imperial power and the Church.

During the Middle Ages, it was customary for the Chair of Saint Peter to be displayed once a year, allowing the faithful to venerate this powerful symbol of papal authority and the long history of the Catholic Church.

In earlier papal ceremonies, the election of a new Pope also included a ritual moment in which he was seated on this ancient chair, marking the beginning of his role as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.

In 2024, by decision of Pope Francis, the Chair of Saint Peter was publicly displayed for the first time since 1867. This historic exhibition remained open to the public until December 2024.