by Teagan Kadrmas, Senior, Dickinson Trinity High School

“Don’t look up until you see the keys.”

I distinctly remember our group leader, Mr. McMahon, repeating this to us several times before we entered Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He loved to see the pilgrim’s reactions to their first time seeing Saint Peter’s, and on the floor in the entrance is a large set of keys marking door way. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I hadn’t really seen much of it online or maybe saw a few pictures, but nothing I could have seen in pictures would have prepared me for that breathtaking first look.

One of my friends and fellow pilgrims, Baylee Grinsteinner, was in the front of the group with me. As we crossed the keys, arm in arm, we looked up and both gasped at the immensity of the entire building. The sculptures and gold details bring the eye from the floor all the way up to the ceiling in a spectacular display of baroque architecture.

Being in the presence of all of that art work was a special experience for me because I personally love art, but knowing that is also represented my religion and my history as a Catholic made it even more important to me. On our tour of Saint Peter’s, we saw Michaelangelo’s Pietà, which is Mary holding Jesus after he is taken down from the cross, one Michaelangelo’s first works.

Along with the sculptures, there are many paintings, or what look like paintings. They are all actually mosaics, and made of tiny pieces of glass. The mosaic I remember most vividly is the “Altar of the Lie”. It is based on a painting by Roncalli depicting Ananias and his wife Saphira being struck dead for lying about withholding money. It was there where I realized that all of these beautiful art works had meaning, and every color has a purpose. Such as Saint Peter being clothed in blue and gold like all of the apostles in every mosaic in the basilica.

However, the most meaningful thing to me was the statue of Saint Peter. The statue has been touched by so many pilgrims over the centuries that the toes have been completely worn off. It shows that for thousands of years, people have been making the exact same journey that we did, and all for one man. One man who believed the same things we did, stood up for our religion, and suffered so that we wouldn’t have to hide. Saint Peter’s Basilica is not only a tribute to the brave man that Saint Peter was, but proof that God will always prevail.

Although I know that this trip to Rome was a once in a life time opportunity, I hope and pray that I and my fellow pilgrims can return someday and relive the time we had in the eternal city of Rome.