Vatican City

Description

In the ninth canto of the Paradiso, the verse «But the Vatican and the other chosen parts» introduces the prophecy pronounced by Folco of Marseilles, which announces a divine intervention aimed at reestablishing providential order on earth. By «Vatican» is meant the hill where Saint Peter was buried, on whose tomb was later erected the basilica that takes its name from him. The expression «the other chosen parts» refers to other Roman locations, such as the Tiburtine and Appian Ways, made illustrious because the first Christian martyrs were buried there, considered in the Christian tradition as combatants for the faith. These places, sacred for the tomb of Peter and his first followers, would have been freed from the adultery that was being consummated there, that is, the betrayal of money committed by the vicar of Christ, spouse of the Church.