St. Louis pilgrims have Mass at St. Peter's, tour more holy sites

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Rome -- Pilgrims in Rome for the June 29 pallium ceremony attended Mass June 27 the in the Chapel of the Cathedra at St. Peter's Basilica. Archbishop Robert Carlson was the celebrant. After the Mass, they proceeded on tours in the Christian Catacombs, Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

Photos by Teak Phillips

Faithful from St. Louis toured St. Peter's Basilica, which was being prepared for the June 29 pallium ceremony.

Pilgrims took in the great art of the Basilica before the Mass. For most it was the first visit to the basilica, which was built in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Archbishop Carlson celebrated Mass in the Chapel of the Cathedra at St. Peter's Basilica.

Peggy Forrest was the lector for the Mass. St. Louis priests, seen in the background, were concelebrants.

Archbishop Carlson gave his homily in front of a sculpture by Berdini in the Chapel of the Cathedra.

Archbishop Carlson holds the consecrated Eucharist.

Cardinal Justin Rigali, former Archbishop of St. Louis and now Archbishop of Philadelphia, attended the Mass.

People toured the Christian catacombs of Rome, a burial site dating to the second century.

James Themig of Corrales, N.M, took photographs of one of the catacombs.

Before the Mass, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, a St. Louis native, greeted Archbishop Carlson outside the basilica.