Pilgrimage Coursework
Rome and the Vatican City
Introduction
This essay will focus on pilgrimage, those of Christian pilgrimage in particular. A pilgrimage is a journey that many Christians, and people of other faiths, make in their lives to a place of religious significance.
A place of pilgrimage may be regarded as significant because Jesus lived, died or was resurrected there (the Holy Land), a Saint lived or died there (Assisi), Mary was sighted in that place (Lourdes), or it is the location where a miracle happened or a relic is kept. Christians might go on pilgrimage to strengthen their relationship with God, request spiritual or physical healing, or go there in the hope of receiving absolution from God for their sins. They might also go on a pilgrimage to learn more about their religion or in hope that a miracle might happen there.
This essay will look at Rome and the Vatican City and how they became of religious significance.
A(i)
St Paul was an Apostle who wrote to Roman Christians between AD 56 and 57 expressing a desire to visit them. St Paul did not arrive in Rome until AD 61, as a prisoner. He arrived at a port near Naples, from which the routes from the East to Rome terminated, where he was welcomed by a small group of Christians. The fact that there were Christians in this area proved that the religion was spreading fast across the Roman Empire.
When St Peter became an Apostle his name was changed from Simon and Jesus said to him, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." St Peter also arrived in Rome between AD 56 and 61. He was made the leader of the Apostles by Jesus Christ and was made the first Bishop of...