Archaeologists have discovered ruins from a hidden ancient palace that includes the popes for centuries before the creation of the Vatican.
Discoveries give a rare glimpse of the dangers that the papacy faces in the Middle Ages in Rome.
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Archaeologists stumbled on complex architecture below the square outside the head of St. John Latan's bishops in Rome while renewing the 2025 Jubilee (Catholic Holy Year).
They discovered large walled structures made of volcanic rock bricks, known as TUFF, which dates back to 9th to the thirteenth century AD.
Some of these bricks were reused from the previous buildings, and the restoration signs were clear in some walls.
This structure is believed to be part of the Patriarchate – the ancient palace, which was the seat of the official residence of the fourth century to the early fourteenth century.
This huge basilica was designed by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century after the famous Milan decree (313 AD) in Christianity in the Roman Empire.
The palace complex has been expanded and renewed during the Middle Ages, according to the Italian Ministry of Culture.
It is said that these walled structures were a defensive barrier, the papacy protected from power It is struggling between the families of Rome aristocratic and raids by Saturns.
The Italian ministry said: “The construction of the temple described just occurred during a long period in which Rome was the subject of the Sarasin raids, and inside it there were continuous conflicts, sometimes violent, between aristocratic families.”
“Saturns” was the term used for various Arab groups that launched coastal raids in Italy during the ninth and tenth centuries and later clashed with European armies during the Crusades.
“Hence the hypothesis that this great wall, because of its shape as well, had a defensive wall function around the Bazilica complex and the attached buildings,” the ministry explained.
He said that this discovery is “unusual importance” for the history of Rome, because these most comprehensive archaeological events in the box have occurred.
“The discoveries of Piaza San Giovanni in Lianano are another demonstration of the richness of the lands of Rome, which is an inexhaustible mine of archaeological treasures,” said Gennaro Sangioliano, Italian Minister of Culture.
Sangiuliano added: “Every stone speaks to us and tells his story: Thanks to these important discoveries, archaeologists will be able to learn more about our past.
The Vatican officially became the permanent papal seat in 1377.
This was after Pope Gregory, the eleventh papacy, transferred to Rome from Avenue, France, where she had been around for nearly 70 years.
From this, the defensive structure is no longer necessary and the area has been abandoned.
This discovery coincides with the election of the Cardinal Robert Brevost as a new leader of the Catholic Church – which makes it the first of the American Pope.
The new Pope went out to the balcony of the Church of St. Peter in the Vatican on Thursday to salute the crowds of chanting.
Pievost was born in Chicago in 1955 for migrant fathers of French, Italian and Spanish origin.
After graduating from the University of Villanova in Pennsylvania with a certificate in mathematics, Pontif joined in the future of St. Augustine, and took his promises in 1978.
He was appointed as a priest in 1982, joined a mission in Peru Where he spent many years to lead the school.
Although he is seen as more traditional than Francis, he is not the conservative militants who were hoping for some in the church after his predecessor's efforts to make faith more advanced.
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