This is the relic of St. Celestine V, the humble monk elected pope who then resigned after a few months as pope to return to his old life as a hermit.
This is the skull of the saint.
Note the arrow. It points to a hole on the skull fueling speculation that he died from it. Forensic experts studied the skull and noted that the hole was done post mortem, therefore it was not the cause of death.
Scientists scanned the skull using 3D imaging to create the likeness of the saint. They created a silver mask to cover the skull. They had to change the face mask because it was starting to melt and it was not the features of the saint.
The old mask was of wax, and had the appearance of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, from March 27, 1941 al 22 February 1950 Archbishop of L'Aquila
You can check the 3D computer images of the face of the saint here.
You can check the 3D computer images of the face of the saint here.
Here is the relic of the saint, fully vested in his pontifical. Note the pallium. Yes, that is the inaugural papal pallium of Benedict XVI which he left on the casket of St. Celestine when the pope emeritus visited La Aquila after the deadly 2009 earthquake
The hermitage of St. Celestine can be seen here.
L'Aquila, Italy, Jul 4, 2010 / 11:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Before leading the Angelus prayer from the Italian city of Sulmona he visited on Sunday, the Holy Father proposed Mary as "the perfect model of obedience to the divine will." He hoped also for increased appreciation of the simple life, as St. Celestine lived it, and the subsequent freedom of heart and mind that opens us up to sharing.
During the visit for the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Celestine, the Holy Father led thousands of faithful in the recitation of the Marian prayer after Mass in the town square.
He prayed that the people of God would be able to "walk joyously and united on the path of faith, hope and love" and that, "faithful to the inheritance of St. Celestine, we may always know how to put evangelical radicality and mercy together, so that all who seek God may find him."
St. Celestine was a 13th century hermit that became Pope Celestine V. His remains are now housed in the crypt of Sulmona's Cathedral of San Panfilo, where Benedict XVI will pay a visit Sunday afternoon to host an encounter with area youth.
Turning to Mary, "Virgin of silence and of listening," Benedict XVI said that, in her, St. Celestine "found the perfect model of obedience to the divine will," as he lived a simple and humble life, seeking the "truly essential" and thanking the Lord always as he recognized "in everything the gift of His goodness." [The pope emeritus must be thinking about his resignation here, no?]
Turning to the present, the Pope said "also we, who live in an age of greater comforts and possibilities, are called to appreciate a sober lifestyle, to keep our hearts and minds freer and to be able to share our possessions with our brothers."
He prayed that "Holy Mary, who encouraged the first community of disciples of Jesus with her maternal presence, help also the Church of today to give good witness to the Gospel."
Following the Angelus prayer the Pope met with the bishops of the local Abruzzo region for lunch at a newly restored house for elderly and sick priests inaugurated as the "Benedict XVI" house. After lunch he was scheduled to meet with a delegation from the local prison.
Here is one of the doors of the Cathedral of San Panfilo, where the relics of St. Celestine are now housed. The mosaic recalls the visit of Benedict XVI and the papal declaration of the Year of St. Celestine.
And here is Benedict XVI, back when he was still sitting on the Chair of Peter, praising the humility of St. Celestine.
Get that?
HUMILITY.
Not with simple vestments or smiling always on camera.
Very useful information, especially about the studies of the Saint's skull. And thank you for the link, Pedro!
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