Changes

==History==

==History==

[[Image:Altar St Peter the Vatican.jpg|right|230px|Altar, St. Peter Basilica.]]

[[Image:Altar St Peter the Vatican.jpg|right|200px|Altar, St. Peter Basilica.]]

The Holy See's diplomatic history began in the fourth century, but the boundaries of the papacy's temporal power have shifted over the centuries. From the 8th century through the middle of the 19th century, the Popes held sway over the Papal States, which included a broad band of territory across central Italy. In 1860, after prolonged civil and regional unrest, Victor Emmanuel's army seized the Papal States, leaving only Rome and surrounding coastal regions under papal control.  

The Holy See's diplomatic history began in the fourth century, but the boundaries of the papacy's temporal power have shifted over the centuries. From the 8th century through the middle of the 19th century, the Popes held sway over the Papal States, which included a broad band of territory across central Italy. In 1860, after prolonged civil and regional unrest, Victor Emmanuel's army seized the Papal States, leaving only Rome and surrounding coastal regions under papal control.  

*A revised concordat, altering the terms of church-state relations, was signed in 1984.

*A revised concordat, altering the terms of church-state relations, was signed in 1984.

====The Vatican Cemetery====

====The Vatican Cemetery====

The first popes were buried near the body of St. Peter, in Vatican City. The Cemetery of Priscilla is the oldest general cemetery of Early Christian Rome and in several respects the most important. In this [[catacomb]] were buried Sts. Felix and Philip... In the latter half of the fourth century Pope St. Damasus (366-84) did much to beautify the ancient Roman cemeteries and to decorate the tombs of the most illustrious martyrs... After the middle of the ninth century the historic crypts had been emptied, and the bodies brought to Roman churches. Naturally, the written references to the catacombs ceased with the visitors, and a stray chapter in the "Mirabilia Urbis Romae" or an odd indication in the "Libri Indulgentiarum" kept alive the memory of those holy places which once attracted a world of pilgrims.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03510a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref>

The first popes were buried near the body of St. Peter, in Vatican City. The Cemetery of Priscilla is the oldest general cemetery of Early Christian Rome and in several respects the most important. In this [[catacomb]] were buried Sts. Felix and Philip... In the latter half of the fourth century Pope St. Damasus (366-84) did much to beautify the ancient Roman cemeteries and to decorate the tombs of the most illustrious martyrs... After the middle of the ninth century the historic crypts had been emptied, and the bodies brought to Roman churches. Naturally, the written references to the catacombs ceased with the visitors, and a stray chapter in the "Mirabilia Urbis Romae" or an odd indication in the "Libri Indulgentiarum" kept alive the memory of those holy places which once attracted a world of pilgrims.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03510a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref>