Pope Benedict to proclaim Year of St Paul

The Holy Father is expected to declare a Year of Saint Paul tomorrow, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the Apostle's birth, church media in Rome have reported. The Holy See said that Pope Benedict will make the announcement from the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls during Vespers. The Basilica is the oldest church in Rome and according to tradition was the burial place of St Paul. In December last year, archaeologists working for the Vatican unearthed a sarcophagus in a crypt near the main altar of the basilica, which they said could contain the remains of the saint. The original inscription on the top reads: Paulo Apostolo Mart - Latin for 'Paul Apostle Martyr'. Source: CISA