Q 01/05

St. Peter's Basilica stands inside which independent microstate?

A) Vatican City

B) San Marino

C) Monaco

D) Liechtenstein

Answer · why

A) Vatican City

Unlike Rome's other three major basilicas, it lies entirely outside Italian territory.

Q 02/05

The original fourth-century basilica on the site was built by which Roman emperor?

A) Justinian the Great

B) Diocletian the Reformer

C) Theodosius the Great

D) Constantine the Great

Answer · why

D) Constantine the Great

It was over 103 metres long and, like all early Roman churches, had its entrance at the east end.

Q 03/05

Construction of the present basilica began in 1506. In which year was it completed?

A) 1626

B) 1656

C) 1686

D) 1716

Answer · why

A) 1626

That is 120 years of work spanning the reigns of more than twenty popes.

Q 04/05

By what measure is St. Peter's the largest church in the world?

A) Length of its crypt

B) Interior area

C) Number of chapels

D) Height of its bell tower

Answer · why

B) Interior area

Its interior covers about 15,160 square metres; by exterior footprint it ranks second.

Q 05/05

St. Peter's is not Rome's cathedral. Which church is, as the Pope's seat and mother church?

A) The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

B) St. Paul Outside the Walls

C) Sant'Andrea della Valle on the Corso

D) Santa Maria Maggiore on the Esquiline

Answer · why

A) The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

St. Peter's is only a cathedral in the popular imagination; it is not the seat of any bishop.