Holy Stairs open to faithful
The stairs said to have been climbed by Jesus on the day of his crucifixion have been unveiled in all their original glory just in time for the annual pilgrimage thousands of Christians make to Rome and the Vatican each Easter.
The Scala Santa, also known as the Holy Stairs, are at the Pontifical Sanctuary in Rome. Christians believe Jesus climbed the 28 marble steps, which were part of Pontius Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem, several times on the day he was sentenced to death.
This is the first time in 300 years the walnut wood covering over the steps has been removed. It was placed on the steps at Pope Innocent XIII’s request in 1723 to preserve the marble.
The staircase was uncovered Thursday and will stay that way until June, allowing visitors to climb the steps on their knees, as is tradition.
“The newly restored frescoes help the faithful connect with the holy history,” Father Francesco Guerra told ABC News.
According to the sanctuary website, centuries of noticeable wear and tear on the steps and “thousands of letters, notes, photos and coins were found” underneath the wood covering.
There are also four places where Jesus’ blood is believed to have stained the steps. Three are covered with red porphyry or bronze crosses and the fourth is protected by a metal grate after being “worn to a deep hole because the faithful touched that precise point with their fingers.”
At a ceremony on Thursday, Italian Cardinal Angelo De Donatis blessed the steps and visitors climbed them on their knees, their shoes in plastic covers, ABC News reported.