Faithful kneel as Holy Stair reopens
Catholics knelt on the newly-restored Holy Stair (Scala Santa) at San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome during a special opening.
The sacred staircase which Christ is said to have climbed to be sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate has been restored to its original state after nearly 300 years. The 28 steps are believed to have been brought from Jerusalem to Rome in the fourth century AD. The marble staircase had been encased in wood since 1723, when Pope Innocent XIII decided that it could no longer stand the wear and tear of millions of pilgrims, who by tradition must crawl up it on their hands and knees to earn indulgences. Intricate 16th century frescoes on the walls were also restored.