The Pope, The Castle and a Really Convenient Secret Escape Route
Rome has no shortage of dramatic stories, but this one isn't just rumor and whispers in the confessionals. This one has high stakes with real life consequences!
Back in the 846, things were getting a little heated in Rome. The Saracen raiders were threatening to attack and anyone who could, including Pope Leo IV, was getting the heck out of town.
Fortunately for him, Pope Leo had had the foresight to have a "Get Out of Rome Free" tunnel-like system installed in the Vatican just in case of this very thing.
I mean, with Roman soldiers roaming the country sides all over the world conquering everything that moved, there was bound to be some backlash at some point!
This passage, known today as the Passetto di Borgo, was added onto it's original form and connects the Vatican to the ancient fortress, Castel Sant’Angelo. This is awesome for the popes because the ninth century wasn't the only time things got toasty in Rome.
And this wasn't just theoretical. In 1527, during the infamous Sack of Rome, Pope Clement VII used the passage to escape to Castel Sant’Angelo while the city was under attack. And I'm sure he really appreciated that the pope's before him had had a plan!
Clement VII remained trapped inside the fortress for about seven months. Eventually, he negotiated with the forces holding Rome and agreed to pay a huge ransom and make political concessions in exchange for his release.
After that, his papacy became deeply entangled with Henry VIII's attempt to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. But that, dear reader, is tea for another day!
So, there you have it! St. Peter's with a right proper dose of drama!
And the next time you're thinking about visiting the Vatican, remember, you're not just visiting the Vatican. You're visiting the scene of one of histories greatest escapes!
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