BUILDING UPDATE

As you can see, something has been added to the front of the building: A shield containing the Pope's Coat of Arms. Churches in Rome all have such shields prominently displayed above the main entrance as a sign of loyalty to the Holy Father. Why not here as well? Pope Benedict XVI's coat of arms is explained thus: At the very top is a mitre with 3 gold stripes symbolizing his task to teach, govern and sanctify. The pallium with 3 red crosses symbolizes the Pope as the shepherd of Christ's flock. The shield is divided into three sections: The top left depicts the Moor of Friesing, an ancient symbol of the bishops of Bavaria, Pope Benedict's home province in Germany; the top right shows St. Corbinian's bear which comes from an old legend that says the bear killed the saint's horse and, to punish the bear, the saint made the bear carry his luggage the rest of the way to Rome; in the center is a shell, an ancient symbol of pilgrimage, symbolizing that we are all pilgrims on a journey to heaven. On the back of the shield, as on every papal coat of arms, are the crossed keys, the "keys of the Kingdom" which Christ entrusted to Peter.