May the light of this Basilica warm our hearts and create in us a spirit of welcome. May we never tire of sharing Christ’s love.
In 1823 a fire destroyed the Basilica. The representatives of various religious communities from all over the world offered gifts to support the rebuilding of the Basilica, including gifts from the king of Egypt and Tsar Nicholas I. The contribution of so many communities from every corner of the earth represents a splendid response to the witness of Saint Paul’s life.