The Baldachin is a large Baroque bronze canopy designed... by Bernini between 1623 - 1634, rising above the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica Its towering columns draw the eye upward beneath the vast dome, while the altar itself stands directly over the tomb of Saint Petershow more

8. St. Peter’s Basilica - Vatican City Designed by... Michelangelo, Bernini, and others, this basilica is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture with its grand dome and ornate interior.show more

In just a moment, the final hour of farewell... to #PopeFrancis will begin. The queues are incredibly long. This is what the situation looks like right now in St. Peter’s Basilica, as seen from the other side of Bernini’s Baldachin, near the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter.show more

Pope Leo XIV prays in silence at the tomb... of the Apostle Peter beneath the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, accompanied by Eastern Patriarchs, moments before his Inauguration Mass begins. This solemn moment marks the beginning of his Petrine Ministry as Bishop of Rome, connecting him directly to the first Pope. #popeleoxiv #inaugurationMass #vatican #catholicchurchshow more

The “Floating Madonna” is the centerpiece of the high... altar of the church of Rohr Abbey, in Bavaria, Germany, created by late Baroque sculptor Egid Quirin Asam.show more

Happy Birthday, Rome! 🏛️✨ Today, Rome turns 2,779 years... old since its founding Our wishes sealed with the “Holy Kiss” of Saint Catherine of Siena upon the dome of St. Peter’s Basilicashow more

Many Catholics think that St Peter was the first... Catholic Church that was built, but it wasn’t. St. John Luteran is the very first Catholic church that was built. It has the skulls of St. Peter and St. Paul above the altar and also a piece of wood from the actual table where Jesus had his last supper with his disciples. The Catholic Church knows how to keep history.show more

Today is Michaelmas. The autumn feast of St. Michael... the Archangel: guardian of high places, weigher of souls, heavenly warrior against evil, defender against the dark. Below, the light strikes the high altar at the Magnificat for Michaelmas Vespers.show more

Pope Francis appeared publicly just over 24 hours ago,... when he wished worshippers in the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square a “Happy Easter”. The Pope, 88, waved to cheering crowds from his wheelchair on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.show more

Caravaggio was born on this day in 1571. The... Cerasi Chapel in Rome’s Church of Santa Maria del Popolo is home to two masterpieces by the Baroque master: The Crucifixion of St Peter and The Conversion of St Paul.show more

☦️ The Armenian Monastery of Saint Thaddeus in northwestern... Iran. Rising in northwestern Iran near Urmia (specifically the Maku region), the Saint Thaddeus Monastery is one of the oldest and most magnificent Christian monuments in the area. Due to the dark-colored stones of its walls, it is also known by the locals as the 'Black Church' (Qara Kelisa). According to tradition, it was built over the tomb of Saint Thaddeus, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, who brought Christianity to these lands. Video by Hamed Akbarishow more

The beauty of Catholicism ❤️ The chanting of magnificat... for MichaelMas Vespers at St Michael's Abbey in California. The newly built church of the Abbey was designed in such a way that the sunlight would strike the altar at the end of Vespers on the Feast Day of St Michael. There are currently 35 men studying for the priesthood at St Michael’s Abbey, which was founded in 1961 by seven Hungarian priests who fled communist oppression.show more

Valletta is the capital of Malta and the smallest... capital of the European Union. Built in the 16th century by the Knights of San Juan, this walled fortress city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands out for its baroque architecture, its characteristic colorful balconies and its more than 300 monuments.show more

1. Pietà by Michelangelo (1499) St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican... City. “The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.” - Michelangeloshow more

There is a tree in the Amazon, the Sumaúma... (Ceiba pentandra), that can reach about 70 metres tall, rising above the forest canopy. It has massive buttress roots that spread like wings to stabilise it in shallow soil, sometimes large enough to stand between. 📸 amyris /Amyris Fernandezshow more

The Église Saint-Sulpice 🇫🇷 One of the largest and... most iconic church in France — located in the Odéon district of the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The church was built over a long period — starting in 1646 and completed in 1788. This magnificent church is renowned for its stunning Baroque architecture and is known for its great organ, which is one of the largest and most beautiful in France.show more

The hunting dive of a common kingfisher. From a... perch 1–2 m (3–7 ft) above the water it dives beneath the surface, compensating for the change in refraction between air and water, its open eyes protected by a transparent third eyelid.show more