Antonio Ferrua obit

Antonio Ferrua, a Jesuit archaeologist who headed the excavation that uncovered what the Vatican declared to be the tomb and bones of St. Peter, the first pope, has died. He was 102. . .

Ferrua was also considered a leading scholar in epigraphy, the study of ancient Christian inscriptions. He shed light on thousands of inscriptions, and scores of books with his findings were published. . .

After the war, in 1947, he became secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology, a post that allowed him to explore many sites, in particular, ancient cemeteries and catacombs. He kept the job for 24 years.

Between 1973 and 1979 he was the rector of the Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology.

ANOTHER obit at the Telegraph.

AND two weeks later, a very extensive obit in the Times of London.

Posted by David on May 28, 2003 2:50 PM