Though the Catholic Church has been cautious to claim the authenticity of many of its alleged relics, there is now strong evidence to support the bones found in St. Peter's Basilica do in fact belong to the Apostle Peter.

When Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity he built a church on top of a shrine a group of Christians built over Peter's burial site near the Circus of Nero, close to where the apostle was crucified.

Over two millenniums the basilica has grown into one of the most iconic church in all of Christendom.

To signify the end of the Year of Faith [November 24], the Church announced they would, for the first time, display the bones they believe to belong to the leader of the apostles.

According to a press statement released today: "Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, wrote in Monday's editions of L'Osservatore Romano, that the Catholic faithful making a pilgrimage to St. Peter's tomb to mark the end of the Year of Faith will enjoy 'the exposition... of the relics traditionally recognized as those of the apostle who gave his life for the Lord on this spot.'"

Never having officially confirming the bones' relation to Peter, only the box containing the bones has ever been on display.