The Vatican bells
Vox Dei ac vox populi
The bells, regarded as the voice of God and the voice of the people, traditionally had a strong symbolism and importance in the Catholic Church. Their ritual use in the Vatican Basilica was continuous, although their excellence was undermined by the lack of a stable location due to the absence of a worthy bell tower to enhance their sound and spectacular sight. During the canonisation ceremonies, it was regulated that all the bells were rung in unison with a joyful peal to which the bells of other Roman churches were added, turning the whole city into a festive space flooded with a brassy sound that invited jubilation for the new saints. There are currently six large bells (each with its own name) cast between the 13th century and the beginning of the 20th century.