Pope: Rome tomb confirmed as St. Paul's

ROME, June 28 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI says bone fragments found in a tomb in a Roman cathedral are the remains of St. Paul.

The pope said the fragments came from a tomb in the Basilica of St. Paul and were confirmed by carbon-dating tests to have come from the first or second century.

"This seems to confirm the unanimous and undisputed tradition that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul," he said.

Paul is among the most venerated figures in early Christianity. He is credited with being the first to bring the gospel to the Greeks and Romans.

Independent Catholic News reported Sunday the stone coffin was discovered by archaeologist Giorgio Filippi in 2001. The tomb was determined to be the one the Emperor Theodosius said at the time was that of Paul.

Scientists drilled a small hole in the tomb and found the bone fragments, along with incense grains and traces of cloth laminated with gold.

Pope Benedict's announcement coincided with the announcement that archaeologists had recently discovered an icon of St. Paul dating to the first century at the Catacombs of St. Tecla.