St. Peter's Cathedral, Rome

Dead Pope Leo XI (April 1, 1605 - April 27, 1605)
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"It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope."
~ Pope John XXIII (reigned 1958-63)

This is the tomb of Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici, Pope Leo XI. On April 1, 1605, Alessandro ascended the papal throne with the Medici name Leo XI, being then seventy years of age, but took sick immediately after his coronation and died within the month.

Death seems to be a popular subject for the photo sites this week; maybe it's because of the oppressive heat and humidity. Instead of just repeating the entry for Moody Monday, I chose this picture. St. Peter's was a magnificent study in marble and gold. Marble in all colors carved into huge statues or cut in small pieces to make up a crest in the cathedral floor. In St. Peter's as is with most cathedrals in Italy, you literally walk on the graves of those buried there. Here there are many popes buried beneath St. Peters, some are in crypts behind their statues. Pilgrims may descend to the burial chamber below, but I had to draw the line there.

Submission for Photo Tuesday topic "dead". (end of post)