Workmen dig underneath the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 1950, during part of a years-long effort to excavate tombs and chambers under the Vatican. Life.com takes a look back at the process of unearthing below the Vatican as part of a then-exclusive coverage of the event by Life Magazine in 1950.<br /><br /><em>To learn more about the history of the papacy, watch the new CNN Original Series, </em><a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fshows%2Fpope"><em>"Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History,"</em></a><em> Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.</em>
Digging up secrets beneath the Vatican —
Workmen dig underneath the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 1950, during part of a years-long effort to excavate tombs and chambers under the Vatican. Life.com takes a look back at the process of unearthing below the Vatican as part of a then-exclusive coverage of the event by Life Magazine in 1950.

To learn more about the history of the papacy, watch the new CNN Original Series, "Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History," Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Nat Farbman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The tomb of Pope Boniface VIII sits beneath the Vatican.
Digging up secrets beneath the Vatican —
The tomb of Pope Boniface VIII sits beneath the Vatican.
Nat Farbman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The sarcophagus of Pope Pius XI lies in renovated upper grottoes.
Digging up secrets beneath the Vatican —
The sarcophagus of Pope Pius XI lies in renovated upper grottoes.
Nat Farbman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Excavations continue below the Vatican.
Digging up secrets beneath the Vatican —
Excavations continue below the Vatican.
Nat Farbman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The bust of a statue is seen during the excavating process.
Digging up secrets beneath the Vatican —
The bust of a statue is seen during the excavating process.
Nat Farbman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The oldest burial chamber, which was found during the excavation, is seen. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Flife.time.com%2Fculture%2Fthe-vatican-unearthing-history-beneath-st-peters-1950-photos%2F%231" target="_blank" target="_blank">See more photos from the series</a>.
Digging up secrets beneath the Vatican —
The oldest burial chamber, which was found during the excavation, is seen. See more photos from the series.
Nat Farbman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images