Abbazia benedettina di San Paolo fuori le Mura

The Benedictine monastery annexed to the basilica on piazzale San Paolo. Its monks keep the liturgy and the votive lamp at the tomb, and the house holds a monastic library. The basilica and its annexed buildings are the property of the Holy See under Article 13 of the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929. Article 15 provides that the property, «benche facenti parte del territorio dello Stato italiano» - although forming part of the territory of the Italian State - enjoys the immunities that international law grants to the seats of the diplomatic agents of foreign States. It is on Italian soil and visitors are subject to Italian law.