A worker at the Church of Santa Maria, located in Cappella, Italy has reportedly found ancient bones which are believed to belong to the Apostle Peter.

According to The Christian Post, the Church of Santa Maria, in Italy’s Trastevere district, is 1,000 years old. The worker reportedly found the bones buried beneath a slab of marble near the medieval altar of the church–an area which had been closed off for the past 35 years.

The man explained his discovery: “There were two clay pots which were inscribed with the names of early popes – Peter, Felix, Callixtus and Cornelius. I’m not an archaeologist but I understood immediately that they were very old. Looking at them, I felt very emotional.”

Peter is a significant figure throughout the New Testament, and he is also highly revered by Catholics who believe he was the first Pope. They base this belief on Matt. 16:18-19 in which Jesus says:

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The Vatican has issued a statement, saying they will wait for DNA analysis before making a comment on the discovery.