Benedict & JPII Offered Mass in Front of an Obelisk

Pope Benedict XVI, flanked by Archbishop Piero Marini, celebrates Palm Sunday Mass at the foot toe the ancient Egyptian obelisk in the center of St. Peter's Square April 9, 2006.

http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007d/122807/122807i.htm

John Paul II, celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's square on April 16th, 2000 in front of the Egyptian obelisk

The eight spokes (or double cross) emanating from the obelisk in St. Peter's square likely represent the eight divisions of the solar calendar: solstices, equinoxes and quarter cross days. The obelisk originated in Heliopolis, Egypt, the home of the occult Hermetic tradition which St. Augustine preached against.