ROME , Italy ( CNN ) -- Scientific tests prove bones housed in the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome are those of the apostle St. Paul himself , according to Pope Benedict XVI . Pope Benedict XVI looks at the tomb of St. Paul at the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome in 2007 . `` Tiny fragments of bone '' in the sarcophagus were subjected to carbon dating , showing they `` belong to someone who lived in the first or second century , '' the pope said in a homily carried on Italian television . `` This seems to confirm the unanimous and undisputed tradition that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle St. Paul , '' Benedict said in Sunday 's announcement . The tomb also holds `` traces of a precious linen cloth , purple in color and laminated with pure gold , and a blue colored textile with linen filaments , '' the pope said . The tests were carried out by inserting a probe into a small opening in the sarcophagus , `` which had not been opened for many centuries , '' the pontiff said . The probe `` also revealed the presence of grains of red incense and traces of protein and limestone . '' Separately , archaeologists have uncovered an image of St. Paul which `` could be considered the oldest icon of the apostle known to date , '' the Vatican 's official newspaper reported Sunday . The painting , in the St. Tecla Catacomb , is `` among the oldest and best-defined figures from ancient Christianity , '' according to the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology , L'Osservatore Romano reported . St. Paul is one of the most significant figures in Christianity . Originally a persecutor of early Christians , he became a follower of Jesus after seeing a vision on the road to Damascus , according to Christian tradition . `` Saul , Saul , why are you persecuting me ? '' the vision of Jesus asks Paul , using the apostle 's birth name , in the Acts of the Apostles . Saul then took the name Paul and became a missionary . His letters , or epistles , to early Christian communities around the Mediterranean form a significant portion of the New Testament . Paul was beheaded by Roman authorities sometime between 65 and 67 A.D. , according to the Catholic Church . He was buried a few miles away , and when the Roman Empire stopped persecuting Christians some 250 years later , the Emperor Constantine had a basilica built over his grave . It currently lies under a marble tombstone bearing the Latin inscription PAULO APOSTOLO MART ( Apostle Paul , martyr ) , according to the Web site of the basilica . A papal altar stands over the tombstone , which is visible through a window-like opening , the Web site says . Monday marks the end of a year of celebration in honor of the 2,000th anniversary of St. Paul 's birth . It also happens to be the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul . CNN 's Hada Messia contributed to this report .
Scientific tests prove bones are those of the apostle St. Paul , pope says . Vatican tomb also holds `` traces of a precious linen cloth '' Tests were carried out by inserting probe into small opening in sarcophagus .