Thanks to the creation of its “virtual twin,” the Basilica can now be explored in all its corners, including those invisible to the human eye, offering an immersive experience accessible to the entire world.
VATICAN, NOVEMBER 11th
St. Peter’s Basilica enters the virtual space through a digital model created with the support of artificial intelligence. The Fabric of St. Peter and Microsoft have launched “St. Peter’s Basilica: AI-Enhanced Experience”, a groundbreaking project based on cutting-edge technologies that enables pilgrims and visitors from all over the world to admire and interact with inaccessible parts of St. Peter’s Basilica, those that the human eye cannot see. The project allows a rediscovery of its history and its role as the heart of Christianity, as well as its status as a priceless treasure chest of art and culture for all of humanity.
The site where the Apostle Peter is buried, which became the seat of the Popes, is a sacred space that holds so much art and beauty, thanks to the geniuses of Bramante and Michelangelo, Bernini and Raphael, Maderno and Canova (and many others). This space can now be explored and studied like never before.
Microsoft played a central role in the project—the first ever to employ artificial intelligence technology in a sacred site of such significance—making it timeless and creating a new masterpiece of modernity.
This innovative initiative was spearheaded by Cardinal Gambetti, Archpriest of the Basilica and President of the Fabric of St. Peter, who found full collaboration with Microsoft to open the Basilica’s doors to the world for the upcoming Jubilee. This initiative aims to share its spirituality, culture, and beauty, particularly with those unable to travel to Rome during the Holy Year.
The Project
The genesis of the project began two years ago, involving top-tier international experts and scholars from the Fabric of St. Peter.
Over three weeks, drones, cameras, and lasers captured more than 400,000 high-resolution images inside the Basilica, which were then used to create an ultra-precise 3D model, known as a digital twin. Artificial intelligence-generated imagery based on photogrammetry data enhanced the visualization of both the interior and exterior of the Basilica, allowing experts and the public to explore the monument’s vibrant universe.
AI-Based Data Processing
Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab processed the vast amount of photogrammetry data collected by the French team at Iconem, refining the digital twin with millimeter-level accuracy. Artificial intelligence algorithms filled gaps, enhanced details, and created a seamless virtual reconstruction.
AI for Restoration and Preservation
Additionally, artificial intelligence helped detect and map structural vulnerabilities in the Basilica, such as cracks and missing mosaic tiles, to better guide future conservation efforts.
The Exhibitions
Lithuanian design studio Dadada curated an immersive and accessible exhibition at St. Peter’s Basilica, offering visitors the opportunity to extend their experience through visual and experiential design languages.
Two new immersive exhibitions at St. Peter’s Basilica, Petros Eni and Petros Eni Octagon, will provide pilgrims and visitors with a unique combination of historical insights and digital exploration, showcasing key aspects of the Basilica’s evolution over the centuries. This permanent exhibition—both digital and in-person—will be inaugurated during the 2025 Jubilee, which is expected to bring around 30 million additional visitors to Rome.
An interactive website will allow anyone in the world to experience this extraordinary project, providing direct access to St. Peter’s Basilica through detailed 3D models and educational content.
“We have outlined a coordinated plan of services and communication activities for a ‘Basilica that reaches out,’” explains Cardinal Mauro Gambetti. “Over the past years, not without challenges, we have embraced the splendid task of addressing the relationship between humanity and technology with a spirit of fraternity. This spirit has animated significant collaborations characterized by the exchange of skills, perspectives, and resources, all aimed at fostering human growth.
We’ve structured an information system for the Fabric, implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for the offices, and launched the digitization of document, archive, and human resources management. Additionally, we’ve completed the first step of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for the Basilica.”
“Platforms and apps have also been created to enhance pilgrims’ and visitors’ experiences in St. Peter’s,” adds the Archpriest of the Basilica and President of the Fabric of St. Peter. “Through multimedia languages, artificial intelligence, and training courses, we’ve made the meanings held by this monumental complex more comprehensible. Our aim is to decode for today’s audience, with the help of digital technology, the interplay of history, art, and spirituality that makes the Basilica unique in the world.”
“The Church has always sought to communicate its faith in the divine through the languages of the time and its cultural context,” concludes Gambetti.
“Artificial intelligence allows us to admire this Basilica in a unique and innovative way never seen before,” said Brad Smith, Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft. “This partnership, which unites institutions and technological innovation, has created a memorable experience for all those who wish to deepen their understanding of the history and significance of this extraordinary place.”
“When we are inspired, it’s as if a light turns on. This project, I hope, will ignite many lights around the world. With the Basilica entering the digital space, a new communication process begins, adding a new work of art to the legacy of those who have worked to convey the beauty of the message emanating from the heart of Christianity,” says Father Enzo Fortunato, Director of Communications for St. Peter’s Basilica. He also announced that “On November 25, we will present, together with the Cardinal Archpriest and in coordination with the relevant bodies, the communication plan for St. Peter’s Basilica.”
“This effort was driven by a desire that is not merely aesthetic or tied to technological innovation,” explains Microsoft project coordinator Father Francesco Occhetta. “Many people seek a sacred space where they can find themselves before God. The digital reconstruction of the Basilica will facilitate this encounter anywhere in the world. This 3D vision connects the sacred architecture to the body of St. Peter and represents an extension of it.”