In addition to offering a 3D replica with great detail, the platform will allow visitors to reserve visiting times
The Vatican and Microsoft have collaborated to create a digital version of St. Peter’s Basilica, offering users the ability to explore one of the world’s most famous temples from anywhere, anytime.
This digital project will also allow the Holy See to improve visitor management and address conservation aspects of the historic monument.
This virtual replica was achieved from 400,000 high-resolution digital images, captured over a month using drones, cameras and laser technology at times when the basilica was closed. This material, along with two new exhibits, will provide an immersive experience for both in-person visitors and those who choose to explore virtually.
Brad Smith, president of Microsoftpresented the project at a press conference in the Vatican, highlighting its innovative technological nature: “It is one of the most advanced and complex projects of its kind ever undertaken.” This launch also coincides with the preparation of the Jubilee of 2025, a special year in which the basilica prepares to welcome millions of pilgrims and visitors.
In addition to offering an extremely detailed 3D replica, the platform will allow visitors to reserve entry times, a measure designed to improve organization and reduce the long lines that usually form daily.
Advanced technology and preservation
The core of the project is an exact digital replica of the basilica achieved through advanced photogrammetry and artificial intelligence. Developed in collaboration with digital preservation firm Iconem, the replica takes up 22 petabytes of data — an amount so large it would fill millions of DVDs, Smith said. This replica not only recreates the basilica, but helps identify structural damage and signs of deterioration, such as missing mosaics or hidden cracks, details that would normally go unnoticed by the naked eye.
During the presentation, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the project team and those who care for the basilica, highlighting that “this house of prayer, which is for all peoples, has been entrusted to us and requires both spiritual and material care, supported by technological advances.”
The project joins other digital preservation initiatives that Microsoft has carried out at historical sites such as Mont Saint-Michel in France and Ancient Olympia in Greece.
In addition, it responds to Pope Francis’ 2018 initiative that promotes the ethical and humanitarian use of artificial intelligence, remembering that technology must be aligned with values such as compassion and morality.
Smith avoided specifying Microsoft’s investment in this collaboration, noting only that it has been “substantial” and that it represents a commitment to preserving heritage through advanced technologies.
