A partnership between the Holy See and Microsoft has given rise to a new digital portal that aims to bring St. Peter’s Basilica closer to a global audience and improve the experience of pilgrims and tourists.
Vatican News
Vatican City, Tuesday, November 12, 2024 (REI): As the Church prepares to celebrate the Jubilee in 2025, a collaboration between Microsoft and Econom (a heritage digitization company) titled “St. Peter’s Basilica” began on Monday : AI – Enhanced Experience” – The Saksham project was unveiled.
Speakers at the press conference noted that the digital creation of a replica of St. Peter’s Basilica offers the opportunity for an immersive experience of virtual tours and digital exhibitions that more clearly highlight the grandeur of the Renaissance wonder.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, expressed his joy during the briefing and compared the experience to looking “at the sky full of stars on a summer night.”
He said: “The new device works as a telescope for better viewing, capturing the essence of this unique digital extension.
Association between ancient and modern
Microsoft President Brad Smith, speaking at the press conference, said the partnership between the Holy See and Microsoft stands out not only for its ambition but also for its innovative use of technology in the service of faith and heritage.
In an interview with Vatican News journalist Fabio Colagrande, Smith noted that technology plays a special role as a bridge between the past and the present.
He said: “I think it enhances the spiritual experience of pilgrims who come to Rome; reading it yesterday gave me even more information about the memories of Saint Peter, his life and his thoughts. “It brings that story to life.”
Smith explained that the virtual experience provides a new perspective, giving visitors the opportunity to see parts of the cathedral that no one else can see and, through digital exhibits, visitors can also reach inaccessible places, such as the Roman tombs that are found below and the intricate works of art. in the high dome of the cathedral.
Introducing the initiative, he said the virtual replica of the cathedral was created using cutting-edge drones, cameras and laser scanning technology to capture every detail of the cathedral, and then used advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to stitch the data together. It’s gone. The goal is to engage a new generation with a great cathedral model that resonates with them.
“We are bringing St. Peter not only to the world, but to a new generation of people, in a language that is more accessible to our times,” Smith said. He highlighted that this accessibility brings spiritual, cultural and historical meaning to people around the world, even if they cannot physically visit Rome.
build on shared values
Smith also emphasized the broader importance of this partnership, seeing it as a demonstration of what can be achieved when people approach a common problem from different perspectives and with different areas of expertise.
He hopes it inspires reflection on the power of collaboration, especially at a time when a deeper understanding of differences is needed.
trust and technology
Smith agreed that the project highlights the Holy See’s willingness to embrace new technologies as a means of advancing the faith and making its treasures accessible in ways previously unimaginable.
Addressing concerns that new technologies like AI could conflict with faith, he said: “Often one might assume that new technologies are in tension with religion or faith,” but this project shows that this tension there is a way to summarize it. He takes it in a way that eliminates stress and “gives people the opportunity to do something bigger than they ever imagined.”
