Vatican

Pope Leo XIVanalysis

Robert Francis Prevost has been elected Pope Leo XIV—why does this matter to the worlds of art and heritage?

The Chicago-born pontiff—the new spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Catholics and the proprietor in trust of the great art and architecture treasures of the Vatican—has publicly supported his predecessor Pope Francis's lead on climate change

The original ‘Conclave’? How commercial engravings grew global interest in papal succession

Downloads of the 2024 film have surged since the death of Pope Francis—but in the 16th and 17th century, it was etchings that drove public fascination with the historic process

Sistine Chapel to close for conclave preparations

Other cultural sites have also been steadily shutting down to visitors as the Vatican marks the death of Pope Francis

World leaders pay tribute to Pope Francis, spiritual leader of the Catholic church and custodian of the Vatican’s treasures, who has died, aged 88

The election of the new pope will be closely watched by supporters of the Argentinian pontiff’s legacy looking for a successor who will act as a progressive voice, highlighting global climate crisis and the needs of immigrants and the poor

Obituariesfeature

Remembering Pope Francis, for 12 years head of the Catholic church and proprietor in trust of the Vatican's library and art collections

The Argentinian pontiff was a powerful progressive voice in world politics, the first Jesuit priest to be spiritual leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics and the first from the Americas or the southern hemisphere to hold the office

Catholic artists celebrate Antoni Gaudí’s place on the path to sainthood

Known as “God’s architect”, Gaudí was earlier this week declared “venerable” by the Vatican

Suspect detained after works damaged at Vatican altar

A video shared to social media shows a figure standing on the main altar in St Peter’s Basilica

Prison inmates and artist Marinella Senatore create light installation for Vatican Jubilee Year

The Holy See will launch a series of contemporary art projects at prisons next year

Vatican gives Apollo a hand—literally—ahead of Jubilee Year

Restoration of the marble is expected to be a draw for the year-long event, which will allow public access to works in the Pope’s private collection as well as exhibitions across the Holy See and Rome

Vatican launches AI-generated version of St Peter’s Basilica

Co-developed by Microsoft, the project also identified conservation issues at the world-famous church

Former Vatican employee arrested for allegedly trying to sell Bernini manuscript

The 18-page document had previously disappeared from the Holy See's official archive

Vatican Museums staff bring legal action over ‘unfair and poor’ working conditions

Nearly 50 workers have signed a petition raising doubts over safety in what is the first ever class action against the Vatican

Newly attributed Raphael drawing heads to auction at Dorotheum

Rediscovered work is a preparatory study for the Battle of the Milvian Bridge fresco displayed in the Vatican’s papal apartments

Death of Vatican cleric puts his lauded but mysterious art collection under new scrutiny

Canon Monsignor Michele Basso was investigated for fraud in 2000 after allegedly trying to sell fake works

Pope Benedict XVI, for eight years proprietor in trust of the Vatican's library and art collection, has died aged 95

The German-born conservative pontiff, a noted theological scholar, tried to accommodate contemporary art but became a subject of satire

Man arrested after attacking ancient sculptures at Vatican Museums in Italy

The 65-year-old tourist reportedly told museum staff he wanted to see the Pope before throwing the Roman busts to the ground

Vatican opens contemporary art gallery in 15th-century library

"Cultures become sick when they become self-referential," says Pope Francis at gallery launch

Pope cuts pay for clerics but not for Vatican Museum employees

After pandemic revenue crash, Vatican slashes its spending but protects all jobs

Hackers target oldest bible and Vatican’s other priceless treasures in online attacks

The Apostolic Library has partnered with a cyber defence firm to prevent further attempts to steal and manipulate its digital collection

From the archive | Pope Francis, his crucifix and the Virgin Mary: miraculous or merely traditional?

Art history removes the numinous from art. At the Vatican’s Covid-19 blessing we saw it invoked again

Top museum directors on the challenges of climate change and mass tourism

Vatican conference on preventive conservation warns of environmental impact of short-term politics

Is nothing sacred? The Metropolitan Museum should apologise to the Vatican for Heavenly Bodies show

Curator Andrew Bolton’s Costume Institute blockbuster is pointlessly offensive to believers

Vatican begins final work on Raphael rooms

The work may make it possible to identify which parts of the frescoes were painted by Giulio Romano, Raphael’s most trusted apprentice