Vatican and Microsoft unveil virtual St. Peter's for 2025 Jubilee
The Jubilee Year 2025 is approaching rapidly. In anticipation of this event, numerous renovation projects are underway in Rome, but that's not all. The Vatican and Microsoft are collaborating on an intriguing project that will allow tourists worldwide to feel as if they are inside the famous basilica.
11:53 AM EST, November 12, 2024
The upcoming Jubilee Year 2025 will officially begin on Tuesday, December 24, at 10:30 AM, with the ceremonial opening of the Holy Doors at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This basilica is also at the heart of a project in which the Vatican, partnering with Microsoft, has utilized AI tools to bring it into the digital realm.
The virtual "twin" of the famous basilica
"This is the first project of its kind and on such a scale," emphasized Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, and Microsoft's President Brad Smith in an interview with Roman media.
The project uses as many as 400,000 photos of the basilica, which have been meticulously combined using artificial intelligence tools. Through this effort, a virtual version of the sacred building has been created. This means tourists worldwide can experience the Roman temple without leaving their homes.
Cardinal Gambetti noted that the project aims to use digital technology to make the basilica's unique history, art, and spirituality accessible to all. Microsoft President Brad Smith described it as likely the most ambitious project humanity has ever encountered.
It has been announced that the site can be explored through an interactive website - virtual.basilicasanpietro.va.
They have grandeur
Furthermore, starting in January 2025, an educational Minecraft project will launch, enabling young people to explore St. Peter's Basilica through the popular online game.
