Video credit: Microsoft & Iconem
Preserving and enhancing St. Peter's Basilica through AI
In collaboration with Microsoft, Iconem, and Reply, the Vatican has transformed how audiences engage with cultural heritage by creating a digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica. This groundbreaking project utilizes AI, photogrammetry, and advanced educational tools to preserve, enhance, and broaden access to this iconic spiritual and architectural treasure.
#Digital Experience
#Artificial Intelligence
#Digital Twin
THE VISION
To bridge ancient heritage with modern technology, preserving St. Peter's Basilica for future generations, while expanding global connections and setting a precedent for ethical AI in cultural preservation.
SCENARIO
Enhancing global access and preservation
The Vatican, home to the Pope and iconic landmarks like St. Peter's Basilica, plays a crucial role in global diplomacy and social advocacy. In the lead up to the 2025 Jubilee, the goal of the digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica was to enhance global access and understanding by enabling virtual exploration of its historical, artistic, and spiritual significance. The initiative allows global visitors to experience the Basilica virtually, providing access to its history, art, and architecture through a photorealistic 3D experience. Additionally, it demonstrates the potential of AI in cultural preservation.
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Image credit: Microsoft & Iconem
WHAT WE DID
Creating a 3D digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica
Valorem Reply and Sagepath Reply, in collaboration with Microsoft and Iconem, developed an immersive digital experience website to depict the story of St. Peter’s life and the physical history of the Basilica. The focal point of this experience is a highly accurate digital twin, using an Azure-based point cloud 3D representation of the modern Basilica.
The interactive web platform integrates immersive storytelling elements such as audio, video, and time-lapse models to engage users. AI-driven tools were incorporated for structural analysis, ensuring the Basilica’s long-term preservation. Design Thinking workshops were conducted to align the platform with stakeholder needs, and the solution’s scalable architecture supports millions of users, especially during high-traffic events like the Jubilee.
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Images credit: Microsoft & Iconem
Key features of the experience
Historical storytelling
The story of who St. Peter was as a man, his journey from a humble fisherman to becoming the first Pope, and how the Basilica has evolved over its 2,000-year history is told through a combination of mediums. The website mirrors an audiobook experience, bringing engaging content to users through narration, video, and rich imagery.
Interactive 3D model
The digital twin, created with over 400,000 high-resolution images, allows users to explore St. Peter’s Basilica in unprecedented detail. AI has made this experience accessible on mobile devices by optimizing the size of 3D experiences, making it feasible for mobile usage.
Virtual tours
Advanced AI and photogrammetry techniques have created a detailed digital replica of St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing users to explore its intricate mosaics, frescoes, and sculptures in ways that were previously impossible. The virtual tours provide a unique chance for personal spiritual engagement, offering contemplation in solitude.
AI-driven conservation
The project has uncovered possible structural vulnerabilities, such as missing mosaic tiles and fissures, that provide valuable data for future restoration efforts.
THE IMPACT
Expanding worldwide engagement and securing cultural legacy
This project has increased global engagement by enabling Catholics from around the world to virtually connect with St. Peter’s Basilica. AI-powered structural analysis ensures the Basilica’s preservation for future generations. The platform’s scalable model can accommodate high volumes of visitors, including during the 2025 Jubilee, and serves as a model for similar initiatives worldwide. This digital twin has redefined how people experience St. Peter’s Basilica, blending technology with cultural conservation to ensure this extraordinary site remains accessible and preserved for generations to come.
Global engagement
Over 1.4 billion Catholics can connect virtually, deepening their spiritual and cultural connection to St. Peter, the Basilica and the Catholic religion.
Ethical AI application
Aligns with the Vatican’s "Rome Call for AI Ethics," establishing a standard for cultural preservation.
Scalable model
Accommodates future high-traffic events like the 2025 Jubilee.
The Microsoft AI for Good Lab is a dedicated research and innovation hub within Microsoft, focused on leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. As part of Microsoft's broader AI for Good program, the lab develops cutting-edge AI solutions to advance sustainability, cultural preservation, healthcare, and humanitarian efforts. Through collaborations with nonprofits, researchers, and governments, the Lab combines technological expertise with a commitment to ethical and responsible AI to create scalable, impactful solutions that drive positive social change. Learn more about how Microsoft is harnessing AI to empower communities worldwide at www.microsoft.com/ai-for-good.
Valorem Reply, part of the Reply group, is a leading digital innovation firm focused on helping businesses thrive as modern enterprises. As a Microsoft Cloud Solutions Partner, we deliver tailored strategies and powerful technologies to support organizations throughout their modernization journey. Our end-to-end AI enabling services span infrastructure, data platforming and AI services, security, app innovation, and modern work solutions, enabling businesses to optimize cloud investments, unlock the value of their data, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency. With a focus on local agility and global scale, Valorem Reply helps companies quickly capitalize on new opportunities in today’s digital landscape.
Sagepath Reply, part of the Reply group, is a digital experience agency that specializes in delivering innovative, user-centric solutions to drive business growth. With expertise in strategy, design, and technology, we help organizations create seamless and engaging digital experiences across web, mobile, and e-commerce platforms. Our services include digital strategy, user experience (UX) design, web and mobile development, and e-commerce solutions, all tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. At Sagepath Reply, we enable businesses to enhance customer engagement, drive conversions, and succeed in an increasingly digital world.