Images of St. Peter’s Basilca are projected on a screen during the preview to the press of the exhibition ‘Petros eni’, which is part of the project “St. Peter’s Basilica: AI-Enhanced Experience” at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. [Photo: Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo]

The Vatican launched on Monday new Artificial Intelligence-enabled services for St Peter's Basilica, allowing virtual access to its Renaissance-era architectural treasures for all and enhanced tours for visitors.

The Vatican and Microsoft on Monday unveiled a digital twin of St. Peter`s Basilica that uses artificial intelligence to explore one of the world`s most important monuments while helping the Holy See manage visitor flows and identify conservation problems.

Every nook and cranny of Saint Peter's Basilica will soon be laid bare thanks to artificial intelligence and a trove of 400,000 photos of the celebrated Vatican monument, according to a project presented Monday.

To help the Holy See manage tourist flows and identify conservation issues, the Vatican and Microsoft unveiled a ‘digital twin’ of St. Peter’s Basilica—an AI-generated model of the Basilica—on November 11.