The Vatican has announced a significant restoration of the iconic baldacchino, Gian Lorenzo Bernini's 400-year-old masterpiece, towering over the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica. This extensive conservation project, expected to conclude by the Catholic Church’s jubilee year in December, involves setting up scaffolding around the basilica’s main altar for almost a year.
Despite the restoration, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, confirmed that papal liturgies would continue within the basilica. The Knights of Columbus, funding the 700,000 euro (about $768,000) project, collaborates with the Vatican Museums' expert art restorers.
Patrick Kelly, the leader of the Knights of Columbus, at a press conference in Rome, praised the project as a significant restoration effort, underlining the Knights' longstanding commitment to preserving Vatican art. Pope Urban VIII commissioned Bernini in 1624 to construct the baldacchino, which took nine years to complete with help from Francesco Borromini. The 92 feet high canopy, adorned with gilded Baroque decorations, was crafted using bronze from Rome's ancient Pantheon.
Pietro Zander, in charge of the basilica's artistic and archeological heritage, pointed out the baldacchino's degraded conservation state, necessitating extensive cleaning. He attributed its deterioration to the daily influx of visitors, affecting the basilica's microclimate.
The restoration work, commencing on February 12, follows Pope Francis' scheduled canonization ceremony for Argentina’s first saint. Alberto Capitanucci, heading the technical team of the “Fabric of St. Peter,” expects the scaffolding setup to take about four weeks, enabling a team of 10-12 experts to work on the restoration daily.
This undertaking is part of a broader effort to revitalize Rome for the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri remarked that Rome would transform into an “open-air construction site” in 2024 with 1,400 building projects, including a $77 million pedestrian walkway leading to St. Peter’s Square.
The jubilee year will officially commence in December 2024, with the pope opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica
