Vatican and Microsoft Launch AI-Generated St. Peter’s Basilica for Virtual Tours and Damage Tracking

Microsoft and the Vatican have created a digital version of St. Peter's Basilica using artificial intelligence. This allows people to explore one of the world's most famous landmarks virtually. The project used 400,000 high-resolution photos taken with drones, cameras, and lasers over four weeks when the basilica was empty. The digital model is being launched online alongside two new exhibits to offer both real and virtual visitors an interactive experience. Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, described it as one of the most sophisticated projects of its kind.

The initiative is being introduced ahead of the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee, a special year when over 30 million pilgrims are expected to visit the basilica, in addition to the usual 50,000 daily visitors. Pope Francis emphasized that everyone should feel included in this grand church. The digital platform allows visitors to book entry times, a new feature for this popular site that often has long lines of tourists waiting to enter. The main goal of the project is to create a digital twin of St. Peter's Basilica using advanced technology, enabling anyone to "visit" the church and learn about its history.

The detailed 3D replica, developed with the digital preservation company Iconem, contains 22 terabytes of data. The images have already detected structural damage and signs of deterioration, such as missing mosaic pieces and tiny cracks that are invisible to the naked eye, with a speed and precision that surpasses human capabilities. Pope Francis has been advocating for the ethical use of AI and supports an international treaty to regulate it. He thanked the Microsoft team and the basilica workers for their efforts, noting that modern technology is helping to preserve an important part of world heritage and spread an ancient faith.