News

Interview with Francesca Persegati, Former Head of the Paintings and Wooden Materials Restoration Laboratory of the Vatican Museums

Between Passion and Professionalism

She was the first woman to work in the Paintings and Wooden Materials Restoration Laboratory of the Vatican Museums and, in 2017, appointed to head it as chief restorer. Officially retiring on August 1st she can now take stock of her successful career in one of the most prestigious restoration laboratories in the art world, where she worked for 35 years. In this interview with www.vaticanstate.va, Francesca Persegati retraces the history of the laboratory and shares some memorable challenges during her career.

An Interview with Paolo Violini, the New Head of the Restoration Laboratory for Paintings and Wooden Material at the Vatican Museums

Further Centuries of Artistic Splendor

The restoration of Raphael’s Loggia, the launch of the preliminary study program for the Sala dei Chiaroscuri, and, in the seventeenth-century sphere, a project to restore the entire Scala Regia—the monumental entrance to the Apostolic Palaces designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

These are some of the initiatives announced in this interview with Paolo Violini, who, as of August 1, is at the helm of Italy’s oldest most renowned restoration workshop: the Restoration Laboratory for Paintings and Wooden Material at the Vatican Museums. [www.vaticanstate.va](http://www.vaticanstate.va)

The 143rd Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in the United States

Heralds of Hope

“In a particular way during this Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.” This was the message of Pope Leo XIV to the Knights of Columbus, gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 143rd  Supreme Convention, held from August 4 to 7.

Joint Stamp Issue between the Vatican City State, the Italian Republic, the Republic of San Marino, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Postal Stamps Commemorating the Canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati

A portrait of Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925), painted by Alberto Falchetti (1878–1951) and owned by the Frassati family, along with a photograph of Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) wearing a red T-shirt and a backpack, taken on Mount Subasio near Assisi during one of his last school trips before his untimely death — these are the two images featured on the stamps dedicated to the canonization of the two Blessed, scheduled for the morning of Sunday, September 7, in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Pope Leo XIV.

Agreement Signed Between the Holy See and Italy for the Construction of an Agrivoltaic Plant

A step forward has been taken toward the construction of an agrivoltaic plant in a vast area of land belonging to the Holy See on the outskirts of Rome, known as Santa Maria di Galeria. On Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 12:00 noon, an agreement between the Holy See and the Italian Republic was signed at Palazzo Borromeo, the headquarters of the Embassy of Italy to the Holy See in Rome, as announced by a communiqué from the Holy See.