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The Governorate of Vatican City State has recently introduced a new fleet of electric vehicles, continuing its path toward eco-friendly mobility within Vatican territory and the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo. The initiative stems from a collaboration with Exelentia, a company specializing in zero-emission transport solutions.
It was indeed a historic moment, for the first time ever the musical bands of the Corps of the Gendarmerie and the Pontifical Swiss Guard performed together. The concert, held in the presence of Pope Leo XIV, took place on the evening of Monday, September 29, in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, on the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, Patron of Vatican City State.
September 29, 2025, marks the 90th anniversary of the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Vatican Observatory at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo. The Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world: its origins go back to the reform of the calendar from Julian to Gregorian in 1582. It was refounded in the Vatican by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 with the motu proprio Ut Mysticam.
The annual International Meeting of Chapter Leaders of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums took place in Ottawa, Canada, from September 19 to 21. The delegation from Vatican City was led by Sr. Rafaella Petrini, President of the Governorate and Giuseppe Puglisi-Albrandi, Secretary General. Among other officials, Mons. Terence Hogan, Coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums also attended.
Katia Passerini is the 27th President of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. At her inauguration and the beginning of her mandate—held on the afternoon of Friday, September 26, at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane (Washington State)—Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, was present to deliver the Keynote Address in English, which we publish in full below, along with our Italian translation.
Twelve statues and two sarcophagi: these are the sculptural artefacts housed in the niches of the Atrium of the Four Gates and at the base of the Simonetti Staircase in the heart and main passageway within the Vatican Museums. Recently restored between 2023 and 2024, it is now possible to monitor and study in detail works that had long been awaiting. In this interview with www.vaticanstate.va, Professor Giandomenico Spinola, Deputy Director of the Vatican Museums’ Artistic-Scientific sector, discusses the project.
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