Splendor conserved for centuries to come

Rediscovering Michelangelo’s fresco in all its expressive power is an extraordinary experience—one that stays with you for a lifetime. Paolo Violini, the Vatican’s Chief Restorer of the Paintings and Wooden Materials Restoration Laboratory, recounts his work in the Sistine Chapel on the occasion of the extraordinary maintenance of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s  monumental fresco the “Last Judgment”.

The contribution of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Musems

With great expectation and excitement, and following the installation of scaffolding in the Sistine Chapel, the extraordinary maintenance of Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment was begun during the final weeks of February 2026.

Extraordinary maintenance has commenced on Michelangelo’s monumental fresco The Last Judgment painted on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, following the completion of the scaffolding. The intervention has been made possible thanks to the generous contribution of the Florida Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums.

The Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate of Vatican City State announces a new series of philatelic issues to be released on 26 February 2026. The six issues celebrate various anniversaries and special occasions related to the Pontiffs, international relations and Easter.

Updating, innovating, and strengthening infrastructure and networks is an absolute priority for the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate. This commitment is pursued through significant human and financial resources.