1. “Jesus… rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet  and dry them with the towel around his waist. (Jn 13:4–5).

A masterpiece restored to its original splendor

“A restoration that has revealed many technical, stylistic, and methodological insights from one of the great Renaissance projects. A restoration that must be called ‘exemplary,’ as it reflects the ongoing work of the vast machine that is the Vatican Museums in the fields of research, conservation, and restoration.

The Musical Band of the Gendarmerie Corps, directed by Stefano Iannilli, and the Musical Band of the Italian Military Navy, directed by Ship Commander, Antonio Barbagallo, will hold a concert on Friday, 25 October, at 6:00 p.m. in the New Wing of the Vatican Museums. The concert will be the last in the series of concerts titled, “Music at the Museums 2024”.

Together for Legality

In memory of Judge Giovanni Falcone, hundreds of students took part in the 6th edition of the initiative “Men and Women in Uniform, a Resource for the Community”, dedicated to the victims of the mafia and to all those who sacrificed their lives in the service of the Italian State.

A Historic Moment

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.

The Band of the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps and the Band of the Rome Capital Police performed together in a concert held in the Braccio Nuovo of the Vatican Museums. The event took place on Friday afternoon, 7 November, as part of the series “Music at the Museums – Jubilee 2025”, organized in collaboration between the Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage and the Italian National Music Committee (CIDIM).

When musicians point us toward the manger

It addresses anyone who draws near, inviting them to contemplate the mystery of the birth of Jesus. The figure is of a musician of the Band of the Gendarmerie Corps, standing and facing outward from the Nativity scene. He joins the choir of Angels in accompanying the chant Venite Adoremus. With his music he breaks the silence of the night to make known to all the most astonishing news: the Lord is born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary.

Jesus is born amid the flora of the Vatican Gardens

Before drones crossed the sky—when only the stars guided travelers along their way—Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The Prince of Peace came into the world in silence, humility and unknown.

Estate Ragazzi in Vaticano, reserved for the families of employees of the Holy See and the Governorate of Vatican City State.

The Pope’s concern for families 

A nursery school born from “Pope Francis’ concern for the families of Vatican employees, so that they can have an adequate structure to which they can entrust their little ones”. The “San Francesco e Santa Chiara” nursery school was blessed by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President Emeritus of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, during its inauguration as the first ever to open within the Vatican Walls. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Monday afternoon, April 14, at its location on Via San Luca.

The Governorate of Vatican City State has undertaken an extensive process of review and renewal of the State Mint and of the Philatelic and Numismatic marketing activities, aimed at ensuring greater efficiency, quality and transparency in all aspects of its operations. This process has involved the entire supply chain: from internal management policies to product design, to the redefinition of safer, more digital and accessible distribution channels.

On December 5^th, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, FSE visited the Ohio Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums in Cleveland, Ohio. At the gala dinner with over 250 persons, the President thanked the Ohio Patrons for their twenty years of selfless generosity in their dedication to restoration of various artistic works of the Vatican Museums.

“Servant leadership in pastoral ministry” was the theme of the symposium attended by Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State. Organized for seminarians, counselors, students, and the Benedictine monastic community of the neighboring Mount Angel Abbey, the meeting took place on Friday, February 6, at Mount Angel Seminary in Saint Benedict, Oregon, U.S.A.

As part of the celebrations for the 325th anniversary of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, the Choir of the Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci Foundation performed a concert in the Braccio Nuovo of the Vatican Museums on Wednesday afternoon, 27 May 2026.

The portrait of the President Emeritus of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, was installed in the presidential corridor of the Governorate Palace on Tuesday morning, June 24.

The fourth event of the WSIS+20 Week and the third day of AI for Good took place at the Geneva Palaexpo for Governance Day. At the heart of the event was the AI Governance Dialogue Roundtable Lunch, attended by the President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, Sister Raffaella Petrini.

The President of the Governorate of Vatican City met Mr. Brian Francis Burch, Ambassador of the United States of America to discuss shared projects concerning the Directorates of Telecommunications and Computer Systems, of Infrastructure and Services and of the Vatican Museums and Cultural Heritage.

The President of the Governorate, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, met on Friday morning, December 12, with Monsignor Tadeusz Wojda, Archbishop of Gdańsk and President of the Polish Episcopal Conference, accompanied by his private secretary, Father Michał Siennicki, on a courtesy visit.

Human dignity, ethics, security and transparency

Respect for human dignity, security, transparency and ethics are the principles that inspired the drafting of the Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence. Fifteen days since they came into effect, with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State’s Decree No. DCCII, and while awaiting the laws and regulations for their implementation, it is worth reviewing the key points they feature.

Changing culture with the Gospel

Sr. Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, will be in Houston, as part of a brief journey to the United States, from Friday, 25 October to Sunday, 27 October. On Saturday morning, 26 October, Sr. Petrini is scheduled to deliver a talk at the Lumen Institute, on the theme ,“Mission to change culture” . It will be an opportunity to exchange reflections on cultural changes in the management and administrative area, fostered by the implementation of the principles of Catholic social teaching.