Vatican, Microsoft collab to put St. Peter's Basilica on Minecraft

St. Peter’s Basilica becomes an interactive Minecraft world

Imagine being able to explore all of St. Peter’s Basilica, its artistic masterpieces and the saint’s underground tomb, and even have a go at restoring it—virtually, that is—and in the 3-D blocky world of Minecraft.

New ‘Minecraft’ Edition Has Students Restore St. Peter’s Basilica, One Block at a Time

Students try out the new Minecraft Education experience during a press conference unveiling the project on March 18, 2025, at the Vatican. Michelangelo’s dome, Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s colonnade and the ancient tomb of the apostle Peter have been recreated within the iconic digital world of 3D cubes and retro gaming aesthetic.

New Minecraft edition has students restore St. Peter’s Basilica

Students try out the new Minecraft Education experience “Peter Is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage” during a press conference unveiling the project on March 18, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA Vatican City, Mar 19, 2025 / 13:45 pm (CNA). Minecraft, the popular video game known for its blocky, pixelated graphics, has launched a new educational edition that challenges students to explore and restore St. Peter’s Basilica. Michelange…

Vatican, Microsoft collab to put St. Peter's Basilica on Minecraft

Microsoft, the Vatican and tech startup Iconem have collaborated to create an AI-powered digital twin of one of the Catholic Church's holiest places in Minecraf

St. Peter’s Basilica becomes a ‘fixable,’ explorable Minecraft world

Students have a chance to be an explorer-restorer of St. Peter's Basilica thanks to a new online educational Minecraft game called "Peter is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage."

The computer game Minecraft is well known to many, and Peter's Cathedral will soon be there. Together with Microsoft, the Vatican has developed the learning game "Petrus is here." Students and students will be able to carry out restorations in the virtual Peter's Cathedral in the game. The Vatican and Microsoft have developed a "minecraft education project" around the world-famous Vatican basilica. With the learning game "Petrus is here" (Peter …