CV News Feed // The Knights of Columbus announced that they are underwriting the restoration of the baldacchino above the altar in St. Peter’s Basilica.
On Thursday, the Vatican announced that it would be undertaking the project of cleaning the baldacchino leading up to the 2025 jubilee year. The Baldacchino, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini 400 years ago, is the 9-story structure that covers the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It is constructed primarily out of bronze, marble, and gilded wood.
On Thursday, the Knights of Columbus announced that they would be underwriting the project, meaning that they would help to perform the financial risk assessment of the project.
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly noted the significance of the Knight’s involvement and shared in a press release that they are excited to help with the project.
“On behalf of the Knights of Columbus and our more than 2 million members in 13 countries around the world, we are honored to lend our support to this project, which is more than caring for a magnificent piece of art. It points to the reality of God’s love for us and His coming down to earth to dwell with us and to build the Church upon St. Peter and his profession of faith,” said Kelly.
This continues a long history of the Knights supporting the Vatican and Pope in various projects. To date, they have helped the Vatican, in some capacity, on around 20 projects.
“I’d like to thank our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as well as Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, for allowing us to partner in this project, in continuation of what is now more than a century of support for various projects in Rome and nearly 20 projects in support of St. Peter’s over the last 44 years. In addition to all the service we carry out for the poor, for our parishes and families, the Knights are very grateful for the privilege of serving the Church in this way,” said Kelly.
The reconstruction will be conducted under the leadership of Dr. Pietro Zander, head of the Necropolis and Classical Antiquities of the Fabbrica di San Pietro in the Vatican and is expected to be completed in early 2025. Officials said the project would begin soon.
