{"id":667,"date":"2012-07-28T23:29:00","date_gmt":"2012-07-28T23:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/tourists-welcome-posting-of-priests-in-vatican-museums\/"},"modified":"2012-07-28T23:29:00","modified_gmt":"2012-07-28T23:29:00","slug":"tourists-welcome-posting-of-priests-in-vatican-museums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/07\/tourists-welcome-posting-of-priests-in-vatican-museums\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourists welcome posting of priests in Vatican Museums"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Vatican City, Jul 28, 2012 \/ 05:29 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- The decision to make priests available inside the Vatican Museums to offer spiritual comfort to visitors has been generally welcomed by tourists in Rome.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI think it\u2019s a good idea because they could answer a lot of questions if anybody is inspired and has questions about their faith,\u201d 25-year-old Molly Sullens from San Diego told CNA as she exited an afternoon tour of the museums on July 27.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI think it\u2019s a great idea, too,\u201d said her boyfriend 27-year-old Nick Fandel, also from San Diego, who found the Sistine Chapel particularly \u201cawe inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI mean if you want to talk to somebody rather than just see the art, you should definitely have that option.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe new initiative will begin at the start of August when two priests will be available for any tourists who wish to chat.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThere is nothing institutional or pretentious about the initiative,\u201d said Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, in the July 26 edition of L\u2019Osservatore Romano newspaper.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe priests will simply be on hand with a table and two chairs at two strategic points on the normal itinerary visitors follow, and anyone who wishes may approach them to exchange a few words or to reflect together,\u201d Bishop Sciacca said.<\/p>\n

\tIn 2011, the Vatican Museums broke its own attendance records with just over 5 million people entering its doors. That makes them one of the most visited museums in Europe, on a par with the British Museum in London, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Prado in Madrid.<\/p>\n

\tBishop Sciacca reaffirmed that the Vatican Museums \u201cwelcome everyone, whatever their beliefs or origins,\u201d while at the same time \u201creminding each of them \u2014 through a statue, a piece of gold, a painting or a fresco \u2014 of the goal for which we were created.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThis is because, he said, the museums \u201care not afraid to show that they, in fact, represent a way through which the good news of God-made-man can be announced to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe museums were founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century. They are now home to some of the most renowned classical sculptures and Renaissance art in the world.<\/p>\n

\tAmong the most popular exhibits for visitors are the four \u201cRaphael Rooms,\u201d painted by the Italian Renaissance artist and his workshop, and the Sistine Chapel created by Michelangelo.<\/p>\n

\tBishop Sciacca described the Vatican Museums as \u201ca precious casket in which, thanks to their wisdom and love of \u2018beauty,\u2019 the Roman Pontiffs have gathered together what are perhaps the most exalted works that human genius has produced over the course of the centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vatican City, Jul 28, 2012 \/ 05:29 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- The decision to make priests available inside the Vatican Museums to offer spiritual comfort to visitors has been generally welcomed by tourists in Rome.<\/p>\n

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