Larger spaces for visitors, 3D mapping, new apps, and a new typeface: St. Peter's Basilica's 400th anniversary is being marked by low- and high-tech initiatives.
On November 18, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to commemorate the anniversary of its official consecration 400 years ago. To mark this important anniversary, the Holy See has announced the launch of new spaces and services — particularly digital ones — for pilgrims and tourists alike. They include an app that provides instant translation of Masses and a font inspired by Michelangelo's handwriting.
In 1626, Pope Urban VIII officially consecrated St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The building was constructed on the site of the former Constantinian basilica, whose destruction had been decided by Pope Julius II in 1505. Designed by the greatest minds of the time — Raphael, Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini — this edifice, which houses the tomb of the apostle Saint Peter, is now one of the most visited places in the world, with nearly 12 million pilgrims and tourists each year.
