Thesaurus Pietatis: The Beauty of the Ancient Reliquaries of the Sancta Sanctorum in

a Photographic Exhibition at the Scala Santa

 from an idea by P. Leonello Leidi

curated by Paolo Restuccia

 from April 18 to August 31, 2026

 exhibition opening Saturday April 18 at 11 am  

ROME – From April 18 to August 31, 2026, the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) will host for the first time an inedited photographic exhibition titled "Thesaurus Pietatis. Discovering the ancient reliquaries of the Sancta Sanctorum," revealing the millennial treasures once kept in the "most venerated sanctuary in Rome."

 The exhibition offers an unprecedented visual journey among the ancient reliquaries of the Sancta Sanctorum. The show, born from an initiative by Father Leonello Leidi, Rector of the Sanctuary, is curated by Paolo Restuccia in collaboration with the TRAleVOLTE APS.

 For centuries, the cypress chest of the Sancta Sanctorum protected the most sacred memories of Christianity. Today, these precious reliquaries are stored at the Vatican Museums, but through this initiative, they ideally return to their place of origin. The exhibition features a series of high-resolution photographs provided by the Vatican Museums, allowing visitors to capture details invisible to the naked eye: the splendor of the silver cases, the delicacy of the enamels, and the fine weave of the Syrian silks that once wrapped the relics of Christ and the Saints.

 "These artifacts are not just art objects, but witnesses to a millennium of veneration," explain the curators. Through the camera lens, the public can admire the magnificence of a heritage restored and returned to its original beauty—a testament to the faith with which the Supreme Pontiffs and the Christian people have honored "holy things" throughout the centuries.

 The realization of this significant cultural and spiritual project was made possible by the extraordinary generosity and support of Virginia and John Gildea, whose contribution transformed this vision into an exhibition reality accessible to the pilgrims and art enthusiasts who visit the Sanctuary.

 A bi-lingual catalog of the exhibition is available.

From April 18 to August 31, 2026

Pontificio Santuario della Scala Santa

Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, 14 - 00184 Roma

Sanctuary opening hours: 6 am to 1:30 pm – 3 to 6 pm

infoscalasanta@gmail.com