Press Release

VATICAN CITY, 30 October 2023 – This afternoon saw the inauguration of the 2023/2024 courses of the School of Arts and Crafts of the Fabric of Saint Peter, which recommenced last January, after 250 years, to pass on to the new generations the practical knowledge of the Saint Peter's craftsmen.

The calendar of lessons for the new class of 20 students, 12 girls and 8 boys from Italy, Spain and Latin America, will start tomorrow, Tuesday 31 October 2023.

This year, two new courses will be added to the range on offer: the courses for blacksmiths and mosaicists will be added to the courses for stonemasons, stonemasons, bricklayers, decorators, plasterers and carpenters, which were already activated in the last edition that ended in June 2023. Like last year, the lessons will take place within the Vatican walls, including classroom meetings and workshop activities.

The young people chosen for the second edition, all between 18 and 25 years of age, were welcomed this morning in the lodgings provided for them by the Fabric of Saint Peter, and in which the students will live for the duration of their formative experience at the School.

Indeed, the School of Arts and Crafts proposes an integral educational approach, aiming at the holistic development of the person in his or her individual and community dimension, and which thanks to the constant accompaniment of a community animator, promotes growth at the same time spiritual, human and professional.

Upon arrival the students were welcomed was Father Francesco Occhetta, Director of the School and Secretary General of the Fratelli tutti Foundation.

In the afternoon, the class went to Saint Peter's Basilica for the inaugural ceremony in the Chapter House, where students and teachers met Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the Basilica and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter, and Dr. Assunta di Sante, Scientific Director of the training project. At the end of the ceremony, Professor Pietro Zander led the students on the first visit of the course to the Vatican Basilica.

Institutional Communication Office, Basilica and Fabric of Saint Peter comunicazioneistituzionale@fsp.va
Roberta Leone (head) +393931198745
Beatrice Offidani (assistant) +393461425033