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St. Peter’s Basilica is now a playable Minecraft world, thanks to the newest Minecraft Education release created in collaboration with the Vatican and a French company.
“Inspired by real-world preservation efforts, this immersive project lets young explorers use technology to restore ancient wonders, from Roman engineering to Baroque masterpieces, and investigate the history of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City,” said the Minecraft website.
The full name of the new game is “Peter Is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage,” and it was released on March 18. Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time. In it, users can build and explore worlds. Minecraft was purchased by Microsoft in 2014.
Minecraft Education is designed for use in a classroom setting and “inspires creative, inclusive learning through play,” says its website.
“Digital twin”
“Peter Is Here” began when Microsoft and Iconem, a French company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced photogrammetry techniques to create “digital replicas” of landmarks, teamed up to create an “AI-enhanced digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica,” said the Minecraft website.
Aleteia reported on this replica here and here.
“When the AI-enhanced digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica for the Vatican was underway, the team realized there was an opportunity to create a special version for students as well,” said the website, which then led to the creation of “an accurate world for Minecraft.”
In the game, virtual Sanpietrini – a community of restorers and experts – will guide users “into the shoes of a conservator and explorer, tasked with preserving St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City,” said the Minecraft website.
During gameplay, students will be able to virtually explore the basilica, “learn its secrets,” and restore different artifacts, and will discover how technology can be used to protect heritage sites, said the website.
“Together, they encounter points like the Vatican Obelisk, St. Peter’s Tomb, the Baldachin, and the Column in the Main Nave they’ll restore as tasks. Each task requires them to apply their understanding of preservation and restoration to bring these sacred sites back to their original beauty. And as they move forward, they can document their progress and reflect on the importance of teamwork and cultural heritage,” said the Minecraft website.
Everyone can play, not just kids
One of the narratives in the game concerns the discovery of St. Peter’s tomb in the basilica, said the website, and its importance in the Catholic faith.
“This archaeological find enhances the educational experience and encourages curiosity through discovery,” said Minecraft.
While the game is intended for students ages 8-18, “older kids and adults can always play the game too,” said the Minecraft website.
In addition to the map of St. Peter’s Basilica, Minecraft also released workbooks for the map for both Catholic and non-Catholic school students, as well as a “Family and Community Toolkit” for Catholic and non-Catholic organizations.
“Peter Is Here” is the first large-scale project for Minecraft Education, said the Minecraft website, and other sites are planned for the game in the future.
“Global heritage sites will be used to tell a story that will give all students a better understanding of other people’s cultures and why they’re significant,” said the website.
Real-world places have long existed within Minecraft. In 2014, the Danish Geodata Agency created a 1:1 scale model of the entire country of Denmark within the game.
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