Minecraft Education, in collaboration with St. Peter’s Basilica and Microsoft, has launched a new interactive learning experience named Peter Is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage. This initiative allows students to virtually explore and engage with the Basilica’s rich history and architecture.
Building upon the AI-enabled project St. Peter’s Basilica: AI-Enhanced Experience, unveiled in November 2024, Peter Is Here immerses students in the Basilica’s history. They can participate in restoration tasks and interact with historical figures. Users can also learn how cultural heritage intersects with modern innovation, all within the Minecraft platform.
“This experience guides students in discovering the spiritual, artistic, and architectural significance of St. Peter’s Basilica,” said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. “It is a place where faith has shaped a space for elevation and dialogue between the human and the divine.”
Also read: On this day in history: St Peter’s Basilica Rome consecrated
The interactive tool enables students to explore the Basilica’s development using AI-powered features. They can uncover stories behind its architecture and artwork.
Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab processed photogrammetric data to create an ultra-precise 3D model of the Basilica. The project enhances both preservation efforts and virtual accessibility.
Catholic schools worldwide and schools across Italy will be among the first to access this new educational tool.
