La Fe Magazine Online

FEATURE STORY Summer 2003

Splendor of the Vatican Texas-sized exhibit in Houston

En Español

Courtesy HMNS

The St. Peter and the Vatican Exhibit spans the 2,000-year history of the papacy up through the modern era with a display on Pope John Paul II.

The art, relics, artifacts, sculptures, replicas and documents are captivating. The ambience combines the serene with the prestigious.It’s historical, emotional, spiritual and educational – all rolled up into one.The Houston Museum of Natural Science manages to elicit a plethora of emotions through the incredible St. Peter and the Vatican Exhibition.

Courtesy HMNS

The Houston Museum of Natural Science features an immersed environment display with a scaled replica of the Sistine Chapel.

And it’s Texas-sized, too, spanning over 15,000-square feet. Houston proudly unveiled the largest Vatican exhibit in North American history. With more than 350 objects on display, the St. Peter and the Vatican Exhibition opened the doors to further understanding and appreciating the grandeur of the papacy. The exclusive four-city tour also puts into context the last 2,000 years and the role of the papacy in shaping the modern western world. Historical names like Michelangelo, Genghis Kahn, Napoleon and Attila the Hun find themselves intertwined in the fascinating tales of the popes of the past. Those making a Catholic pilgrimage to this exhibit leave fulfilled and more educated about the Catholic Church and the papacy. There’s even an overwhelming sense of pride over the opportunity to view such a prized collection of masterpieces. Fr. J. Michael Miller, President of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, served as advisor to the museum for this event. Fr. Miller, who earned a degree at the Gregorian University in Rome and worked for the Secretary of State at the Vatican, expounded on the impact and significance of the exhibit to visitors as well as the Houston community.

“This simply wouldn’t have happened 25 or 30 years ago. It wouldn’t have resonated in the community,” explains Fr. Miller. “Now, you talk about a million Catholics in the greater metropolitan area, which is about 27 percent of the population. It is very significant that the first stop on this exhibit is in Houston and not in Boston or New York, which are your more traditional Catholic cities.”

Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Houston Museum of Natural Science curator for the St. Peter and the Vatican Exhibit, shed additional light on the prestige of being the opening venue for the North American tour. “I would like to stress two things. It’s a very large exhibit with about 350 objects and about 70 to 75 percent of these have never left Rome before. On top of that, those 70 to 75 percent are not even on display in Rome to the public,” exclaims Van Tuerenhout.

Fr. Miller echoes the curator’s sentiments describing this fortunate circumstance for Catholics. “Nothing beats the real thing. That many objects, about 250, are in private rooms inside the Vatican that you won’t be able to see. So that makes this exhibit really special,” he explains. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, because even going to Rome, you still don’t get to see a lot of the artifacts on display here. They are simply in storage or inaccessible.”

This particular leg of the tour also features additional select items available only to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “Three objects, two drawings and one epitaph all by Michelangelo, are Houston exclusives, Dr. Van Tuerenhout proudly says, “Everything but these three items came from the Vatican. These three items came from a museum in Florence, Italy.”

While the uniqueness of the event may appeal to scholars and others in the secular world, Fr. Miller says that the exhibit’s religious theme lends a distinguishing flavor to the event. “I think it’s kind of marvelous that we’re able to celebrate something distinctively Catholic. The papacy is Catholic. It’s as Catholic as you can get.”

“Of course, other people see the historical and social significance of the papacy shaping the Western World. You cannot ignore the papacy and understand the development of Western Europe,” he adds. “I’ve talked to a lot of people who’ve seen it and who have been very moved by it including non-Catholics who said it was a very splendid exhibit and that they learned a lot.”

Many patrons of the exhibit take advantage of placing their hands over the sculpted bronze model hand of Pope John Paul II.

Courtesy HMNS

Libby D. Tilley studies a 15th century Processional Cross at the papal exhibit.

One educational facet that the the University of St. Thomas President specifically enjoys focuses on the electoral process of a pope. “I remember being in the square when Pope John Paul II was elected. It was an incredible sight,” Fr. Miller recalls from his days at the Gregorian University in Rome.

“This exhibit is a lesson on the contributions and history of the papacyand even on the electoral process of the pope. It’s preparing us forthe successor of John Paul II. It’s arranged from St. Peter up to thecurrent timing and it’s opening to the future.”

The Vatican is also unlocking its doors to the public after a sense of being shrouded in secrecy for so many years. Both Fr. Miller and Dr. Van Tuerenhout agree that this exhibit is a sign of the papacy exerting an effort to be more inclusive of its flock. “The Vatican is becoming more aware that not everyone can go to Rome. I think it’s a very good tool for evangelization and a fascinating way to teach the legacy of the papacy,” says Fr. Miller. “Even the Vatican Archives is opening now without imposing the 75 year limit.”

Dr. Van Tuerenhout concurs, detailing the displays available for viewing in the exhibit. “We have a section that deals with what happens behind the scenes during a conclave,” he explains. “We have all kinds of documents that deal with a specific historic election of a pope. Those documents are usually not available to the public.”

Dr. Van Tuerenhout, who studied ancient history and archeology as a student at the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium, dissects the exhibit into six key sections: the construction of the first basilica, followed by the construction of the second, the design of the Sistine Chapel, the missionary efforts of the Church, the announcement of the discovery of St. Peter’s Tomb and the electoral process of the pope. He also denotes the continuing timelines situated throughout the exhibit – putting the different projects and papacies in perspective with the different historical eras, names and events. Some of the items even serve as a basis for understanding the roots of modern day terminology.

“Michelangelo made these blueprints, called ‘cartoons,’ used in the design and painting of the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. But they are not the cartoons we usually think of. They would prick holes through these life-size figures outlined on paper, place the paper up against the ceiling and with charcoal dust create an outline of the figure on the ceiling,” Dr. Van Tuerenhout explains. “Interestingly enough, even the term ‘Vatican’ predates the Vatican we know today. It comes from the Etruscan Period about four, five or six centuries before Christ. The area was one of seven hills in Rome and was called Mons Vaticanus or Vatican Hill.” Fr. Miller adds that with an amazing 2,000 years of history and over 350 artifacts, the St. Peter and the Vatican Exhibition is more than an event – it’s an experience unlikely to be forgotten. “And I think it’s a huge switch for Houston to host something like that because it reflects the diversity in the city and how increasingly Catholic it’s become,” says Fr. Miller.

“I think this may be a precedent of more to come,” concludes Dr. Van Tuerenhout. “Texas seems to be the vanguard or in the forefront of receiving materials from the Vatican.” The exhibit remains at the Houston Museum of Natural Science until July 27, 2003. Visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629 for ticket information and exhibit hours.

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