Vatican Unveils Visitor-Friendly Initiatives for St. Peter's 400th Anniversary

The Vatican is celebrating the 400th anniversary of St. Peter's Basilica's consecration with numerous visitor-friendly initiatives, including expanding terrace access and its snack bar beneath Michelangelo's dome. Vatican officials revealed plans aimed at improving visitor flow while safeguarding the basilica's artistic treasures.

Among the new offerings are an online reservation system to reduce waiting times and simultaneous translations for Masses in up to 60 languages. A permanent exhibition tracing the basilica's history is opening on the terrace, accompanied by an expanded snack bar to cater to guests.

Despite some controversy over a bistro on the basilica's roof, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti defended the provision of refreshments for those visiting the St. Peter's cupola. The Vatican also announced a new Michelangelo-inspired font for Microsoft Office, with initiatives sponsored by Italian energy company ENI.