Peter’s Barque became part of the collections of the Vatican Museums. Pope Francis blessed “the precious artifact,” received as a gift on March 15, 2023, from the historic Aponte family of shipowners. An official press release from the Vatican Museums gave the official news.

The vessel – the press release states – is the faithful reproduction of the ancient and original Little Boat of Peter found in 1986 on the bottom of the Sea of Galilee and today is kept in the Yigal Allon Museum in Ginosar, in Galilee.

From Tuesday, October 10, the imposing sailing boat, almost 9 by 2 meters (30 x 6 feet) long, will find its scenographic and definitive location at the entrance of the Vatican Museums, nestled at the base of the modern helical ramp also called The Sea Route – a permanent exhibition route with boat models from all over the world.

The Barque of Peter will welcome, with its strong symbolic and spiritual charge, all the pilgrims and tourists departing for their evocative “journey” towards the beauties of the Pope’s Museums, “or to the ‘Home of all,'” according to an expression dear to Pope Francis.

Translated and adapted by Jacob Stein.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa.