Vatican to showcase its treasures in Philadelphia

A COLLECTION of Vatican artifacts will be arriving just in time for the papal visit, but not in the pontiff's carry-on bag.

The Franklin Institute is set to host "Vatican Splendors," an exhibit showcasing 200 objects spanning Vatican history, the museum announced Friday.

"In 109 days the world is coming," said Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families. "This is going to be truly one of the showpieces."

About 80 of the relics in the exhibit, opening Sept. 19, will leave Rome for the first time.

The 10,000-square-foot exhibit will show artwork by Michelangelo and tools used in work on the Sistine Chapel. Bone fragments of Ss. Peter and Paul will accompany mosaics, frescoes and paintings in 11 different galleries.

"Look but don't touch" is a general rule in art galleries, but visitors will be able to do both to a bronze cast of St. John Paul II's hands.

"What normally you would have to travel to another continent to see, people will be able to come right here to the Parkway to see," Farrell said.

A similar exhibit toured six cities in the U.S. in 2010-11, but different objects are included this time, said Troy Collins, senior vice president of TFI. The next stop for the collection hasn't been announced yet.

"The eyes of the world will be on our city and I'm so proud that the Franklin Institute will help to celebrate and educate the public about the history and culture that surround the Vatican," said TFI president and CEO Larry Dubinski.

Archbishop Charles Chaput wrote letters on behalf of the museum to secure the artifacts, Collins said.

He said the exhibit is expected to attract about 250,000 visitors until it closes in February. More than 1.5 million people are estimated to line the Parkway to see Pope Francis.

Speaking at the announcement Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of VISIT PHILADELPHIA, and Greg Fox, chairman of the PA Convention Center Authority, said events and attractions surrounding the big event are intended to enhance the whole experience.

TFI will be attractive to visitors because of its variety and proximity to the week's events, Levitz said. "We were enchanted with the thought that one day we can have Genghis Khan and the next day we can have Vatican Splendors - only in Philly and only at the Franklin Institute," she said.

The choir from Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford performed to mark the announcement.

The World Meeting of Families Congress will meet the week of Sept. 21. The event will culminate with an appearance and Mass by Pope Francis over the weekend.

Philadelphia is the first American location for the tri-annual WMOF since it began in 1994.

Tickets for the exhibit, open Sept. 19 until Feb. 15, are $34.95 for adults; $28.95 for children, and include daytime museum admission. Tickets for evening admission, from 5 p.m. until closing for the Vatican exhibition only, are $22.95 for adults; $14.95 for children.