On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Pacelli High School students had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They toured the Vatican Splendors exhibit, on loan from the Vatican. This exhibit opened on Sept. 27 at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.

There were more than 200 works of art and historically significant objects on exhibit, many of which have never before left the Vatican or have even been displayed there. Items included: Mandylion of Edessa, the earliest known image of the face of our Lord; Venerated relics of Saint Peter; Michelangelo’s compass from the Sistine Chapel; Pope John Paul II crosier; and items from the Conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI including the cartridge that created the “white smoke.”

Over the centuries, the Catholic Church, specifically in the museums at the Vatican, has served as keeper of many objects of art. These objects are not kept for the wealth or the reputation of the church itself. They are kept in the Vatican museums for the entire world to be educated, to be inspired by and to experience the beauty, history and faith.

This particular exhibition provided many opportunities for the students to be enriched, to better understand their faith and to evangelize. The items in the exhibition do not stand alone; they presented a broader picture of the Catholic faith and what has brought Catholics to this period in time.

Pacelli students developed a clearer understanding of the Catholic faith when they discussed what they experienced during the exhibition visit. Students were able to converse with their teachers and classmates about the exhibition and also had the opportunity to ask questions about the Catholic faith in their religion classes. Several other activities also took place in the classroom that tied in with the exhibit.

The Catholic faith is a gift from God and the Vatican exhibition provided a fresh and exciting context to tell of its good news.