Earlier this year, a life-size replica of the Barque of St. Peter was donated to the Vatican. Now, the Barque is exhibited near one of the busiest areas of the Vatican Museums.
BARBARA JATTA
Director, Vatican Museums
This was the desire of the Holy Father Pope Francis. He wanted it to be put in the sight of as many people as possible, so we put it here, at the entrance of the Vatican Museums where everybody passes.
The boat is over 28 feet long and is capable of carrying around a dozen people. It is an exact replica of the original that was discovered on the shore of Lake Tiberias in 1986. While this boat is not necessarily believed to be the exact one of the apostles, it is representative of the type of fisherman's boat used in Jesus' time.
MAURIZIO APONTE
Donor, Barque of St. Peter
The materials, everything was made based on what was present in the Holy Land at that time, such as cedar, flax and hemp. We used everything that was used to build boats 2,000 years ago.
Installing the boat into its place at the Muesums was far from a simple task. But the Aponte family, who donated the Barque in collaboration with the International Diplomatic Institute of Rome, is thrilled that it is now accessible to visitors.
MAURIZIO APONTE
Donor, Barque of St. Peter
I feel honored for my family and as a person because I never thought it would come to this. Originally, the gift was intended as a private gift from our family to the Holy Father. Period. Nothing else.
Now, this important symbol of the apostles is a reminder of the early Church to the nearly 7 million people who visit the Vatican Museums each year.
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