Founded in 1983 after a major exhibition from the Vatican toured The Metropolitan (New York), the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum (San Francisco) and The Art Institute of Chicago, a group of philanthropists recognized the unique opportunity to participate in art conservation. Desiring to address the preservation of the artwork and historic buildings of the Vatican, the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums was launched worldwide.

Today, the Patrons are an international reality with chapters in North American and European countries. They support the preservation and conservation efforts of the Museums. While the themes in our priceless collection may be eternal, the paintings, sculptures, frescoes, tapestries and historic buildings are sensitive to the ravages of time.

It is often the unseen and unnoticed work of the museum which must continue if the unique spiritual and cultural mission of the Vatican Museums is to flourish.