With the upcoming Conclave to elect a new Pope, the world’s attention is once again focused on the extraordinary Sistine Chapel, one of the most iconic and visited places in the Vatican Museums. This artistic and spiritual wonder is not only one of Rome’s main attractions, but also the symbolic heart of the Catholic Church in historical moments such as the one we are currently experiencing.
Visiting the Sistine Chapel today, just days before the Conclave, offers an even more intense and meaningful experience. Thousands of visitors flock to the Vatican Museums every day to admire Michelangelo’s frescoes live, especially the famous Last Judgment and the Creation of Adam, true masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.
Sistine Chapel awaiting Conclave between art and spirituality
Commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV in the 15th century, the Sistine Chapel is much more than an art gallery. It is a sacred place where papal ceremonies take place and, most importantly, where the cardinal electors gather in Conclave to choose St. Peter’s successor. Before the actual Conclave begins, the Extra Omnes is pronounced and the chapel is isolated from the outside world and transformed into an environment for prayer, reflection and voting. It is here that the cardinals, under frescoes depicting the divine judgment, make one of the most important decisions for the Catholic Church.
What to see during the visit
In addition to Michelangelo’s extraordinary frescoes, the Sistine Chapel holds works by artists such as Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Rosselli, who decorate the side walls with scenes from the lives of Moses and Jesus. Every detail tells a story and invites contemplation.
To access the Sistine Chapel, it is necessary to walk through the Vatican Museums, an extremely rich museum complex that includes the Vatican Picture Gallery, the Raphael Rooms and the Gallery of Maps, among others.
If you are in Rome these days, visiting the Sistine Chapel takes on an even more special meaning. While waiting for the white smoke, this place allows you to touch on history, art and spirituality at a crucial time for the Church and the world.
