The Vatican has launched a new project that rewards users with NFTs, giving them access to exclusive manuscripts from the Vatican Apostolic Library.
Not profile pictures
The Vatican Library Web3 Support Project was announced recently, offering NFT rewards to users that provide access to 21 manuscripts from the Vatican Apostolic Library’s collection.
The idea started in Japan last February, and has now been introduced in Italy by NTT DATA Italia, a leading IT company from Japan, in collaboration with the Vatican Apostolic Library.
The project’s goal is to grow the online community of the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana by connecting the institution with its supporters on a new way.
Keys for the secret library
Italian users can participate in the Vatican Library Web3 Support Project until July 16 by either sharing the project on their social media platforms or making donations through the project’s website, and after this, participants will receive special NFT prizes in return, which serve as keys to access and view high-resolution images of selected manuscripts from the library.
Users who share the project on social media will receive an NFT Silver, allowing them to view 15 manuscripts. Those who make donations will receive an NFT Gold, granting access to all 21 high-resolution images.
Past and future
Don Mauro Mantovani, Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, told that this project aligns with the library’s mission to make its collections accessible to the public and promote both research and scientific development.
He noted that the library values the new communities being created by NTT DATA and planning similar future initiatives with different partners.
The Vatican’s move to Web3 technology is not entirely new, because in 2021, Pope Francis launched the Scholas Occurrentes collection, a limited edition of NFT artworks available on the AkoinNFT marketplace.
The revenue from this collection were directed to the Scholas Occurrentes Foundation, the Pope’s global charity organization.
The Vatican’s latest project clearly shows its commitment to using modern technology to connect with a bigger audience and make its cultural heritage more accessible.
