Next year, the Mall of America will welcome visitors from all around the country for “Vatican Unveiled,” an exhibit of papal artifacts hosted by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in celebration of the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary.
The 19,000-square-foot exhibit is set to be on display from Jan. 10 to Feb. 1, 2026 and will feature more than 350 diverse items, according to the archdiocese.
“If you are a history buff, there’s interesting historical items that are related to different pieces of art, history and government, and how the Vatican and government intersect,” said Molly Litecky, manager of the archdiocese’s Office of Project Leadership, according to Papal Artifacts. “If you have an artistic eye, there are interesting, beautiful items with old-world craftsmanship..”
The exhibit is curated by Father Richard Kunst, a priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, who collects Papal artifacts. His interest in historical memorabilia began in high school when he received an autographed photo of Jimmy Carter. As an adult, he saw an auction for three papal autographs.
“It was the first time I had ever seen a signature of a Pope made available – in a way I was shocked that they even existed,” Fr. Kunst said, according to Catholic News World. “I had to get a loan from my sister, but in the end, I won two of the three papal items – autographs of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, both as cardinals.”
The young man soon lost interest in memorabilia from secular celebrities and sold his then-sizable collection, retaining only objects with religious significance. Since being ordained, Fr. Kunst has continued to collect religious artifacts, especially those associated with the papacy.
“The collection is always growing,” he told Catholic News World. “I am often asked what I intend to do with this collection. It has always been and remains my intent to donate it to the Church where it may be enjoyed forever. In the meantime, I am happy to share my collection with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as they celebrate their 175th anniversary.”
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