VATICAN CITY, March 25, 2014—

On March 28, a press conference will be held at Sala Stampa della Santa Sede to announce the return of a popular biblical exhibit to the Braccio di Carlo Magno in Rome. Presented by Museum of the Bible, the exhibit is titled Verbum Domini II: God’s Word Goes Out to the Nations. Press conference participants will include representatives from Museum of the Bible, Pontifical Biblicum Institute, Vatican Library, Pontifical Council of Culture and American Bible Society.

What:
For two millennia, the transmission, translation and dissemination of the Bible has shaped and reshaped the history of the world. At Verbum Domini II: God’s Word Goes Out to the Nations, visitors will be transported around the globe and throughout time to discover the history of the spread of God’s Word. More than 45,000 people from more than 100 countries visited Verbum Domini during its first run in Rome in 2012.

This exhibit, showcasing 200 ancient and rare biblical texts and artifacts, will be located at the Braccio di Carlo Magno museum and will run from April 2 through June 22, 2014.

When:
Friday, March 28, at 11:30 a.m.

Where:
The press conference will be located at Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (Press Office of the Holy See), Via della Conciliazione, 54, 00193 Roma

Who:                        

• Rev. Msgr. Melchor Jose Sanchez de Toca y Alameda, undersecretary, Pontifical Council of Culture
• Rev. Fr. Jose Maria Abrego de Lacy, rector, Pontifical Biblicum Institute
• Dr. Ambrogio M. Piazzoni, vice prefect, Vatican Library
• Cary Summers, chief operating officer, Museum of the Bible
• Mario J. Paredes, American Bible Society Roman Catholic Ministries
• Sean-Patrick Lovett, director of English Language Programming, Vatican Radio (presenter and translator)

Sponsors:

• Abbey Library of St-Gall, Switzerland
• American Bible Society
• American Bible Society Rare Bible Collection, on loan to the Museum of Biblical Art, New York
• Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana
• Bridwell Library Special Collections, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
• Fürstliche Bibliothek Stolberg-Wernigerode
• Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• The Green Collection
• Laurentian Library, Florence
• Libreria Editrice Vaticana
• The Master and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
• Mart Green
• Ministero per i Beni Culturali
• Museum of the Bible
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington
• Pontificium Institutum Biblicum
• Società Biblica in Italia
• The Syndics of Cambridge University Library
• Timken Museum of Art, Putnam Foundation Collection, San Diego
• Vatican Museums, Vatican City

About Museum of the Bible:
Museum of the Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to invite people to engage with the Bible through four primary activities:

• EXHIBITS: Traveling exhibits of biblical artifacts from the Green Collection have, to date, been held in 17 cities in the United States and in four other countries. The Passages exhibit currently is on display in Springfield, Missouri, Verbum Domini II runs in St. Peter’s Square in Rome through June 22 and the Book of Books is on display at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem through September.
• SCHOLARSHIP: Academic research conducted through the Green Scholars Initiative brings established and young scholars together to pioneer groundbreaking research on items in the Green Collection.
• MUSEUM: A yet-to-be-named international museum opening in 2017 in Washington will be dedicated to a scholarly approach to the history, narrative and impact of the Bible.
• CURRICULUM: More than 70 scholars have written and overseen the development of an elective Bible curriculum for high school students.

-30-

MEDIA NOTE: Contact the Vatican Press Office at P. Ciro Benedettini, Deputy Director, Holy See Press Office + 39 06 698 921.