What began as a single statue in a papal courtyard became one of the greatest museum complexes in the world. In this engaging one-hour lecture, we trace the fascinating and often surprising history of the Vatican Museums—from the personal passions of Renaissance popes to the vast, carefully curated collections that now welcome millions of visitors each year. Far from being conceived as a “museum” in the modern sense, the Vatican collections grew organically, shaped by theology, politics, humanism, rivalry, devotion, and a profound belief in the power of beauty to teach, persuade, and inspire.