This one-hour illustrated lecture explores the history of the Vatican Pinacoteca, the painting gallery of the Vatican Museums, and the journey of sacred masterpieces from altar to museum wall. Originally created for chapels, monasteries, and private prayer, these works were never intended as “museum pieces.” Yet over centuries, popes recognized the need to preserve, protect, and thoughtfully display them. We will examine how political upheavals, including Napoleonic confiscations, restoration efforts, and evolving ideas about public access to art, shaped the collection. Featuring artists such as Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio, the lecture reveals how devotion, preservation, and papal vision transformed a treasury of faith into one of the world’s most important painting galleries.