Far from being mere expressions of opulence, objects such as textiles, metalwork, furniture, ceramics, and precious furnishings offer profound insight into how beauty, power, and faith were intertwined across centuries of papal history. Created for private apartments, ceremonial spaces, and diplomatic exchange, these works reflect the refined tastes of their patrons as well as the theological and political messages they were meant to convey. Through selected examples, the lecture traces the transformation of these objects from symbols of luxury and status into enduring elements of a shared cultural legacy.