Partner Case Study | Valorem

Valorem Reply created a digital twin of Saint Peter’s Basilica using the power of Azure, making it accessible to anyone, anywhere with an internet connection and a device.

A Jubilee, or Holy Year, is a special time of grace when the Catholic Church invites people to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Traditionally, the faithful are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Rome—but with over a billion Catholics worldwide, that can mean huge crowds at the Vatican’s holy sites, which risks damaging them and dangerous overcrowding. And, for many, traveling to Rome simply isn’t possible due to time or financial constraints.

But what if people could experience Saint Peter's Basilica without ever setting foot in Rome? That was the challenge presented to Valorem Reply in 2025, which was a Jubilee year.

"The Vatican recognized that there are two billion Catholics in this world, most of whom were not coming to the Jubilee. And they wanted to have a unique and immersive experience for the world and for the people who can't actually make it to the Basilica and walk through for themselves. Nothing like this had ever been done before," said Ryan McCamy, Lead, Tech for Social Impact at Valorem Reply.

The Vatican sought to highlight Saint Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee by creating both an on-site exhibition and a global digital experience. The web experience offers several entry points: a historical storytelling section that traces the Basilica's origins and significance, a virtual tour covering 30–40 points of interest focused on art and architecture, and an interactive 3D model (the digital twin) built from 400,000 high-definition images captured by a partner vendor.

Continue reading here

Explore all case studies or submit your own

Subscribe to case studies tag to follow all new case study posts. 

Don't forget to follow this blog to receive email notifications of new stories!