People working at a kiosk on the first floor of Mall of America in Bloomington are selling merchandise and tickets to Vatican Unveiled, a Jan. 10 to Feb. 1 exhibit that will feature the largest collection of papal artifacts outside of the Vatican.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda invited Father Richard Kunst, a priest from Duluth and curator of Vatican Unveiled, to display the artifacts as the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis celebrates its 175th anniversary.
“How significant it is that we have opportunities to learn more about our archdiocese in the 175th anniversary year by coming to know a little bit more about the Holy See and about the popes and indeed about our history,” the archbishop said to Father Kunst in August, when the priest brought crates full of artifacts to St. Paul to show archdiocesan employees.
The 19,000-square-foot exhibit will include those artifacts and more — 300 items from popes, saints and others. The exhibit is located on the north side of Mall of America near the JW Marriott.
Exhibit organizers Amy Tadlock and Molly Litecky of the archdiocese wrote to The Catholic Spirit saying, “Having the first-floor kiosk has been a great way to promote the upcoming exhibit and encourage a wide variety of people to feel comfortable coming to experience these artifacts.”
Tadlock and Litecky said many people shopping for Christmas presents are stopping by the kiosk to purchase tickets and gifts, such as engraved drinking glasses, pens, tote bags, shirts and a stuffed teddy bear wearing a shirt that says, “Da Pope.”
“So many items have interesting historical back stories and hearing even one story gets people excited to see the rest,” Tadlock and Litecky wrote about the exhibit. “At the kiosk, we are selling merchandise including Cathedral, Vatican Unveiled and Pope Leo XIV themes, and many people are purchasing merchandise for themselves and those on their Christmas list. If you are interested in gifting an exhibit ticket along with some fun merchandise, come visit us at the kiosk.”
Until Jan. 10, tickets are $25, then $30 starting when the exhibit opens Jan. 10.
