More than 250 papal artifacts come to Minnesota's Mall of America

BLOOMINGTON, MINN. - The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is almost 200 years old, and to celebrate, the Rev. Richard Kunst of the Diocese of Duluth has curated “Vatican Unveiled,” the largest collection of papal artifacts outside of Rome.

As the curator of the Diocese of Duluth’s collection, Kunst said the mall was a great fit, citing the “basic mall traffic” and “not being a normal venue.”

The objects on display belong to the Diocese of Duluth. The earliest object is a very small piece from a chair that St. Peter sat on.

The exhibition opens Jan. 10 at the Mall of America and includes 250-300 items from previous popes, saints and the Vatican.