ROME, ITALY - September 14, 2026: Marco Antonio Soriano, CEO of Arius Technology Europe, is honored to attend the VIP inauguration of the landmark exhibition ‘AQVA’ at Vatican City this week. Officially unveiled by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on September 14, 2026, at the historic Vatican Apostolic Library (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana), the showcase marks the first chapter of the library's major multi-year exhibition series, Catastrofe e Meraviglia ("Catastrophe and Wonder").
The much-awaited AQVA exhibition explores humanity's evolving relationship with water. Examining both its role as a vital life resource and its potential threat to cultural artifacts, alongside historical scientific manuscripts, contemporary site-specific art installations, and archival restoration displays. This exclusive invitation underscores the growing intersection between Arius’ advanced 3D art digitization capabilities and the Vatican's ongoing efforts to document, safeguard, and present irreplaceable human heritage.
Capturing and Preserving the World’s Cultural Heritage
As a global leader in fine art preservation, Arius utilizes proprietary 3D optical laser-scanning systems to produce high-fidelity digital twins of physical masterpieces. At the core of our scanning capabilities is Moneta, our mobile 3D optical laser scanner designed to travel directly to the artwork.
Perfect for scanning non-transportable treasures, such as delicate frescoes adorning historic walls, architectural monuments throughout Vatican City, Moneta captures surface texture and geometry on-site. This technology allows cultural institutions, conservators, and museum custodians to study, preserve, and democratize access to world heritage without subjecting original works to transport risks or environmental degradation.
“It is a privilege to attend the inaugural unveiling of AQVA at Vatican City,” said Marco Antonio Soriano. “A country without art is a nation without culture. At Arius, our primary mission is to preserve fine art for all to enjoy. The Vatican Apostolic Library stands as one of the world's premier custodians of human knowledge, and witnessing this milestone reinforces our commitment to deploying state-of-the-art optical technology to protect shared global heritage for generations to come.”
Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi highlighted the forward-looking vision of the exhibition series, emphasizing that the initiative fosters a dynamic dialogue between contemporary innovation and centuries-old heritage, balancing fidelity to the past with a commitment to the future.
Soriano’s participation highlights Arius' position as a leader in fine art digitization, as well as The Soriano Group’s continued investment in global cultural initiatives and sustainable innovation.
Learn more about Arius’ mission to protect and preserve global cultural heritage > https://www.ariustechnology.com/company/services
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About AQVA at Catastrofe e Meraviglia
Inaugurated by Pope Leo XIV on September 14, 2026, AQVA is the opening exhibition of Catastrofe e Meraviglia ("Catastrophe and Wonder"), a major five-year exhibition series at the Vatican Apostolic Library (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana). The initiative explores humanity's relationship with natural elements as a reflection of our shared anxieties, hopes, and vulnerability. Centred on the dual nature of water, both as a vital resource and a destructive threat to library heritage, AQVA bridges centuries-old treasures with contemporary creative disciplines. The exhibition features site-specific installations by artist JR, typography by Bill Moran, and culinary narrative works by chef Fulvio Pierangelini, alongside historical manuscripts, scientific treatises, and insights from the Vatican's Conservation and Restoration Laboratory. AQVA will be open to the public from September 25, 2026, through May 14, 2027.
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