Ecclesiastical Museums and the Pontifical Letter on Its Pastoral Functions

The Catholic Church arrogates a long tradition of protecting and using heritage to complement its evangelisation ministry from the medieval ecclesiastical treasures included in museology proto-history. While these have adopted museographic features, other typologies museums appeared, demanding regulations that could orient their activities. After Second Vatican Council, became increasingly focused on guaranteeing worthy destination for objects left over worship. In 2001, Pontifical Commission Cultural Heritage published Circular Letter pastoral function museums, establishing museum is an adequate solution objects, keeping them close cultural group origin providing continuity original catechetical function. Two decades later, critical analysis proposed theoretical frame studies. Considering recovery object’s meaning discourse, connection territory, interaction with plural heterogeneous audience, conformity theory underlined. With focus general accuracy, aim this study evaluate how remains actualised adapted contemporaneity addition challenges transformations now faced by museums.