Vatican City—As I write this from the Domus Sanctae Marthae,
the residence where Pope Francis makes his home, I see the spire of St. Peter’s
Basilica, the gold cross of Christ serving as a beacon of hope.

Saint Peter’s Square is a short walk away. Pope Francis has
just finished his Sunday morning address to thousands, who intersperse his talk
with shouts of “Viva, Il Papa.” After the Holy Father’s speech ends, the
faithful empty the square in an orderly fashion; wooden barricades slice the
piazza into quarters and rectangles.

Two banners on the square herald the April 1 opening of Verbum Domini II: God’s Word Goes Out to the
Nation, anexhibit showcasing
more than 200 ancient artifacts and rare biblical texts, including fragments
from the Dead Sea Scrolls and a first edition of the King James Bible.

Inside the venue, workers prep the area for the exhibit’s
inauguration. Right now, the space is all but bare; a few posters are propped
against the wall and tools are strewn on tables. The biblical artifacts have
yet to be displayed.

In an interview, curator Cary Summers shares his excitement
for the exhibit, his love of the Bible and his hope that Verbum Domini II will
touch the hearts of those who visit.

“I have a passion for people to get excited about God’s
Word,” says Summers, chief operating officer of the Museum of the Bible, which
is coordinating the event. “We titled the exhibit—God’s Word Goes Out to the
World—because it aligns well with Pope Francis, who takes God’s Word out to the
world.”

This is the second of the Verbum Domini exhibit series; the first, held nearly two years ago,
explored the Jewish, Catholic and Protestant contributions to the Bible.

Both exhibits honor the universality of the Bible.

“God’s Word is available to everyone, regardless of their
religious affiliation,” says Summers. “There’s a tendency to put boxes around
God’s Word. But when you get out in the world, there are no yellow lines around
the Bible.”

Buoyed by the first exhibit’s success—nearly 45,000 people
came, representing more than 100 countries—Summers is eager to launch Verbum Domini II.

“People who visited last time had different perspectives:
Some had no faith. Some had a little; others had strong beliefs,” recalls
Summers. “If people know God, we hope they get even more excited about him. If
they don’t know him, we hope the exhibit will open their hearts to him.”

Verbum Domini II will
remain at Braccio Di Carlo Magno, next to St. Peter’s Basilica, until June 22.