Cleaning the Apostles

Crews are cleaning every inch of The Basilica, including the marble statues of the apostles that surround the Sanctuary. Carved in Italy, they are half-scale replicas of the statues in Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome.

Rather than scrubbing the stone with soap and water, conservators use a specialized conservation material that is applied to the marble. Once it cures, the latex-like layer is carefully peeled away, lifting decades of dirt and grime while preserving the marble’s original finish. The process is labor-intensive and takes significant time to complete all 12 apostles.

Saint Thomas sprayed with cleaning product that will be peeled off.

Photos: Ken Fournelle