It also serves as a historic step toward the reunification of the survivingParthenonsculptures.

Because of this, the famed marbles also have the colloquial misnomer of The Elgin Marbles.

This return is expected to take quite a long time, as repatriations usually do.

Sculpture of a bearded man from the Parthenon

“From the Southern metopes with the centaur battle,” from the Vatican Museum’s Parthenon Marbles.Photo:Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports

Scroll below to see some of the incredibly preserved pieces from the Parthenon.

Pope Francis has announced that the Vatican will return three 2,500-year-old Parthenon artifacts back to Greece.

Sculpture of a boy from the Parthenon

“From the North frieze with the Panathenaic procession” from the Vatican Museum’s Parthenon Marbles.Photo:Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports

Sculpture of a horse’s head from the Parthenon

“Horse’s head attributed to the West pediment” from the Vatican Museum’s Parthenon Marbles.Photo:Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports