Pope Leo XIV has named three Italian professors to the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology. They are Alfonsina Russo, Director General of the Italian Ministry of Culture, and Professors Lucrezia Spera, full professor of Christian and Medieval Archaeology at the Department of Literary, Philosophical and Art History Studies of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, and Francesca Romana Stasolla, full professor of Christian and Medieval Archaeology at the Department of Ancient Sciences of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. The Commission, which is currently chaired by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, was established by Pope Pius IX on January 6, 1852. Its purpose is to " safeguard the ancient sacred cemeteries, to ensure their preservation in advance, further explorations, investigations and study, and also to protect the most ancient memories of the early centuries of Christianity, the notable monuments, the venerable Basilicas, in Rome, in the suburbs and Roman territory, and also in other Dioceses in agreement with the respective Ordinaries”. It was declared pontifical by Pius XI on December 11, 1925, with a Motu Proprio that expanded its powers.