Your life, Father Richard Kunst, is a gift to the people of your diocese and to those who follow the Papal Artifacts’ Collection.
Receive our thanks & gratitude in Duluth, MN, and world-wide for all you’ve accomplished in the gift of your life to our Church.
Happy New Year & God bless/es you!
The Significance of These Particular Calling Cards
On April 26, 1995, I received in the mail my first two papal autographs: those of Pope Saint John XXIII as Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, and of Pope St. Paul VI as Cardinal Giovanni Montini. I know this, because I’ve always recorded in my Bible the dates I receive a new pope’s autograph for my Collection.
And since both of these cardinals have been elevated as saints, acquiring these autographs is of even deeper significance. — Father Richard Kunst
We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude to Father Richard Kunst for the enormous undertaking this Papal Artifacts’ Collection has been and for the myriad opportunities his work has provided to educate and inform the many people who have viewed it, both in person and via this website. It is a significant addition to the New Evangelization through the beauty of the artifacts and their histories.
Happy anniversary, Father, and thank you for all you’ve done to preserve these items in your Collection!

Father Richard Kunst, Curator & Commentator
As a high school senior, I had an assignment in my Government class to write to a politician. I chose President Jimmy Carter. He sent me an autographed photo of himself and his wife and that started my interest in autographs. I began researching celebrity addresses in all fields–sports, music, politics, movies, and more–and wrote letters to these various stars. After spending hundreds of dollars in postage, I amassed a fairly large collection.
My interest then turned toward historical autographs, particularly of past presidents. I started getting subscriptions to various autograph dealers and, though I was a student, I was able to buy a nice autograph from time to time. At one point, I had autographs of 16 presidents, dating back to President Martin Van Buren.
In 1995, I received an autograph dealer catalog that offered three different papal autographs for auction. It was the first time I had ever seen a signature of a Pope made available–in a way I was shocked that they even existed. I had to get a loan from my sister, but in the end I won two of the three papal items–autographs of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, both as cardinals.
This is what started my bug for papal and religious autographs. Not long after, I was able to add signatures of Pius VII and Pius IX. Eventually I lost all interest in modern day celebrities, as well as presidential autographs. I sold nearly the entire collection. With that money, I was able to purchase a number of other fine autographs with religious themes.
After being ordained to the priesthood, I finally had a steady income to put towards the collection. At the same time, the World Wide Web was a phenomenal source of leads for rare items. I made contact with several manuscript dealers throughout Europe and was able to access great items at very good prices.
I continue my search for old, rare, and unique papal items, from documents to papal clothing. The collection is always growing.
I am often asked what I intend to do with this collection. It has always been and remains my intent to donate it to the Church where it may be enjoyed forever. At the present time I am seeking a location where it may be displayed rather than kept in archival conditions. However, because of the rarity and age of the artifacts, this would demand museum quality conditions where storage of the artifacts could be closely monitored. An ideal situation would be a Catholic college or university interested in showing this very valuable and historical collection.
-Father Richard Kunst
Father Kunst:
I have always had a purpose in collecting these artifacts: to educate the faithful about the structure of the Catholic Church and, specifically, the popes. When we call the pope the “Vicar of Christ,” what we are saying is that he is the “voice of Christ” on earth; that is what “vicar” means.
It has always been my hope and desire that my passion for the popes will lead others to the same love for and interest in our Holy Fathers, from Peter to Francis.
It is my belief that you cannot love what and whom you do not know. May this Collection encourage you to learn more about our Church and about the men and women who have served her so faithfully.
- John Santos Marto, Brother of Jacinta & Francesco Marto, and Father Richard Kunst
- Father Richard Kunst and Pope John Paul II on one of his first audiences, attempting to “swap a zucchetto.”
- Pope John Paul II With (now) Archbishop Dennis Schnurr and Father Richard Kunst: Receiving a Rosary
- Pope Francis Signing Father Kunst’s Baseball
- Father Kunst’s Joy Watching the Signing of the Baseball

Three Bottles of Wine Commissioned For the 500th Anniversary of the Swiss Guard
The Featured Image:
This wine was commissioned strictly for the Swiss Guard in 2006, their 500th anniversary.
Beer was also commissioned and brewed for them with a label similar to the wine bottles.
Over the years Father Kunst has befriended the Swiss Guard and through these connections he has been able to procure these various bottles of wine and beer.