The Ethnological Collections Department is a testament to the pontiffs' enduring interest in the diverse cultures and civilizations of the world. It houses collections from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. The Curator is Nadia Fiussello, supported by Assistants Romina Cometti and Jean-François Genotte.

The Vatican Ethnological Museum owes its origins to the vision of Pope Pius XI, who transformed the temporary Missionary Exhibition held in the Vatican in 1925 into a permanent museum. The Ethnological Museum was inaugurated on December 21, 1927, and was housed in the Lateran Palace until 1963. The first director was Fr. Wilhelm Schmidt, assisted by Fr. Pancrazio Maarschalkerweerd and Fr. Michael Schulien, who succeeded Schmidt as director in 1939.

Another great pontiff, St. Paul VI, is credited with returning the Ethnological Museum to the Vatican from the Lateran. He placed it alongside the other great artistic and cultural collections of the past centuries, reaffirming its importance within the Vatican Museums.

The Museum was divided into two “routes.” The main route, designed for the general public, was inaugurated on April 19, 1973, while the secondary route, intended for scholars, followed in 1979. Two additional sections, dedicated to prehistory and boat models, were introduced in subsequent years. This reorganization was the result of the efforts of Fr. Jozef Penkowski, who succeeded Fr. Schulien as director in 1967.

As time passed, it became evident that displaying artifacts in an unstable environment posed risks to their integrity. Consequently, two projects focused on collections care and a third on restoration were launched in 1997 under the guidance of Msgr. Roberto Zagnoli.

From July 2009 to December 2023, Fr. Nicola Mapelli served as curator. He upheld the legacy of past pontiffs, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting and bridging the museum’s collections with their original cultures. Over the past 20 years, the Ethnological Museum has undergone significant transformations, including major renovations in how its materials are displayed.

The Australia and Oceania section was inaugurated by Pope Francis in 2019, while the Africa and Americas section was completed at the end of 2022. Currently, work is underway on a new Asia exhibition and the creation of a new entrance and exit, both scheduled for completion in 2026.

Today, the Museum is known as Anima Mundi—“The Soul of the World: Peoples, Art, and Cultures.” This name transcends the ethnology and orientalism of the 19th and 20th centuries, embodying the Vatican Museums’ aspiration to continue Paul VI's vision. It reflects an inclusive spirit, as Pope Francis envisions the museum as a welcoming home where people from all over the world can reconnect with their roots.