To the German patron of the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, Dr. h.c. Hans Urrigshardt, was awarded the Pontifical Honor of Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great. 

The Order of St. Gregory the Great today is still one of the five pontifical orders of the Catholic Church, following the Plan Order and precedes the Order of St. Sylvester. According to the diplomatic ceremonial it is a first-class order. The order is reserved for men and women of Catholic religion in recognition of their service to the Church, for extraordinary jobs, in support of the Holy See and for their good example in the communities and in the country. To Dr. Urrigshardt the most heartfelt wishes of the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra for this important honor which underlines the value of its charitable actions. 

On Saturday, 16 June 2012, the President of the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, Sen. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Albert Courtial consigned to the Rector Magnificus of the Salesian Pontifical University, Prof. Don Carlo Nannie, to the Vice Rector Prof. Gianfranco Coffele, a contribution to the conservative restoration of the works of sacred art of the Aula Magna / Auditorium of the Salesian Pontifical University.Presented to the Holy Father Benedict XVI the southern elevation of the Vatican Basilica after its complete restoration, partly financed by the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra 

The main façade of the Basilica of San Pietro, with its imposing appearance known throughout the world, was restored in the Holy Year of 2000. Since then the Factory of St. Peter has promoted the restoration of the south elevation of the Vatican Basilica which, with its nearly 14,000 square meters, has a surface more than double. The restoration work was urgent as fractures and water infiltrations risk causing the detachment of elements and damage inside the Basilica. 

The first and second batch of restoration work on the side facades, begun in 2007, concerned the seventeenth-century plant added by Maderno to the central Greek-cross building of the Basilica, designed in the sixteenth century by Michelangelo. The third lot of the works, which concerned just this oldest part of the Basilica carried out personally by Michelangelo, and on which the attention of the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra was concentrated since 2010, is also interesting because it contains the entrance into Basilica named, "Door of Prayer", through which the Holy Father, Heads of State and the Diplomatic Corps enter the Basilica for celebrations. 

On Wednesday, 13 June 2012, the work was presented to the Holy Father Benedict XVI before the general audience, by His Eminence Cardinal Archpriest Angelo Comastri, Vicar General of the Holy Father for the Vatican City and President of the Factory of St. Peter’s, accompanied by Delegate Monsignor Vittorio Lanzani. Those who took part in the work and the benefactors who supported the initiative were present, including Sen. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Albert Courtial, Founder and General President of the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra with a group of important supporters from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sri Lanka. 

After the meeting with the Pope, the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra offered a lunch in the Council Chamber of Palazzo Cardinal Cesi, in honor of the supporters who allowed the restoration of the third lot, in the presence of His Eminence Cardinal Francesco Marchisano , President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church and Archpriest emeritus of St. Peter's Basilica, member of the honor committee of the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra.