 In the 17th century, Pope Benedict XIV responded to public and Church interest in archaeology by establishing an association of students of Roman archaeology.Antonio Bosio's work on the catacombs had drawn the attention of international archaeologists to the early history of Christianity.In 1816 Pius VII, on the recommendation of Cardinal Consalvi, gave official recognition to the "Accademia Romana di Archeologia" and the academy became an important international centre of archaeological study.