The Vatican Secret Archives is the central repository in the Vatican City
for all of the acts promulgated by the Holy See. The Pope, as Sovereign of
Vatican City and having primal incumbency, owns the archives until his
death or resignation, with ownership passing to his successor. The archives
also contain the state papers, correspondence, papal account books, and
many other documents which the church has accumulated over the centuries. In
the 17th century, under the orders of Pope Paul V, the Secret Archives were
separated from the Vatican Library, where scholars had some very limited
access to them, and remained absolutely closed to outsiders until 1881, when
Pope Leo XIII opened them to researchers, more than a thousand of
whom now examine some of its documents each year.
Name The use of the word "secret" in the
title "Vatican Secret Archives" does not denote the modern meaning of
confidentiality. Its meaning is closer to that of the word "private",
indicating that the archives are the Pope's personal property, not belonging
to those of any particular department of the Roman Curia or the Holy See. The
word "secret" was generally used in this sense as also reflected in phrases such
as "secret servants", "secret cupbearer", "secret carver" or
"secretary", much like an esteemed position of honour and regard comparable
to a VIP. Extent
The Vatican Secret Archives have been estimated to contain 85 kilometres of
shelving, and there are 35,000 volumes in the selective catalogue alone.
"Indexes must be consulted in the Index Room and replaced in their original
location. Publication of the indexes, in part or as a whole, is forbidden." The
Archives support their own photographic and conservation studios.
According to the website of the Archives, the oldest surviving document
dates back to the end of the eighth century. "Transfers and political
upheavals nearly caused the total loss of all the archival material preceding
Innocent III." From 1198 onwards, more complete archives exist, though
documentation is scant before the 13th century. Since that time, the
documentation includes items such as Henry VIII of England's request for a
marriage annulment, and letters from Michelangelo.
Access The entrance to the Archives, adjacent
to the Vatican Library, is through the Porta di S. Anna in via di Porta
Angelica. New underground storage space was added in 1980.
Qualified scholars from institutions of higher education pursuing scientific
researches, with an adequate knowledge of archival research, may apply for an
entry card. Scholars need an introductory letter by either a
recognized institute of research or by a suitably qualified person in the field
of historical research. Applicants need to specify their personal data as well
as the purpose of their research. Undergraduate students are not admitted.
There are strict limitations to what archive users are able to view and
access. For example, no materials dated after 1939 are available for public
viewing. Pope Francis is considering when to open the full archives of Pope
Pius XII. Opening of the archives
Customarily, documents are made available to the public after a period
of 75 years. 1817: Vatican Secret Archive brought
back to the Vatican from France. 1883: Pope Leo XIII opened archives
dated 1815 or earlier. 1924: Documents up to the end of the
pontificate of Gregory XVI were released.
1966: Documents from the pontificate of Pius IX.
1978: Documents from the pontificate of Leo XIII.
1985: Documents from the pontificates of Pius X and Benedict XV.
2002: Documents from the historical archives of the Secretariat of State
pertaining to the Holy See's relations with Germany during the pontificate of
Pope Pius XI. The reason for this exceptional action was "to put an end to
unjust and thoughtless speculation." 2006: All documents from the pontificate
of Pope Pius XI. 2012 exhibition
To mark the 400th anniversary of the Vatican Archives, 100 original documents
dating from the 8th to the 20th century were put on display from February to
September 2012 in the "Lux in arcana – The Vatican Secret Archives reveals
itself" exhibition held at the Capitoline Museums in Rome. They
included the 1521 bull of excommunication of Martin Luther and a
letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, written while awaiting her execution.
Cardinal Archivists of the Vatican Secret Archives
A list of the Cardinal Archivists is given on the website of the Archives:
= Prefects of the Vatican Secret Archives=
Other Holy See archives There are other Holy See archives in
Rome, since each department of the Roman Curia has its own archives. The word
"secret" in its modern sense can be applied to some of the material kept by
the Apostolic Penitentiary, when it concerns matters of the internal forum;
but registers of the rescripts that it issued up to 1564 have been deposited in
the Vatican Secret Archives and are open for consultation by qualified scholars.
Half of these have already been put in digital form for easier consultation.
The confidentiality of the material means that, in spite of the centuries
that have passed since 1564, special rules apply to its publication.
See also Actes et documents du Saint Siège
relatifs à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale Acta Apostolicae Sedis
Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Chinon Parchment Henry Denifle, sub-archivist at the
Vatican Pontifical secret
Relations between Catholicism and Judaism
Vatican Film Library, which contains microfilmed versions of some of the
documents from the Archives, in St. Louis, Missouri
Index of Vatican City-related articles List of national archives
References Further reading
External links Vatican Secret Archive Official Web
Site, including a history of the Secret Archives
The Vatican Palace, as a Scientific Institute, Catholic Encyclopedia
Roman Historical Institutes, Catholic Encyclopedia
Ecclesiastical Archives, Catholic Encyclopedia
Archives of the Holy See, New Catholic Dictionary, 1910 edition
University of Michigan Vatican Archives Project, a detailed history, description
and catalogue of archives Palazzo del Sant'Uffizio: The Opening of
the Roman Inquisition's Central Archive by Anne Jacobson Schutte, Perspectives
Online, Published by the American Historical Association, May 1999
Inside the Vatican, National Geographic, April 8, 2004
An interview with Sergio Pagano, prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, January
18, 2005. Sergio Pagano = News articles=
Inquisition Requires Calm, Objective Analysis, EWTN Library, from
L'Osservatore Romano, November 11, 1998. Address of Pope John Paul II to the
participants of the International Symposium on the Inquisition at the
Vatican, October 31, 1998. In attendance was the internationally renowned
historian Carlo Ginzburg. In 1979, Ginzburg sent a letter to the then newly
elected Pope John Paul II, asking that the archives of the Holy office be
opened. Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, credited Ginzburg, and his
1979 letter, as having been instrumental in the Vatican's decision to open these
archives. Vatican to Open Archives Tied to a Key
Era in Germany, Zenit News Agency, October 29, 2002
Vatican to computerize archives from the Holy Office, Inquisition, Catholic World
News, December 5, 2002. Vatican 'dispels Inquisition myths', BBC
News Online, June 15, 2004 John Paul II Letter on Inquisition
Symposium, Zenit News Agency, June 15, 2004
Scrutinizing the Inquisition; an "exposé of the tortures and injustices committed
by various national Inquisitions...", Zenit News Agency, June 24, 2004
Jewish group threatens to sue Vatican for access to archives, Catholic News
Service, January 28, 2005 Vatican's secret archives now open to
scholars, CathNews, September 19, 2006 New Insights into Vatican's Diplomacy
"Documents from newly opened Vatican archives indicate...", NewsVine.com,
October 12, 2006 Religiosa Archivorum Custodia. IV
centenario della fondazione dell'archivio segreto vaticano, Archivio
segreto vaticano, 2012, Roma.