Vatican Apostolic Archive

The Vatican holds many old papers.

These papers are in a special place. It was once called a secret archive. This name meant the papers were private.

Many years ago, the papers moved a lot. Some were even lost during wars. A leader named Paul V put them all in one place. Now, many people come to study them. They read old letters and books. It is a great place to learn history.

The Vatican Apostolic Archive is a very large collection of papers.

It is located in Vatican City. The Pope owns the items in the archive. For a long time, it was called the Vatican Secret Archive. The word "secret" meant the papers were private. It did not mean they were hidden from everyone.

In the past, the papers moved often. They traveled with the popes. This caused some items to be lost. Long ago, Napoleon Bonaparte took many papers to France. Most were returned later, but some were lost forever. In 1612, Pope Paul V put the records in one place.

Today, many scholars visit the archive. They study old letters and books. They can see papers from the trial of Galileo. They can even see letters from the artist Michelangelo. Some papers are still private. This includes items from after 1958. Many researchers visit every year to learn about history.

The Vatican Apostolic Archive is a huge collection of history. It is located in Vatican City. This archive holds many important documents from the Holy See. These include state papers, letters, and account books. The Pope owns all the material in the archive. This ownership stays with him until he dies or resigns. Then, the items pass to the next Pope.

In the beginning, the Church collected records in the first century. These records were called the Holy Scrinium or the Chartarium. Because Popes traveled often, the papers traveled too. This was hard because moving papers caused many items to be lost. By the 11th century, the records were kept in three different places. During the Western Schism, there were even multiple sets of archives. It took until 1784 to bring all these different archives back together.

In 1612, Pope Paul V ordered all records to be kept in one place. He separated the archive from the Vatican Library. For a long time, the archive was closed to outsiders. In the 1790s, Napoleon Bonaparte took many manuscripts to France. He sent over 3,000 crates of items to Paris. The archive finally returned to the Vatican in 1814. However, some items were lost during this move. Experts think one-fourth to one-third of the papers never came back.

Things changed in the late 19th century when researchers could visit. Pope Leo XIII opened the archive to scholars in 1881. He wanted people to study history to understand the past better. Today, more than a thousand researchers visit every year. They can see famous papers like the trial of Galileo. They can even read letters from the artist Michelangelo. Some items are still private, like those from after 1958.

The archive is incredibly large and organized. It holds an estimated 16 million pages of documents. There are about 35,000 volumes in the selective catalogue alone. You can find letters from Pope Innocent III starting in 1198. There are also famous documents like a letter from Mary, Queen of Scots. Researchers must follow strict rules when they visit. They can only use paper, pencil, and laptops. No ink or digital cameras are allowed inside the rooms.

The Vatican Apostolic Archive is the central repository for all official acts of the Holy See. Located in Vatican City, it serves as a massive collection of historical records. This archive includes state papers, correspondence, and account books accumulated over many centuries. The Pope acts as the sovereign of Vatican City and owns the materials. This ownership remains with him until his death or resignation. At that point, the collection passes to his successor.

For a long time, the collection was known as the Vatican Secret Archive. The word "secret" did not mean the documents were confidential in the modern sense. Instead, it meant the archive was the private property of the Pope. This is similar to how terms like "secret servant" once described a position of high honor. In 2019, Pope Francis officially changed the name to the Vatican Apostolic Archive. Despite this name change, some materials remain classified. Most restricted items relate to contemporary figures or activities occurring after 1958.

The history of these records began in the 1st century of Christianity. Early collections were known as the Holy Scrinium or the Chartarium. Because Popes traveled for diplomacy, they often took these records with them. This constant movement caused the loss of many important items. By the 11th century, the archives were split between three different sites. These locations included the Lateran, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Palatine palace. During the Western Schism, rival claimants to the papacy even created their own separate archives. It took until 1784 to fully reunite these disparate collections in the Vatican.

In 1612, Pope Paul V ordered all Church records to be gathered in one place. He separated the archive from the Vatican Library. This created a dedicated space for these historical documents. However, the archive faced a major crisis during the Napoleonic Wars. In the 1790s, Napoleon Bonaparte demanded manuscripts as tribute from the Italian peninsula. By 1813, more than 3,000 crates of Vatican materials had been shipped to Paris. The documents were stored at the Hôtel de Soubise. When the archive was finally ordered back to the Vatican in 1814, it faced funding problems. Some officials even sold documents by weight to raise money. Scholars estimate that one-fourth to one-third of the materials never returned to the Vatican.

Access for researchers changed significantly during the 19th century. For many years, the archive remained closed to outsiders. In 1879, Pope Leo XIII appointed Cardinal Josef Hergenröther as archivist. Hergenröther recommended that historians be allowed to study the documents. This led to the construction of a reading room that opened in 1881. Pope Leo XIII believed that impartial research could clarify the role of the papacy in history. He famously encouraged researchers to "go to the sources." Today, more than one thousand researchers examine documents in the archive each year.

The archive contains a staggering amount of information. It holds an estimated 16 million pages of documents. The selective catalogue alone contains 35,000 volumes. Researchers can find the complete papal registers starting from the reign of Pope Innocent III in 1198. The collection includes famous items like Henry VIII's request for an annulment. There are also handwritten transcripts from the trial of Galileo. You can even find letters from Michelangelo regarding his work on the Sistine Chapel.

Modern popes have made important decisions regarding what the public can see. In 2002, Pope John Paul II opened documents regarding the Holy See's relations with Germany. This helped researchers study the Church's relationship with the Nazi Party. In 2018, Pope Francis ordered the opening of documents related to Theodore McCarrick. Most recently, on March 2, 2020, the archives of Pope Pius XII were opened. This allows for a better study of his response to the Holocaust. These decisions show that the Church is willing to engage with modern historical scrutiny.

Visiting the archive requires following very strict rules. Only distinguished scholars from higher education institutions may apply for an entry card. Applicants must explain the specific purpose of their research. Once inside, visitors are limited to using only paper, pencil, and laptops. No ink, pens, or digital cameras are permitted. To maintain order, only sixty academics are allowed inside each day. This ensures that the massive collection of 16 million pages remains protected for future generations.