The Vatican has long been a source of controversy and speculation about what it may be hiding. In the 1800s, the library was open to scholars, but in recent years the rules have become more lax, and now there are many things that can be seen. Here are 15 historical documents that are in the archive.
Crusade
In the late 1100s, a papal bull launched the Fourth Crusade. Christian militias attacked Constantinople, and the sack of the city was so brutal that the Pope declared it to be an example of affliction because of its violence and the enormous loss of life.
Immaculate Conception
In the early 1850s, the Pope issued the Ineffabilis Deus. This document officially committed the Church to the belief that Mary had been conceived without sin, as stated in the Apostolic Constitutions. This was a debated topic and remains a hot issue today, but the paper still stands in the library.
Excommunication
In the early 1520s, the Pope issued a papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. This excommunicated Martin Luther. This act marked the beginning of the Reformation and the rise of Protestantism. The Pope before this one had given Luther two months to recant his condemnation of the Church. Luther adamantly refused.
Knights Templar trials
The knights had centuries of privilege as an elite army during the Crusades. However, the Templars’ prestigious status became seen as a liability. It was thought that Philip IV of France had all of the knights arrested to avoid paying them. So the knights were charged with heresy. After being brutally tortured for years, many admitted to the charges and were burned at the stake. The Pope intended to pardon them, but was convinced to condemn them instead.
Galileo
The 1600s raised the question of whether the Earth was truly the center of the universe. The Church said it was and persecuted anyone who said otherwise in public. Galileo had already gotten in trouble because of his theories, but he got into further trouble after claiming to discuss the idea of a heliocentric solar system, although he did not fully believe it. Under Pope Urban VIII, however, he was deemed to be committing heresy.
Michelangelo
The letter in the archive warned Pope Julius II that the guards had not been paid for 90 days. They were threatening to walk out and not come back. While people aren’t sure what inspired the artist to write the letter, it has prompted many to come up with some interesting theories.
Annulment
One of the most famous annulments in history, King Henry VIII sought to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, because she was unable to produce a male heir. He had a woman he was in love with, Anne Boleyn, but he couldn’t divorce his wife. So he made a petition to try and secure an annulment. When the Pope refused, Henry separated from the Church and later married Anne in secret. Henry later killed Anne and took on another wife.
New World
In the late 1490s, Pope Alexander VI issued the Inter Caetera. This gave Spain control of any unclaimed land that was 100 leagues away from Cape Verde and the Azores. This meant that the eastern area of what is now Brazil would belong entirely to Portugal, while the rest of the continent would belong to Spain.
Lincoln and Davis
Both letters were written to Pope Pius IX in the early 1860s. Lincoln wrote asking that the Pope accept Union Brigadier General Rufus King as the representative to the entirety of the Papal States. He didn’t say that the violence was tearing the country in two. The other letter detailed the horrors and argued that the Confederate states should form their own country.
Church record
The oldest loose parchment that is still kept in the archive is from 809 CE. According to their account, the paper describes a donation to a church in Venice. It holds fascination because it has stood the test of time. History buffs have wished they could examine it with their own hands, but we’re not at that stage yet.
Flying machine
Bartolomeu Lourenço de Gusmão was a priest who lived in a colony in Brazil. He spent a lifetime in study. He learned that there were disparities in density and, over the years, made several demonstrations of objects floating. While he designed the plans, he never completed them. However, he named it the Passorola.
Mary Queen of Scots
Mary fled to England after a Scottish revolt, and she mistakenly believed that Queen Elizabeth I would save her. However, Elizabeth was Henry’s daughter, and though Mary was related to him and had a strong tie to the throne, Elizabeth wanted to secure her crown. After keeping her imprisoned for more than twenty years, Elizabeth finally condemned Mary to death. In prison, Mary wrote to the Pope begging him to save her. Unfortunately, she was still killed.
Grand Empress
The Grand Empress Dowager Wang wrote on a silk scroll in 1650. She had converted to Catholicism and appealed to the Pope for help. The Qing Dynasty had forced her to flee Zhaoqing. Unfortunately for her, her letter never reached the Pope because he died first. As such, the letter never got an audience.
Dalai Lama
In a letter written to a Buddhist leader’s deputy, the Pope requested protection. He asked for a Franciscan mission in Tibet and wanted the friars to have the freedom to preach the Gospel to people. This is another part of the library that holds great interest for people.
Ali Agca
Ali Agca attempted to assassinate the Pope and sent a letter to the Vatican expressing his fears. He also wanted to meet Pope Francis. In the letter, he stated that he believed people at the Vatican might harm him and requested a meeting. The letter was sent in early 2005. His sentence was overturned due to statutes of limitation, and before his target died, he wished him well but told him the world would end soon.
Pieces Of History
The Vatican will always be a place of wonder, and through these historical documents we can see moments in history that were bloody, violent, and often cruel (we’re looking at you, Henry). Marriages torn apart, knights facing torture, and family killing family. Which historical document surprised you the most?
