(ZENIT News / Rome, 27.02.2024).- The mysterious and enigmatic Vatican Apostolic Archive has been, for a long time, the center of innumerable speculations and conjectures. However, recently Archbishop Sergio Pagano, Prefect of the subterranean Archive, measuring 86 lineal kilometers in longitude and housing the most confidential documents, decided to open the doors of that most historic place, to share some of its most closely guarded secrets.
In a book-interview, entitled “Secretum,” the Archbishop offers a unique vision of the events that have marked the last 12 centuries of the Church’s history, from the intriguing details behind the Galileo affair, to Napoleon’s sacking of the Archive, to the peculiar Conclave of 1922.
One of the most salient aspects of the interview is the revelation regarding the financing of the 1922 Papal Conclave. According to Archbishop Pagano, after the death of Pope Benedict XV, the Camarlengo discovered that the papal coffers were empty, leaving the Holy See in the red at a moment when Europe was still recovering from the damages of World War I. Given this liquidity crisis, the Vatican was obliged to take recourse to the American Church, which sent collected funds urgently to guarantee the holding of the Conclave that finally chose Pope Pius XI.
Another important aspect of the interview is the analysis of Pope Pius XII’s silence after the end of World War II. Archbishop Pagano offers a unique perspective on this controversial subject, pointing out that, although the Pope used a silent diplomacy to save lives during the War, his reticence to condemn publicly the Nazi atrocities after the conflict, poses uncomfortable questions on his legacy. The Archbishop suggests that Pius XII’s continuous silence might have been motivated by political concerns, specifically out of the fear that any statement on the Holocaust would be interpreted as support for the foundation of a Jewish State, which could complicate the Vatican’s relations with other nations.
In addition to these revelations, Archbishop Pagano also shares fascinating details on the internal management of the Archive and its financial challenges over the centuries. From the preservation of historical documents to the organization of the files in a subterranean fireproof bunker, the Archive has witnessed innumerable events that have shaped humanity’s history.
In sum, Archbishop Pagano’s book-interview offers a unique and fascinating vision of the Vatican Apostolic Archive, revealing hidden secrets and offering a new understanding of its role in world history.
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