Vatican Secret Archives to be unveiled on Rome’s Capitoline Hill

Gregory VII’s 'Dictatus papae' (1073-1085); Clement VII's letter to the English parliament on the matrimonial cause of Henry VIII (1530), and the codex of the trial of Galileo Galilei (1616-1633) are just some of historic treasures set to leave the Vatican for the first time in centuries. They will go on public display on Rome’s Capitoline Hill in a groundbreaking exhibition due to open February 2012.

"'Lux in Arcana' - the Vatican Secret Archives unveiled", is the title of the exhibit organised in conjunction with Rome’s Capitoline Museums and was presented to the press at the Vatican Tuesday by Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Raffaele Farina., archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church, Bishop Sergio Pagano B., prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, and Giovanni Alemanno, mayor of Rome.

In his intervention Cardinal Bertone pointed out that "the inherent richness of this exhibition is augmented by the fact that it is being organised outside the Vatican, on the Capitoline Hill which symbolically represents the 'heart' of Rome and its relationship with the papal city down the centuries”. He said “the challenge was to make the resources of the Vatican Secret Archives, with all their academic knowledge and experience, converge with those of the capital city, the Capitoline Museums".

For his part, Cardinal Farina explained that "ancient pontifical documents of great importance, as well as letters concerning significant aspects of the life of the Church in the world, will be leaving the Vatican for the first time and will be available to be viewed by visitors to the Capitoline Hill, traditional headquarters of the government of Rome".

Bishop Pagano noted that the exhibition "aims to throw light on the reality of this venerable institution (the Vatican Archives), on its nature, its contents and its activities. Hence the choice of theme as 'Lux in Arcana'". "Among the millions of documents held in the Vatican Secret Archives we have chosen around one hundred which illustrate the complexity of the overall holdings", said the bishop.

The exhibition, he explained, "thus offers the wider public its first chance to enter the reality of the Vatican Secret Archives. ... Modern technology will enable visitors to enter the Pope's archive and to understand the role it has played over the centuries at the service of the Holy See and the world of culture, preserving and handing down an enviable patrimony of knowledge".

Finally the mayor of Rome highlighted how "the city of Rome, capital of Italy and see of the Roman Pontiff, is proud to host this event which, in some way, underlines the bond between the secular city and the religious city. ... It is a courageous gesture on the part of the Holy See to organise an exhibition at this level, at the same time agreeing to let these precious documents leave the Vatican. 'Lux Arcana' is an opportunity to recount to Romans and pilgrims the extraordinary adventure of man". Listen: