TheVatican Secret Archives (Latin:Archivum Secretum Vaticanum), located inVatican City, is the central repository for all of the actspromulgated by theHoly See. ThePope of theRoman Catholic Church, having primal incumbency until death, owns the archives until the next appointed Papal successor. Thearchives also contain thestate papers, correspondence,papal account books,[1] and many other documents which the church has accumulated over the centuries. In the 17th century, under the orders ofPope Paul V, the Secret Archives were separated from theVatican Library, where scholars had some very limited access to them, and remained absolutely closed to outsiders until 1881, whenPope Leo XIII opened them to researchers, of whom now more than a thousand examine its documents each year.[2]
The use of the word "secret" in the title "Vatican Secret Archives" does not denote the modern meaning of confidentiality. Instead, it indicates that the archives are the Pope's personal property, not belonging to those of any particular department of theRoman Curia or theHoly See. The word "secret" was generally used in this sense as also reflected in phrases such as "secret servants", "secret cupbearer", "secret carver", much like an esteemed position of honor and regard comparable to aVIP.[3]
Popemobile (Italian:Papamobile) is an informal name for the specially designedmotor vehicles used by thepope during outdoor public appearances without having to employ the antiquated and often impracticalsedia gestatoria.
Image 3A monument toFr. Maximilian Kolbe, among the estimated 3,000 members (18%) of the Polish clergy who were killed by the Nazis; of these, 1,992 died in concentration camps. (fromVatican City during World War II)
Image 5Pope Pius XI decree and conferment of Saint Therese of France to be Patroness of the gardens, flanked by CardinalLouis Billot. The Leonine walls, 17 May 1927. (fromGardens of Vatican City)
Image 42TheApostolic Palace (Palazzo Apostolico), the official residence of the pope. Here,Benedict XVI is at the window marked by a maroon banner hanging from the windowsill at centre. (fromVatican City)
Image 43View of Vatican City in the evening. (fromVatican City)
... that the Vatican selectedMary Milligan in 1987 to be one of only three U.S. experts to assist the International Synod of Bishops on the Laity in Rome?
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