1The Vatican Secret Archives

Finally, the Vatican Secret Archives remain one of the great mysteries of the Vatican. For years people have puzzled and theorised over what lies within these top secret archives. The archives reportedly hold 35000 volumes and the oldest documents date back all the way to the eighth century.

Until the nineteenth century, not even researchers and scholars were permitted inside this closely guarded space. The archives include some of the most significant documents in Catholic history and are still only open to a select few who are thoroughly assessed before being allowed access. On top of this, documents from 1939 onwards remain off limits to everyone outside of the Church. As the name suggests, we may never know everything contained in the Vatican Secret Archives.

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