Archbishop Sergio Pagano, the longtime Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archive, is breaking decades of silence to unveil century-old discoveries in his forthcoming book, "Secretum." Pagano provides an unprecedented understanding of historical narratives and lesser-known information spanning more than 12 centuries, drawing on his 45 years of experience in conserving the Archives.

In 1881, Pope Leo XIII opened the archive to scholars, initially reserved for the pope's use. The archive, spanning documents from the 8th century, contains 85 kilometers of shelving. Housed in a secure underground bunker with fireproof reinforced concrete, it holds documentation from Vatican embassies and collections from aristocratic families and religious orders worldwide.

In a collaboration with Italian journalist Massimo Franco, Pagano explores the history of the Vatican, unearthing mysteries that have intrigued people for decades. From Napoleon's intrusion into the archives in 1810 to the financing of the 1922 conclave by U.S. Catholics, Pagano sheds light on events that have shaped the history of the Holy See.

The Vatican has attempted to deconstruct its archives, yet some mystery has remained. With this forthcoming book, Pagano hopes to shed some light on the inner workings of the Vatican Apostolic Archive. He emphasizes that, like any national or private archive, researchers request permission to access specific documents, conducting their studies in dedicated reading rooms under Pagano's watchful eye.

READ ALSO: Renaissance Astronomy Books With Hidden Texts Find New Home at RIT

Debate on Pope Pius XII's Legacy

One point of historical controversy has been Pope Pius XII's wartime archives, whose apparent silence on the Holocaust has been the subject of historical disagreement. In 2020, Pope Francis unveiled these records ahead of schedule, giving academics a thorough picture of Pius' papacy. Pagano, known for his willingness to critique historical figures, questions Pius' silence post-war, attributing it to concerns about geopolitical implications.

A recently discovered correspondence revealed that during World War II, Pope Pius XII had detailed information from a trusted German Jesuit about the mass gassing of up to 6,000 Jews and Poles daily in German-occupied Poland. This revelation challenges the Holy See's argument that it could not verify diplomatic reports of Nazi atrocities to denounce them, intensifying the ongoing debate about Pius' legacy and his stalled beatification campaign.

In the forthcoming book, Pagano expresses dissatisfaction with the incomplete research behind Pius' sainthood cause. He reveals that the Jesuit researchers relied solely on a partial compilation from 1965, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to evaluating the historical record.

Financial Dynamics Between the U.S. Church and the Vatican

Beyond Vatican intrigue, Pagano's book unveils novelties such as the financial relationship between the U.S. church and the Vatican, dating back to the 1922 conclave. The urgency for funds during this period sheds light on the historical dynamics between the Vatican and the American faithful.

As readers delve into Pagano's revelations, they will encounter not only well-known stories of Vatican history but also discover hidden gems, including the origins of significant financial relationships and the survival of pivotal historical documents during moments of crisis.

The interview with Pagano concludes with a sense of pride as he showcases a prized possession - an original 1530 letter from British nobles urging Pope Clement VII to grant King Henry VIII an annulment. This artifact, preserved during Napoleon's 1810 seizure of the Vatican archives, symbolizes the archivist's dedication to preserving history and underscores the importance of these revelations in this upcoming book.

RELATED ARTICLE: Vatican Doctrine Chief Under Scrutiny for Explicit Book on Sensuality