Vatican Secret Archives

The Latest

Documents from the Pontificate of Pius XII released by the Vatican Apostolic Archive.

Pope Francis appoints new prefect of Vatican archives

Jul 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Apostolic Archive contains 53 miles of shelving preserving documentation preserving important documents for the Church dating to the... Read more

Documents from the Pontificate of Pius XII released by the Vatican Apostolic Archive.

Scholar hopes Vatican archives will give 'fuller, transparent' picture of Pius XII

Mar 15, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

A researcher from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum told CNA that she hopes the recent opening of the Pius... Read more

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis changes name of secret archive to Vatican Apostolic Archive

Oct 28, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis declared Monday that the Vatican Secret Archive be changed to the title of Vatican Apostolic Archive, to avoid... Read more

Hitler.

Vatican to open WWII secret archives of Pope Pius XII

Mar 4, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis announced Monday that the Vatican will open its archives on the pontificate of Pope Pius XII. Confidential files... Read more

One of the texts collected by Fr. Marega.

The story of Japan's hidden Christians emerges from the Vatican archives

Sep 17, 2015

Collected by a Salesian missionary to Japan in the early 20th century, letters and documents showing the history of Christians... Read more

Galileo Galilei's signature in one of the Lux in Arcana displays.

New exhibit reveals Vatican Secret Archive documents to public

Feb 29, 2012

For the first time in history, the Vatican is making public over 100 historical documents from its Secret Archives.  Read more