Archivio Segreto Vaticano (Vatican Secret Archive)

The Archivio Segreto Vaticano, or Vatican Secret Archive, is a vast collection of historical documents relating to the Catholic Church and the Vatican City. It contains over 85 kilometers of shelves filled with papal records, correspondence, and documents dating back more than a thousand years. Despite its name, "secret" refers to its historical privacy, not secrecy about sensitive information, and it is now accessible to qualified researchers. The archive offers invaluable insights into church history, diplomacy, and world events, reflecting the Church’s long-standing role in global affairs.