The Smallest Country In The World: Secrets Of The Vatican

One of the first things you notice when you visit the Vatican is the incredible art and architecture on display at every turn. The Sistine Chapel, famous for its stunning frescoes by Michelangelo, is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Vatican. But there are also many other must-see works of art, such as Bernini's sculptures and Raphael's tapestries.

But the Vatican also has a dark side. Hundreds of people have been executed here over the centuries, their punishments related to the laws of the Papal States. According to legend, the Apostle Peter was the first bishop of Rome and was executed in Rome during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero in 64 AD. He was buried in the catacombs under St Peter's Basilica.

An altar was built above it in St Peter's Basilica on the site of his grave. The catacombs are also where popes are buried when they die. It is also the final resting place for clergymen, cardinals and other important figures of the Catholic Church. The tombs can be visited with a guided tour.

In the 17th century, the library and the archive were separated from each other. Originally, the archive was called the "Vatican Secret Archive" (Archivum Secretum Vaticanum). However, Pope Francis changed the name to "Vatican Apostolic Archives" in October 2019, as the term "Segreto" (secret) led to misinterpretations. Nevertheless, the term "secret archive" is not out of place: it is the Pope's private archive, in which millions of documents are stored that go back more than 12 centuries. Here, too, only a small part is accessible to researchers and scholars, the rest remains under lock and key.

The stored documents contain important information about controversial historical events and open questions. Among others, about the trial of Galileo or the role of Europe in the Second World War. There is even a rumour that the Vatican is hiding evidence of extraterrestrial life in its secret archives.

The information about the Vatican secret service is speculative and not officially confirmed. It is believed that the Vatican Secret Service is mainly responsible for the security of the Pope and the Vatican State. According to insiders, it also deals with the surveillance of individuals and groups considered a threat to the Holy See.

Officially, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is the only armed security service and secures the Apostolic Palace, the entrances to Vatican City and the entrances to the Pope's summer residence in the small town of Castel Gandolfo. It also provides order and honour services and is responsible for the Pope's personal security. The Vatican City State has its own police force, the Gendarmeria Vaticana, which provides general security as state, judicial and traffic police.

The Vatican Bank IOR manages all the movable assets of the Holy See and is the sole administrator of these. The Vatican Property Administration (APSA), on the other hand, manages Vatican real estate and other assets. This strict separation was decreed by Pope Francis only last year and is intended to make speculation about money laundering and bad investments more transparent. Particular attention was given to the criminal trial surrounding the investment in a London property, in which former Vatican employees: inside were charged with embezzlement, corruption, money laundering and other charges.

Since APSA's founding in 1967, the first annual financial statement providing insight into its assets was published in 2021. More than 5,000 churches and investment properties are owned by the Vatican worldwide. From the balance sheet, gross assets of 1.4 billion euros and net assets of 883 million euros can be derived. According to the IOR report in June 2021, the value of the official Vatican gold reserves is a whopping 22,833 million euros. But the works of art that the Vatican guards are also of inestimable value.

It has the most extensive collection in the world. The Vatican Museums are said to contain over 70,000 works of art, including works by Leonardo DaVinci, Vincent van Gogh and Michelangelo. It is estimated that the market price of the artworks is around 91 billion euros.

Father Gabriele Amorth was the Vatican's chief exorcist from 1986 to 2000. According to his own information, he performed about 50,000 exorcisms during this time. He was also the founder of the International Exorcists Association, which the Vatican officially recognised. In an interview in 2000, Amorth said he spoke to the devil daily. The priest would speak Latin, and the devil would answer back in Italian.

An exorcism is a ritual that is intended to expel evil powers and spirits from persons and other living beings or objects. Thus the possessed person is to be cleansed, healed and freed from evil with God's help. The Vatican guidelines specify that the exorcist must first verify the actual existence of a possession. If this is the case, the evil forces are driven out with the help of prayers, blessing formulas and holy water. The exorcist may need to consult with medical or psychological professionals before performing the ritual. The Pontifical College even offers exorcist courses.