Pope Francis relocates Vatican archives to the Major Roman Seminary

Pope Francis has established that part of the documents from the Apostolic Library and the Vatican Apostolic Archive be transferred to the headquarters of the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary.

Through a new chirograph Signed on October 29 and published on November 12, the Holy Father reported on the relocation of part of the archives housed by both institutions.

The Pontiff recalled that the characteristic features of the activity of both the Archive and the Vatican Library are “the centuries-old care for the custody of the acts and documents that concern the government of the universal Church, together with the commitment to the development and dissemination of culture.”

For this reason, and with the objective of “contributing to the more effective management of activities and the conservation of assets”, Pope Francis has decreed that “the spaces be expanded”, using “part of the building and its surroundings that in the “Extraterritorial area of ​​San Juan de Letrán houses the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary.”

In this way, these entities “will collaborate together in carrying out the work, according to their respective competencies, observing the current provisions, procedures and guidelines that are necessary for an orderly execution of this indispensable work that the Pedro Headquarters puts at the service.” of the Church and the world of culture.”

In addition, Pope Francis constitutes a Commission made up of representatives of the Secretariat of State, the Vatican Apostolic Archive and the Vatican Library to determine the categories of documents that will be moved to the new rooms.

The Holy Father also determined that this Commission will be able to function immediately, in “parallel to the transfer work that is being carried out.”