On 29 February 2024, beginning at 5:30 p.m., the book launch of Secretum, Papi, guerre, spie: misteri dell’Archivio Vaticano svelati dal Prefetto che lo guida da un quarto di secolo, Intervista con Mons. Sergio Pagano (Popes, Wars, Spies: Mysteries of the Vatican Archive Revealed by the Prefect Who Has Led It for a Quarter of a Century. An Interview with Monsignor Sergio Pagano) took place in Rome. The distinguished event was hosted in the ceremonial hall of the Fondazione Marco Besso, located in the heart of the Eternal City at Largo di Torre Argentina. Alongside the author, Monsignor Sergio Pagano, Bishop-Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archive, numerous journalists and a large audience of interested guests were in attendance. Representing the Vilmos Fraknói Vatican Historical Research Group (PPKE–PTE HUN-REN), Katalin Nagy—Vatican archival research resident of the Research Group and research fellow of the Gyula Moravcsik Institute—was present. What follows is her brief report on the event.
The book presentation was opened by Paolo Pagliaro, Editor-in-Chief of La Repubblica and himself the author of several books. He drew particular attention to the title Secretum, which deliberately evokes the former name of the “Vatican Secret Archive.” He emphasised that many of the documents preserved in the Archive still await thorough scholarly investigation in order to be properly interpreted. Numerous questions remain unanswered to this day, notably concerning the pontificate of Pope Pius XII and figures such as Galileo Galilei.
The second speaker was Paolo Mieli, former Editor-in-Chief of Corriere della Sera. In his remarks, he highlighted that Monsignor Pagano’s book offers a balanced and well-founded portrayal of Pope Pius XII in relation to the events of the Holocaust. The same methodological sobriety, he noted, characterises the treatment of topics such as King Henry VIII of England and the discovery of America. Lucio Caracciolo, Editor-in-Chief of the Italian Geopolitical Review, focused on the meaning of Pope Pius XII’s silence, even in light of the well-documented fact that the Church provided extensive assistance to Jews subjected to persecution.
Finally, Massimo Franco, also a member of the editorial board of Corriere della Sera, observed that Monsignor Pagano—having worked as an archivist for forty-five years and as Prefect for twenty-seven—possesses an unparalleled knowledge of the Vatican archival fonds and their secrets. He noted that in a secluded part of the Archive, documents had been discovered indicating that Pope Pius XII maintained a well-organised political intelligence network, bordering on a “spy system.” At the same time, some of these documents suggest that materials deemed sensitive for the Church may have been destroyed. In this regard, Franco stressed that historical facts must not be concealed.
Towards the conclusion of the event, Monsignor Pagano himself addressed the audience, adding that archival documents attest that Pope Pius XII held several bank accounts with different financial institutions, one of which was used specifically to provide material assistance to Jews. He further noted that the Pope’s silence regarding the situation of the Jews can be interpreted in various ways, including the possibility that he sought to avoid worsening their already precarious circumstances and thus felt compelled to remain silent, despite his genuine concern for their plight.
The event was followed with great interest by numerous university lecturers, Italian and international researchers, journalists, and members of staff of the Vatican Apostolic Archive.
