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Secrets and mysteries of the Vatican have captivated the attention of people for centuries. The Vatican City is a place shrouded in a veil of secrecy and enigma that intrigues people all over the world. As the seat of the Catholic Church and the smallest sovereign state on earth, it has a history rife with legends, myths, and conspiracy theories. From the removal of books from the Bible to the alleged presence of aliens and demons, the Vatican has always been surrounded by mystery and intrigue.
In this article, we will unravel some of the most fascinating and enigmatic aspects of the Holy See: the mysteries of the Vatican. We will explore its supernatural beliefs, trials and punishments, and biblical connections, and explore their cultural significance. Let’s dive deep and explore the mysteries of the Vatican.
I. The Bible and the Vatican: Mysteries of the Vatican revealed
A. The 14 books removed from the Bible in 1684 – The Catholic Church has been known to possess a powerful hold on its followers. The clergy has always had the authority to remove or add books to the Bible. In 1684, Pope Clemente XI removed 14 books from the Holy Bible, which raised eyebrows and brought about questions from intellectuals around the world. Was it a step towards the censorship of knowledge or a conscious decision made by the papacy to keep the teachings pure? Well, we can only speculate.
B. The alleged evidence of Jesus Christ’s marriage to Mary Magdalene and their offspring – The book ‘The Da Vinci Code’ by Dan Brown caused a stir by popularizing a theory that Jesus Christ had a secret relationship with Mary Magdalene, which produced offspring. Believers in this theory claim that the Vatican has been hiding this information for centuries. However, there is no concrete evidence that this theory holds any truth. Until today, this case is one of the most famous mysteries of the Vatican.
C. The controversial movie Rocketman and its Vatican backing – Elton John’s biopic, Rocketman, received an unlikely endorsement from the Vatican in June 2019. This would come as a surprise to many, given the movie’s homosexual and drug-related themes – two subjects that the Catholic Church frowns upon. The endorsement came via an official Vatican Twitter account, to say the least – a bold move from the Holy See.
II. The Supernatural and the Vatican
A. The vision of the end of the world and the apparition of the Virgin Mary to three Portuguese shepherds in 1917 – In 1917, three Portuguese shepherds claim to have had a vision of the end of the world and an apparition of the Virgin Mary. The Vatican deemed the vision genuine and approved it for public devotion. The site where Mary allegedly appeared, the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, is now a world-famous pilgrimage site. In 2017, Pope Francis visited the site in honor of the hundredth anniversary of the visionary events.
B. Among the mysteries of the Vatican is the treatment of 70,000 cases of demonic possession by Reverend Gabriel Amorth – Reverend Gabriel Amorth was the chief exorcist of the Vatican responsible for treating people possessed by demons. He holds the record for exorcising over 70,000 people, including a former Italian president’s daughter. The Reverend’s accounts of demonic possession are so scary and intriguing that they could launch a whole franchise of horror movies.
C. The mysterious orange disk spotted hovering over Vatican City in 2007 – In 2007, a strange orange disk-shaped object was seen hovering over the Vatican for several minutes before disappearing. The UFO enthusiasts claimed that this was proof of extraterrestrial life, while the skeptics thought that it was nothing more than an experimental aircraft.
III. The Trials and Punishments of the Vatican
A. The trial and punishment of a dead man by Pope Stephen VI in 897 – One of the most bizarre events in Vatican history was the trial and punishment of a former pope named Formosus. Pope Stephen VI ordered the exhumation of Formosus’s corpse and commanded that he be tried for his papacy’s alleged corruption and conspiracy. The dead pope was found guilty, stripped of his papal vestments and his body thrown into the Tiber River.
B. The secrets and treasures of the Vatican Secret Archives – The Vatican has a vast collection of documents and treasures dating back to the Roman Empire. The myths and legends surrounding the archives are that they contain everything from lost Alexandrian papyri to the secrets of the Knights Templar. However, the truth is that less than one percent of these items are on display for visitors to see. This only, has created many theories among the researchers of the mysteries of the Vatican.
C. The high crime rates in Vatican City due to tourism – Vatican City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with over six million visitors annually. Consequently, it attracts criminals who prey upon the tourists. Pickpocketing and scams remain rampant in Vatican City, and the police force, known as the Swiss Guards, play a critical role in keeping the tourists safe.
Conclusion
The Vatican may be a small country, but its history is full of mysteries and controversies that still fascinate people. Its stories range from bizarre to sinister to intriguing, and there is still a lot that people don’t know. The Holy See has served as a very crucial cultural symbol throughout history, as evident through the overwhelming number of speculations surrounding every aspect related to it. Its cultural and religious significance cannot be understated but neither can it diminish the Vatican’s influence on art, literature, and pop culture.
Further Resources
- Vatican: All the Paintings – A comprehensive book that provides a complete collection of Vatican’s masterpieces in a one-of-a-kind format.
- Secrets of the Vatican – An investigative documentary that presents a deeply human history of the Vatican.
- The Vatican Tapes – A horror movie based on a story of demonic possession set in Vatican City.
- The Vatican Museums – The official website of the Vatican Museums, with 3D tours and other valuable resources.
- ‘The Da Vinci Code’ by Dan Brown – A thriller novel that explores a theory about Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.
- The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima – The official website of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima with information about the site and the 1917 vision.
- Rocketman (2019) – The biopic of Elton John endorsed by the Vatican.