Why are there vatican secret archives?

[Guest Moira]

Hi I have a question about the vatican's archives and library.
Why are some of the artifacts and papers inside kept secret? I know that scholars are only let inside with specific purpose and permission from the pope. Besides fear of artifacts being stolen, couldn't the vatican make copies of scriptures inside so the world could know more about the church and the world at the time those documents were created?

I don't know too much about archival processes in other religions but I have done some research and have found there isn't much that is kept secret...

Thoughts?

[dUSt]

I look forward to a Scholar answering this question, but this link may answer your question:
[url="http://212.77.1.199/en/arch/secret.htm"]http://212.77.1.199/en/arch/secret.htm[/url]

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
12/31 - Pope St. Sylvester I
[quote name='dUSt' date='Dec 31 2005, 10:49 AM']I look forward to a Scholar answering this question, but this link may answer your question:
[url="http://212.77.1.199/en/arch/secret.htm"]http://212.77.1.199/en/arch/secret.htm[/url]
[right][snapback]841617[/snapback][/right][/quote]
Bingo.

-PN