Vatican City: Pope Leo has ordered the expansion of the Vatican Apostolic Archive and Vatican Apostolic Library, granting them additional space within Vatican City State and calling for the construction of a new building to meet their growing needs.
The decision comes as the Holy See’s collection of books and other bibliographic materials, along with the documentary output of its institutions, has increased considerably in recent decades. The Pope said the existing spaces available to the Archive and Library are no longer sufficient.
The new site will include the area known as the Fontana dell’Autoparco and adjoining areas, within boundaries set out in an attached plan. The new building will primarily serve the Vatican Apostolic Archive and Vatican Apostolic Library, with the space divided equally between the two institutions. A further section will be reserved for other needs of Vatican City State.
Pope Leo stressed the importance of the two institutions in preserving and protecting the administrative and cultural memory of the Apostolic See.
The decision also follows an earlier proposal by Pope Francis, who had identified an area belonging to the Lateran, on the other side of Rome’s city centre, as a possible location for the expansion. Pope Leo said that new opportunities had emerged within Vatican City State in recent months and that these were preferable for several reasons.
Under the plan, the Governorate of Vatican City State will work closely with the Archive and Library and will cover the cost of the areas intended for State services. The Archive and Library will cover the costs connected with relocating the motor pool and creating a new parking area.
To secure the financial resources needed for the construction and ensure effective management of those resources, Pope Leo has also ordered the establishment of a Vatican instrumental foundation. The Vatican Apostolic Archive and Vatican Apostolic Library will establish the foundation in their capacity as Founding and Promoting Entities.
The foundation will operate under the legal and operational rules established by the 5 December 2022 Motu Proprio concerning instrumental juridical persons of the Roman Curia.
Until the new building is completed, the Vatican Apostolic Library will continue using the storage spaces it currently occupies at the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary.