” “"A welcoming house of science, culture and humanity, that opens its doors to scholars from all parts of the world, without distinction of origin, religion or culture". This is how the Pope defined today the Vatican Library, as he visited the "Pope’s Library" and the Vatican Secret Archives. "Your task said Benedict XVI to the people who work in the two Papal institutes is to guard the synthesis of culture and faith which exudes from the precious documents and the treasures you guard, from the walls that surround you, from the Museums that are near you and the magnificent Basilica that appears, shining bright, at your windows". The Secret Archives, the "destination of so many research workers from all over the world", recalled the Pope, "have been a point of reference for whole generations of historians, actually for the European nations", not just for "learned research" on "distant times", but also "for interests that pertain to ages and times that are close, or even very close, to us", commented the Holy Father, as he mentioned the recent opening of the institute to researchers in the Pontificate of Pius XI, which he decided in June 2006. (continued)” “
