Francis popped in unexpectedly to the Vatican Apostolic LibraryA librarians’ work honors human wisdom and divine wisdom, said Pope Francis on December 4, while visiting the Vatican Apostolic Library, I.MEDIA learned.
During this 45-minute surprise visit, the Sovereign Pontiff was accompanied by Archbishop José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça, archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, as well as Monsignor Cesare Pasini, prefect of the Library.
Pope Francis told the Library staff that their role is essential. According to him, their work honors the two rivers that irrigate human reason: human wisdom and divine wisdom.
The Apostolic Library gathers the Word of God “carefully copied for transmission,” affirmed the librarian.
The Vatican Apostolic Library keeps nearly 1.6 million antique and modern books, including 8,300 incunabula, but also 300,000 coins and medals as well as 20,000 works of art.
These documents cover 85 linear kilometers (almost 53 miles) of shelves, particularly in the basement of the Vatican Museums Pigna Court.
