Culture

Vatican archives may hold centuries of hidden UFO encounters, say experts

Friday, 9 May 2025 12:15AM UTC

Renewed interest in the Vatican’s Apostolic Archives follows Pope Francis’s death, as scholars and whistleblowers claim the church conceals historic evidence of extraterrestrial phenomena, linking religious experiences to modern UFO sightings.

The Vatican's Secret Archives: A Cosmic Connection?

Following the recent passing of Pope Francis, there has been a renewed emphasis from UFO enthusiasts on urging the Vatican to unveil its enigmatic archives. Many believe that these vaults hold long-suppressed evidence of extraterrestrial encounters, historical narratives often cloaked in spiritual terminology. Prominent voices, such as former U.S. intelligence officer David Grusch, have amplified this discourse, alleging that the Vatican has shielded knowledge of alien life for decades.

Diana Walsh Pasulka, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is among the scholars who have delved into the Vatican's extensive collection, officially known as the Vatican Apostolic Archives. This repository, established in 1612, comprises over 80 kilometres of shelving that contains various documents, including papal correspondence and detailed historical records, some of which might pertain to alien life. Pasulka's recent work, American Cosmic, explores these themes, revealing that the archives are filled with accounts that echo contemporary UFO phenomena.

In her research spanning centuries, Pasulka has unearthed accounts of mysterious lights and supernatural beings diverging from the norms of historical understanding. During her investigations into teachings on purgatory, she stumbled upon reports describing "orbs of light," "luminous beings," and "spinning suns." She asserts, "The historical record is filled with these kinds of events. The people at the Vatican, they don't even know where to look—it’s in their basements." This reflects a broader trend in which religious experiences were historically interpreted through a spiritual lens, contrasting with today’s scientific framing of similar occurrences.

One particularly notable case involves Sister Maria of Ágreda, a 17th-century Spanish nun renowned for her mystical experiences, which she documented in writings that conjure visions reminiscent of modern UFO narratives. Claiming to bilocate or spiritually transport herself to far-off lands, Sister Maria's accounts often included encounters with Indigenous peoples who described a lady in blue—a figure matching her appearance—despite her having never left Spain. According to Pasulka, these stories suggest intersections between religious mysticism and extraterrestrial encounters, a notion that increasingly resonates with contemporary discussions of UFO phenomena.

The Vatican’s connection to unidentified aerial phenomena isn’t merely a relic of the past. Grusch notably claimed that Pope Pius XII played a covert role during World War II in relaying information regarding an alien craft recovered under Benito Mussolini's regime in Northern Italy. Such claims, while ostensibly lacking rigorous verification, have breathed fresh life into the discourse surrounding the church's historical engagement with the concept of non-human intelligence. Grusch recounted how the craft was stored securely in Italy before being transferred to the United States, asserting that such interactions signify a deeper, systemic concealment of knowledge surrounding UFOs.

Moreover, significant religious events have long drawn parallels to modern interpretations of UFO sightings. The Miracle of Fatima in 1917 is often referenced; thousands witnessed phenomena that included the sun seeming to dance in the sky, an event chronicled extensively in historical accounts. Pasulka argues that both the apparitions experienced by the children and the luminous beings encountered in centuries past demonstrate a continuity between historical religious experiences and contemporary UFO sightings.

Leading experts, including Garry Nolan from Stanford University, are rallying for access to the Vatican Apostolic Archives, viewing it as a crucial source of information on unknown phenomena. Nolan asserts that the Vatican possesses 'an aura of both mysticism and a feeling of deep truth,' hinting at the potentially transformative insights that could emerge from these ancient texts. He suggests that our engagement with these archives could unlock knowledge capable of addressing modern existential crises, such as climate change and global conflict.

As calls for transparency echo louder post-Pope Francis, the intersection of faith, history, and unidentified phenomena continues to provoke interest and speculation. Witnessing the unfolding drama of claims and counterclaims involving the Vatican, one thing remains evident: the quest for answers pertaining to these enduring mysteries may lead to connections between our spiritual history and a broader cosmic reality.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14671587/UFO-evidence-Vatican-archives-american-cosmic.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/36881-researchers-believe-vatican-archives-hold-ufo-secrets - A group of scientists and researchers is seeking access to the Vatican Apostolic Archives to uncover information about UFOs and the paranormal, believing there may be traces amid the 80 km of shelves holding everything from handwritten papal notes to presidential missives. The decades-long effort gained momentum in 2023 following former U.S. intelligence official David Grusch’s congressional testimony alleging the Vatican’s involvement in an international cover-up of alien secrets. Grusch claimed Pope Pius XII 'backchanneled' information to the United States about a crashed UFO recovered by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
https://www.catholicsun.org/2024/06/17/angels-or-aliens-some-researchers-say-vatican-archives-hold-ufo-secrets/ - Scientists like Garry Nolan, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, view the Vatican archives as a potential treasure trove for understanding UFOs. 'The Vatican is probably the oldest library system of paranormal or supernatural knowledge still extant,' Nolan said. The archive 'has an aura of both mysticism and a feeling of deep truth that if you just know how to read it, you can pull that information out.' Nolan believes that if an advanced species is showing up on earth, it means it might be possible for humans to survive threats like climate change, the energy crisis and war.
https://www.catholicreview.org/angels-or-aliens-some-researchers-say-vatican-archives-hold-ufo-secrets/ - A group of scientists and researchers is seeking access to the Vatican Apostolic Archives to uncover information about UFOs and the paranormal, believing there may be traces amid the 50 miles of shelves holding everything from handwritten papal notes to presidential missives. The decades-long effort gained momentum in 2023 following former U.S. intelligence official David Grusch’s congressional testimony alleging the Vatican’s involvement in an international cover-up of alien secrets. Grusch claimed Pope Pius XII 'backchanneled' information to the United States about a crashed UFO recovered by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
https://www.wionews.com/world/alien-connection-of-vatican-pentagon-whistleblower-says-church-involved-in-first-ever-ufo-crash-604514 - Pentagon whistleblower David Grusch, in some more baffling claims, said that the Vatican was fully aware of non-human intelligence's existence and that it assisted the United States in retrieving a UFO, which was downed and was in possession of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini when the Second World War was at its end. Grusch stated that the UFO's first recovery took place in Magenta, Italy in 1933. He added that the UFO was partially intact and was kept at a secure airbase until it was retrieved by the US after the fascist Italian regime's collapse.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1942858/ufo-expert-pope-aline-secrets-vatican - Bassett alleges that the Vatican library houses centuries of knowledge about aliens, with experts attempting to gain access to the Vatican Apostolic Archives. However, they require permission from the Holy See, the supreme governing body of the Catholic Church. They will then need to sift through thousands of years of records, spanning 50 miles, to substantiate their claims. This follows last year's statement by former intelligence officer David Grusch at a US congressional hearing, where he claimed the government was concealing evidence of 'non-human intelligence'.
https://www.skeptiko.com/diana-walsh-pasulka-american-cosmics-breakaway-civilization-417/ - In this interview, Dr. Diana Walsh Pasulka discusses her book 'American Cosmic' and the concept of a 'breakaway civilization'—a group of individuals or organizations that have advanced technology and knowledge, potentially including UFO-related information. She mentions her access to the Vatican's secret archives and the Vatican Observatory, where she explored documents related to extraterrestrial life and UFO phenomena. Pasulka emphasizes the importance of understanding how technology and religion intersect, especially in the context of UFO beliefs and experiences.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative discusses recent interest following Pope Francis' passing, but some claims are based on older stories and interpretations (e.g., Sister Maria of Ágreda's experiences). However, the revival of interest and calls for transparency post-Pope Francis suggest a recent context.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: There are no direct, traceable quotes in the provided text that can be verified online. The narrative cites researchers and their opinions but does not provide specific, attributable quotes.

Source reliability

Score: 5

Notes: The narrative originates from a tabloid source, The Daily Mail, which may not be considered highly reliable in all scientific or historical contexts. However, it references academic and expert opinions.

Plausability check

Score: 3

Notes: The claims about UFO evidence and Vatican involvement are speculative and lack rigorous verification. Historical accounts are often interpreted through a modern lens, but the narrative does not provide concrete evidence.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative raises intriguing questions about the Vatican's archives and their potential connection to UFO phenomena. However, the claims are speculative, and the source is not traditionally considered reliable in scientific or academic contexts. The narrative's freshness is moderate, as it ties recent events to older stories, but the lack of verifiable evidence keeps the overall assessment open.

Vatican Archives
UFOs
Extraterrestrial
Religious Mysticism
David Grusch
Diana Walsh Pasulka