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Codicum Facsimiles

The Project

Introduction

The Vatican Apostolic Library

Belser' s studio

The Works

La Bibbia d'Oro del Secolo

Exemplaria Praetiosa Archivio Segreto Vaticano

Exemplaria Perfecta^®

I Sigilli dell'Archivio Segreto Vaticano

The Codex Facsimiles from the Popes’ Library

Pope John Paul II, true to the ecumenical spirit that distinguished his pontificate, declared the cultural project, organised by the Vatican Apostolic Library, involving the historic German publishers Belser in Stuttgart as of great importance “to spread knowledge of the world of treasures of learning and beauty...”.

The great project for the production of the “CODICUM FACSIMILES”, which the Vatican Authorities have been studying for a long time, to inform the world of the treasures of knowledge and beauty that have been conserved for centuries, and to conserve precious sources of culture of universal value.

In the workshops the German publishers installed in the “Vaticana” the greatest work in the world of producing facsimiles of manuscripts was carried out of some of the most important for their text and pictorial decorations. Unequalled experience and advanced scientific techniques have produced perfect reproductions of the original documents of absolute and unequalled quality.

On 7 February 1984 Pope John Paul II inaugurated the impressive extension work to the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Secret Archives. For the occasion there was the direct cooperation inside the Vatican between the historic publishers Belser in Stuttgart and the Apostolic Library to implement the great project for the “CODICUM FACSIMILES”.

During the inauguration, Pope John Paul II emphasised the historic function of the Holy See to protect the

Universal heritage, and to underline its leading mission to spread culture and knowledge: “this Apostolic Library that the Holy See built back in ancient times and has enriched over the centuries, so that men of great culture would have a clear reference point and a sanctuary dedicated to science and knowledge.”

“It is important that from one generation to another we can transmit and entrust the testimony of a living culture, the works of art, discoveries and experience that have all contributed to make man what he is. This is why I want to encourage, not only the enormous efforts that are being made to safeguard the wealth of the past, but also the efforts to make them the wealth of today.” (speech by John Paul II at the European Counsel, 8 October 1988)

In the photo, the Holy Mass at Christmas, celebrated every year in the Vatican on Christmas Eve.

“… the Vatican Apostolic Library must serve the truth and culture”

The perfection that has been reached in the facsimile process has meant that certain precious Codex can be conserved which, otherwise, would have been lost forever due to their continuous consultation by observers and scholars.