Processus Contra Templarios

Press conference

Old Synod Hall, the Vatican, October 25, 2007, at 11:30 a.m.

On October 25, 2007, in the impressive Old Synod Hall at the Vatican Library, the Vatican Secret Archives presented to the press and the international public a very important cultural event of extraordinary general interest: the first and only edition of the entire proceedings of the momentous Trial of the Templars, a set of mysterious ancient parchments kept for centuries in the Vatican’s archives, which has now been brought to light again thanks to the collaboration between the papal archives and Scrinium in the context of the Exemplaria Praetiosa Project.

The Vatican’s decision to publish the trial records, dated 1308, immediately aroused international interest. The event attracted the attention of major newspapers and networks all over the world, which within a few hours had reported the story, focusing in particular on the “finding” of the famous Chinon Parchment, which records the canonical absolutions from the charges of heresy granted by pope Clement V to the Knights Templar of France. The speakers at the presentation were Card. Raffaele Farina, Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church; Msgr. Sergio Pagano, Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives; Barbara Frale and Marco Maiorino, Supervisors of the archives; medievalist Franco Cardini; and Ferdinando Santoro, president of Scrinium. The event was moderated by the archeologist and writer Valerio Massimo Manfredi.

Speakers:
  • His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Raffaele Farina, Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church
  • His Most Reverend Excellency Monsignor Sergio Pagano, Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives
  • Barbara Frale, supervisor of the Vatican Secret Archives
  • Marco Maiorino, supervisor of the Vatican Secret Archives
  • Franco Cardini, medievalist
  • Valerio Massimo Manfredi, archeologist and writer
  • Ferdinando Santoro, president of Scrinium, fiduciary of the Vatican Secret Archives