Vatican City has less than 500 inhabitants and its surface is only 44 hectares, but it also has a complex history and manages sums of billions of dollars .Want to know some secrets of the Vatican? Find out more about this mysterious place!
9 secrets of the Vatican to know.Discover more!
1.The best bodyguards are in the Vatican
From that Pope Julius II recruited a few Swiss soldiers as his personal bodyguards more than 500 years ago , they have continued to protect the Popes, to the point of giving their lives on different occasions.
To be part of the Swiss Guard it is essential that you are: Catholic and Swiss.
Nowadays most of the members of the Swiss Guard spend their days dressed in Renaissance costumes, serving at ceremonies or checkpoints around the Vatican, while those who really protect the Pope wear simple clothes and carry firearms.
2.You can access the archives of the Vatican
Since Pope Leo XIII allowed scholars to see the secret archives of the Vatican in 1881, these ceased to be truly secret .Today these archives can be examined; the information belongs to the last 1,000 years, so it is not small.What you need is to know exactly what you are looking for, it is the only condition, because for the large amount of information, librarians prohibit searching in it aimlessly.
3.Transactions in Latin?
The Vatican Bank is the only bank in the world that allows the transactions of ATM users in Latin, and It is considered a symbol of devotion to the language, which is to be maintained and revived.
4.How do you become a citizen of the Vatican City?
If you really want to be considered as such, you must get a job in this place.Once you get it, you get citizenship.However, if you are fired or you simply leave this job in Vatican City, you stop being considered a citizen of it!
5.Regular exorcisms
In the Vatican City it is considered that the devil He is alive.There are at least 350 people in Italy alone in charge of exorcising people who are attacked by Evil. Bishops learn to recognize when there is a satanic possession and when it is a psychiatric illness.
6.Much crime
Did you know that Vatican City has the highest crime rate in the world?
It is of 1.5 crimes by citizen! And it is because the large crowds of tourists are the perfect paradise for pickpockets.So if you visit this country, make sure you do not carry anything of great value at hand and open your eyes very well.
Nor in ancient times it was free of misdeeds, if we remember that the Borgias were for many years held positions of power in the Vatican.This famous family gave two Popes: Calixto III (1455-1458) and Alexander VI (1492-1503). His sins included adultery, robbery, bribery, fraud, rape, incest, torture and murder.
7.Mysterious murder
In 1998 there was a murder in the Vatican; A Swiss commander of the newly appointed Pope and his wife. Rumor has it that the murderer was the commander's homosexual lover, but the Vatican reported that the person responsible was another guard.
8.Shorter reigns
Pope Stephen II died of a stroke, only four days after his election, before his consecration.Urbano VII kingdom only 13 days , and Benedict IX only 11.
9.Money laundering
Apparently, the Vatican is a money laundering center used by international criminals, has been referred to as “A country of concern” in this matter, since the laws against money laundering in its system of cash flows do not apply effective.
Don't miss 4 of the world's most mysterious secret societies Check it out!
Image: (c) Can Stock Photo/gandolfocannatella
Comments
Post a Comment