All language subtitles for e8824fd5a2e34584a7d0bbd26b6289f8_track3_eng

♪♪

Narrator:
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS,

HISTORICAL AND RELIGIOUS
SITES IN THE WORLD,

BUT WHAT SECRETS DOES
THE VATICAN REALLY HAVE?

IN RECENT DECADES, IT'S BEEN
ROCKED BY SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL,

THE VATICAN BANK, CHILD ABUSE

AND MORE RECENTLY,

SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS

AGAINST POPE BENEDICT XVI

AND HIS NUMBER TWO,
CARDINAL BERTONE.

SO WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,

AND WHAT DOES THE FUTURE
HOLD FOR THE VATICAN?

Picknett:
HIDDEN IN THE VATICAN,

THEY HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT
OF SECRETS.

IT IS POSSIBLE THEY WOULD HAVE
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT.

NOBODY KNOWS WHERE IT WENT.

Gough: THE HERETICAL PIECES
OF ART, MUSIC, DOCUMENTS,

THAT'S THE BORING STUFF.

THE REAL SECRETS,
THOSE ARE RELICS,

THINGS THAT WOULD CAUSE
HISTORY TO BE REWRITTEN.

Walters: THERE'S BEEN NO DOUBT
THAT THE VATICAN,

DESPITE PROMOTING KINDNESS
TO ALL MEN AND CHRISTIANITY,

ALSO HAS ITS DARK SIDE.

Dickie: OVER THE CENTURIES,
THE CHURCH HAS ACCUMULATED

DONATIONS AND BUILDINGS.

NOBODY KNOWS HOW MUCH MONEY
THE CHURCH HAS GOT,

LEAST OF ALL THE CHURCH.

Howells: CORRUPTION AND
PEDOPHILIA HAS LEFT SUCH A MARK

ON THE CREDIBILITY
OF THE CHURCH.

I THINK THE VATICAN BANK COULD

ACTUALLY BRING DOWN
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator:
HAS THE VATICAN COVERED UP
SECRETS FOR CENTURIES,

OR IS IT ALL JUST NOISE CREATED
BY ITS MANY CRITICS?

THE VATICAN FIRMLY SAY
IT'S THE LATTER.

BUT ARE THEY TELLING THE TRUTH?

Man: TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF CHILDREN WORLDWIDE

HAVE BEEN ABUSED
SYSTEMATICALLY

FOR YEARS WITHIN
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Woman: THE VATICAN FINANCES STEM
FROM CENTURIES OF INTRIGUE,

MYSTERIOUS DEATHS, AND
INFLUENCE.

Man #2: REVEREND GABRIELE AMORTH
MADE HEADLINES AROUND THE WORLD

RECENTLY WHEN HE SAID THE DEVIL
WAS PRESENT IN THE VATICAN.

♪♪

Narrator: FOR DECADES NOW,

THE VATICAN HAS BEEN
UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK

FROM NEWSPAPERS, AUTHORS,
HISTORIANS, AND CRITICS

WHO CLAIM THAT IT'S CORRUPT

AND RIDDLED WITH TWISTED PRIESTS

WHO LIVE IMMORAL

AND SINFUL LIVES
BEHIND ITS WALLS.

ALTHOUGH IT VEHEMENTLY
DENIES IT, OVER THE YEARS,

IT'S BEEN ACCUSED
OF STORING NAZI GOLD BULLION,

LAUNDERING MAFIA MONEY,
CHILD ABUSE,

AND EVEN RUNNING
SLAVE-LABOR INSTITUTIONS

WITH PROSTITUTES

AND SINGLE MOTHERS IN IRELAND

AT SO-CALLED
MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES.

SOME HAVE EVEN ACCUSED IT
OF HARBORING SATANIC WORSHIPERS,

INDULGING IN BLACK MAGIC,
AND HIDING RELICS,

SUCH AS THE BODY
OF JESUS ITSELF.

IT MIGHT SOUND
A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED,

BUT ITS ACCUSERS ARE ADAMANT.

♪♪

THERE'S NO DOUBT
THAT THE VATICAN HAS

AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SECRETS

BECAUSE THE SIMPLE REASON
IT'S BEEN AROUND

FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS

AT THE NEXUS
OF POLITICS, RELIGION.

IT'S THE CENTER OF SO MUCH OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOR OVER THAT TIME,

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT
THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW,

MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE
OF FINANCIAL SCANDAL,

MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE
PERHAPS OF ABUSE.

THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THE VATICAN
THAT NEEDS CLEANING OUT.

Felix: I MEAN, ON THE OUTSIDE,
YOU LOOK AT THE VATICAN.

IT LOOKS A VERY AUSTERE,
VERY RELIGIOUS, FANTASTIC PLACE.

BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S
NOTHING BUT THE HOUSE OF FUN.

EVEN BEFORE IT WAS BUILT,
STILL UNDERNEATH,

THERE ARE BATH HOUSES, BROTHELS,

AND THE SAME THING
APPLIED WITH THE VATICAN.

Narrator: ONE OF THE GREAT
MYSTERIES OF THE VATICAN IS

JUST WHAT IS INSIDE
ITS INFAMOUS SECRET ARCHIVES

THAT WAS NOT REVEALED

WHEN THEY WERE OFFICIALLY
OPENED A DECADE AGO.

PHILIP WILLAN HAS BEEN
A VATICAN INSIDER

FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

HE'S REPORTED ON THREE POPES,
NUMEROUS SCANDALS

AND KNOWS THE HOLY SEE
LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND.

BRITISH INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTER JAMIE THEAKSTON

WENT TO MEET HIM.

♪♪

SO, PHILIP, WHAT IS IN
THE SO-CALLED SECRET ARCHIVE?

THE SECRET ARCHIVE IS BASICALLY
THE POPE'S PERSONAL ARCHIVE,

SO THE DOCUMENTATION
THAT'S GENERATED

IN THE COURSE
OF RUNNING THE AFFAIRS

OF THE INTERNATIONAL
GLOBAL CHURCH.

Gough: FOR A START,
THE VATICAN LIBRARY,

THIS SECRET LIBRARY,
WAIT FOR IT,

53 KILOMETERS
OF DOCUMENTS.

NOW, THEY SAY THE OLDEST ONE
GOES TO THE 8th CENTURY.

ARE WE SUPPOSED
TO BELIEVE THAT, REALLY?

53 KILOMETERS
OF SECRET DOCUMENTS,

IMAGINE THE TRUTHS
THAT ARE HIDDEN IN THOSE.

Walters: OF COURSE,
THIS SOUNDS SO EXCITING

TO CONSPIRACY THEORISTS

BECAUSE THEY GO,
"WOW, A SECRET ARCHIVE!

WHAT'S IN THERE?"

NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO,
FIRST OF ALL, THINK,

THE VATICAN SECRET
ARCHIVE IN LATIN

HAS THE WORD "SECRETUM" IN IT,

WHICH IS TRANSLATED
BY SOME "A SECRET."

YOU CAN JUST TRANSLATE
THAT AS "PRIVATE."

AND ACTUALLY, THAT IS
A MORE ACCURATE TRANSLATION

OF THE LATIN WORD "SECRETUM."

IT MEANS IT'S THE VATICAN'S
PRIVATE ARCHIVE.

♪♪

Dr. Papadopoulos:
NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT'S
IN THE SECRET ARCHIVES,

BUT CERTAINLY ONE WOULD ASSUME

THAT THERE'S SOMETHING
TO DO THERE

WITH THINGS LIKE THE ARK
OF THE COVENANT

OR THE RAIDING BY THE TEMPLARS
OF KING SOLOMON'S MINES.

YOU KNOW,
THERE'S ALWAYS CONTENTION

AROUND JESUS' BLOODLINE.

ONE WONDERS IF THERE'S SOMETHING
IN THERE AROUND THAT.

SO CERTAINLY, ALL OF THOSE
KIND OF KEY THEMES

THAT THE CHURCH IS BASED ON,

ALL OF THE STORIES
THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD,

PEOPLE WONDER,
AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

PEOPLE WONDER IF
THERE'S ANYTHING

IN THOSE SECRET ARCHIVES

THAT MIGHT GO AGAINST
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT

AND TOLD ALL THESE YEARS.

♪♪

Narrator: JAMIE'S NEXT STOP IS
A SIT-DOWN WITH THE EDITOR

OF "THE HERETIC MAGAZINE,"
ANDREW GOUGH,

WHO HAS STUDIED THE HISTORY
OF THE VATICAN FOR MANY YEARS.

HE BELIEVES THAT THERE
IS A BASIC PROBLEM

AT THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY

THAT HAS AFFECTED
ALL ITS ACTIONS

FOR WELL OVER A MILLENNIUM,

THAT PERHAPS IT'S ALL NOTHING
MORE THAN A MYTH.

♪♪

Theakston: I'VE HEARD ALL
THE DIFFERENT RUMORS.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK
IS HIDDEN

IN THE SO-CALLED
SECRET ARCHIVE?

THERE'S BASICALLY TWO
CAMPS OF SECRETS.

THERE'S
THE CONVENTIONAL ONES,

WHICH ARE INTERESTING,
YOU KNOW,

SORT OF THE LETTER
FROM HENRY VIII

REQUESTING AN ANNULMENT
FOR HIS MARRIAGE,

THE LETTERS ABOUT GALILEO
AND HIS HERESY.

BUT THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE
RELICS, YOU WOULD THINK.

THAT COULD BE THE TREASURE
OF SOLOMON, THE MENORAH,

BUT HOW ABOUT THE
ARK OF THE COVENANT?

HOW ABOUT THE HOLY GRAIL?

YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU WANT
THAT STUFF EXPOSED?

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

THEY PROBABLY HAVE
THEIR REASONS.

Narrator:
WHAT SECRETS ARE HIDDEN DEEP

WITHIN THE VATICAN'S
SECRET ARCHIVES?

WHY IS ACCESS TO WHAT'S THERE
SO RESTRICTED,

AND ARE THE VATICAN'S CHRISTIAN
WORSHIP SITES

REALLY BUILT
ON ANCIENT PAGAN TEMPLES?

COMING UP NEXT WHEN
"FORBIDDEN HISTORY" RETURNS.

♪♪

Narrator: FOR DECADES NOW, THE
VATICAN HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK

FROM NEWSPAPERS, AUTHORS,
HISTORIANS, AND CRITICS

WHO CLAIM THAT IT'S CORRUPT
AND RIDDLED WITH MEN

WHO LIVE IMMORAL

AND SINFUL LIVES
BEHIND ITS WALLS.

SOME HAVE ACCUSED IT OF
HARBORING SATANIC WORSHIPPERS,

INDULGING IN BLACK MAGIC,
LAUNDERING MAFIA MONEY,

AND HIDING CONTROVERSIAL

HOLY RELICS
UNDERNEATH THE VATICAN.

BRITISH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
JAMIE THEAKSTON IS ON THE HUNT

TO UNCOVER THE SECRETS AND
MYSTERIES OF THE VATICAN

AND REVEAL
JUST WHAT IS HIDDEN INSIDE

THE SO-CALLED SECRET ARCHIVES.

HE MEETS WITH ANDREW GOUGH,

THE EDITOR OF
"THE HERETIC MAGAZINE,"

WHO HAS STRONG VIEWS ON
WHAT COULD BE LOCKED AWAY.

♪♪

Theakston: SO YOU'RE TELLING ME
THAT THE ARCHIVE

IS NOT A REFERENCE
LIBRARY TO ILLUMINATE.

YOU THINK IT'S A DEPOSITORY
FOR HIDDEN ITEMS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
-YOU COULD ARGUE.

IF IT'S ANYTHING THAT'S
DEFLAMATORY THAT WOULD BE

NOT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST
IF IT WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT,

THEN WHY WOULDN'T
YOU DESTROY IT?

BUT IT'S PRIVATE,
IF IT'S SECRET,

THERE'S PROBABLY AN EVEN
STRONGER CASE FOR KEEPING IT

BUT KEEPING IT
REALLY LOCKED UP.

WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW,
REAL BIGGIES.

LIKE, LOOK AROUND HERE.

EVERY CHURCH, EVERY BASILICA
IN THIS CITY,

BENEATH IT,
YOU HAVE PAGAN TEMPLES.

♪♪

Picknett:
PERHAPS THE VERY EARLIEST PEOPLE

WANTED TO SHOW THE PAGANS,
"LOOK, WE'RE IN CHARGE NOW.

WE'RE BUILDING ON TOP
OF THE RUINS OF YOUR RELIGION."

OKAY, SO THAT'S AS FAR AS MOST
TRADITIONALISTS WOULD GO,

BUT MAYBE THERE'S ALSO
AN ELEMENT OF,

"WE ARE ABSORBING THE POWER."

IT'S BELIEVED BY MANY PEOPLE,
FOR EXAMPLE,

THAT CHURCHES WERE BUILT
ON POWER LINES OR LEY LINES,

AND THESE IN THEMSELVES
HAD POWER IN THE LAND.

Felix:
THIS WAS THE CRAFT OF THE WISE.

WE BELIEVED IN MOTHER EARTH,
AND WE GO BACK TO MOTHER EARTH.

IT'S NOT REALLY
A BAD THING AT ALL,

AND THEY NICKED ALL OF THE IDEAS

THAT ALL OF THE PAGAN SITES
AND CHRISTIANIZED IT

AND SPLASHED
HOLY WATER ON IT

AND NICKED
ALL OF THE RELIGIOUS RELICS

AND THINGS THAT WERE INSIDE.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE THEY'RE
PROBABLY STILL TUCKED AWAY

SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH
THE VATICAN.

♪♪

Gough: THE CHURCH IS NOT A HOLY,
BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATION.

IT'S ACTUALLY SATANIC,
AND THERE'S BLACK MASSES

AND RITUALS,
AND THEY SITUATED THEIR CITY

AND THE COUNTRY ABOVE PAGAN
TEMPLES BELOW,

AND IN FACT,
THEY'RE STILL VENERATED.

ISIS BECOMES MARY MAGDALENE.

YOU HAVE OSIRIS
BECOMING JESUS AND SO ON.

SO THE FACT IS, IT'S A REALLY,
REALLY DARK PLACE.

♪♪

Narrator: THIS IS SAN CLEMENTE
CHURCH IN ROME, RUN TODAY

BY AN IRISH ORDER
OF DOMINICAN MONKS,

AND HOUSES ONE OF THE LAST
REMAINING ENTRANCES

DOWN INTO THE ANCIENT

PRE-CHRISTIAN
REMAINS OF THE CITY.

VATICAN HISTORIAN
AND LOCAL GUIDE ROB ALLYN

IS AN EXPERT ON SUBTERRANEAN
ROME AND AGREED

TO SHOW THE REMAINS
OF A 2,000-YEAR-OLD TEMPLE,

WHICH, IN ITS DAY,

WAS ACTUALLY
AT GROUND LEVEL.

THE AMAZING THING IS THAT
WE'RE WALKING DOWN

TO THE FIRST CENTURY A.D. NOW,

AND WE'RE WALKING
IN TO A HOUSE OF BRICK THAT,

A HUNDRED YEARS LATER
AFTER IT WAS BUILT,

WAS MADE INTO WHAT WAS
KNOWN AS A MITHRAEUM,

OKAY, FOR THE CULT
OF THE PAGAN GOD, MITHRAS.

Gough: WHAT DO WE KNOW
ABOUT MITHRA?

BORN ON DECEMBER 25th,

DIED, WAS RESURRECTED
3 DAYS LATER.

HE WAS CALLED
THE SAVIOR.

HE PERFORMED MIRACLES
DURING HIS LIFETIME.

HE HAD 12 APOSTLES.
DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?

BUT THAT WAS
WAY BEFORE CHRIST.

SO THEY'RE KIND OF
SUPPRESSING THAT

BECAUSE IT WAS A BIT DARK.

YOU KNOW, THEY'D
SLAUGHTER BULLS.

THERE WAS A SEXUAL
ELEMENT TO IT.

SO CHRISTIANITY
KIND OF CLEANED IT UP

AND POLISHED THE MYTH
AND TOLD US IT WAS TRUE,

AND I THINK
THAT IS A BIGGIE,

THAT THEY'VE LIED
ABOUT THE STORY

BECAUSE IT'S ALLEGORICAL.

IT'S NOT REAL.

♪♪

Allyn: NOW WE'RE GOING
TO BE GOING INSIDE

WHERE THEY HAD THE RELIGIOUS
PRACTICES OF THE MITHRAEUM.

♪♪

MITHRAEUM WAS A PAGAN CULT.

IT WASN'T A STATE CULT.

IT WAS A MYSTERY CULT.

SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE
DIDN'T KNOW OF ITS EXISTENCE,

BUT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW OF ALL
THESE IMPORTANT RITUALS

ABOUT HOW TO GET INVOLVED
IN THIS KIND

OF SECRET SOCIETY CULT,

A CULT THAT WAS
EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEN,

FOR SOLDIERS,
FOR ADMINISTRATORS.

AND HERE IS A CULMINATION
OF THE LIFE OF MITHRAS,

THIS GOD RIGHT HERE.

YOU SEE THE GOD MITHRAS
AND HIS PHRYGIAN CAP.

ALL RIGHT.

HE IS A REPRESENTATION
OF THE SUN,

AND HE IS SLAYING A BULL,

WHICH IT IS CONSIDERED
THAT IT IS THE MOON.

OKAY?

DO YOU SEE THAT HE'S--
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN FRESCOS.

WE SEE HIM PAINTED WHITE.

OKAY.
SO IT'S LIKE A CRESCENT MOON.

YOU CAN EVEN SEE HIS TAIL.

IT'S RIGHT AT THE MOMENT
THAT HE'S BEING KILLED,

AND HE HAS THESE CREATURES
THAT ARE ACCOMPANYING HIM

BECAUSE THIS IS ALL
AN ALLEGORY TO A REBIRTH.

SO YOU HAVE HERE--
IT'S HARD TO DECIPHER,

BUT WE HAVE A DOG.

WE HAVE A SERPENT.

AND RIGHT WHERE THE KNIFE
IS STABBING,

THE BLOOD IS POURING
OUT, THEY'RE DRINKING OF IT.

AND ALSO, YOU HAVE
A SCORPION STINGING HIM

IN THE TESTICLES
BECAUSE THIS IS ALL...

THEY'RE TAKING THE LIFE
FORCE OUT OF THE BULL.

SOMETIMES, IT'S EVEN DEPICTED
THAT THERE ARE CORN HUSKS

COMING FROM HIS TAIL.

Gough: YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES --
NO, HUNDREDS OF YEARS,

THERE'S BEEN RUMORS
FROM PRIESTS, FROM CARDINALS,

FROM REPUTABLE PEOPLE

THAT THERE'S A SMALL SORT OF
SECT WITHIN THE CHURCH --

MAYBE NOT SO SMALL --

WHO CONDUCT SACRIFICES

AND RITUALS THAT ARE VERY,
VERY DARK INDEED.

SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER THEN,
IS IT ANY ACCIDENT

THAT THEY'VE SITUATED
THEIR CAPITAL

AND THEIR COUNTRY RIGHT
ON TOP OF THESE TEMPLES?

I THINK NOT.

Narrator: WAS VATICAN CITY

DELIBERATELY BUILT
ON TOP OF PAGAN TEMPLES,

AND IF SO, WHY?

DID THE CHURCH IN ROME
USE THESE SITES

TO CONDUCT ANCIENT
NON-CHRISTIAN PRACTICES,

AND IS THERE EVIDENCE
OF THIS HIDDEN AWAY

IN THE VATICAN'S
SECRET ARCHIVES?

MORE REVELATIONS WHEN
"FORBIDDEN HISTORY" RETURNS.

♪♪

Narrator: THE VATICAN HAS BEEN
UNDER ATTACK FOR CENTURIES

BY ITS CRITICS

WHO ACCUSE IT OF HARBORING
IMPORTANT ANCIENT RELICS,

DOCUMENTS, AND SECRETS
DEEP WITHIN ITS ARCHIVES.

SOME EVEN CLAIM
THAT THE DOCTRINE AT THE HEART

OF CHRISTIANITY ITSELF
IS A LIE

CONJURED UP TWO MILLENNIA AGO

FOR THE PURPOSE
OF POWER AND CONTROL.

BRITISH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
JAMIE THEAKSTON IS IN ROME

AND HAS DISCOVERED
THAT THE HOLY CITY

WE SEE TODAY

WAS BUILT RIGHT ON TOP
OF ANCIENT PAGAN TEMPLES,

WHICH DATE BACK WELL
OVER 2,000 YEARS.

SOME SAY THAT THESE OLD WORSHIP
SITES STILL PLAY A SECRET

BUT IMPORTANT ROLE AT

THE VERY HIGHEST LEVELS
OF THE CHURCH TODAY.

Walters: THE VATICAN, LIKE SO
MANY OTHER CHRISTIAN SITES,

WAS BUILT ON AN EXISTING
PLACE OF WORSHIP.

IT'S THE FORM
OF THE CHURCH SAYING,

"WE'RE IN CONTROL
OF RELIGION NOW,

SO YOUR PAGAN SITE NOW
BECOMES A CHRISTIAN SITE."

YES, THERE ARE REMNANTS
OF OLD RELIGIONS THERE

THAT WERE PROBABLY
A LITTLE BIT DARKER

THAN WHAT CHRISTIANITY
IS SUPPOSED TO BE,

BUT THE IDEA THAT THE LEADERS
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

WITHIN THE VATICAN ARE
A BUNCH OF SATANIC OCCULTISTS

IS NONSENSE
OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

Felix: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,
OR SHOULD I SAY CHRISTIANITY

IN GENERAL, HIJACKED PAGANISM.

THAT WAS, BEFORE THEM,
THE TRUE RELIGION, IF YOU LIKE,

AND THEY JUST NICKED
ALL OF THE SITES,

ALL OF THE IDEALS,

THE IDEOLOGY BEHIND IT,

AND TOOK IT ON FOR THEMSELVES.

Dr. Papadopoulos: THESE SITES
HAD SOME SORT OF POWER,

AND, YOU KNOW,

THEY WANTED TO BE CO-OPTED
BY THIS NEW RELIGION.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT MOST
MONOTHEISTIC SOCIETIES,

THEY MORE OR LESS SAY
ALL THE SAME THINGS,

KIND OF LIKE A SMORGASBORD
OF WHAT'S GONE ON BEFORE,

WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE, YOU KNOW,

WHETHER IT'S PAGANISM
OR CHRISTIANITY,

THESE KIND OF SAME THINGS

BEING ENACTED OVER
AND OVER AGAIN TO THE POINT

THAT EVEN SOME
OF THE NAMES ARE SIMILAR.

♪♪

Narrator: AUTHOR ROB HOWELLS HAS
BEEN STUDYING AND RESEARCHING

THE VATICAN AND ITS SECRETS
FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

HE BELIEVES THAT IT DOES PROTECT
VERY IMPORTANT OBJECTS,

DOCUMENTS, AND OTHER SECRETS.

SO, ROB, WHAT IS
THE VATICAN KEEPING SECRET?

THE ENTIRE TIME
THAT THEY'VE EXISTED,

THEY COLLECTED MANUSCRIPTS
AND RELICS

AND ITEMS FROM
EITHER CAMPAIGNS OR CRUSADES,

NOT ONLY FOR THEIR OWN RESEARCH
AND TO SUPPORT THEIR IDEAS,

BUT ALSO TO PREVENT
ANYTHING COMING OUT,

BECAUSE THEY NEED TO CONTROL
THE INFORMATION

AROUND BIBLICAL ISSUES
AND BIBLICAL DOGMA.

THEY CAN'T ALLOW ALTERNATIVE
VIEWS TO BECOME PUBLIC.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS EXACTLY
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

IN TERMS OF DOCUMENTATION,
THEY'VE GOT 52 MILES

OF SHELVING, OF BOOKS
AND MANUSCRIPTS ALONE,

SO THAT WOULD BE EVERYTHING

FROM EARLY 1st-CENTURY
FRAGMENTS

TO POTENTIALLY ENTIRE
ALTERNATIVE GOSPELS.

THERE WERE ALSO IDEAS
THAT THERE'S A BOOK OF Q.

THE ACADEMICS
HAVE TURNED A BOOK

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE SOURCE MATERIAL

FOR THE MAIN GOSPELS OF
MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN

BECAUSE THE MAIN GOSPELS
ARE WRITTEN LONG

AFTER THE TIME OF CHRIST.

SO IF THEY'VE GOT
SOMETHING LIKE A BOOK OF Q,

THAT WOULD UNDERMINE
EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT HAS SECRET ARCHIVES,
AND PEOPLE SAY, "OH, WELL,

THE WORD SECRET
JUST MEANS 'PRIVATE.'"

WELL, TECHNICALLY, IT DOES,
BUT LET'S BE HONEST.

IT MEANS SECRET WITH KNOBS ON.

THEY ARE NOT LETTING
THE AVERAGE PERSON LOOK AT THEM.

YOU CAN'T PHOTOCOPY ANYTHING.

I'VE HEARD IT ON
VERY GOOD AUTHORITY

THAT THERE'S SAID TO BE
THE VATICAN WITHIN THE VATICAN,

WHICH IS, THEY HAVE

ENORMOUS PILLARS,
ENORMOUS PILLARS.

YOU CAN GET, YOU KNOW,
QUITE ALMOST LIKE

BALLROOM-SIZED PILLARS,

AND IN THERE ARE THE SECRETS
OF THE SECRETS

SAID TO BE THE VEIL OF VERONICA
AND ALL SORTS OF RELICS.

♪♪

Gough: THE HERETICAL PIECES
OF ART, MUSIC, DOCUMENTS,

THAT'S THE BORING STUFF.

THE REAL BIGGIES,
THE REAL SECRETS,

THOSE ARE RELICS, DEVICES,

THINGS THAT WOULD CAUSE
HISTORY TO BE REWRITTEN.

LIKE WHAT?

WELL, THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH
IS BASED UPON PAGAN ORIGINS,

NOT HOLY FOUNDATIONS.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST SECRET.

♪♪

TRADITIONALLY, ARCHIVES
ARE KEPT TO ILLUMINATE,

YOU KNOW, TO SHOW PEOPLE
DIFFERENT THINGS.

YEAH.

IN THIS CASE,
IT SEEMS DIFFERENT.

YEAH. YOU'D EXPECT AN ARCHIVE
TO BE A PUBLIC RECORD

THAT'S MADE AVAILABLE,

BUT BECAUSE THERE'S
THE POTENTIAL

FOR CONTROVERSIAL MATERIAL,
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED ACCESS.

YOU CAN GET ACCESS
TO THE SECRET ARCHIVE

IN THE VATICAN
ONLY IF YOU KNOW EXACTLY

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

NO ONE'S
ALLOWED TO BROWSE.

AND THERE IS THIS OTHER ISSUE
THAT THEY HAVE POTENTIALLY

TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF DOCUMENTS

THAT ARE STILL
UNCATALOGED

BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ARMY
OF RESEARCHERS IN THERE.

THEY'VE GOT A FEW LIBRARIANS,
SO THERE COULD BE DOCUMENTS

THEY'VE GOT NO IDEA
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF

THAT THEY'VE JUST GOT STORED.

♪♪

AND IS IT JUST DOCUMENTS,

OR ARE THERE RELICS
AND OTHER OBJECTS IN THERE?

THERE'S DEFINITELY RELICS.

WE KNOW THAT,
FROM THE HOLY LAND,

CERTAIN ITEMS
WERE RETURNED,

SOME QUITE EXTREME ITEMS.

THE FORESKIN OF CHRIST
IS ONE OF THEM

THAT'S SAID TO BE
IN THE VATICAN.

EVEN THE UMBILICAL CORD
WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN KEPT.

WHETHER THEY'RE REAL OR NOT
IS VERY QUESTIONABLE,

BUT MANY, MANY ITEMS
WERE RECOVERED

SUPPOSEDLY AND RETURNED

TO THE VATICAN
AT VARIOUS POINTS IN HISTORY.

PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT
CONSPIRACY THEORIES

AND HOW THESE ARE
REALLY FAR-FETCHED,

BUT ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK
AT THE ARCH OF TITUS IN ROME,

IT DOES DEPICT, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE SORT OF PILLAGING PLACES

LIKE JERUSALEM
BRINGING BACK RELICS.

SO, YOU KNOW,
WHAT'S TO SAY IN EFFECT

THAT THOSE RELICS
AREN'T SOME OF THE THINGS

THAT THESE CONSPIRACY
THEORISTS ARE

SAYING THAT ARE UNDER THERE,

WHETHER THEY'RE CHALICES
OR SHROUDS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE?

Walters: NOW, OF COURSE, BECAUSE
THERE'S THIS HUGE DISTRUST

ABOUT WHAT SO MANY FORMER POPES
AND SENIOR FIGURES

IN THE VATICAN HAVE
GOT UP TO, THEREFORE,

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
THERE MUST BE ALL SORTS

OF SORT OF EVIL STUFF
LURKING IN THERE

OR INDEED FANTASTIC STUFF

LIKE THE HOLY GRAIL
AND THE ARK OF THE COVENANT.

I MEAN, THIS IS JUST
CLEARLY NONSENSE.

YOU KNOW,
IF THE VATICAN HAD THE ARK

OF THE COVENANT KICKING AROUND,

"OH, LOOK.
WHAT'S THAT?"

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE,
THEY'D DISPLAY IT.

SO I THINK THERE'S SOME
FANCIFUL THEORIES ABOUT

WHAT'S IN THIS ARCHIVE,

AND I THINK
THEY'RE LARGELY BUNK.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator:
VERY FEW PEOPLE TODAY

ARE AWARE
OF THE VATICAN'S TRUE HISTORY.

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL POPE
OF MODERN TIMES WAS PIUS XII,

WHO TOOK OVER IN 1939

AND WAS LABELED HITLER'S POPE

BY THOSE WHO ACCUSE HIM
OF TURNING A BLIND EYE

TO REPORTS OF THE HOLOCAUST.

FURTHER BACK,
THERE WAS POPE LEO XIII,

WHO IN THE CLOSING YEARS
OF THE 19th CENTURY,

DASHED FLEDGLING HOPES
OF RECONCILIATION

BETWEEN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

AND THE CHURCH OF ROME
BY DECLARING

THAT ALL ANGLICAN ORDINATIONS
WERE NULL AND VOID,

A JUDGMENT WHICH STILL STANDS.

♪♪

IN THE 9th CENTURY,
POPE STEPHEN VI

DECIDED TO EXHUME
THE CORPSE OF HIS PREDECESSOR

BUT ONE FOR MOSES
SO THAT IT COULD,

WAIT FOR IT, STAND TRIAL.

DRESSED IN THE PAPAL VESTMENTS,

IT UNSURPRISINGLY OFFERED
NO ADEQUATE DEFENSE

AND WAS CONDEMNED
TO BE MUTILATED

AND THROWN INTO THE TIBER.

IN FACT, OVER A THOUSAND
YEARS LATER,

RUMORS AND ACCUSATIONS STILL
SWIRL AROUND THIS HOLY CITY.

IN 2003, THE SO-CALLED
MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES

CAME TO LIGHT

WHERE IT WAS PROVED
THAT SINGLE MOTHERS

AND PROSTITUTES

WERE FORCED INTO SLAVE-LABOR
HOUSES IN IRELAND,

OVERSEEN BY CATHOLIC NUNS.

A $43 MILLION SETTLEMENT
WAS PAID TO SURVIVORS.

IN 2009, IT WAS REVEALED
THAT THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON

HAD COVERED UP THE SEXUAL ABUSE

OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
BY 70 PRIESTS.

THAT FIGURE HAS NOW INCREASED
TO OVER 3,000 CATHOLIC PRIESTS

AROUND THE WORLD ACCUSED OF

ALLEGEDLY
CONDUCTING SYSTEMIC ABUSE

OF TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF CHILDREN.

Dan Rather: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IS FACING SCANDALS

AND BEING FORCED
TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

Man: ...IS ACCUSED OF MOLESTING
AND RAPING BOYS

AS YOUNG AS FOUR YEARS OLD
OVER A PERIOD OF 34 YEARS.

Woman: TWO-THIRDS OF BISHOPS
PROTECTED PRIESTS

ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

Woman #2: LAWYERS FOR VICTIMS
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

MAY SUE THE VATICAN
FOR ACCESS TO MATERIAL

THEY SAY MAY SHED LIGHT
ON THE DIALOGUE

BETWEEN ROME
AND AMERICAN BISHOPS

TO SEE IF THERE WAS
ANY OFFICIAL HUSH POLICY.

Theakston: DO YOU THINK THAT
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS KNOWN

FOR SOME TIME
ABOUT THE PROBLEMS

THAT THEY HAVE
WITH CHILD ABUSE

AND HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT
TO COME OUT WITH IT?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'VE BEEN COVERING
IT UP FOR YEARS.

THERE WERE CASES
OF PRIESTS BEING CAUGHT

AND BEING FOUND GUILTY
INTERNALLY WITHIN THE VATICAN,

BY THEIR PEERS AND BEING
MOVED TO OTHER LOCATIONS

BEFORE A SCANDAL
COULD BREAK.

SO THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY
OF COVER-UPS,

AND THE COVER-UPS HAS JUST
DONE MORE DAMAGE

BECAUSE, AS SOON
AS THEY'RE DISCOVERED,

IT'S NO LONGER AN ISSUE
OF ONE PRIEST ACTING ON HIS OWN.

IT'S THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION
GETS CALLED INTO QUESTION

FOR BEING THAT CORRUPT.

♪♪

Narrator: HAS THE VATICAN
BEEN COVERING UP

CHILD-ABUSE SCANDALS FOR YEARS?

JUST HOW MUCH EXORCISM
DOES THE CHURCH

IN ROME SANCTION EVERY YEAR?

AND INVESTIGATIVE AUTHOR
JOHN DICKIE EXAMINES

THE MURKY WORLD
OF VATICAN FINANCES

COMING UP WHEN
"FORBIDDEN HISTORY" RETURNS.

Narrator: FOR DECADES NOW,

THE VATICAN HAS BEEN
UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK

FROM NEWSPAPERS,
AUTHORS, AND HISTORIANS

WHO CLAIM THAT IT'S CORRUPT
AND RIDDLED WITH PRIESTS

WHO LIVE IMMORAL AND SINFUL
LIVES BEHIND ITS WALLS.

IN RECENT DECADES, IT'S BEEN
ROCKED BY SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL,

CHILD ABUSE,

THE MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES,
AND MORE RECENTLY,

SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST POPE BENEDICT XVI

AND HIS NUMBER TWO,
CARDINAL BERTONE.

BRITISH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
JAMIE THEAKSTON

IS IN ROME TO EXAMINE

JUST WHAT'S REALLY BEEN GOING ON

BEHIND THE VATICAN'S
CLOSED DOORS.

♪♪

Picknett:
THIS IS AN EVIL EMPIRE.

WHENEVER THEY COME ACROSS
OR ARE MADE TO FACE UP

TO YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF CHILD ABUSE,

FIRST OF ALL,
THEY ALWAYS DENY IT.

SECOND OF ALL, WHEN FORCED
TO ACCEPT IT, THEY SAY,

"OH, WELL, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW,

THE ODD ROTTEN APPLE
IN A BARREL."

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT
OF ROTTEN APPLES.

THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A NETWORK.

Walters: THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT,
THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY,

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BAD
APPLES IN THE VATICAN.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE
CATHOLIC PRIESTS AT ALL LEVELS

OF THE VATICAN HAVE
DONE BAD THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN IT
IN IRELAND,

SO MANY CHILD-ABUSE CASES

CARRIED OUT
BY CATHOLIC PRIESTS,

BUT I DON'T SEE THE VATICAN
AS BEING IN ITSELF

THIS KIND OF CENTER OF EVIL
THAT, YOU KNOW,

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BAD THINGS
HAPPENING IN SOCIETY

THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

I SEE IT AS BEING AS VENAL
AND CORRUPT AS ANY OTHER FLABBY,

OVERLY-LARGE INSTITUTION

THAT'S NOT REALLY
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

♪♪

Narrator: ONE OF THE MORE
BIZARRE SERVICES

OFFERED BY THE VATICAN

IS THE REMOVAL OF DEVILS
AND DEMONIC SPIRITS,

OR EXORCISM, AS IT'S MORE
COMMONLY KNOWN.

FOR CENTURIES NOW,
VATICAN-TRAINED PRIESTS

HAVE GONE OUT TO COMBAT EVIL

AND RID ITS FOLLOWERS
OF SATANIC FORCES

ARMED ONLY WITH A CRUCIFIX,

A BIBLE, AND SOME HOLY WATER,

AND IT'S STILL GOING ON TODAY.

IN FACT, THE VATICAN'S HEAD
EXORCIST FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS,

FATHER GABRIELE AMORTH,
RECENTLY DIED.

HE CLAIMED TO HAVE OVERSEEN OVER
180,000 EXORCISMS IN HIS LIFE.

HE FAMOUSLY HATED
THE HARRY POTTER NOVELS

AND EVEN YOGA, SAYING,

"PRACTICING YOGA IS SATANIC.

IT LEADS TO EVIL, JUST LIKE
READING HARRY POTTER."

♪♪

Howells: IT IS INTERESTING
THE VATICAN

DOES WHOLLY BELIEVE IN DEMONS
AS AN ENTITY,

AND THEY'VE GOT MORE
EXORCISTS NOW THAN EVER.

PRETTY MUCH EVERY DIOCESE
HAS AN ASSIGNED EXORCIST

WITHIN THEIR REGION
THAT THEY CAN CALL UPON.

THEY PERFORM
THE RITE OF EXORCISM,

WHICH IS A HUGE KIND OF DOCUMENT
FULL OF LITANIES AND LATIN

AND INVOKING THE SAINTS

AND BASICALLY
TRYING TO EXPEL THE DEMON.

Picknett: THERE ARE NOW
OVER 200 OF THEM

EMPLOYED BY THE VATICAN.

THEIR JOB IS TO CAST OUT DEMONS
THAT POSSESS THEIR FLOCK

THAT TAKE THEM OVER
BODY AND SOUL.

AND THIS, OF COURSE, GOES BACK
TO THE NEW TESTAMENT AND EARLIER

WHERE YOU READ ABOUT
JESUS CASTING OUT DEMONS.

AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS
VERY MUCH IN THAT TRADITION.

IT SEEMS EXTRAORDINARY THAT,
EVEN TODAY, YOU KNOW,

RELATIVELY WELL
INTO THE 21st CENTURY,

THAT THE VATICAN IS STILL HAS

SOME OF ITS PRIESTS
PERFORMING EXORCISMS.

IT SHOWS THAT THERE
IS STILL THIS HUGE BELIEF

IN WHAT WE'D ASSOCIATE
WITH BEING VERY ANCIENT IDEAS

OF EVIL SPIRITS AND DEMONS.

THESE HAVE GOT
A BIBLICAL CONCEPT, YOU KNOW,

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT.

♪♪

Narrator: PADRE CORTEA
FROM MADRID IN SPAIN

IS ONE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S

MOST PROLIFIC EXORCISTS.

HE SAYS IT'S ALL VERY REAL.

Cortea: I BELIEVE THERE
ARE EVIL SPIRITS,

AND THOSE EVIL SPIRITS

MATCH PERFECTLY
WITH THE CHARACTERS

THAT APPEAR IN
THE BIBLE AS DEMONS.

I CAN SAY BY MY OWN EXPERIENCE
THAT I RECEIVE PEOPLE EVERY DAY

AND FROM ALL AROUND SPAIN.

EVERY YEAR, TWO NEW CASES
OF PERFECT DEMONIC POSSESSION

WERE DISCOVERED.

Dr. Papadopoulos: THE CHURCH
PREDICATED ON THE BELIEF

THAT THERE'S GOOD AND EVIL,

AND YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE
WITHOUT THE OTHER,

AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT,

THEN IT'S NOT SURPRISING
THAT YOU WILL BELIEVE,

YOU KNOW, IN DEMONS
AND EVIL SPIRITS.

THE CHURCH HAS ALSO
PREDICATED ON THE IDEA

THAT NOTHING
EVER CHANGES, RIGHT?

SO IT IS SO STRONG, IN A WAY,

BECAUSE NOTHING
IS EVER QUESTIONED.

THEREFORE, THE EXORCISMS
BECOME PART AND PARCEL

OF THIS UNDERSTANDING.

Gough: THE INTERESTING THING
IS THE CHURCH DOES NOT DENY

THAT THERE ARE
DEMONIC ENERGIES.

THE FACT THAT
THE RITE OF EXORCISM

AND THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE TRAINED IN THAT

IS ACTUALLY
INCREASING YEAR ON YEAR,

AND THAT'S NOT AN ARBITRARY
SORT OF RITUAL.

THAT'S AN 84-PAGE
LATIN DOCUMENT THAT SAYS,

"THIS IS HOW WE DO IT."

SO THE FACT THAT
THEY ACKNOWLEDGE EVIL

JUST MAKES THIS
SORT OF RUMBLINGS ABOUT THE FACT

THAT THEY ARE EVIL
MUCH MORE INTERESTING.

Cortea: EXORCISM IS ONE
OF THE FEW ONES

THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR DEMONS

WHO ARE SPEAKING
THROUGH A HUMAN PERSON.

THEY SPEAK MOST OF THE TIMES
WITH A VERY UGLY VOICE,

SOMETIMES WITH A LOT
OF INTELLIGENCE OR A GREAT,

GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF THEOLOGY.

WE KNOW SOMETIMES
THERE IS A DEMON THERE

BECAUSE, FEW TIMES,

WE HAVE THE PROOF
THAT THAT PERSON

WILL NOT KNOW
A LITTLE PART OF THE BIBLE

OR THE THEOLOGY.

SEVERAL TIMES,
I WAS SURPRISED THEY KNEW

PERFECTLY WELL SOMETHING.

IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

Felix: THERE'S NO SUCH THINGS
AS DEMONS.

BASICALLY, THE CHURCH
INVENTED THE DEVIL.

BECAUSE THERE WAS GOOD,
THEY HAD TO INVENT EVIL.

BECAUSE THERE WAS PLUSES,
THEY HAD TO INVENT MINUSES,

AND DEMONS BECAME LITTLE DEVILS

AND POSSESSED PEOPLE,

AND ANYONE THAT WAS HEARING
VOICES IN THEIR HEADS,

PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT
MEDIUMISTIC OR SENSITIVE,

"OH, NO, IT WAS A DEMON
WHISPERING IN THEIR EARS,"

AND IT NEEDED EXORCIST
TO GET RID OF THEM.

BEGONE, EVIL DEMON.

♪♪

Woman: RUMORS OF BANKING
SCANDALS HAVE SWELLED AROUND

THE VATICAN FOR YEARS.

TODAY, THE HOLY SEE
SAW THREE ARRESTS.

Woman #2: FIVE PRIESTS
HAVE BEEN INDICTED

OVER AN EMBEZZLEMENT CASE

IN THE NORTHWESTERN
CITY OF SAPONA.

Man: VATICAN DEPARTMENTS

HAD ALMOST FREE HANDS
WITH THE FINANCES.

Man #2: CHURCH'S MONEY SCANDALS
STRETCH BACK DECADES.

Narrator: FINANCIAL SCANDALS
HAVE SWIRLED AROUND THE VATICAN

EVER SINCE THE DEATH
OF ROBERTO CALVI IN 1982

ROCKED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
TO ITS CORE.

CALVI WAS HEAD
OF THE VATICAN BANK

AND WAS FOUND HUNG UNDER
BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE IN LONDON.

JOHN DICKIE IS
AN INVESTIGATIVE AUTHOR

WHO HAS LOOKED LONG AND HARD

INTO THE SECRET WORLD
OF VATICAN FINANCES.

HIS BOOKS HAVE INCLUDED
"COSA NOSTRA," "DARKEST ITALY"

AND "BLOOD BROTHERHOODS."

ACCORDING TO DICKIE, VAST SUMS
OF MONEY HAVE BEEN STOLEN

AND MISAPPROPRIATED
BY THE CHURCH IN RECENT YEARS.

THE FINANCES OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH ARE AN ABSOLUTE LABYRINTH

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT ONE POT

OF CASH UNDER
THE CONTROL OF THE POPE.

YOU'VE GOT PARISHES, DIOCESE.

YOU'VE GOT THE HOLY SEE,

WHICH IS LIKE THE POPE'S
MISSION TO THE WORLD.

YOU GOT THE VATICAN CITY,
WHICH IS A MINI COUNTRY,

AND YOU'VE GOT THE CHURCHES OF
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT ALL OF
THE DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS ORDERS.

NOW, OVER THE CENTURIES,
ALL OF THESE BODIES

HAVE ACCUMULATED DONATIONS

AND BUILDINGS
AND CHURCHES,

AND NOBODY HAS KEPT TABS
ON THIS STUFF.

NOBODY KNOWS HOW MUCH MONEY
THE CHURCH HAS GOT,

LEAST OF ALL THE CHURCH.

Howells: FOR CENTURIES,
YOU WOULD HAVE ONE POPE

WHO WOULD SPEND EVERYTHING
INTO THE COFFERS,

AND THE NEXT POPE
WOULD COME IN AND TAX

AND REBUILD AND PUT
ALL THE MONEY BACK IN.

AND THE NEXT POPE
WOULD COME IN AND START

BUILDING LAVISH WORKS
AND BUILDINGS.

AND THAT STILL APPEARS TO GO ON.

AND THE CURRENT POPE
IS VERY HUMBLE,

AND HE'S VERY AGAINST
SPENDING AND LIVES

WITH A SENSE OF HUMILITY.

THE PROBLEM THE VATICAN
HAS GOT ITSELF INTO,

WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS

I THINK THEY CHOSE
THE CURRENT POPE,

IS IT HAS BECOME
COMPLETELY INCONGRUENT

WITH CHRISTIAN VALUES,

BASIC CHRISTIAN VALUES
OF HUMILITY AND LOVE AND POVERTY

AND WHY JESUS ACTED AND BEHAVED.

HE NEVER KEPT ANY MONEY.

HE GAVE EVERYTHING TO THE POOR,
AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE VATICAN

AND THE BILLIONS OF POUNDS
WORTH OF WORKS OF ART,

THOSE STATUES AND DOCUMENTS,
ALL THIS WEALTH AND LAVISHNESS.

SO WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THAT?

♪♪

Narrator: AUTHOR JOHN DICKIE
REVEALS THE HUGE IMPACT

AND DAMAGE OF THE VATICAN
FINANCIAL SCANDALS

AND HOW THE CHURCH
IN ROME IS NOW

BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR ITS ACTIONS.

AND WE EXPLORE WHAT THE FUTURE
HOLDS FOR THE HOLY SEE

AND HOW IT WILL CHANGE OR NOT

TO FACE THE 21st CENTURY,

COMING UP IN THE FINAL PART
OF "FORBIDDEN HISTORY."

♪♪

Narrator: FOR YEARS NOW,
THE VATICAN HAS BEEN ACCUSED

OF ALL MANNER OF SINS,
LIES, AND COVER-UPS.

SOME OF IT THEY HAVE ADMITTED
TO AND APOLOGIZED FOR,

BUT MUCH, THEY HAVE NOT.

THE RESULT IS A HOLY SEE UNDER
THE SPOTLIGHT AS NEVER BEFORE

AND A TESTING TIME
FOR THE POPE

AND HIS SENIOR CARDINALS.

♪♪

Dickie:
POPE FRANCIS IS UNDOUBTED.

HE CAME IN ON A BRIEF

TO INTRODUCE FINANCIAL
TRANSPARENCY,

AND HE'S CERTAINLY DONE
THAT AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL,

PARTICULARLY AT THE LEVEL
OF THE VATICAN BANK --

THE I.O.R. --
WHICH FOR A LONG TIME,

WAS LIKE AN OFFSHORE BANK.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE
POLITICAL BRIBES BEING LAUNDERED

THROUGH THE VATICAN BANK,
IN THE 1990s,

MAFIA MONEY --
SCANDALOUS.

AND A LOT HAS BEEN DONE

TO MAKE THE VATICAN BANK
MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT,

BUT POPE FRANCIS HAS GOT A BIG,
BIG JOB AHEAD OF HIM.

IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE
10 REFORMING POPES

AND NOT JUST ONE
TO REALLY GET TO THE BOTTOM

OF ALL OF THE MEANDERING

UNDERGROUND RIVERS OF MONEY

WITHIN THE CHURCH
IN THE BROAD SENSE.

Gough: EVERY NEW POPE,
INCLUDING THE CURRENT ONE,

CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO REFORM THE CHURCH.

YEAH, RIGHT.

THIS IS THE WEALTHIEST
INSTITUTION THAT'S EVER BEEN.

THEY ANSWER TO NO ONE.

THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY
ABOUT THEIR ACTIONS,

SO I LIKE THE FACT
THAT HE'S TRYING,

BUT GOOD LUCK TO HIM.

♪♪

Narrator: SO TODAY,
THE VATICAN IS STILL FACING

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS
ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS

AS IT HAS FOR MUCH
OF ITS THOUSAND-YEAR EXISTENCE.

IN EACH CASE, THE VATICAN
HAS BEEN FORCED

TIME AFTER TIME TO APOLOGIZE

AND PAY HUGE FINES
IN COMPENSATION,

YET CONTINUES TO COURT
NEW CONTROVERSY.

HOWEVER, WHAT IS STILL UNCLEAR
IS WHAT WAS NOT DISCOVERED

OR NOT REVEALED

IN THE VARIOUS ARCHIVE OPENINGS.

MANY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE

THAT THE HEAVILY-GUARDED VAULTS
UNDER THE VATICAN

CONTAIN HERETICAL MATERIAL,

INCLUDING ALTERNATIVE
CHRISTIAN GOSPELS,

CAPTURED GOSPELS FROM
OTHER COMPETING RELIGIONS,

AND EVEN CORE RELICS

SUCH AS
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

AND THE HUMAN REMAINS
OF JESUS HIMSELF.

STRICTLY NO BROWSING IS ALLOWED
IN THE SECRET ARCHIVES.

YOU'RE ONLY PERMITTED ACCESS
TO THE SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS

OR OBJECTS
THAT YOU ASK TO SEE

AND THAT
THE VATICAN HAVE CONFIRMED

THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE.

SOME HAVE ACCUSED THIS
AS BEING THE PERFECT WAY

TO HIDE ANYTHING THEY LIKE.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY
IS THAT IT IS SLOWLY ENTERING

INTO THE 21st CENTURY

IN WHICH IT'S BEING HELD
TO ACCOUNT MORE.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE CYNICAL.

THEY ARE LESS TRUSTING,

AND EVEN PEOPLE
WHO ARE DEVOUT CATHOLICS

LOOK AT THE VATICAN AND GO,

"IS THIS REPRESENTING
WHAT I WANT IN AN INSTITUTION

THAT IS THERE TO PROMULGATE
AND FURTHER MY FAITH?"

AND THESE ARE REASONABLE
QUESTIONS TO ASK.

Dr. Papadopoulos: THERE'S A LOT
ABOUT THE VATICAN THAT'S REALLY,

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT,
QUITE ARCHAIC.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
THIS FEEDS INTO

ONE OF THE CORE NOTIONS
OF RELIGION IN GENERAL.

YOU DO NOT CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT IT RIGHT,
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MESSIAH CAME

AND SAID THIS IS HOW IT WAS,
AND YOU DON'T QUESTION

AND YOU DON'T CHANGE,
BECAUSE IF YOU CHANGE ONE THING,

THEN EVERYTHING BEGINS
TO BE QUESTIONED.

AND I GUESS THIS IS VERY MUCH
WHAT THEY LIVE BY.

Felix: THE WHOLE JESUS STORY
IS MADE UP,

AND EVERYTHING FROM
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS,

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS,
FOUR MORTAL SINS, PURGATORY,

HELLFIRE, DAMNATION,

BEELZEBUB, BAPHOMET, BAAL,
THE DEVIL, DEMONS,

THE ANTICHRIST, AND WITCHES

ARE ALL MADE UP TO KEEP US
UNDER CONTROL THROUGH FEAR.

Gough: THERE'S NO DEFENDING
THE CORRUPTION IN THE VATICAN

FROM A FINANCIAL DEALINGS

TO THE VERY, VERY PUBLIC
CHILD MOLESTATION,

BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED THEM.

I THINK THEIR DAYS ARE NUMBERED.

IMAGINE A TIME BOMB.

A WHISTLE-BLOWER
IS GOING TO EMERGE,

THE EQUIVALENT OF EDWIN SNOWDEN,

AND THE WHOLE THING
IS GOING TO BE EXPOSED --

NOT A FEW DOCUMENTS
THAT A PRIEST LEAKS

TO THE MEDIA -- EVERYTHING.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE THE WHOLE THING
TUMBLES DOWN.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN MIRED
IN SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL

FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS
OR SO --

MONEY LAUNDERING, THEFT,
BULLYING, CHILD ABUSE.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH IS THROWN
AT THE VATICAN, IT SHRUGS IT OFF

AND SEEMS TO REMAIN
AS STRONG AS EVER.

ITS CRITICS HAVE
WRITTEN IT OFF FOR DECADES,

PREDICTING ITS COLLAPSE,

AND YET, IN SOME PARTS
OF THE WORLD,

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IS ACTUALLY GROWING.

THE NEW POPE, FRANCIS,
IS SAID TO BE CLEANING UP,

BUT WHETHER HE WILL SUCCEED,
IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY.

ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN --

THE NEXT CHAPTER IN
THE VATICAN'S HISTORY

IS GOING TO BE
AN INTERESTING ONE.