Vatican opens Secret Archives on Henry VIII

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Vatican is opening its Secret Archives to give the world a glimpse of the original letter that became a determining factor in England's decision to part ways with the Roman Catholic Church. The 1530 letter asks Pope Clement VII for the annulment of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In the Vatican Archives photo above, you can see the letter, complete with the seals of Henry's peers who went to bat for his cause. Click HERE to read more at the Vatican Archives site, and HERE to read an entry about the letter from the New York Times Art Beat blog.

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