Vatican City: A former employee of the Vatican has been arrested by Vatican police for allegedly attempting to sell a 17th-century manuscript by Italian Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which had previously disappeared from archives, as stated by a Vatican spokesperson.
Experts have identified the 18-page document, adorned with gilded miniatures, as containing the initial descriptions of the decorative elements adorning the canopy of St. Peter’s Basilica, a creation attributed to the renowned sculptor and architect Bernini. Bernini’s legacy includes the iconic colonnade enveloping St. Peter’s Square, making him a pivotal figure in 17th-century Italian Baroque architecture.
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The arrested individual, taken into custody on May 27 on charges of attempted extortion, was formerly employed by the Fabric of St. Peter, the institution entrusted with the conservation and upkeep of St. Peter’s Basilica. He remains detained within the Vatican’s confines and has undergone interrogation on two occasions in recent days, as disclosed by the spokesman. Prosecutors at the Vatican will determine next week whether formal charges will be brought against him.
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The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by the Fabric, culminating in the apprehension of the suspect as he attempted to return the manuscript to the Vatican, offering it for sale at 120,000 euros ($130,716).
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Initial reports on the incident were made public by Italian daily Domani, which identified the suspect as a former head of communications at the Fabric. It was alleged that he sought to sell the manuscript to Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. According to Domani, the missing manuscript has since been recovered and is now back in the possession of the Vatican.
