CONGREGATION ARCHIVES TO BE ELECTRONICALLY CATALOGUED

VATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2002 (VIS) - Fr. Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Holy See Press Office, made the following statement this morning regarding the computerization of the archives of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which will be financed by Italy's Ministry for Cultural Goods.

"This morning Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Prof. Salvatore Italia, director general for the Archives of the Italian Ministry for Patrimony and Cultural Activities, signed an agreement of collaboration for the electronic cataloging of the historical archives of the Vatican dicastery, which are comprised of the records of the former Congregation of the Holy Office and of the Index of Prohibited Books, as well as those of the tribunal of the Inquisition of Siena.

"The Archives were officially opened for consultation by scholars on January 22, 1998, causing notable interest among historians throughout the world. The agreement signed today will allow for the completion, in four years, of an ambitious project of computerizing the catalogue and inventory of the above-mentioned records. A team of young archivists has already begun this work and up to now they have cataloged 2,500 pieces, including antique file folders and files, registers, parchments, designs, engravings and various documents, which date from the middle of the 16th century to the early years of the 20th century, and embrace a very broad area of subject matters, which makes the study of such records absolutely indispensable for knowing Italian, European and world history and culture of modern times.

"The agreement therefore consolidates the fortunate harmony between the two administrations in the common commitment for the safekeeping, knowledge and use of cultural goods in the service of a more ample development of the good of mankind and civil coexistence."

OP;COMPUTERIZATION; ARCHIVES; CDF;...;BENEDETTINI;VIS;20021205;Word: 310;