The Vatican has everything from beauty, great architecture, tradition, Catholic values, monuments, and more. But one of the greatest, perhaps, is the secrets and scandals.
The internet has an ample supply of conspiracies and controversies when it comes to the landmark of Catholics. Here are some interesting secrets and theories that we can’t ignore.
1. The Vatican Allegedly Had Financial Gain from the Holocaust
It’s well known that by the end of World War II, Nazis were forced to seek refuge outside Europe, and thousands of them even managed to escape to South American countries. A Harvard researcher’s study revealed that the Vatican extensively aided Nazi war criminals. It is argued that they wanted to revive European Christianity in the wake of Soviet Union’s growing influence.
Although, the Vatican itself refuses to comment on these claims, several experts like American journalist Gerald Posner says that the Vatican made financial gains from the holocaust. As Nazis escaped, they were involved in smuggling art, golf, and other belongings of Jewish families.
The journalist also says that Bernardino Nogara, who was the financial advisor to the Vatican at that time, is believed to have been one of Nazi spies.
2. Vatican Bank Scandals
The Vatican Bank has been involved in many scandals, one of the most renowned being associated with Hitler. Posner says that the Vatican was paid Church Tax by the Nazi leader every year. Although Western banks can’t track it, historians say that a substantial amount was paid to the Works of Religion (IOR). The details about these transactions were never publicly released.
DARK SECRETS OF THE VATICAN 🇻🇦 REVEALED!!
1. #VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVES
2. THE VATICAN’S ARMY OF #EXORCISTS
3. THE MANY SCANDALS OF THE VATICAN #BANK
4. THE VATICAN SMUGGLED #NAZIS TO SAFETY
5. THE VATICAN MADE MONEY OFF THE #HOLOCAUST
6. THE VATICAN’S $5 MILLION #COVERUP
7.… pic.twitter.com/8uxe1hEMD8
— SERENDIPITY 🙏🏽 (@snaptwiceontw) November 2, 2023
3. Vatileaks Scandal
His Holiness, a book by author Gianlugi Nuzzi, reveals some leaked secret papers of Pope Benedict. The documents were released by the Pope’s own butler. The filed prompted an investigation which unfolded how non-Vatican individuals were blackmailing gay bishops for breaking celibacy vows. The scandal became so huge that Benedict XVI had to resign from the papacy in 2013.
4. The Apostolic Penitentiary
Supposedly founded in 1179, this secret tribunal investigates “heinous” crimes of individuals. Examples of these crimes included attempted assassination of a Pope, a priest disclosing the identity of a person or the sin they committed after they confessed. Only Pope can grant absolution to the people as he acts as the head of the tribunal. He is called the Major Penitentiary and can stand the automatic excommunication.
5. Dead Man on Trial
The “Cadaver Synod” scandal is one of the biggest scandals in the Vatican. In 897 AD, the Catholic Church put a man on trial, when he was already dead. Pope Formosus was accused of usurping the papacy. Although he was already dead for 7 months at that point, his body was exhumed. He was dressed in proper attire and then presented at the court. There was also a deacon who spoke on behalf of him.
Ultimately, he was found guilty and punished in the form of humiliation. His fingers were cut off, and body disposed into the River Tiber.
In 897 AD, the Catholic Church held a trial.
The accused? A pope. The twist? He was already dead.
This is the Cadaver Synod, the wildest trial in history, a 🧵 pic.twitter.com/d1Kext2VZ0
— Templarpilled (@Templarpilled) April 22, 2025
6. There’s No Jesus?
When it comes to conspiracy theories, this is one of the biggest ones. Some media reports talk about a secret exchange between Emperor Nero and Sain Paul about the existence of Jesus. There are wild conspiracy theories claiming that Vatican has hiding proof about Jesus not existing.
7. Illuminati Connection
There’s a great amount of people out there who believes that Illuminati continues to shine despite their setback in the medieval times. Many has a theory that the secret organization has its members placed in the Vatican.
