Wednesday, April 13, 2011

A rare look at the Vatican Library's treasures

Only the pope can borrow from the Vatican Library; it's not open to the public because it's chock full of some of the oldest, one-of-a-kind cultural treasures known to man, including 2,000-yr.old copies of the gospels of Luke and John.

From the works of Michelangelo and Galileo to the priceless personal baubles commissioned by popes and princes 600 years ago, get ready to ooh and ah. 

The library, in a way, has become the attic of Western civilization. 

"Nobody knows what's exactly there," says Fr. Michael Collins, of the shelves that if stretched end to end, would measure 31 miles.

Fr. Collins has written extensively about the collection. 

"It would be impossible for the human brain, I think, to understand, to remember the titles, who wrote it, when they were written," he tells Safer.

Says Msgr. Cesare Pasini, who presides over the library, "It's quite a treasure of humanity that you have here. They came during the centuries, but now this is their home."