The Vatican Archives includes a vast collection of religious and historical documents covering more than a thousand years of history and comprising twenty-five miles of shelved texts. This story of the development of the archives, established by Pope Paul V in 1612 and opened to scholars in 1881, provides a fascinating glimpse into world history, from the trial of Galileo to the papal attacks on Pico della Mirandola. Some of the most interesting documents are the avvis or newsletters, which were effectively the gossip columns of the day--illicit, anonymous, and avidly read by everyone, especially the cardinals. Of equal interest are the letters of Gregory VII, revealing a pope of profound feeling, self-questioning, and affection, and the collection of records on marriage annulments, disclosing details as intimate as those contained in modern-day psychiatric files. These glimpses into the past provide enormous insight into the power and influence of the Church in the secular world.