The new book is based on a scrap of parchment discovered in the Vatican's secret archives in 2001 by Professor Barbara Frale. The long-lost document is a record of the trial of the Templars before Pope Clement, and ends with a papal absolution from all heresies.

Also follow this link:
Knights Templar: Guardians of the Grail - Telegraph

I thought this was intensly interesting. But why now? Too much poking around in the secrect Archives to be buried for 700 years!

Seems odd after all this time something so compelling is found... I'd like to see what it is...

But will we ever?

Well at least now they can be pardoned and get out of purgatory.

Honestly after all these years, I doubt there is anyone that really cares greatly

Anyone that really cares greatly? I do! This is one of the greatest mysteries of all time. The Knights found the greatest treasure ever, buried under the Temple and delivered it to the Vatican... or not. I think the latter and that is why the were burned at the stake. This is a great story and it is very important.

I'll second that. I became fascinated with the Templars years ago and have not ceased. In my opinion, they should have been publicly and formally exonerated ages ago.

Many questions are to date unanswered. The answers and reality buried in time. But of what we do know, their intentions and motivations were for the greater good! Only since a few dissented did the Templar's meet a calculated fate.

The story untold crosses time to yet reveal. What happened to the riches and the holdings that many claimed the Knight's obtained?

The Knights Templar - Crystalinks

That is an excellent link. That pretty well sums it up. Thanks Cap'n.

Quote:

---

The new book is based on a scrap of parchment discovered in the Vatican's secret archives in 2001 by Professor Barbara Frale.

---

Why would the Vatican need secret archives? People with nothing to hide don't need secret archives.

If you are really interested, read The Secret Archives of the Vatican by Maria Luisa Ambrosini. ISBN 0-7607-0125-3 If not, then I will tell you that if I owned original writings from the trials of Galileo, of Alexander The Great, just to name a couple, I would have a secret archive that no one but no one could enter. When you are finally allowed to enter, not everyone is, there are a squad of guards standing behind and to the sides, watching your every move. You must not wear and jacket or coat and you may only take a pencil and a small note pad.
Personally, I would like to sneak into the room that houses the Ark of the Covenant, the sword that pierced Jesus in the side and the large chunk of the original cross. It is all there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by michealb

Why would the Vatican need secret archives? People with nothing to hide don't need secret archives.

---

Every organization, and every individual, has something to hide. The interesting thing to me is that the attempt to hide things often ends up preserving them, so that the truth comes out later.