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The Pontifical Apostolic Library (Pontificia Bibliotheca Apostolica), also known as the Pontifical Library, is the principal library of the Holy Apostolic See of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. Housed in several locations and working with various partners, it contains works from ancient to modern, including rare copies, on subjects including theology, history, canon law, music, heraldry, nobility and government, and more. The legacy of the Pontifical Library dates to the early period of the Church when ecclesiastical libraries began to be collected. These in turn grew into various church libraries, some of which are still in existence today. The modern Pontifical Library was formed during the reorganisation of patriarchal library collections in 2011.
The Pontifical Library is also associated with the Stephenian Archives, housing the records and artifacts of the Holy Apostolic See.
Preservation in practice
A living collection, held in trust
Some responsibilities are best understood through what has been kept. The Library preserves historic and modern volumes bearing witness to the spiritual, institutional, ceremonial, and cultural life of the Church and the wider Christian world.
The books shown here are a small representative group from the archival holdings: older printed works together with later liturgical, devotional, heraldic, and institutional volumes. They vary in date and character, but each forms part of the documentary inheritance entrusted to the Library.
As a custodial institutional collection rather than a public lending library, the Library's work is chiefly one of continuity: safeguarding its holdings, maintaining their records, arranging appropriate conservation, and thoughtfully acquiring works that strengthen the collection for future generations.
Continuing stewardship includes: responsible custody, cataloguing, conservation where needed, and the considered acquisition of suitable works.
Click here to view the Pontifical Regalia Project.
H.A.H. Anna Alexandrovna, Apostolic Princess of Rome-Ruthenia
H.M.S.H. Duke Paul of Lower-Silesia (Glogau)
H.M.S.H. Duchess Heide of Lower-Silesia (Glogau)
H.R.S.H. Prince Floyd of Chiquiza and Friuli
H.E. Monika B. Baroness Langen, OESH, Financial Adviser (Ret.)
H.E. Dame Graziella Maretti-Friedman, OSEH, Philanthropist
H.E. Dame Petra Graaf-Methner, OSEH, Financial Adviser (Ret.)
H.E. Major Chev. Jean Claude Carladous, OESH, Gendarmerie of France (Ret.)
Memorial of Deceased Honourary Governors
H.S.H. Prince Bernd Hartmut Gulgowski-Doliwa, Chief Gov. Counselor, German Armed Forces
H.E. Colonel Knight Heinz Obry, long-term President of the Steuben Society of America