The Vatican Chronovisor: Inside the Secret Time-Viewing Device
Hidden beneath Vatican City's public grandeur lies a secretive underground fortress, the Secret Apostolic Archives. Within its heavily secured walls, countless historical texts, relics, and artifacts span over 50 miles of shelving. Among these treasures, one particularly fascinating item has captured the imagination of many: the Chronovisor, a device allegedly capable of viewing events from any point in history.
Father Pellegrino Ernetti, a Benedictine monk with expertise in music, science, and languages, claimed involvement with this mysterious device. During a conversation with Father Francois Brune, Ernetti revealed that the Chronovisor could display historical events on a screen like a television. He described witnessing Napoleon's speeches, ancient Rome, and biblical events including the crucifixion. According to Ernetti, the device was developed by a team of scientists who discovered that light and sound continue to exist as energy forms that could be detected and translated into viewable images.
Key Takeaways
The Secret Apostolic Archives reportedly houses a device called the Chronovisor that could view any historical event.
Father Pellegrino Ernetti claimed the device was created by scientists who could capture residual electromagnetic energy from past events.
The Catholic Church allegedly ordered the Chronovisor dismantled due to concerns about its potential misuse for espionage and manipulation.
Vatican City's Hidden Archives
The Secret Papal Repository
Vatican City houses an extraordinary underground facility that few ever get to see. Beneath the public areas lies a heavily fortified archive protected by armed guards and cutting-edge security systems. This underground repository contains over 50 miles of shelving filled with artifacts, texts, and relics gathered by the Catholic Church over the past millennium.
The climate-controlled vaults within stone and steel-reinforced walls protect countless historical treasures. These archives preserve documents and objects of immense historical and religious significance, making them one of the world's most valuable and secretive collections.
Despite its popular name as a "secret" archive, the official title is the Vatican Apostolic Archive. Access remains highly restricted, with only qualified scholars permitted entry under strict conditions.
The Alleged Time-Viewing Machine
One of the most controversial claims regarding Vatican secrets involves a device called the "Chronovisor." According to accounts from Father Pellegrino Ernetti, a Benedictine monk, this apparatus allegedly allowed users to observe events from any time and place in history.
Father Ernetti, who was respected as a scientist, linguist, and music scholar, claimed to have worked on the Chronovisor project in the 1950s. During a conversation with French priest François Brune, Ernetti described how the device could display historical events on a screen similar to a television.
The alleged team behind this invention included:
Enrico Fermi: Nobel Prize-winning physicist
Werner von Braun: Former Nazi rocket scientist who later directed NASA programs
10 other unidentified scientists
According to Ernetti's explanation, the Chronovisor functioned by detecting residual electromagnetic radiation from past events. The device purportedly used specialized antennas to capture these energy patterns and translate them into images and sound on a cathode ray tube.
Father Ernetti claimed to have witnessed numerous historical events through the device:
Speeches by Napoleon and Mussolini
Ancient Roman orator Cicero speaking
Biblical events including the crucifixion of Jesus
The creation of the Ten Commandments
The story gained public attention in 1972 when an Italian magazine published an article titled "A Machine That Photographs the Past Has Finally Been Invented." Several photographs allegedly taken with the Chronovisor circulated, including images purporting to show Jesus.
Father Ernetti claimed that Pope Pius XII ordered the device dismantled due to concerns about its potential misuse. The Pope reportedly worried that such technology could reveal state secrets or be used for blackmail, potentially enabling unprecedented forms of dictatorship.
No credible evidence has ever verified the existence of the Chronovisor. However, the story resurfaced in 2002 when François Brune published a book discussing his conversations with Ernetti about the device.
Father Pellegrino Ernetti
His Life and Academic Achievements
Father Pellegrino Ernetti was a Benedictine monk with extraordinary intellectual capabilities. He established himself as a scientist and scholar with expertise in multiple disciplines. Ernetti was particularly renowned for his knowledge of ancient music and was considered a world-class authority in this field. His intellectual versatility was evident in his command of several languages and his studies in electronics, physics, and even occult arts. This combination of religious devotion and scientific curiosity made Ernetti a unique figure within the Vatican's scholarly community.
The Venice Meeting with François Brune
During a ferry ride along the Grand Canal in Venice, Father Ernetti had a fateful encounter with François Brune, a French priest. Their conversation began with shared interests in languages, science, and history, particularly biblical interpretations. As they discussed various perspectives on biblical texts, Ernetti made a startling claim. He suggested that interpretations were unnecessary because one could actually witness historical events firsthand. Ernetti confided in Brune about a device hidden in the Vatican archives that could display events from any point in history on a screen. Brune, though initially skeptical, was intrigued by Ernetti's serious demeanor and respected academic standing.
Alleged Functions of the Time-Viewing Device
According to Ernetti, the device—called the "Chronovisor"—functioned somewhat like a television for viewing the past. Unlike a time machine, it didn't transport users physically but instead displayed historical events on a screen. Ernetti claimed to have used this technology to witness numerous significant historical moments, including speeches by Napoleon and Mussolini, scenes from ancient Rome, and biblical events such as the crucifixion of Jesus and the creation of the Ten Commandments.
The device reportedly operated by detecting residual electromagnetic radiation—the energy forms of light and sound that continued to exist after events occurred. Using a system of antennas, the Chronovisor could allegedly capture these signals and reconstruct them on a cathode ray tube. Users could specify dates and locations to view particular historical events with remarkable clarity.
Ernetti stated that the project began in 1952 at the Catholic University of Milan after an unusual incident where Father Agostino Gemelli believed he heard his deceased father's voice on a recording. This prompted research into whether sounds from the past might continue to exist and be detectable. The project reportedly involved twelve scientists, including Nobel Prize-winner Enrico Fermi and former Nazi rocket scientist Werner von Braun.
As proof of the device's capabilities, Ernetti claimed to have viewed and transcribed a lost play by Quintus Ennius, the "father of Roman poetry," whose work "Thyestes" had been largely lost to history except for a few fragments. According to Ernetti, he was able to complete this ancient text after witnessing its performance in 169 BCE.
The story of the Chronovisor emerged publicly in 1972 when an Italian magazine published an article titled "A Machine That Photographs the Past Has Finally Been Invented," which included several controversial photographs allegedly taken using the device.
Key Historical Moments Observed
Biblical Times and Ancient Roman Era
Father Pellegrino Ernetti claimed to have witnessed numerous significant historical events through the chronovisor device. According to his account, he observed many biblical scenes exactly as they were described in religious texts. He reportedly viewed the crucifixion of Jesus, the creation of the Ten Commandments, the Last Supper, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. These observations allegedly confirmed the biblical accounts as historically accurate events.
In addition to biblical scenes, Ernetti stated he had visited Ancient Rome through the device. One of his most notable claims was witnessing Roman orator Cicero giving speeches. Ernetti was particularly impressed that Cicero was indeed as captivating and powerful a speaker as historical accounts had suggested.
Perhaps his most significant contribution from these Roman observations was his work with the lost play of Quintus Ennius. Ernetti claimed he used the chronovisor to watch a performance of "Thyestes" in a Roman square in 169 BC. Being fluent in Latin, he was able to transcribe the play, effectively completing Ennius's work after it had been lost for nearly 2,000 years.
Addresses by Notable Historical Figures
The chronovisor allegedly allowed Ernetti to hear important speeches from various historical periods. He claimed to have listened to addresses delivered by:
Napoleon Bonaparte - Though specific details of which speeches were not provided
Benito Mussolini - Ernetti reportedly heard multiple addresses by the Italian dictator
These observations were part of what convinced French priest Francois Brune of the potential legitimacy of Ernetti's claims. Ernetti's reputation as a serious, well-educated, and respected church figure lent credibility to these extraordinary assertions. His background as a scientist, linguist, and scholar made his accounts particularly compelling to those who knew him personally.
Development of the Chronovisor
Father Agostino Gemelli's Role
The chronovisor's development began with a curious incident in 1952 at the Catholic University of Milan. Father Agostino Gemelli, the university's founder and president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, was reviewing tape recordings of Gregorian chants when he believed he heard his deceased father's voice discussing shoe prices. This wasn't interpreted as a supernatural communication but rather sparked scientific curiosity.
Gemelli's position within the Vatican scientific community proved crucial. He secured funding for investigation into the phenomenon, hypothesizing that sounds and images from the past might continue to exist as energy forms that could potentially be detected. This theory formed the foundation for what would become the chronovisor project.
The Research Collaboration
The project gathered twelve scientists under Father Pellegrino Ernetti's leadership. While most team members remained anonymous, two prominent figures were identified:
Scientist Background Contribution Enrico Fermi Nobel Prize-winning physicist, creator of the first nuclear reactor Theoretical physics expertise Werner von Braun Former Nazi rocket scientist who later directed NASA Technical engineering knowledge
Father Ernetti himself brought unique qualifications to the team. He was a Benedictine monk with extensive knowledge in multiple disciplines:
Languages: Fluent in several, including ancient Latin
Music: World-class authority on archaic musical forms
Science: Background in electronics and physics
Occult arts: Knowledge of esoteric practices
This interdisciplinary team provided the diverse expertise needed to approach the complex challenge of accessing historical events.
Technical Aspects of the Chronovisor
The chronovisor functioned through detection of residual electromagnetic radiation. According to Ernetti, the device utilized a system of specialized antennas that could detect and translate energy patterns into visual and audio output. The operating principle compared to how sound waves can be preserved in vinyl recordings.
Users could program specific dates and locations into the device. The chronovisor would then reconstruct the requested scene on a large cathode ray tube display. This technology allegedly allowed operators to witness historical events with remarkable clarity and detail.
The capabilities were reportedly extensive. Ernetti claimed to have observed numerous significant historical moments, including:
Speeches by Napoleon and Mussolini
Cicero's renowned oratory performances
Biblical events like the crucifixion and the Last Supper
The device supposedly produced tangible evidence, including photographs and transcriptions. Most notably, Ernetti claimed to have used the chronovisor to witness and transcribe "Thyestes," a lost play by ancient Roman poet Quintus Ennius, performed in 169 BCE.
The Time Viewing Device: Declassified
The Pope's Intervention and Its Aftermath
The story of the alleged Chronovisor reached its critical turning point when Father Pellegrino Ernetti and his team of scientists presented their findings to Pope Pius XII. According to accounts, the Pope immediately recognized the potential dangers of such a device.
The implications were staggering. A machine capable of viewing any historical event could expose state secrets, reveal private moments, and potentially be used for blackmail on an unprecedented scale. The Vatican leadership feared that whoever controlled such technology could establish a dictatorship with perfect knowledge of the past.
Pope Pius XII reportedly made a decisive judgment. He ordered the Chronovisor to be completely dismantled and instructed all involved parties to maintain absolute silence about its existence. This command was seemingly followed for over a decade, with Ernetti claiming to Francois Brune that their canal conversation was the first time he had spoken of the device in ten years.
Despite the dismantling order, alleged evidence of the Chronovisor's function emerged years later. Most notably, Ernetti claimed he had transcribed the lost play "Thyestes" by the ancient Roman poet Quintus Ennius, which he viewed using the device. He also reportedly captured photographs, including controversial images purporting to show Jesus during his final days.
The story resurfaced in 1972 when Italian magazine La Domenica del Corriere published an article headlined: "A machine that photographs the past has finally been invented." This renewed public interest and sparked theories that the device wasn't actually destroyed but remained in active use by the Vatican.
Whether the Chronovisor was truly dismantled as ordered or merely hidden away in the Secret Archives remains one of the Vatican's most intriguing mysteries.
Proof of the Theoretical Device
The Transcription of the Ancient Roman Tragedy
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the alleged chronovisor's existence involves the recovery of a lost literary work from antiquity. Father Pellegrino Ernetti, a Benedictine monk with expertise in multiple fields including music, linguistics, and science, claimed to have witnessed and transcribed the Roman tragedy "Thyestes" by Quintus Ennius.
This ancient play, written by Ennius (239-169 BCE), had been considered lost to history for approximately 2,000 years. Only fragments and references to the work had survived through the centuries, leaving scholars with an incomplete understanding of this significant piece of Roman literature.
According to accounts, Ernetti used the device to observe a performance of "Thyestes" in a Roman square around 169 BCE. Being fluent in Latin, he was able to document the complete text of the play by witnessing its actual performance. This transcription supposedly exists as tangible evidence of the chronovisor's capabilities.
The significance of this claim cannot be overstated. Ennius is widely regarded as the father of Roman poetry, whose works greatly influenced subsequent Latin literature. His final play "Thyestes," produced shortly before his death, was based on earlier Greek works and later adapted by Seneca, but the original text had been lost until Ernetti's alleged transcription.
When the story of the chronovisor emerged in Italian media during the 1970s, this transcription was presented as one of the key pieces of evidence supporting the device's existence. The recovery of a complete lost classical text would represent an unprecedented archaeological and literary discovery if authenticated.
Critics have noted, however, that without access to the actual manuscript or independent verification of its authenticity, the transcription remains an unverified claim within the larger chronovisor narrative.
Public Disclosure and Media Response
Article in "La Domenica del Corriere"
The chronovisor story remained largely unknown until 1972 when an Italian magazine called "La Domenica del Corriere" published a sensational article. The headline boldly proclaimed "A machine that photographs the past has finally been invented." This article marked the first major public disclosure of the chronovisor's alleged existence beyond Father Ernetti's private conversations with Father Brune.
The magazine piece included several photographs purportedly taken using the chronovisor. Among these was an image allegedly showing Jesus during his final day, including the crucifixion. Another photo depicted Jesus walking and conversing with his followers. These images, attributed to Father Ernetti, were presented as evidence of the device's capabilities.
While the article generated significant interest, it provided limited technical details about how the chronovisor supposedly functioned. The basic explanation aligned with Ernetti's earlier claims about the device capturing residual electromagnetic radiation from past events.
Speculation and Suppression
Following the magazine publication, theories about the chronovisor proliferated. Some believed the Vatican had not actually dismantled the device as Ernetti claimed but continued to use it secretly. This speculation suggested the Church might be using the technology to monitor and potentially control the population by accessing historical information unavailable to others.
The lack of additional information fueled conspiracy theories. Critics noted that despite claims of twelve scientists working on the project, Ernetti only named two: Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi and former Nazi rocket scientist Werner von Braun, both prominent figures in 20th-century science.
Public interest in the chronovisor diminished as the Vatican reportedly suppressed further information about the device. The story remained relatively dormant until 2002, when Father François Brune published his book detailing his conversations with Ernetti. This publication reignited interest in the chronovisor and brought Ernetti's claims to a new audience.
The most tangible evidence presented to support the chronovisor's existence was Ernetti's transcription of Quintus Ennius' lost play "Thyestes." Ernetti claimed to have viewed a 169 BCE performance in Rome and transcribed the Latin text, completing a work that had been fragmentary for nearly 2,000 years.
The Time-Viewing Device: Vatican's Secret Technology
The Vatican Archives, housed beneath Vatican City in a fortified underground complex, reportedly contains one of history's most extraordinary inventions. Protected by armed guards and advanced security systems, these archives stretch across 50 miles of shelving filled with artifacts collected over millennia.
Among these treasures, the Chronovisor stands out as particularly fascinating. This device allegedly allowed users to view historical events occurring anywhere in time, functioning similar to a television but with access to the past.
Father Pellegrino Ernetti, a Benedictine monk with expertise in music, science, and linguistics, revealed the existence of this device during a conversation with French priest François Brune. Their discussion about biblical interpretation took an unexpected turn when Ernetti claimed he could actually see historical events firsthand.
The Alleged Photographic Evidence and Ongoing Mystery
The Chronovisor gained public attention in 1972 when Italian magazine La Domenica del Corriere published an article with the headline: "A machine that photographs the past has finally been invented." Following this revelation, several photographs supposedly taken with the device emerged, including controversial images allegedly showing Jesus during his final days.
These images quickly became subjects of intense debate. One purportedly showed Jesus walking with followers, while another claimed to capture his crucifixion. The authenticity of these photographs has never been conclusively established.
Father Ernetti claimed the device was developed by a team of twelve scientists, including Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi and former NASA director Werner von Braun. According to Ernetti, the technology could detect residual electromagnetic radiation from past events and translate it into visible images and sound on a cathode ray tube.
The most compelling evidence Ernetti offered was his transcription of Thyestes, a lost play by ancient Roman poet Quintus Ennius. Ernetti claimed he witnessed a 169 BCE performance of this play using the Chronovisor and transcribed the text, which had been missing for two millennia.
According to Ernetti, Pope Pius XII ordered the device dismantled due to concerns about its potential misuse. The Pope allegedly feared the Chronovisor could reveal state secrets or enable blackmail, potentially creating an unprecedented dictatorship if it fell into the wrong hands.
The full truth about the Chronovisor remains elusive. Some believe it was indeed dismantled as claimed, while others suspect it may still exist, hidden in the Vatican's most secure vaults.
