Stolen Jesuit Archive Books Recovered and Returned to Italy After Multinational Investigation
Six rare Chinese-language books stolen from the Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu in Rome between 1999 and 2002 have been returned to Italian authorities. The volumes, dating to the 1500s and valued at $400,000, were scientific works used by missionaries in China. They were recovered through an investigation involving Vatican, Hong Kong, and University of Notre Dame officials. The books had been purchased by a collector at an online auction and were on loan to Notre Dame when identified. Italian police retrieved them in Manhattan this week, noting their significant historical and scientific importance.
Key facts
- Six stolen books from a Jesuit archive in Rome were returned to Italy
- The books were taken between 1999 and 2002 and valued at $400,000
- They are Chinese-language scientific texts from the 1500s used by missionaries
- A multinational investigation involved the Vatican, Hong Kong, and University of Notre Dame
- The books were recovered from a collector who bought them at an online auction
Entities
Institutions
- Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu
- University of Notre Dame
- Italian national police cultural heritage protection force
- Manhattan district attorney's office
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Manhattan
- New York
- Vatican
- Hong Kong