Devine urges campaigners to lobby Pope

Published on 20/07/2012 12:00

A PROMINENT historian has urged campaigners to lobby the Pope over plans by the Catholic Church to divide up its priceless historical collection across different locations in Scotland.

Professor Tom Devine said an appeal to the Vatican should be made about the Catholic Archives “because of the complete unwillingness to engage with people who have a sincere interest in getting the best possible outcome to the current situation”.

The documents – which include correspondence from Mary Queen of Scots – are currently kept in Columba House in Edinburgh. It is proposed that pre-1878 material will be housed at Aberdeen University’s new state-of-the-art library. Later documents are due to shift to a new episcopal centre currently under construction in Glasgow.

Columba House is currently closed and attempts to sell off the building have been unsuccessful.