(Reuters) – The Vatican said on Sunday it had received a ransom demand for the return of two rare documents written by Renaissance master Michelangelo that were stolen from its archives nearly 20 years ago.

The theft of the two documents – one a letter including the signature of the artist who painted the Sistine Chapel, designed part of St. Peter’s Basilica and sculpted statues such as David and the Pieta – had not been made public before Sunday.

Following a report by the Rome newspaper Il Messaggero on Sunday, spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said a cardinal in charge of St. Peter’s Basilica had been contacted recently by a person who offered to get the documents back for what Lombardi called “a certain price”.

Il Messaggero said the person, described as a former Vatican employee, had asked for 100,000 euros.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/08/us-vatican-michelangelo-idUSKBN0M40RI20150308