(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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
Il Messaggero said the person, described as a former Vatican employee, had asked for 100,000 euros.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2015\/03\/08\/us-vatican-michelangelo-idUSKBN0M40RI20150308<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (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 … Continue reading Vatican receives ransom demand for stolen Michelangelo letters<\/span>