Whether you're religious or not, it's intriguing to consider the numerous proven as well as rumored creepy artifacts contained within the secret Vatican archives. No one outside of the pope's inner circle is likely to ever see many of these historic items, although you can see a few strange things in the Vatican during your next trip to Rome. The pope could choose to clear up dozens of conspiracy theories, but in most situations, the Vatican appears to prefer ignoring many of the oddest rumors and merely denying others.

Of course, this doesn't mean that none of the theories would hold up to closer scrutiny. Perhaps that's exactly why the existence of most of the reputed weird Vatican objects has never been officially denied. Are the rumored items real or merely imaginative conspiracy theories? Either way, they just might provide a glimpse into the secret life of the Vatican. Read on to discover which ones actually exist - and which ones exist as rumors and mysteries.