Secrets of the Vatican Written, directed and produced by Antony Thomas for the US Public Broadcasting System TV series "Frontline", "Secrets of the Vatican" was co-produced by Jason Berry in the United States and Helen Fitzwilliam in Rome. "(in order of first appearance)" Secrets of the Vatican Secrets of the Vatican is an American television documentary film. It was first aired on the PBS Channel on 25 February 2014 as an episode of PBS' "Frontline" TV series. The film covers the period after the death of John Paul II up to the first year of Pope Francis while positing a theory of what made
Vatican City the status of the Pope was referred to as the "Roman Question". Italy made no attempt to interfere with the Holy See within the Vatican walls. However, it confiscated church property in many places. In 1871 the Quirinal Palace was confiscated by the king of Italy and became the royal palace. Thereafter the popes resided undisturbed within the Vatican walls, and certain papal prerogatives were recognized by the Law of Guarantees, including the right to send and receive ambassadors. But the Popes did not recognise the Italian king's right to rule in Rome, and they refused to leave the Vatican