Michelangelo letter: €100,000 ransom demand

A letter written by Michelangelo, stolen from an archive 18 years ago, has been offered by a former Vatican employee for a large “reward”.

The Vatican authorities discovered that it was missing from the offices of the Fabbrica of St Peter’s Basilica but did not publicise the theft. The letter is believed to discuss art commissioned by the Pope. Up to three other documents signed by the painter and sculptor also went missing at the same time.

A former employee of the Fabbrica, the body set up by Pope Julius II in 1506 to maintain the basilica, contacted its head, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, saying he knew what had become of the letter and wanted a €100,000 (£72,000) reward.

“Cardinal Comastri recently received a proposal for the return of the letter in exchange for payment,” Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said. “Naturally he refused, as these are documents that have been stolen.”