🕍 Rome is eternal, and so are its secrets. Tourists who flock to St. Peter’s Basilica rarely consider what lies beneath—the forbidden Vatican Necropolis, where ancient tombs, long-sealed chapels, and whispered prayers linger in air thick with centuries of silence.

But not all whispers are prayers.

On August 7, 2025, rumors swirl. Pope Francis is dead. An American Pope is elected—a first in Church history, and on the heels of an unusual visitor: Senator J.D. Vance, seen entering Vatican City the day before with an entourage of unknown men and a suitcase handcuffed to his wrist.

Coincidence?

Some believe Vance wasn’t there for diplomacy but to unlock a chamber beneath the Sistine Chapel known only as “The 13th Room”—a heretical archive sealed since 1242. Those who’ve attempted to find it report the same pattern: hearing Gregorian chants in reverse, electronic gear failing, and black-robed figures watching from a distance.

Since the conclave, tourists claim the air feels heavier, confession booths whisper back, and the PietĂ  sometimes weeps black tears at midnight.

The new American Pope—smiling, warm, beloved—won’t answer questions about the visit. Vatican guards, too, have changed. They no longer blink.

Vacation Tip: Rome is beautiful in summer. Just avoid the catacombs beneath Vatican City. The tour ends in light. But the whispers keep following you.

Special Thanks to @dbdean.bsky.social, too.