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Why did Pope Nicholas V collect books during his diplomatic missions?

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Montúfar, Antonio: Saint Francis of Assisi Appearing Before Pope Nicholas V, with Donors — Nicholas V *Saint Francis of Assisi Appearing Before Pope Nicholas V, with Donors*, oil on canvas by Antonio Montúfar, 1628; in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 107.95 × 87.63 cm.

Pope Nicholas V’s collection of books was driven by his deep-seated passion for humanism, a movement that emphasized a return to the study of classical Greek and Latin texts as a means to enrich both literary culture and Christian thought.12

During his early career, Nicholas served in the household of Cardinal Niccolò Albergati for 20 years, accompanying him on numerous diplomatic missions throughout Europe. It was during these travels that he actively sought out and collected books. This intellectual pursuit continued throughout his life; as pope, he dedicated significant resources to acquiring manuscripts and employed scholars to copy and translate ancient works, including those of Homer, Herodotus, and various Greek Church Fathers. These efforts ultimately led to his founding of the Vatican Apostolic Library, establishing a vital repository for the preservation of classical and patristic literature.13