Elizondo Claims Vatican Showed Him Ancient UAP Account on Podcast

In a podcast interview on February 23, 2026, former Pentagon official Luis Elizondo claimed that senior Vatican archivists showed him ancient manuscripts describing historical accounts of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). The assertion, made on Glenn Beck's podcast, presents these documents as evidence of historical UAP encounters, specifically referencing descriptions of "flaming Roman shields" in the sky. This event highlights a growing trend of former intelligence personnel utilizing media platforms to discuss and promote claims related to UAP, shifting the topic from a fringe interest to a matter of public and governmental discussion.

The claim is significant as it attempts to provide historical precedent for modern UAP sightings, a topic that has gained considerable traction within the U.S. government. While Elizondo's statements have not been independently verified by the Vatican, they contribute to the ongoing narrative surrounding potential government knowledge of unexplained phenomena. This aligns with a broader push for disclosure and transparency from figures associated with past government UAP research programs.

Background on Government UAP Programs

Luis Elizondo is most known for his claimed association with the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a U.S. Department of Defense initiative. According to public reports confirmed by the Pentagon, AATIP began in 2007 with funding of $22 million over five years to study UAP. Elizondo has stated he was the director of this program, a claim that has been a subject of public debate. After leaving the Pentagon, he joined the To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science (TTSA), a private corporation focused on UAP research.

The U.S. government's engagement with the UAP topic has become more formalized in recent years. On August 4, 2020, the Department of Defense established the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) to improve its understanding and gain insight into the nature and origins of UAPs. This effort was succeeded by the current All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which is tasked with coordinating efforts across the military and other federal agencies to detect, identify, and attribute objects of interest.

Official Data and Reporting

The increased governmental focus culminated in a preliminary assessment on UAP published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on June 25, 2021. The report analyzed 144 UAP reports from U.S. government sources originating between 2004 and 2021. Of these cases, the report could only identify one with high confidence, which it assessed as a large, deflating balloon. The remaining 143 cases remained unexplained, highlighting the significant data challenges and the need for more rigorous collection and analysis.

The ODNI report categorized the phenomena into several potential explanatory categories, including airborne clutter, natural atmospheric phenomena, U.S. government or industry developmental programs, and foreign adversary systems. A final 'other' bin was reserved for phenomena that could not be explained. The report marked a pivotal moment, officially acknowledging that UAP are a national security and flight safety concern.

Industry and Disclosure Trends

Elizondo's use of a popular podcast to disseminate his claims is part of a wider trend where former officials leverage media to advance the cause of UAP disclosure. This strategy bypasses traditional governmental and academic channels, speaking directly to the public. It has proven effective in raising mainstream awareness and applying public pressure on lawmakers to address the issue. Congressional mandates for intelligence reports and public hearings on UAP reflect this shift, moving the topic from the periphery to a legitimate subject of national security oversight.

Private sector involvement, exemplified by organizations like TTSA, also represents a significant trend. These groups, often staffed by former government personnel, seek to raise private funds for research and development related to UAP phenomena, operating in parallel with official government efforts.

Why This Matters

For the national security and aerospace sectors, the ongoing UAP discourse, fueled by claims like Elizondo's, underscores a complex challenge. Unidentified objects operating in controlled airspace represent a potential safety-of-flight risk and a national security concern, regardless of their origin. The debate highlights the tension between the need for government transparency and the difficulty of verifying extraordinary claims made outside official channels. This dynamic continues to shape public perception and policy regarding unexplained phenomena in the skies.

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