October 30, 1902: Pope Leo XIII published "Vigilantiae," an apostolic letter that officially established the Pontifical Commission of Biblical Studies. Created to defend orthodox readings of Scripture against outside secular criticism, in 1904 the Commission was given the power to grant academic degrees. Leo XIII was the first pope to make an effort to bring the Roman Catholic Church into harmony with the modern world. For example, he offered some support to democratic reforms and opened up the Vatican archives to outside scholars.