Part of the 17th-century letter, which is written in a complex mix of archaic alphabets. It claims that both God and Zoroaster were invented by man

A letter written in code by a 17th century Italian nun, which she claimed was dictated to her by the Devil, has been deciphered by scientists using a code-cracking algorithm after centuries of failed attempts.

The nun, Sister Maria Crocifissa della Concezione, is believed to have screamed and fainted while writing letters at the convent of Palma di Montechiaro that she said were Lucifer’s ploy to convince her to serve evil rather than God.

One of the letters has survived, written in a complex mix of archaic alphabets that have long defied codebreakers until researchers from the Ludum science centre in Sicily turned to an algorithm that they discovered on the dark web.

“We heard about the software, which we believe is used by intelligence