VATICAN CITY — The Vatican lashed out Saturday at the media for what it said has been a run of defamatory and false reports before the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI’s successor, saying they were an attempt to influence the election.
A controversial article appearing Thursday in La Repubblica, Italy’s respected, leading daily newspaper, has linked the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the the contents of a secret dossier prepared for the pope by three cardinals who investigated the origins of the 2012 scandal over leaked Vatican documents.
Pope Benedict XVI, concluding a weeklong spiritual retreat at the Vatican on Saturday, lamented the “evil, suffering and corruption” that has defaced God’s creation in a final address to the officials who run the Vatican bureaucracy.
AP Photo/L’Osservatore Romano, ho
The report suggested the revelations in the dossier included the discovery of blackmail, corruption and a network of gay prelates in the Vatican.
The newspaper said the cardinals described a number of factions, including one whose members were “united by sexual orientation.”
The report also stated alleged that some Vatican officials had been subjected to “external influence” from laymen with whom they had links of a “worldly nature.” La Repubblica said this was a clear reference to blackmail.
La Repubblica said the Pope, who had been mulling the decision to step down, came to that decision on Dec. 17, 2012, the same day he received the report.
On Saturday, a day before Benedict’s final Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican secretariat of state said, “It is deplorable that as we draw closer to the time of the beginning of the conclave … that there be a widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories that cause serious damage to persons and institutions.”
Benedict, in his final comments to the Curia on Saturday, lamented the “evil, suffering and corruption” that have defaced God’s creation. But he also thanked the Vatican bureaucrats for having helped him “bear the burden” of his ministry with their work, love and faith these past eight years.The Vatican’s attack on the media echoed its response to previous scandals, where it has tended not to address the underlying content of accusations, but has diverted attention away.
During the 2010 explosion of sex abuse scandals, the Vatican accused the media of trying to attack the pope; during the 2012 leaks scandal, it accused the media of sensationalism without addressing the content of the leaked documents.
Filed under: Editor's Picks, Europe
Florida teen fighting criminal charges related to same-sex relationship
Wash. florist who refused flowers for gay couple’s wedding files suit against state
Texas judge enforces ‘morality clause’ to split up lesbian couple
Anti-gay marriage activist commits suicide on alter at Notre Dame cathedral
Catholic school: Transgender student must wear girl’s graduation gown
Another Ore. bakery refuses to provide wedding cake for same-sex couple
Sex and the teenage girl: The Kaitlyn Hunt tragedy
UPDATED: Police call fatal New York City shooting an anti-gay hate crime
Iowa anti-gay activist explains his opposition to gay marriage: ‘It’s awful’
Details emerge in case against teen accused of lewd behavior with girlfriend
Scottish cardinal to atone for sexual misconduct with younger clergy
BREAKING: French president signs marriage equality bill into law
Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia
Pa. school still refuses to announce transgender grad by his chosen name
Obama delivers LGBT-inclusive commencement address at all-male college
Of course they did!
fecken sure!
Always in denial these cross-dressing pedophiles.
Liars. Covering up their asses so the rest of the world won’t find out their secret.
yes there getting worried, between financial problems and International court and there anti life stance there in trouble, only see one way out for them confess and ask for mercy in the international court for the abuse they did, and the cover up of priests that committed sexual abuse on children. As for preists marrying, let them have access to civil partnerships, they think its good enough for lgbt, let see if they can accept 2nd class marriage
It’s not a gay network. It’s a pedophile and criminal coverup network. Are there gay priest? Yes. Do they know they are gay? Probably not. They are homophobic by repression. Vile!
Why do you think Benedict Arnold is retiring “in seclusion” inside the walls of the Vatican? The legal authorities won’t be able to touch him!
I’m shocked, shocked I tell ya.
I wish the would stop calling them “gay” when they are referencing the child molestors. They are child molestors, thats it
they should refer to them as Priests
Thanks
Yeah, just like they dismissed child abuse by priests…why is anyone part of this corrupt, evil organization, again?
I agree…pedophiles pretending to be God’s leaders. HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN MOLESTED?? HOW MANY PRIESTS TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PLACES, ONLY TO MOLEST MORE CHILDREN! MAY THEY ALL SUFFER SLOW DEATHS! SCUM!
This should be titled “Vatican dismisses the truth…again”
There is more to this story I am sure…..covered up for other Priests.
Also there’s another article in which the Pope said he hoped the next Pope would deal with the issue accordingly. Can people just freaking take responsibility for their actions or reigns? Oh my goodness.
A bunch of liars, why would anyone believe this clown???
Of course they will deny it.
Did anyone think they would just “confess”? REally? They are corrupted to the core and we are surprised? I am shocked they even make a statement about it….They have made so many awful statements over the years…it would serve them best to just shut the fuck up and go away…just go away.
Let’s see….Jews are still waiting for the Vatican to give back their property that was plundered by the Nazi’s en route to the concentration camps. Yeah….good luck with that! The church will NEVER accept responsibility for ANYTHING they’ve done wrong.
When I was in High School (10th grade) I had a sexual encounter with a military Chaplain. The sex with him was great!!!