Vatican Denies Report Scandal: Spokesman condemns allegations in Italian media that Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation linked to secret cardinals’ report.
Vatican denies resignation reports linking the discovery conclave Gay Pope, Pope Benedict XVI speaks of “Evil, suffering and corruption” in the world told the Vatican Curia as he prepares to leave papacy.
The Vatican has direct attacked reports in the Italian media linking Pope Benedict XVI waiver supposed discovery of a network of homosexual prelates as attempts to influence the cardinals in the election of a new pope.
The Vatican Secretary of State, said in a statement: “It is unfortunate that as we approach the time of the start of the conclave … you have a wide distribution of news often unverified, unverifiable or completely false that cause serious damage to people and institutions. “….. guardian.co.uk
The statement came as Pope Benedict XVI had his last meeting with clerics, lamenting the “evil, suffering and corruption” that have marred the creation of God, in a final speech to Vatican officials.
Benedict XVI spoke Saturday at the end of a retreat than a week coinciding with Lent, the period of 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. Last week, the Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi has led the Vatican in meditations that have covered everything from family to denounce the “division, dissent, careerism, jealousy” afflicting the Vatican bureaucracy.
Ravasi blunt criticism of dysfunction within the Vatican Curia is presented as cardinals from around the world are coming to the last days of Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave to elect his successor. Bureaucratic reform is a high priority for the next pope.
The pope’s speech after a report has linked his resignation to the discovery of a network of homosexual prelates in the Vatican, some of which have been targeted by blackmailers.
The Italian newspaper La Republica, said the pope decided to resign on December 17 – the day he received a dossier compiled by three cardinals delegates to study the “Vatileaks” issue.
The 47-year-old is being sent as Vatican envoy to Colombia – which could be seen as a demotion.
Lombardi said the suggestion that the pope had made the appointment to get Balestrero out of the Vatican was “absurd, totally without foundation”.
He said the appointment had been decided weeks ago and that the Vatican had waited for the Colombian government’s official agreement before announcing it.
Last May, Pope Benedict Butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested and charged with theft of mail filtering papal representing the Vatican as a seething hotbed of intrigue and infighting.
The newspaper said the cardinals describes a number of features, including one whose members were “united by sexual orientation.” He added that some Vatican officials had been “outside influence” of the laity who had ties of “worldliness”. The Republic said this was a clear reference to blackmail.