Pope, Italian leaders condemn threats against Genoa archbishop

Published: 2007-05-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI and Italy's president and prime minister condemned threats made against Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, president of the Italian bishops' conference. The pope relayed his support in an April 30 telephone call to the archbishop after an envelope containing a bullet was delivered to him. The archbishop has had an Italian police escort since mid-April, when threatening graffiti appeared on buildings near his residence. The threats began after Archbishop Bagnasco took the lead in opposing a proposed law that would extend legal recognition to cohabiting couples, including gays.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .