World News
Pope deplores 'VatiLeaks' scandal, prays for quake victims
Published: May 30, 2012
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI voiced regret for the turmoil surrounding the recent publication of leaked Vatican documents, but thanked the vast majority of people who work at the Vatican for their dedication and fidelity. Speaking at the end of his weekly general audience May 30, the pope said much of the media coverage of the leak of private letters and of the arrest May 23 of his personal assistant has been exaggerated and "completely gratuitous, and has gone far beyond the facts, offering an image of the Holy See that does not correspond to reality." Pope Benedict said that while the scandal has saddened him, "it has never weakened my firm certainty that, despite human weakness, difficulties and trials, the church is guided by the Holy Spirit and will never be without the Lord's help to support it in its journey." He offered "encouragement to my closest collaborators and all those who, each day with fidelity and a spirit of sacrifice and in silence, help me fulfill my ministry." The pope also offered his prayers for the people of Italy's Emilia Romagna region after a second earthquake in nine days caused at least 15 deaths and seriously damaged many buildings, including several churches. "With my prayers and affection, I am close to the injured and those who are suffering difficulties, and I express my deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives," the pope said.
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