Lombardi briefing:
Nothing new to report on the Conclave
But he denounces 'Repubblica' article about
alleged content of cardinals' report on Vatileaks
February 21, 3013
Pope Benedict XVI is studying a Motu Proprio regarding norms governing the Apostolic Constitution
Universi Dominici Gregis, but “no date has been set yet for its promulgation”, and if there are changes to the Constitution governing papal transitions and the Sede Vacante “they will probably be small ones”, announced the Director of the Holy See press office Thursday in his briefing on Thursday morning.
Fr. Lombardi was flanked by Basilian priest Fr. Thomas Rosica of Canada who has flown in specially to aid the Vatican spokesman over the coming week, in translating for English language press.
Together, they addressed mounting press speculation regarding a number of issues in the lead-up to Pope Benedict’s departure from office one week from now. Such as the date for the beginning of the conclave.
Fr. Lombardi noted – and not for the first time – that the date will be decided by the cardinals when they gather in their first General Congregation.
He said “the date has not yet been established for the beginning of the meetings of the Cardinals although it’s recommended that it take place as soon as possible after the beginning of the Sede Vacante. It is being worked on right now and it will be announced”.
Turning to the expected Motu Proprio, he added “it has not come out yet - the Holy Father has the document. I don’t think we can expect substantial changes [to Universi Dominici gregis, which sets the rules for the sede vacante and the Conclave.]"
[It seems that the major purpose of the motu proprio is for Benedict XVI to authorize holding the Conclave earlier than the statutory 15-20 days after the start of the sede vacante, in view of the exceptional circumstances this time. So it will be a one-time authorization that will not change the statutory period prescribed for the usual case when a sede vacante results from the death of the Pope.]
Fr. Lombardi also spoke of the fact that while the Pope may seek advice on the Motu Proprio from Vatican canon law experts, the fine tuning is the Pope’s own. "The Pope pays attention to every single detail of his texts, often right up to the last minute.
The Pope will not sign a motu proprio that is not really his."
[What a gratuitous remark by Fr. Lombardi!]
Another important issue addressed Thursday morning was the February 22 deadline set by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a final response from the FSSPX. Fr. Lombardi said that “given the extraordinary circumstances, the provisions for the reconciliation of the Priestly Society of St Pius X have been entrusted to the next Pontificate”.
Finally, the Vatican Press Office director confronted speculation in Italian press regarding the report drawn up by the Cardinals Commission of Inquiry, which was convoked by Pope Benedict in wake of the Vatileaks scandal.
Fr. Lombardi said he had spoken with Spanish Cardinal Julián Herranz Casado, who headed the inquiry, together with Slovakian Cardinal Jozef Tomko and Italian Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi. “There will be no comment, denials or confirmation of what has been written in an Italian newspaper [about the cardinals' confidential report to the Pope]”, Herranz said.
However, Fr. Lombardi called attention to information in the same article regarding the last day of the Pontificate.
“From the very beginning Pope Benedict XVI’s schedule for the final day has been made public: a private meeting with cardinals in the Apostolic Palace and his departure via helicopter for Castel Gandolfo. Claims made in the article that he will receive anyone else are false. The claim that the Holy Father will go to Santa Maria Maggiore is also incorrect and unfounded”.
The press briefing concluded with Fr. Lombardi asking journalists to concentrate on 'the last days and great encounters of Benedict XVI’s pontificate'.
First, consider the source. The sleazy article cited by Fr. Lombardi, generously larded with pietistic remarks simulating sympathy for the Pope, appears in La Repubblica, arch-foe of the Church and Benedict XVI. It takes the form of the typical Italian news report of 'indiscrezioni' (i.e, rumor and gossip purported to be from 'inside' sources), different from the yellow journalism that is the stuff of tabloids only because the newspaper happens to be a leading Italian national daily.
The writer, citing 'sources close to the three cardinals', alleges that their inquiry into Vatileaks disclosed, among other things, power struggles among internal aggrupations (Jesuits, Salesians, Lombards, Ligurians, etc) - OK already, what's new about that? or rather, What? No Bertonians and Sodanians? - and the supposed existence of a secular 'gay lobby' of 'improper influence' that has established a network across many dicasteries of the Curia through their 'profane' relations with some members of the Curia. Gimme a break!: What would they be lobbying for - recognition of same-sex 'marriage'? Or smoking out any and all latent homosexuals in the various Curial offices?
However, the article reports no new concrete facts, but rehashes - while claiming the episodes are part of the cardinals' report - previously well-reported stories in the past like that of now ex-Curial priest Tommaso Stenico who was filmed by a hidden camera during an appointment with a male prostitute sent by an Italian TV channel; the homosexual activities with boys of Italian businessman Angelo Balducci who was made a Gentleman of the Papal Household under John Paul II (and was promptly dropped by the Vatican when his scandalous activities came to light 2 or 3 years ago); or linking a Bertone protege, Marco Simeon, who is a RAI executive, to the gay lobby (Simeon was earlier accused by Mons. Carlo Vigano to have been the author of anonymous letters to an Italian daily seeking to discredit Vigano).
The article's headline reads:
'Sex and careerism shakedowns at the Vatican were behind Benedict XVI's renunciation',
with the subtitle,
'Do not fornicate, do not rob, were the 2 commandments
violated in the dossier that upset the Pope'
even if nothing in the article itself says anything about money - merely that the cardinals looked into the angle and had interviewed everyone from Bertone's right-hand man, Mons. Ettore Balestrero, to the new financial consultant Rene Bruelhart.
The only remotely possible link in the story to anything about finances is the completely gratuitous information that Slovakian Cardinal Josef Tomko, one of the three cardinals in the commission, used to be John Paul II's head of counter-espionage (if you can believe it), who is alleged to have kept track of contributions to the 'Polish cause' presumably sent to the Vatican at the time. The writer then claims that after Benedict XVI's meeting with the cardinals at the Vatican, he would have a private audience with Tomko who would accompany him to Santa Maria Maggiore to greet Slovakian pilgrims.
It's the kind of highly questionable story - trial by insinuation - that I keep being shocked to see in Italy's most 'reputable' newspapers carry again and again.
Oh yes, I forgot. The writer claims omnisciently that Benedict XVI made his final decision to give up the Pontificate on December 17, 2012, after receiving the complete report from the three cardinals. (I have to check the date, but my recollection is that it was earlier reported verifiably that they submitted their report much earlier.)
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 21/02/2013 19:17]