This is pretty interesting, from the Holy See Press Office Bolletino today:
My translation from the Italian original:
DECLARATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE PRESS OFFICE OF THE HOLY SEE, REV. FR. FEDERICO LOMBARDI, SJ
In the late morning the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Rev. Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, gave the journalists the following declaration:
Not rarely the information media attribute to the "Vatican", intending by that the Holy See, comments and points of view which cannot be attributed to it automatically. The Holy See, in fact, when it intends to express itself authoritatively, uses the proper ways and appropriate means (communiques, notes, declarations).
No other pronouncement has the same merit.
Also recently, inopportune attributions have been made. The Holy See, in its representative branches, shows respect toward civil authorities, which in their legitimate autonomy have the right to provide for the common good.
Interesting.
Also, if you know something about Italian, you know how turgid the style can get when the writers want to strike a high tone or sound official. Here is the last part in the original:
Anche di recente, si sono verificate attribuzioni non opportune. [gotta love that!] La Santa Sede, nei suoi organi rappresentativi, [excellent phrase, that] manifesta rispetto verso le autorità civili, che nella loro legittima autonomia hanno il diritto e il dovere di provvedere al bene comune.
Clearly a defensive move.
I am sure you readers will jump in and supply the backdrop for this Declaration.
