Fr. Lombardi: Statement regarding Italian TV program
Holy See Press Office Director, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., issued the following statement
Thursday concerning a television programme, "Gli intoccabili" [The Untouchables] transmitted
Wednesday evening by Italy's "La7" television network.
Fr. Lombardi highlights
the "questionable journalistic methods" with which the programme was made, and his
"disappointment at the revelation of reserved documents", noting that such things
often form part of the "biased coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church".
The
Holy See Press Office director then turns to focus on two considerations "which were
not given space in the course of the debate". Firstly "the activities of Archbishop
Carlo Maria ViganĂ² as secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State certainly
had many positive aspects, as he contributed to the efforts being made to ensure administrative
rigour, economisation and the improvement of what was a difficult overall economic
situation. ... However, a fairer evaluation would have taken account of the trends
of the market, the investment criteria adopted over recent years, and other important
circumstances. ... Certain accusations - some very serious - made during the course
of the programme, especially those concerning the members of the Finance and Management
Committee of the Governorate and the Secretariat of State, will lead both the Secretariat
of State and the Governorate to adopt all measures (including if necessary legal measures)
to protect the honour of morally upright and highly professional people who serve
the Church, the Pope and the common good. In any case, the positive criteria of correct
and transparent management which inspired Archbishop Vigano certainly continue to
guide the current directors of the Governorate. ... This is in keeping with the policy
to which the Holy See is committed of increasing transparency and attentively monitoring
of economic activities".
Secondly "the difficult process of discerning the
various aspects involved in managing a complex institution such as the Governorate
- which are not limited to administrative rigour - was presented in a superficial
and biased manner, highlighting the evidently negative aspects with the simplistic
result of presenting the structures of government in the Church as being, not so much
affected by human frailty (which would be easily understandable), as profoundly characterised
by arguments, divisions and power struggles. ... Yet, all this disinformation will
certainly not obscure the daily and serene efforts towards increasing transparency
in all Vatican institutions. ... In this context, it must be decisively affirmed that
entrusting Archbishop Vigano with the role of apostolic nuncio to the United States
- one of the most important roles in Vatican diplomacy given the importance of the
country and of the Catholic Church there - is proof of unquestionable respect and
trust".