Pope felicitates Vatican Gendarmerie on feast day

(October 06, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI has felicitated the Vatican Gendarmerie or police and security force, on its feast day expressing appreciation for the fidelity and generosity of its members in their service to the Pontiff. The patron saint of the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City State is Michael the Archangel whose liturgical feast occurs on Sept. 29, but the Gendarmerie marked it on Friday. The Pope’s greetings came in a message which was read to the corps at a ceremony by Archbishop Angelo Becciu, Substitute of Vatican Secretariat of State. The Pope expressed sincere esteem and hearty appreciation to each member of the corps, acknowledging the passion and the spirit of sacrifice with which they generously serve the successor of Peter. The Vatican police have gained spotlight recently for its investigation into the scandal, dubbed “Vatileaks”, in which the Pope’s former butler has been convicted of stealing confidential papal documents and leaking them to an Italian journalist.