Fr Lombardi responds to reports of Pope's call to Argentinian woman
April, 24, 2014: The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi,
has responded to widespread media reports about an Argentinian woman who says that
Pope Francis called to tell her she could take Communion, even though her husband
is divorced and they have not been married in church.
News stories earlier
this week ran conflicting reports about the woman, Jacquelina Lisbona, who had written
to the Pope several months ago after being denied Communion by her parish priest.
According to the reports, Fr Bergoglio, as he called himself, picked up the phone
to respond to her letter on Monday and told her the Church was in the process of dealing
with the issue of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics.
In his brief
remarks on Thursday, Fr Lombardi said such conversations should be seen in the context
of the Pope’s “personal pastoral relationships” and not as an event that carries “consequences
relating to the teaching of the Church”. That which has been communicated in relation
to this matter, outside the scope of personal relationships, and the consequent media
amplification, cannot be confirmed as reliable, and is a source of misunderstanding
and confusion.” He said
Below please find the English language translation
of Fr Lombardi’s remarks:
Several telephone calls have taken place in the
context of Pope Francis’ personal pastoral relationships. Since they do not in any
way form part of the Pope's public activities, no information or comments are to be
expected from the Holy See Press Office.
That which has been communicated
in relation to this matter, outside the scope of personal relationships, and the consequent
media amplification, cannot be confirmed as reliable, and is a source of misunderstanding
and confusion. Therefore, consequences relating to the teaching of the Church are
not to be inferred from these occurrences.