Latest Publication of confidential documents, a criminal act: Vatican

May 19, 2012: The latest publication of documents of the Holy See and private documents of the Holy Father can no longer be considered a questionable - and objectively defamatory - journalistic initiative, but clearly assumes the character of a criminal act, according to a statement released by the Holy See press office director, Fr. Federico Lombardi on Saturday.

The Holy Father, but also several of his collaborators and the senders of messages directed to him, have seen their rights to personal privacy and freedom of correspondence violated.

The Holy See will continue to explore the different implications of these acts of violation of the privacy and dignity of the Holy Father - as a person and as the supreme authority of the Church and Vatican City State - and will take appropriate steps. The authors of the theft, those who received stolen property and those who disclosed confidential information, using illegally obtained private documents for commercial use, will have to answer for their acts before the law. To this end, if necessary, the Holy See will seek international collaboration, the statement added.