A new, Dan Brown type of controversy sparked around the Vatican on Wednesday, but the Pope’s brain tumor is a lie, catholic officials say.
- Il Resto di Carlino publishes a piece that the Pope is sick
- The Vatican retorts, saying nothing is true
- Conspiracy theorists flame up
A newspaper in Bologna, Italy, is the source of all the trouble, as they published an article saying that Pope Francis went to a Japanese specialist in Pisa, after he had discovered a dark spot on his brain a few months ago.
The newspaper, called Il Resto del Carlino, goes on to say that the tumor is benign, therefore there was no need for surgery and nobody should be scared or worried for the holy man.
The Vatican quickly reacted to this particular piece of news, via spokesman Federico Lombardi. They claim the theory that the pope might have a brain tumor, even benign is ridiculous and not true at all. He also said that the pope is feeling very well at the moment and is striving to keep up with his busy schedule, as he normally does.
The Bolognese newspaper itself, Il Resto del Carlino, retorted through its editor-in-chief and stated that what Lombardi had said was normal and completely expected from the Vatican’s part. They said they would never expect the Vatican to come out and say that, yes, our Pope has a brain tumor.
Nonetheless, they are not willing to make a retraction, as they do not feel they are in the wrong. They know for a fact that the pope visited the Japanese specialist in Pisa and what he was told was also true. Ever more so, the newspaper stated that they have been aware of this piece of information for a long time, but that they waited until now to publish it because they wanted to make sure it is true.
Other voices say the newspaper waited until now to release it to the public, not because of working journalistic ethics, but because right now the Vatican is playing host to the Synod of Bishops. This is basically a summit on family matters. Bishops usually discuss issues such as living together out of wedlock, homosexuality and divorce.
Of course, this is what prompted Dan Brown conspiracy fans to think there might be more to the newspaper’s publishing of this particular piece of news about the pope, than meets the eye. It might be a way of undermining him during the summit. For example, one local newspaper, Il Giornale headlined: “Who wants the pope dead?”
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