Pope watch: Stuart Wilde, a metaphysical writer, recently blogged about an alleged meeting that he claims Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to have with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. In the meeting, the Pope allegedly plans to ask the Italian President for immunity from prosecution for crimes against humanity.
Wilde claims that his information comes from “Italian media sources,” but he doesn’t link to any and I have been unable to find any reputable media sources (Italian or otherwise) that can confirm this. Despite Wilde’s lack of citation, his blog post has gone viral. This examiner was skeptical from the start.
The skepticism was triggered by the fact that it would be unnecessary for the Pope to ask for immunity from another head of state. He could simply have immunity by remaining in the Vatican. As it turns out, that is exactly what Reuters reported on Feb. 15:
“It [the Vatican] will also offer legal protection from any attempt to prosecute him in connection with sexual abuse cases around the world, Church sources and legal experts say.”
It is of course possible for the nations of the world to issue some sort of sanctions on the Vatican in order to get them to turn over Joseph Ratzinger for prosecution, but that is extremely unlikely. It is also possible but even more unlikely that some nation will go to war with the Vatican in order to arrest Ratzinger. Short of those improbable scenarios, the Pope will be safe from any prosecution. The rumors of any serious attempt to arrest the Pope are simply not true.
Perhaps someday the Vatican will take some responsibility for the sexual abuse scandals and their alleged attempts to cover them up and obstruct justice around the world, but this Pope will almost certainly walk free as long as he remains in Vatican City.
'His continued presence in the Vatican is necessary, otherwise he might be defenseless. He wouldn't have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else,' said one Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity." - Reuters
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