Pope renews trust in closest allies amid leak scandal

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI expressed his trust in his closest allies Wednesday, May 30, and said the image of the Church in the media during the so-called “Vatileaks” scandal did not correspond to reality.

“I want to renew my trust and express encouragement towards my closest collaborators and all those who help me perform my ministry daily,” the pontiff said in his first public comments over the leaking of secret papal documents.

“Unfounded hypotheses have been multiplying, amplified by certain media outlets, and have gone well beyond the facts to create an image of the Holy See which does not correspond to reality.”

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi had said Tuesday how betrayed the pontiff felt by his butler, Paolo Gabriele, who was arrested during an investigation into Vatican whistleblowers who had been leaking information.

Gabriele was arrested Friday after he was found in possession of secret papal papers. But there is widespread speculation the 46-year-old was a simply a pawn in a game of intrigue and struggle for power inside the Holy See.

The Vatican has said the investigation into the leak is continuing. – Agence France-Presse