Friday, January 25, 2013

Pope's secretary did not pose for 'Vanity Fair' photo

A source at the Vatican says that Archbishop Georg Ganswein – the prefect of the Papal Household and personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI – did not pose for the latest cover of “Vanity Fair” and that his image was published in the latest Italian edition without his consent.
The most recent cover in the country features the face of 56-year-old Archbishop Ganswein with a caption that says, “It’s not a sin to be handsome,” and calls him, “The George Clooney of St. Peter's.”
“Archbishop Ganswein had nothing to do with the cover and had not been informed about it at all, and consequently, he had not given any approval or collaboration,” the source told CNA.

The picture on the cover was taken in 2010 by photographer Daniel Biskup at Castelgandolfo. 


“Vanity Fair” included a short paragraph on the personal life of Archbishop Ganswein signed by Vatican watcher Andrea Tornielli, which included several statements the archbishop has made to the press in the past. 

Archbishop Ganswein has never granted an interview to the magazine.