But - without wishing to defend journalists who are shocked if a day goes by without Fr. Federico Lombardi denying their comments – it is worth remembering that we are faced with a case that is without precedents in the history of the modern Church; a case in which there are far more questions marks than solid facts.
It is only natural that some – not the Pope – wish to end the process as soon as possible in order to avoid any negative consequences which along exposure to the Vatileaks scandal could have for the Church.
I have been following Vatican affairs since 1981 and witnessed John Paul II’s pontificate almost in its entirety.
I cannot help asking myself how it is possible for someone, even if they are “family” members to photocopy or photograph documents from the Pope and his secretary’s study, for years, without rousing the slightest suspicion.
It is true that Karol Wojtyla and his secretary, now cardinal, Stanislao Dziwisz, had lived through a Communist regime in which spying was the order of the day, so had developed special antennae for this.
But I cannot imagine anyone being able to remove documents for a week, let alone a month, without cardinal Stanislao getting a whiff of it.
I also ask myself how it is possible for someone so closet o the Pope to have so many contacts and ties in Rome and elsewhere, with so many different people, without attracting curiosity.
I do not know if we will ever receive an answer to these questions; which together with the reason for this operation leave huge question marks behind. As do the methods used to pass on and archive the dossiers taken from the Pope’s desk.
In chancelleries and presidential buildings dossier movements are traceable.
Are they also traceable in the Third Loggia?
Furthermore, is it true that there are people, not from the papal household who have the keys to the Pope’s apartment?
And why?
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone has denounced the “relentless and repeated attempts to separate and create division between the Holy Father and his collaborators” and he believes “it is unfair” “to target those who put the most passion and effort into the work they do for the good of the Church.”
He is right of course.
But it was not journalists who appointed Gotti Tedeschi as head of the Vatican bank two and a half years ago, with the consequences that are all too evident today.
And it was not journalists who flashed a cardinal’s biretta before the eyes of Mgr. Viganò and so on.
Differences and opinion clashes are the norm in any relations, within the Church as well.
Each individual has their own style, even when carrying out the difficult and delicate role of being the Pope’s main collaborator.
We have seen three Secretaries of State at work over the past thirty years: Tarcisio Bertone, Angelo Sodano and Agostino Casaroli.
All we remember of the last individual is the important work carried out silently, without scandals, suspicions, clashes, friendships, family ties or interferences, in support of a Pope whose ideas he did not always share but whose problems he sought to resolve not to create.