(Saint Peter’s Basilica is pictured at the Vatican March 7, 2013. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)
The Vatican struggled on Thursday to contain leaks from its closed-door preparations for the next papal election, highlighting a gap between the Catholic Church’s traditional secrecy and the 24/7 information age.
Details divulged from the debates appeared in Italian media again despite a Vatican move on Wednesday to influence reporting by ending news conferences by American cardinals that had begun to compete with its own daily briefings.
It was widely assumed that Italian cardinals were tipping off friendly journalists but the Vatican spokesman said it was wrong to point the finger at national groups.
He said all “princes of the Church” should tighten the vow of secrecy they took when the pre-conclave meeting began on Monday.
