In a rare occurrence this past week, official Vatican media weighed in on a controversy surrounding some recent remarks by U.S. Ambassador Brian Burch, America’s diplomatic representative to the Holy See.
Vatican media sought to reiterate, “The Pope always speaks as a shepherd.”
That was the title of an editorial by Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director of Vatican Media, which appeared to be a direct response to an interview Burch had given to The New York Times.
Published a few days before Tornielli’s editorial but conducted in June, the Times’ interview with Burch quoted the ambassador as saying that the Pope’s opinion, when he speaks as head of state, is equal to that of other heads of state.
There’s a lot to unpack, both in Burch’s remarks and in Tornielli’s editorial.
Tornielli explains that the fact that the bishop of Rome is also sovereign of Vatican City State does not mean he acts or speaks as a political leader when intervening on issues that concern humanity.
Tornielli notes that the existence of Vatican City State serves to guarantee full independence for Peter’s successor in the exercise of his spiritual mission, but this does not mean that the pope has both
