Cardinal Martino, Vatican spokesman differ on harsh criticism of Israel
January 09, 2009
Cardinal Renato Martino, who angered Israeli officials by comparing conditions in the Gaza Strip to "a big concentration camp," has refused to back away from that comment. Speaking to the Italian daily La Repubblica, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace observed that the Israeli missiles being fired into Gaza are "certainly not sugared almonds." But Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, reminded reporters that the Pope, not Cardinal Martino, sets policy for the Holy See. Father Lombardi said that Cardinal Martino's statement was "inopportune."
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