Father Lombardi: Pope does not need a spin doctor

July 12, 2016

Pope Francis does not need a spin doctor, his outgoing spokesman told an Italian interviewer.

Father Federico Lombardi, who will step down in May from his post as director of the Vatican press office, told Andrea Tornielli of La Stampa: "The Pope does not even need interpreters." When asked whether the Pontiff needs a "spin doctor," he replied: "I think not, at least I have never had that attitude." Father Lombardi denied that he worries about the consequences of the Pope's frequent extemporaneous remarks, although he has often been called upon to clarify papal statements. 

Asked what has been the most difficult aspect of his tenure as the chief Vatican spokesman, Father Lombardi answered that it was coping with sex-abuse scandal, which he found "very painful."

 

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Further information:

• Lombardi: “The most difficult moment? The pedophilia scandal” (La Stampa)