Pope meets with Italian ‘007s,’ urges them to be ethical
ROME—Pope Leo XIV met Friday with members of Italy’s intelligence services and warned them not to use confidential information for blackmailing or other nefarious purposes.
Leo urged the 007s, as the Italian agents are popularly known, to do their work professionally and ethically, always respecting the human dignity of those caught up in their investigations.
The audience was unusual, believed to be a first between a pope and Italy’s intelligence services, which are celebrating their centennial this year. Italy’s secret agents work closely with Vatican law enforcement, particularly during this Holy Year when some 30 million pilgrims have flocked to Rome to visit the Vatican.
Leo thanked the agents for their work and acknowledged the difficulty and delicate nature of their responsibilities. But he also reminded them of the limits of their authority and the need to keep a moral compass, warning them against falling to temptations.
‘Confidential’
He said they must remain “vigilant to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit politicians, journalists, or other actors in civil society.”
He didn’t elaborate. But a year ago, the Vatican opened a criminal investigation into the alleged leak of information about its “trial of the century” probe into a London property investment.
