Drug-fuelled orgy at the Vatican
Police raid sex party in flat of cardinal’s aide
SCANDAL The Pope greets the Vatican crowds. Inset, Cardinal Coccopalmerio
VATICAN police burst in on a drugfuelled gay orgy at the home of a cardinal’s assistant, reports claim.
Suspicious neighbours complained about the behaviour of those visiting a flat occupied by a secretary to Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, a key adviser to Pope Francis, 80.
When police showed up, they found drugs and a group of men engaged in sexual activity, local reports state.
The apartment, a short distance from the Vatican, belongs to the Congregation For The Doctrine Of The Faith, or Holy Office, which is in charge of tackling sexual abuse among the clergy.
Cardinal Coccopalmerio heads the Pontifical Council For Legislative Texts and is said to have once recommended his secretary for promotion to bishop.
The claims about the police raid last month were made in the Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.
It is the latest scandal to hit the Vatican. Last week, its treasurer Cardinal George Pell was charged with historical sex offences. Cardinal Pell, the thirdhighest ranking official in the Holy See, has denied any wrongdoing and said he is looking forward to his day in court.
Police have not revealed details of the charges against the 76-year-old, citing the need to preserve the “integrity of the judicial process”. Cardinal Pell, who was appointed to clean up the Vatican’s finances, has taken a leave of absence to defend himself against the sex abuse charges in his home country of Australia.
Meanwhile, in March, the Vatican was hit with a wave of lurid accusations of priests misbehaving across Italy, with scandals involving orgies, prostitution and porn videos.
The claims were embarrassing to the Vatican, which under Pope Francis has demanded high standards of the clergy.
The Pope, who has tried to clamp down on unethical behaviour ever since being appointed in 2013, has often spoken out against the pitfalls of “temptation”.
Clerics within the Catholic Church are supposed to be celibate, and the organisation has traditionally taken an intolerant stance against homosexuality, branding it a violation of divine and natural law.
However, same-sex relationships are not illegal in Vatican City and Pope Francis has been hailed by many in the gay community for being more liberal on the matter than his predecessors.
Last year, he said Christians and the Roman Catholic Church should seek forgiveness from gay people for the way they had treated them.
He said: “[Gay people] should not be discriminated against. They should be respected, accompanied pastorally.
“The Church should apologise… to a gay person whom it offended.”
Suspicious neighbours complained about the behaviour of visitors ITALIAN MEDIA ON POLICE RAID ON DRUG ORGY FLAT