At Vatileaks trial, editor defends freedom of the press

Catholic Culture
May 9, 2016

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=28267

In the latest session of the “Vatileaks” trial, an Italian newspaper editor and two booksellers testified on behalf of one of the defendants, Gianluigi Nuzzi.

Nuzzi and another journalist, Emiliano Fittipaldi, are charged with “soliciting and exercising pressure” on Vatican employees to obtain confidential documents.

In November 2015, Nuzzi and Fittipaldi published separate works on Vatican finances based on documents from a special commission set up by Pope Francis to offer suggestions on reform. Testifying on behalf of Nuzzi, Venetian booksellers Marco Bernardi and Paola Brazzale said on May 7 that neither Nuzzi nor Fittipaldi knew of the other’s work, according to remarks made by Nuzzi and reported by La Stampa.

Paolo Mieli, a prominent Italian journalist who currently serves as president of RCS MediaGroup, also testified on behalf of Nuzzi.

Citing freedom of the press, he defended the publication of the Vatican documents and other confidential state documents when their publication does not jeopardize peace or security.

Two other witnesses called by the Vatican court-- Paolo Mondani and Mario Benotti-- did not appear on May 7 and will be called again to testify on a future date. The trial resumes on May 14.