VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI and Italy’s president and prime minister condemned threats made against Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, president of the Italian bishops’ conference.
The pope relayed his support in an April 30 telephone call to the archbishop after an envelope containing a bullet was delivered to him. The archbishop has had an Italian police escort since mid-April, when threatening graffiti appeared on buildings near his residence.
The threats began after Archbishop Bagnasco took the lead in opposing a proposed law that would extend legal recognition to cohabiting couples, including gays.