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Tags: vatican | doctored photo | lettergate
Vatican Media Chief Resigns over Doctored Letter Scandal
The Vatican said Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Monsignor Dario Vigano on Wednesday after a so-called "Lettergate" scandal that erupted after Vigano read aloud a private letter from retired Pope Benedict XVI. (AP)

Vatican Media Chief Resigns over Doctored Letter Scandal

Wednesday, 21 March 2018 07:38 AM EDT

The head of the Vatican's communications department has resigned over a scandal about a letter from the retired pope that he mischaracterized in public and then had digitally manipulated in a photograph sent to the media.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Monsignor Dario Vigano on Wednesday. The so-called "Lettergate" scandal erupted after Vigano read aloud a private letter from retired Pope Benedict XVI at a book launch for an 11-volume set of books about Francis' theology.

Vigano didn't read the whole letter, including where Benedict objected to one of the authors.

The Associated Press reported the photograph that Vigano's office issued had digitally blurred out the lines where Benedict began to explain that he wouldn't comment on the books. The manipulation violated photojournalism ethical standards.

© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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The head of the Vatican's communications department has resigned over a scandal about a letter from the retired pope that he mischaracterized in public and then had digitally manipulated in a photograph sent to the media.
vatican, doctored photo, lettergate
130
2018-38-21
Wednesday, 21 March 2018 07:38 AM
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