The Vatican has issued a warning against the misuse of official images of the Pope Francis or the Holy See, saying it will intervene with “appropriate action” if necessary.
The Secretariat of State said that one of its responsibilities is to protect the image of the pope “so that his message may reach the faithful intact, and so that his person is not exploited”, in a statement issued on 22 February.
As a result, the statement continued, the department is dedicated to protecting the symbols and coats of arms of the Holy See via the “appropriate regulatory instruments at international level.”
The office warned that it will continue to carry out “surveillance activities” to monitor the ways in which the image is being used and that it will take action where necessary.
The statement comes just weeks after a series of posters critical of the pontiff appeared overnight in Rome and a fake front page of the Vatican’s newspaper mocking Francis was circulated inside the Roman Curia. The realistic mock up of L’Osservatore Romano included a copy of the pope’s official coat of arms and motto.
However, the Vatican was quick to stress that there was no link between the anti-Francis propaganda and the Secretariat of State’s decision.
Responding to journalists’ questions, the Holy See Press Office said that the move is aimed at protecting the image of the Holy Father and his official coat of arms against those exploiting the image for economic purposes.
“It has nothing to do with the posters or the fake Osservatore Romano,” explained Paloma Garcia Ovejero, deputy director of the the Holy See press office, “because they weren’t sold.”
The crackdown is a follow-up of the Secretariat of State’s decision, during the papacy of Benedict XVI, to issue a strict copyright of the pope’s name, image and symbols in 2009.
The use of anything referring directly to the person or office of the Supreme Pontiff…and/or the use of the title ‘Pontifical,’ must receive previous and express authorisation from the Holy See,” said a statement announcing the copyright deal.
PICTURE: Anti-pope Francis posters appear in Rome
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