Advertisement

May 16, 2012 / 10:47 AM

Vatican drops suit against Benetton

The Vatican went to court over the manipulation of a picture of Pope Benedict XVI that showed the pontiff kissing the imam of a Cairo mosque. Another image in the campaign featured President Barack Obama kissing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. (Image courtesy of Benetton Group).

The Vatican went to court over the manipulation of a picture of Pope Benedict XVI that showed the pontiff kissing the imam of a Cairo mosque. Another image in the campaign featured President Barack Obama kissing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. (Image courtesy of Benetton Group).

VATICAN CITY, May 16 (UPI) -- The Vatican has dropped its lawsuit against the Italian fashion house Benetton for an anti-hate campaign that featured the Pope, a Vatican spokesman said.

The Vatican went to court over the manipulation of a picture of Pope Benedict XVI that showed the pontiff kissing the imam of a Cairo mosque, ANSA reported.

Advertisement

The campaign also used a photograph of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu kissing Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. President Barack Obama kissing Chinese leader Hu Jintao.

The Italian fashion house has a reputation for provocative advertising.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Benetton has publicly acknowledged it "violated the sensibility of the faithful" and recognizes that the image of the Pope is to be respected.

The Vatican dropped the lawsuit in exchange for a formal apology from Benetton and a donation to a Catholic charity.

Benetton said it did not intend to offend Catholics or Muslims.

Read More

U.S. Central Command finds 2023 U.S. airstrike in Syria killed civilian, not terrorist

World News // 16 minutes ago

U.S. Central Command finds 2023 U.S. airstrike in Syria killed civilian, not terrorist

May 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Central Command said Thursday that a May 3, 2023, airstrike in Syria targeting a senior Al Qaeda leader instead killed civilian Lufti Hasan Masto.

Suspect in London samurai sword attack that killed 14-year-old appears in court

World News // 1 hour ago

Suspect in London samurai sword attack that killed 14-year-old appears in court

May 2 (UPI) -- A 36-year-old London-based man made an initial appearance in court on Thursday after being suspected of killing a 14-year-old boy with a sword earlier this week while injuring several others.

Blinken meets Netanyahu in Israel amid push to secure cease-fire, prevent Rafah invasion

World News // 14 hours ago

Blinken meets Netanyahu in Israel amid push to secure cease-fire, prevent Rafah invasion

May 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in the Middle Eastern country on Wednesday.

Georgian authorities beat back protesters opposing 'foreign agent' law

World News // 1 day ago

Georgian authorities beat back protesters opposing 'foreign agent' law

May 1 (UPI) -- Georgian authorities used tear gas and water cannons to beat back pro-European Union protesters, decrying a proposed "foreign agent" law similar to one used in Russia, in the capital Tbilisi on Tuesday night.

Man charged with murder in London sword attack that killed 14-year-old boy

World News // 16 hours ago

Man charged with murder in London sword attack that killed 14-year-old boy

May 1 (UPI) -- A 36 year-old man was charged Wednesday with murder in the stabbing death of a teenage boy after he allegedly attacked five people with a sword on a suburban street in east London.

Colombian President ending diplomatic ties with Israel

World News // 16 hours ago

Colombian President ending diplomatic ties with Israel

May 1 (UPI) -- Colombia President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday said he intends to end diplomatic relations with Israel over its handling of its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Britain begins detaining migrants to be relocated to Rwanda

World News // 1 day ago

Britain begins detaining migrants to be relocated to Rwanda

May 1 (UPI) -- Britain's Home Office said Wednesday it has launched the first efforts to detain migrants for relocation to Rwanda.

Prosecutors say teen charged in Sydney church stabbing plotted attack on Jewish community

World News // 1 day ago

Prosecutors say teen charged in Sydney church stabbing plotted attack on Jewish community

May 1 (UPI) -- Australian prosecutors argued on Wednesday that a 15-year-old involved in a stabbing at a Sydney court wanted to attack Jewish community members but his attorney said his talk was nothing more than boasting.

U.S. determined to secure Israel-Hamas cease-fire, Antony Blinken says in Tel Aviv

World News // 1 day ago

U.S. determined to secure Israel-Hamas cease-fire, Antony Blinken says in Tel Aviv

May 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Israel on Wednesday that the Biden administration is determined to secure a cease-fire in Gaza that includes the release of Israeli hostages.

Britain sanctions 3 Ugandan politicians on accusations of corruption

World News // 1 day ago

Britain sanctions 3 Ugandan politicians on accusations of corruption

May 1 (UPI) -- Britain has blacklisted three Ugandan politicians, including its Parliament speaker, on accusations of stealing from the poor communities they serve.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement