Rome judicial authorities sought a temporary injunction today against an Internet site which carried doctored photographs of Pope Benedict dressed in a Nazi uniform.
The crude photomontages of the head of former German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the body of a man wearing a swastika armband and standing in front of a Nazi flag were posted 10 days ago on the Italian branch of the international news and opinion site, Independent Media Center (www.indymedia.org).
Rome investigating magistrate Salavtore Vitello said in a statement the pictures violated a national law prohibiting defamation of the Catholic Church. Vitello said he was also considering taking action against the owners of the site for insulting the authority and honour of the Pope himself.
Ratzinger served in the Hitler Youth, a Nazi paramilitary organisation, in World War Two when membership was compulsory for young Germans.
He was soon released to study for the priesthood and his biographers have said he was never a member of the Nazi Party and his family opposed Hitler's regime.
Jewish leaders and human rights groups have welcomed his election as Pope and his anti-Nazi roots.
Judicial sources in Rome said the Indymedia site was registered in Brazil and it was not immediately clear how the injunction, if granted, would be put into effect.
The Italian arm of the Independent Media Center, whose site is a forum for hundreds of contributors around the world on issues ranging from anti-globalisation to gay rights, could not be reached for comment.