ITALY: An Italian comedian who said Pope Benedict would be punished in hell for the church's treatment of homosexuals was spared possible prosecution yesterday when the government blocked an investigation against her.
Sabina Guzzanti, one of Italy's most biting political satirists, made the remarks before a cheering crowd of thousands gathered at Rome's Piazza Navona in July.
A Rome prosecutor suspected the comments broke a law protecting the honour and dignity of the leader of the Catholic Church under a 1929 Italian treaty agreed between the Vatican and fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
However justice minister Angelino Alfano decided to block the prosecution.
"I decided not to authorise it, knowing well the stature and capacity of the pope for forgiveness," Mr Alfano told Italian media. - (Reuters)