L'Osservatore Romano, the only newspaper based in the Vatican, faced strong criticism last month for its publication of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks about condoms. It reproduced the most controversial extract of Light of the World without any commentary and before any other outlet - apparently breaking the embargo. It seemed to many to bear some responsibility for the media furore that followed.
Its editor-in-chief Giovanni Maria Vian has defended his decision to publish the extract in an interview with Vatican reporter John Allen. He says the paper did not break the embargo - it pre-empted other outlets because its Sunday edition comes out on Saturday afternoon - and presented the remarks in a clear way that would not mislead readers:
