By Kate Seamons 
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Great Finds
Tag Archives: La Stampa
Mussolini’s ‘most secret’ bunker discovered beneath historic Roman structure
By hnn
Workers in Rome have stumbled across a top-secret bunker once belonging to former Fascist leader Benito Mussolini, hidden underneath the historic Palazzo Venezia.
The discovery is the 12th such bunker as is said to have been the “most secret” of the former strongman’s hideouts, according to the Italian publication La Stampa.
And in what has become a tradition of sorts, the bunker will soon go on display for the public to tour and document, as has been done with other recently discovered Mussolini bunkers. City officials plan to install lighting, a touchscreen system and an air siren, meant to simulate the sounds of an impending air raid….
Source:
Yahoo News
Source URL:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/mussolini-most-secret-bunker-discovered-beneath-historic-roman-015542530.html
Date:
3-22-13
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at History News Network – George Mason University
''Unpredictable" pope worries security team
Forgive Pope Francis’ security team for looking a bit nervous.
One pope was shot in St. Peter’s Square while riding in an open vehicle. Another was tackled by a woman with mental problems in St. Peter’s Basilica. So in the early days of Francis’ pontificate, as the pope delights the flock by wading into crowds and pressing the flesh, it’s only natural that chief Vatican cop Domenico Giani seems on edge.
Just consider some of Francis’ acts of papal outreach, which have all made for a refreshing change from the reserved style of his predecessor Benedict XVI, but present a huge headache for a security detail attached to one of the planet’s most high-profile people.
The day after his election, Francis eschewed the Vatican’s armored limousine and traveled through the chaotic streets of Rome in an ordinary car to pick up his things at a downtown hotel.
At his first Sunday Mass as pontiff, Francis caused a stir by mingling with bystanders at a Vatican gate, shaking hands and even allowing himself to be grabbed by the shoulder, all while people jostled to get closer.
Then on inauguration day, Francis stood for nearly 30 minutes Tuesday in an open vehicle that circled the vast square, kissing babies handed up to him and at one point jumping out to bless and kiss a disabled man in the crowd.
It’s not for nothing that Francis has quickly been dubbed the “unpredictable” pope. And for a bodyguard, unpredictable means trouble.
Giani looked particularly worried by the crowd that gathered after the Sunday Mass. La Stampa newspaper quoted an aide at the scene as saying that things “better get back to normal or we’re in trouble.”
Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said last week that the Vatican was well aware of Francis’ informal and open style and that “proper security measures” would be taken, even if that hasn’t happened immediately.
“There are a lot of nut cases out there,” said another Vatican official, who requested anonymity as he is not authorized to discuss security.
“But you can be sure that the security issues are being examined.”
Even Francis’ habit of …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Americans nix conclave briefing; concern of leaks
The Vatican’s penchant for secrecy has won out over American-style transparency.
The U.S. cardinals in Rome for the conclave to elect the next pope canceled their popular daily press briefings Wednesday after some details of the secret proceedings under way ahead of the election were purportedly leaked to Italian newspapers.
The Vatican denied it had exerted any pressure on the American cardinals to keep quiet. But the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, made clear that the Holy See considered this week’s pre-conclave meetings, in which cardinals are discussing the problems of the church, to be secret and part of a solemn process to choose a pope.
“The College (of Cardinals) as a whole has decided to maintain a line of an increasing degree of reserve,” he said.
The spokeswoman for the U.S. cardinals, Sister Mary Ann Walsh, said Wednesday’s briefing was canceled after concern was expressed by other cardinals Wednesday morning “about leaks of confidential proceedings reported in Italian newspapers.”
She said as a precaution, all interviews had been canceled.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Walsh said Italy’s La Stampa newspaper had on Monday and Tuesday reported details of comments individual cardinals made in the closed-door meetings that were cited as a violation of their oath of secrecy. That prompted the decision to observe a media blackout.
She dismissed speculation that the Vatican and cardinals from other countries simply didn’t appreciate the openness of the Americans, saying: “I don’t think anyone was angry at the Americans, they were angry at La Stampa.”
“In true old-style Catholic school teacher fashion, someone talks and everybody stays after school,” Walsh said. She added that the Americans had been assured that the Vatican was pleased with their briefings.
Italian newspapers and international media, including The Associated Press, have reported on the unique briefings the Americans were providing, and how they contrasted with the near-silence from other cardinals and the comparatively sedate Vatican briefings.
In a press conference Tuesday, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Texas and Sean O’Malley of Boston held a lively and informative 30-minute chat with some 100 reporters and two dozen television crews from around the globe.