The Vatican said Thursday that it would take legal action to prevent the distribution of an advertisement by the Benetton clothing company showing Pope Benedict XVI kissing a prominent Egyptian imam.
The Vatican said it had told its lawyers in Italy and abroad to “take the proper legal measures” to block the use of an altered photo it considered “damaging to not only to the dignity of the pope and the Catholic Church but also to the feelings of believers.”
Responding to earlier protests, Benetton said Wednesday that it would withdraw the ad, part of a campaign of photo montages showing religious and political leaders kissing. A company spokesman apologized for causing offense, saying the ad campaign was intended to combat hatred.
Source: nytimes.com