Pope Francis Letter Leaks in 'Heinous Act'

Vatican is not pleased, reminds all that official copy comes Thursday
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 15, 2015 1:26 PM CDT
Pope Francis Letter Leaks in 'Heinous Act'
In this Saturday, June 6, 2015 file photo, Pope Francis attends an interreligious meeting, at the Franciscan International Student Center in Sarajevo.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Pope Francis' long-anticipated letter on the environment has arrived three days early, at least in some fashion. A 192-page draft version of the encyclical, a rare papal "teaching letter," was posted online today by Italian magazine L'Espresso, reports the Wall Street Journal. It has confirmation of its authenticity from the Vatican's rep, though its statement notes the finalized text of Laudato Si ("Be praised") will remain embargoed through Thursday and asks journalists "to respect professional standards, which call for waiting for the official publication of the final text." An official put it more harshly to Bloomberg, calling the leak a "heinous act." The Journal has a few details if you can't wait till then. (More Pope Francis stories.)

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