Pope on statues dumped in the Tiber: ‘I ask pardon of persons who were offended by this act’

From Vatican Media:

The Holy See Press Office has provided a transcription of Pope Francis’s remarks concerning a number of indigenous statuettes, which were stolen earlier this week, and thrown into the Tiber River. The Holy Father spoke off-the-cuff following the liturgical prayer that opened the afternoon session of the 15th General Congregation of the Synod for the Amazon.

REMARKS OF POPE FRANCIS

Good afternoon. I want to say a word about the statues of the pachamama that were taken from the church of the Transpontina – which were there without idolatrous intentions – and were thrown into the Tiber.

First of all, this happened in Rome, and as Bishop of the Diocese I ask pardon of the persons who were offended by this act.

Then, I want to communicate to you that the statues, which have created such media clamour, were found in the Tiber. The statues were not damaged.

The Commandant of the Carabinieri desires that you should be informed of this recovery before the news is made public. At the moment, the news is confidential, and the statues are being kept in the office of the Commandant of the Italian Carabinieri.

The Command of the Carabinieri will be very happy to follow up on any indication that would you like to give concerning the manner of publication of the news, and for other initiatives you would like to take in this regard; as, for example, the Commandant said, “the exhibition of the statues during the Holy Mass for the closing of the Synod”. We’ll see.

I have delegated the Secretary of State to respond to this.

Stay tuned.