So it is claimed by supporters but undocumented. What I have been able to discover from unbiased account is that he never read it. It is unlikely that he examined for ten months.
Adrift,
Pope Pius XII’s verbal Imprimatur is substantiated by the written testimony of three eye witnesses (in a court of law in the United States, only two eye witnesses are necessary to convict someone of the death penalty). This is not a fact that should be minimalized, as some detractors seem to want to do. Pope Pius XII was known for his hobby of reading many books, as was pope Paul VI. This is why they were elected popes. They were not just holy men, but were also wise and learned.
nothing has ever changed the fact that the Church has ruled it to be fiction.
Adrift,
Please see the below exert from
this website;
"Is the Poem Condemned by the Church?
The short answer, indeed, is no. If one were to consider the authoritative weight of all the statements made by curial offices and clergy, those with the greatest authority ultimately resides in the Chair of Peter; the Holy Roman Pontiff.
First Vatican Council, Session IV, Chp. IV, p.IX*“So, then, if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff has merely an office of supervision and guidance, and not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, and this not only in matters of faith and morals, but also in those which concern the discipline and government of the Church dispersed throughout the whole world; or that he has only the principal part, but not the absolute fullness, of this supreme power; or that this power of his is not ordinary and immediate both over all and each of the Churches and over all and each of the pastors and faithful: let him be anathema.” *
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 883*“The college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter’s successor, as its head.”*Therefore, let us now consider the actions of the popes on this matter;
[1948] Pope Pius XII: Granted permission to publish
**[1959] **Pope John XXIII: Signed the decree placing the Poem on the Index
[1966] Pope Paul VI: Abolishes the Index, thus nullifying John XXIII’s action
[1966] Pope Paul VI: Abrogated the Canon (1385) that was the legal principle for the inclusion on the Index
[1974] Pope Paul VI: Expresses his appreciation of a commentary to Maria Valtorta’s writings
[1992] Pope John Paul II: Beatifies an outspoken supporter of Maria Valtorta
-------] Pope Benedict XVI: pending
Thus, we observe three popes, whether directly or indirectly, supporting the writings of Maria Valtorta. The action of the one pope who signed the decree of condemnation, Pope John XXIII, was directly overturned by his successor Pope Paul VI just seven years later (as was the legal principle for the condemnation).
Such actions, while not part of the infallible magisterium, are nonetheless reflective of the mind of the Church through Christ’s shepards on earth, who have “full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always excersice unhindered.” Indeed, the divine protection granted to the office of the chair of Peter is what distinguishes him as the visible head of Christ’s body on earth. And as we have seen with mystics such as Saint Padre Pio and Saint Faustina (both of whom were condemned by the Holy Office), it was ultimately a pope who positively discerned their authentic lives of heroic virtue.
It is also worthy to note that, among the thousands of apparitions throughout history, very few have received the attention of a pope. In fact, most alleged apparitions are not reviewed beyond the jurisdiction of the local ordinary—if they are ever reviewed at all. Fewer still are reviewed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Thus, for an alleged apparition to be given direct recognition by a pope is a significant event indeed. All things considered, one may conclude that to grant unequivocal authority to the Holy Office’s temporary inclusion on an abolished Index, would not be in keeping faithful to the facts of history in light of the teachings of the Church"
How could one mishear a Pope in a private audience?? This seems extremely unlikely. Do you know something about this priest that makes you think he mishears things, has a hearing problem, or stubbornly changes what he actually hears into what he thinks he wants to hear?
