Vatican cop in suicide
The week's news at a glance.
Vatican City
A Vatican police trainee shot himself in the head this week over a failed love affair, authorities said. Alessandro Benedetti, 26, had just enlisted in the Vatican Gendarmes in April. His body was found in the bathroom of the barracks. “His girlfriend had left him recently,” said Benedetti’s aunt. “Alessandro was so good and handsome.” It was the first killing inside the Vatican since 1998, when a member of the Swiss Guard killed his commander, the commander’s wife, and himself. The Swiss Guard is the elite force that guards the pope. Vatican Gendarmes, who are usually Italian, guard the Vatican compound. Pope Benedict XVI, who was away at the time of the shooting, said he grieved with the family and entrusted Benedetti to God’s mercy.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Time-honored political tactic: Throw your wife under the bus'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Best non-alcoholic spirits for summer cocktails
The Week Recommends As hard liquor takes a backseat for many, the ingredients for the perfect mocktail are dryly delicious
By Ellie O'Mahoney, The Week UK Published
-
Will Biden's tariffs hinder China's EV dominance?
Today's Big Question Climate change goals and American jobs in tension
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published