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.
-
5 conspiratorial cartoons about FEMA
Cartoons Artists take on paper towel politics, king-sized conspiracies, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Take an island-hopping trip around Brittany
The Week Recommends From neolithic monuments to colourful harbours, there is much to discover
By The Week UK Published
-
Why has Joker: Folie à Deux divided critics?
Talking Point The sequel to Joker is 'staggeringly inept' in its attempts to explore mental health issues – but Lady Gaga is 'magnetic'
By The Week UK Published