Benetton pulls kissing Pope photo

17/11/11 07:53 CET

world news

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A controversial fake photo of the Pope kissing an Egyptian Iman has been withdrawn by Benetton.

The Vatican objected to the image as part of the clothing company’s “Unhate” campaign. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the use of the false image of the Pope was “unacceptable” as it was being used for commercial ends.

The fashion company apologised for offending the sensibilities of Catholics.

Other fabricated photos will remain as part of what Benetton calls a project to foster tolerance and global love. They include doctored images portraying Barack Obama kissing Hugo Chavez, as well as similar embraces between Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, and Mahmoud Abbas and Benyamin Netanyahu.

More about: Advertising, Benedict XVI, Controversy, Religion

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