Vatican City - The Vatican moved Friday to qualify remarks made the previous day by Pope Benedict XVI in which he appeared to criticize Rome officials for the city's "degradation."In a statement the Vatican said it was "amazed" by the "political manipulation" made of Benedict's address to Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni on Thursday in which the pontiff lamented "the very grave degradation of certain parts of Rome."
The pontiff's words were seized upon by political adversaries of Veltroni, who heads the largest party in Italy's governing centre- left and is touted as a future prime minister.
"For Veltroni an Urbi et Orbi thumbs down," trumpeted daily Il Giornale, in a banner headline.
The centre-right newspaper, owned by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's brother Paolo, was making an ironic reference to the pope's traditional Christmas-day blessing.
Veltroni was "saddened and bitter" by Benedict's remarks, Milan daily Corriere della Sera said citing sources close to the Rome mayor.
But the Vatican on Friday seemed at pains not to be drawn into Italian party politics.
"It was certainly not the Pope's intention to undervalue the social work being carried out with praiseworthy dedication by the leaders of the City of Rome and of the region," the Vatican statement said.
"In fact, as Bishop of Rome, he (the Pope) has in various circumstances, even recently, highlighted the achievements made in the service of citizens," the statement said.
"At the same time, however, he could not but mention - giving a voice to the many people who turn to him - certain particularly pressing human problems, which must be faced with everyone's contribution," it added.
