April 16, 2012. (Romereports.com) Vatican's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, responded to new allegations regarding a kidnapping case that happened back in 1983. The main question being asked is whether the Vatican did all it could to resolve the kidnapping, which appeared to be linked to John Paul II's assassination attempt.
 
The victim in the case was Emanuela Orlandi, who was an Italian teenager with Vatican citizenship. Lombardi, said that John Paul II took a special interest in the case, which included meeting with the girl's family and publicly asking for her release. Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, who served as the Vatican's Secretary of State at the time, was reportedly willing to speak with the kidnappers over the phone. 


Lombardi denies new allegations that claim that the Vatican was indifferent or that it has kept secrets on the case. He then added that the Vatican has and is willing to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.  

Emanuela, who was the daughter of a Vatican employee, disappeared when she was 15 years old.  Her kidnapping is believed to have connections with a criminal group that was linked to the man who shot John Paul II in 1981. With the kidnapping the criminals were trying to bargain for Ali Agca's release from prison.

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