Pope Francis has called on Italian intelligence services to avoid tarnishing the reputation of public figures and journalists, stating that the misuse of secret materials threatens to undermine democracy and public trust. In his speech at an event marking the centenary of the Italian intelligence agency, the Pope praised the agency's role in protecting national security, including that of the Vatican, but stressed that its actions must be guided by law and ethics. His appeal came on Friday amid increasing scrutiny of Italian security services following recent surveillance scandals, including the use of spyware and allegations of hacking the phones of journalists and human rights activists. He said: 'Strict surveillance is necessary so as not to...'
