A Vatican sermon has made a veiled criticism of Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ.
Father Raniero Cantalamessa said if the film spread the belief that all Jews were responsible for Christ's death, it should be criticised.
But he said in a Lent sermon that "if it restricts itself to showing an influential group of Jews" were to blame, it could not be criticised.
The film has been accused by critics of being anti-Semitic.
Father Cantalamessa said: "The Jewish people, as such, are not responsible for the death of Christ.
"The Passion is a film to be criticised if it seeks to advance the belief that all Jews at the time and in succeeding generations are responsible for the death of Christ."
But "the film cannot be accused of betraying the real story if it restricts itself to showing an influential group of Jews at the time playing a determining role" in the death of Jesus Christ, he said.
It opens in Italy on 7 April, during Holy Week. |