• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
        • CR for Kids
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Shop
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
        • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Kids
  • Radio/Podcasts
        • Catholic Review Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
        • In God’s Image
        • “In Charity and Truth” with Archbishop William E. Lori
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Italian police have launched an investigation after postal workers discovered an envelope containing three bullets and addressed to "the pope."

Police investigating source of letter containing bullets addressed to pope

August 9, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

ROME (CNS) — Italian police have launched an investigation after postal workers discovered an envelope containing three bullets and addressed to “the pope.”

News reports said the stamp on the envelope indicated it came from France, and the bullets were 9mm Flobert-round bullets. Reportedly, there was a message inside making reference to the Vatican’s financial operations.

The envelope had written on it in pen and with poor handwriting: “The pope. Vatican City. St. Peter’s Square in Rome.”

The envelope was flagged by employees at a mail sorting facility near Milan in the early hours of Aug. 9 and was handed over to Italy’s military police as authorities coordinated their investigation.

According to Wikipedia, 9mm Flobert shotguns are most often used for pest control and face very little to no restriction in Europe, even in countries with strict gun laws, due to their limited power and short range.

Read more vatican news

Journalists launch initiative to bring letters from Venezuelan quake survivors to Pope Leo XIV

Young American missionaries get papal shoutout during summer in Rome

Pope Leo takes road trip to mountainside shrines during his summer vacation

Pope Leo quotes Bob Dylan song in book foreword calling for nuclear disarmament

Pope Leo XIV makes surprise visit to pray for peace at the tomb of St. Benedict

Ukraine remains hopeful for a papal visit, ambassador says

Copyright © 2021 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Carol Glatz

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Ann Teresa O’Neill, whose confirmed miracle led to the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, dies at 78
  • Catherine Gietka, foundation president and mother of $183 million lottery winner, dies
  • Ukraine and the limits of dialogue
  • Movie Review: ‘The Odyssey’
  • Pope Leo XIV makes surprise visit to pray for peace at the tomb of St. Benedict

| Latest Local News |

Father Blaine Burkey’s new book aims to get history right

Ann Teresa O’Neill, whose confirmed miracle led to the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, dies at 78

Catherine Gietka, foundation president and mother of $183 million lottery winner, dies

New book fills in gaps of history of Mount St. Mary’s

St. Katharine Drexel parishioners close the school year with a gift to eliminate public school lunch debt

| Latest World News |

Those targeted by immigration enforcement need ‘chance to be heard,’ says nun detained by ICE

Catholic Scouting in US has new name, same adventurous mission

Journalists launch initiative to bring letters from Venezuelan quake survivors to Pope Leo XIV

Young American missionaries get papal shoutout during summer in Rome

Venezuelan bishops urge faithful to reject superstitious view of earthquakes

| Catholic Review Radio |

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Those targeted by immigration enforcement need ‘chance to be heard,’ says nun detained by ICE
  • Catholic Scouting in US has new name, same adventurous mission
  • Journalists launch initiative to bring letters from Venezuelan quake survivors to Pope Leo XIV
  • Young American missionaries get papal shoutout during summer in Rome
  • Father Blaine Burkey’s new book aims to get history right
  • Venezuelan bishops urge faithful to reject superstitious view of earthquakes
  • Violent extremist’s sentencing a call to protect kids online, says Catholic legal scholar
  • Pope Leo takes road trip to mountainside shrines during his summer vacation
  • Ukraine and the limits of dialogue

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2026 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED