The Vatican released a statement refusing a claim from an Italian newspaper that the new Pope has basically abolished sin.

The Italian newspaper La Repubblica published an article based on private interviews with the Pope and his public statements to claim that the Pope believed sin no longer existed because “God’s mercy and forgiveness were eternal.”

“Those who really follow the Pope daily know how many times he has spoken about sin and our condition as sinners,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.  “This affirmation that the Pope has abolished sin is wrong.”

The author of the news story admitted he did not use a tape recorder for his conversations with the Pope and the conversation was reconstructed from memory later.  The Vatican removed references to the article from its website claiming it was inaccurate.