Pope Reportedly Bans French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy From The Vatican

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Reportedly.

The story, that the Pope has banned Carla Bruni from the Vatican, has appeared in The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mirror, Time, and Vogue, among others.

Time's Tara Kelly writes, "It's not often a former model and pop singer gets scratched from a guest list. But earlier this month French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was warned to stay away from the Vatican -- by the Pope himself."

Ahead of President Sarkozy's 30-minute audience with the Pontiff earlier this month, Vatican officials sent the French ambassador a message saying: "Carla Sarkozy is not welcome in the Vatican." The message, which led her to stay in Paris, is said to be over the Pope's fears that more racyphotographs of her days as a catwalk model would emerge. Nude and semi-naked pictures from her days as a model are regularly published in the media. In one, she's seen posing in just a pair of knee high boots and a diamond ring.

Vogue has the back story: "Mr. Sarkozy allegedly requested time with the Pope in an effort to woo French Catholic voters, amongst whom his approval rating is at an all time low."

But is true?

"It's terrible to see the facts get in the way of a good story -- especially when the story keeps getting repeated -- but that's the case here," a Fox News reporter writes.

Greg Burke says the rumor was ginned up by Le Canard Enchaine, a French satirical weekly.

Unfortunately, at least for Le Canard