Vatican spokesman, deputy resign suddenly

Pope Francis poses with Vatican spokesman Greg Burke (R) and deputy Vatican spokesperson Paloma Garcia Ovejero during a meeting at the Vatican [Courtesy]

The spokesman for the Vatican and his deputy resigned suddenly on Monday, an official statement said.

It gave no reason for the resignation of Greg Burke, an American, and Paloma Garcia Ovejero, a Spaniard, but they quit several weeks after Pope Francis appointed an Italian journalist and personal friend, Andrea Tornielli, to become editorial director of Vatican communications.