Vatican calls for 'more solid morality' in wake of Berlusconi sex scandal

AFP- The Vatican's number two on Thursday said the Holy See was "concerned" about the latest sex scandal surrounding Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and urged "more solid morality."

"The Church urges and invites everyone, especially those who hold a position of public responsibility... to commit themselves to a more solid morality, a sense of justice and legality," Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone told reporters.

"The Holy See follows these Italian affairs with great attention and concern," Bertone said.

The scandal "fuels awareness of a great responsibility, above all in terms of the family, the younger generations and in terms of the need to set an example, and the problems that weigh upon Italian society," he added.

The Vatican State Secretary's comments came as Italy reeled from news that Milan prosecutor's office has evidence Berlusconi used several apartments to hook up with prostitutes and hand-picked girls to attend his wild parties.

Berlusconi embroiled in sex scandal

Magistrates on Friday opened an enquiry into the relationship between Berlusconi and an underage girl, known as Ruby, accusing him of graft and illegally paying the minor for sex.

Berlusconi has denied he had ever paid for sex, not least with disco-dancer Ruby, and accused the Milan magistrates of launching their probe for politically motivated ends.

Sordid details of the ambition of parents of young girls caught up in the scandal emerged on Thursday as excerpts from wiretaps revealed pressure on the women from family members to compete for the 74-year old prime minister.

Even as the girls spoke fawningly in television interviews of their love for Berlusconi, the media continued to churn out sleazy details, describing the parties as orgies with the guests dressed up as nurses or police women.