The Vatican to Debunk Da Vinci Code

According to the Vatican and its representative Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the novel contains "shameful and unfounded lies".

The Cardinal revealed in the Italian newspaper Il Giornale, "The book is everywhere. There is a very real risk that many people who read it will believe that the fables it contains are true."

The Da Vinci Code tells the story of how Robert Langdon, a professor and code expert who is looking into the murder of the curator of the Louvre Museum in Paris. He discovers a series of clues buried in the works of the art gallery.  Beside the dead body the police found a coded message that Langdon and Sophie Neveu, a police cryptographer, are trying to resolve.  They discover that the entire mystery revolves around the piece of Leonardo Da Vinci and that the deceased was a member of the secret society called the Priory of Sion.  Da Vinci had also been a member.

An adaptation of the book is planned for theatres, and will be directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13).  The film will star Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno.