Earlier today, the Holy See announced that Pope Benedict XVI has decided to entrust care and exclusive rights of his large body of writings, to the Vatican Publishing House.

The Publishing House will now control all copyrighting and hold exclusive rights to sales and utilization of what the Vatican Press Office called, the “acts, works and writings written by him prior to his elevation to the Chair of Peter.”

Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, wrote in a statement today that, "without prejudicing the rights acquired by third parties concerning contacts already concluded with the author, from now on the Vatican Publishing House is also entrusted with the exercise and protection of the copyright concerning contracts still in force".