Emissary Cardinale Flavio Escudio is to be carpeted by papal officials after passing on a tasteless joke about former referee development officer Hugh Dallas from his St Peter's Square email account.
The under fire legate will have to explain himself this week after it emerged he had forwarded a joke using rhyming slang based on the ex Scottish whistler's surname.
A papal insider told the press: "This has been an extremely embarrassing episode for the Papacy.
"It's not seen as being malicious on Flavio's part but it is certainly a huge lapse in judgment.
Escudio is thought to be out of the country and could not be reached for comment last night.
The Papacy failed to return calls but the source insisted Escudio will not be fired, but is likely to be transferred to a position in Airdrie as punishment.
