It does not have any authority whatsoever in se. If there's something new that is meant to bind all Catholics, it would be promulgated via a papal encyclical. Osservatore Romano is just a quotidian news info service, not the official conduit for religious doctrine.

That said, you might want to check out the short story For I Am A Jealous People by Lester del Rey. Interesting spin on covenantal theology.