An Oct. 4 hospital news bulletin offered fresh data on the efficacy of anti-COVID vaccines on young patients, particularly those with compromised immune systems, conducted by researchers at Bambino Gesù hospital.

"The results of our studies show that it is essential to protect the most fragile categories by administering the third dose of vaccine, calibrating the dosages, or by using new adjuvanted vaccine formulations capable of enhancing the immune response to the virus and maintaining it over time," said Professor Paolo Palma, Head of Clinical Immunology and Vaccinology at Bambino Gesù.

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Giuseppe Profiti and the former treasurer of Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital have been charged with embezzlement and are on trial in the Vatican's criminal court.

They are accused of diverting 422,000 euros from the hospital foundation to renovate Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone's apartment. (Bertone was the Vatican Secretary of State from 2006 to 2013.)

Profiti is defending the use of funds to renovate the apartment, saying that doing so would have brought new donations. The cardinal could host intimate dinners half a dozen times a year for eight to ten wealthy potential donors at a time.

He said he expected fundraisers would have more than repaid the investment within four to five years.

"The more restricted the numbers, the more money raised since there is an element of exclusivity," Profiti told the court on Tuesday.

Apparently no fundraisers were ever held.

Bertone, who is not under investigation, had approved the concept but "the idea was mine alone," Profiti said.

He acknowledged that financial controls surrounding the spending had been lax. He could not recall if any contracts had been drawn up.

The work was carried out shortly after Bertone had stepped down as the Vatican's Secretary of State.

It has been widely suggested in the Italian media as reflecting Bertone's desire to retire in maximum comfort and elegance.

Source

• The Local
• US News
• Image: Crux

Greg Burke, assistant director of the Vatican press office, said two executives from Rome's Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital - former chairman Giuseppe Profiti and former treasurer Massimo Spina - are being investigated.

Profiti and Spina allegedly misappropriated hospital funds to pay for the restoration of Bertone's apartment.

Burke said Cardinal Bertone, who was secretary of state from 2006 to 2013 and briefly in charge of the Holy See and its administration when Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, was not under investigation.

In his book "Greed," journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi alleged that the cost of renovation was funneled through a London-based holding company run by Bertone's personal friend.

"The money destined for sick children was in actuality used for the renovations and then sent on to London," Fittipaldi wrote. "Bertone's name is not cited in the magistrates' document but the Holy See will find it hard to overlook his direct involvement in the scandal."

Bertone says he can prove he paid around $340,000 for the work out of his own pocket, but the foundation that raises money for the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu children's hospital apparently also paid $455,000.

The massive-for-Rome apartment is being floored with 2,400 square feet of expensive herringbone oak parquet which cost the cardinal and the hospital $28,000.

A smaller 750-square-foot area is being covered with luxury white Carrara marble at a price tag of $11,000. The double-glaze energy efficient windows cost $80,000 and the front security door is priced at $6,000.

Sources

The Daily Beast
Catholic News Service
Religion News Service
Image: The Daily Beast