Victorian police have referred the alleged leaks of an investigation into Cardinal George Pell to the state’s anti-corruption commission. The investigation concerned allegations of child sexual abuse made against Cardinal Pell, which the cardinal has strongly denied. Cardinal Pell called for an inquiry into the leaks and wrote to Victoria’s police minister requesting this. Victoria Read more
A Vatican court has ruled that the Holy See’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will be called as a witness in a trial over leaked documents. Five people, including two journalists, are standing trial for the alleged leaking and dissemination of documents revealing mismanagement of the Holy See’s finances. On December 7, court a Read more
The woman arrested in connection with the leaking of confidential Vatican documents may have been released early because she is pregnant. Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui, 33, and Msgr Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, 54, were arrested by the Vatican Gendarmerie following an investigation. Their arrests came days before the publication of two books about Vatican finances and Read more
The Vatican has announced the arrest of a priest and a woman after an investigation of leaks of confidential documents at the Holy See. It said in a statement that the two had been interrogated over the weekend, and that Holy See prosecutors upheld the arrests. The pair were identified as Francesca Chaouqui and Msgr Lucio Read more
An Italian magazine has published alleged details of lavish spending by the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy, headed by Cardinal George Pell. But the secretariat has strongly rejected the claims published in L’Espresso magazine. Basing its reports on alleged leaked receipts from the secretariat, L’Espresso claimed the cardinal spent $A720,000 in setting up his new department. It Read more
The father of the Pope’s personal assistant, who is in custody after stolen Vatican documents were found in his home, has said he hopes his son’s “sacrifice” will help the Church rid itself of corruption. Andrea Gabriele described his son Paolo as a person of “absolute honesty . . . great generosity and moral integrity” Read more
With voice distorted and face hidden, one of the Vatican whistle-blowers appeared on Italian Television saying the recent Vatican leaks are not about a power struggle but a code of silence perhaps surrounded by fear. The Vatican mole claimed on private Italian Television channel La7 to be one of more than 20 people in the Read more
In the run-up to a consistory, Rome takes on the atmosphere of a college reunion. Church people from all over turn up, making it hard to walk down the street without bumping into someone you know. That’s been the case this week, ahead of Saturday’s consistory in which Pope Benedict XVI will create 22 new Read more
In his speech to newly created cardinals, Pope Benedict has indirectly denied recent speculation that he may resign, reports Vatican Insider. A number of people have been hinting at his resignation; however the soon-to-be 85 year old Pontiff concluded his speech with an indirect denial of his pending resignation. “Pray also for me, that I Read more
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi S.J. has called on Vatican officials to “remain calm” and “keep our neve” in the face of several recent embarrassing leaked documents. Despite the documents appearing to have different levels of importance, Lombardi described the situation as “very sad”. He called on the press to “make careful distinctions,” to not Read more