There are many ways of analyzing the fault lines in the Vatican, but perhaps the most time-honored (if also often exaggerated) is the tension between an Italian old guard and pretty much everybody else. By conventional political logic, anyway, Saturday saw the Italians notch a fairly big win. It could turn out, however, to be Read more
Cardinal George Pell has pledged to serve his full five-year term as prefect of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy. Although he turns 75 next month, the cardinal plans to continue in his current post until 2019. This was confirmed in a statement his office released late last month. A Crux article reported that, according to Read more
Francesca Chaouqui, a public relations expert and former consultant to the Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See, strongly denied that he leaked confidential Vatican documents to journalists. “I can assure you that no reserved documents ever passed from my hands,” Chaouqui said. “Never, never,” she during her testimony at Read more
The Vatican has announced a criminal investigation into two journalists who have written books based on leaked papers relating to the Holy See’s finances. A statement from Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, said the Vatican’s police force had reported the activities of Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi to the city state’s prosecutors. This was Read more
Pope Francis has named former Deloitte, Italy, chairman Libero Milone as the Vatican’s new auditor general. Under statutes approved by the Pope earlier this year, the auditor general will have the power to audit the books of any Vatican office. He will report directly to the Pope. Having an independent auditor helps ensure the “separation Read more
A member of the Pope’s commission to protect minors has expressed concern that Cardinal George Pell is in charge of the body’s finances. Peter Saunders had previously called on the Pope to sack the cardinal, following accusations that resurfaced at a royal commission hearing in Ballarat. Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied claims that he moved Read more
Pope Francis has moved to confirm the authority of Cardinal George Pell in cleaning up the Vatican’s finances. In a new set of legislative norms approved by the Pope, the Secretariat for the Economy, headed by Cardinal Pell, has been given sweeping powers. Francis appears to have largely put aside recommendations from the Pontifical Council Read more
The Vatican has more than US$1.5 billion in assets that it didn’t previously know it had, bringing its total assets to more than US$3billion. Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican’s secretary for the economy, told cardinals last week that $0.5 billion in assets had been purposefully excluded from a 2013 overall balance sheet. And US$1billion should Read more
The Vatican’s murky finances have been spotlighted again by economy secretariat head, Cardinal George Pell. Late last week, at a news conference, Cardinal Pell said hundreds of millions of euros had been found, squirrelled away in various Holy See departments. The millions did not appear on the Vatican’s statements of financial position. Pell was quick Read more
The Vatican buys 500 packages of cigarettes a month, according to a new report on its financial affairs. In a letter to Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, an official of the Vatican governate reported the purchases. Cardinals serving at the Vatican have been receiving a 20 per cent discount on Read more