Financial reform Archives

Defendant in Vatican trial says cardinal ‘clarified’ affair with the Pope
- Vatican
- September 21, 2017
On the second full day of testimony in the Vatican’s first-ever trial for alleged financial crimes, one of the defendants told the court he was informed there should be “no problems” with spending money from a children’s hospital on remodeling an Italian cardinal’s private apartment, because that cardinal had spoken personally to Pope Francis and “clarified” the situation.
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As Vatican trial waits to resume, who’s actually got the most to lose?
- News Analysis
- September 8, 2017
With a Vatican trial focusing on charges of misappropriation of funds from a papally-sponsored children’s hospital now on hold until Sept. 19, the question arises of who has the most to lose from its outcome: The two lay defendants themselves, or the cardinal whose reputation appears to be on the line and the fate of the financial reform launched by Pope Francis?
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Commentator sees ‘thin results’ from Pope’s financial ‘shock therapy’
- Vatican
- July 31, 2017
One of Italy’s most respected political journalists wrote on Saturday in “Corriere della Sera,” considered the country’s paper of record, that the “shock therapy” Francis tried to impose on Vatican finances has yielded “thin results.” Massimo Franco also suggested things are drifting back toward what Vatican insiders call “normality,” meaning the situation prior to the initial reforms three years ago, and that another key figure in the pope’s attempted reform may soon be gone.
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As latest Vatican trial opens, is it time to dust off ‘About Doctrine’?

July 20, 2017

Back in the 19th century, French novelist and journalist Edmond About was considered the Tocqueville of the Papal States, and he had a fairly cynical view of papal justice. As the latest Vatican trial opens, it’s interesting to apply his tests. There’s also some question marks about the timing of the trial, and a juicy irony waiting to be exploited surrounding the name of one of the defense lawyers.

Vatican refuses to stop trial of ex-hospital execs for diverted funds

A Vatican trial began on Tuesday against two former officials of Rome’s papally-sponsored pediatric hospital Bambino Gesu, accused of diverting almost a half-million dollars of hospital funds to spruce up the Vatican apartment of Italian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the former Secretary of State under Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. Bertone faces no charges in the case.

Vatican indicts two ex-officials of children’s hospital for financial crimes

Vatican

July 13, 2017

Two former officials of the papally-sponsored pediatric hospital Bambino Gesù have been charged by Vatican prosecutors with misappropriation of funds over an outlay of almost $500,000 to remodel a Vatican apartment of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, former Secretary of State under Pope Benedict XVI, with the contract going to a company owned by a Bertone friend. Bertone himself does not face any charges.