Pope Francis tells Catholic cardinals he wants “zero deficit” agenda
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis called on the world’s Catholic cardinals, many of whom live in Rome and lead Vatican offices, to pursue a “zero deficit” agenda to improve the Vatican’s use of its economic assets. The pontiff did not offer many specifics in a letter published by the Vatican on Friday, but he said […]
Vatican reports financial gains as it prepares for new profit strategy
Vatican City RNS After sweeping financial reforms and the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican has reported a positive balance, even as it continues to struggle to maintain the operational costs of the Roman Curia. In its 2023 budget statement, published on Monday, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See – […]
Vatican chief of staff testifies in UK finance trial, admits to false invoice and blames a deputy
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis’ chief of staff became one of the highest-ranking Holy See officials to testify in a foreign court Thursday, telling a British tribunal about the negotiations at the heart of the Vatican’s so-called “trial of the century”, admitting he filed a false invoice and pointing a finger at his one-time deputy […]
Senior cardinal convicted in Vatican corruption trial
Vatican City Reuters Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, was convicted on Saturday of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. The Italian prelate’s lawyer, Fabio Viglione, told reporters in the courtroom he would appeal, saying his client was innocent. […]
Vatican prosecutor seeks seven-year sentence for cardinal
Vatican City Reuters The prosecutor at a Vatican corruption trial linked to a botched London real estate deal asked a court on Wednesday to convict Cardinal Angelo Becciu and sentence the former Holy See power broker to seven years and three months in jail. Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi made the request at the end of his […]
Prosecutor cites risky investments as “grave” violations, in closing of Vatican financial case
Vatican City AP The Vatican prosecutor insisted Tuesday that his indictments of 10 people, including a cardinal, for alleged financial crimes held up under two years of testimony, criticism and defense motions, as he began closing arguments in a trial that exposed the unseemly financial underbelly of the Holy See. Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi opened two […]
Vatican reports income boost in charitable fund, even as donations dip following financial scandals
AP The Vatican has reported that a key charitable fund, Peter’s Pence, doubled its income in 2022 to €107 million, or more than $US166 million, even as donations from the faithful dipped slightly following years of scandal over financial mismanagement at the Holy See. Overall, the Peter’s Pence fund, which finances the Vatican bureaucracy and […]
Cardinal blasts vendettas, “plots against me” in Vatican financial trial
Vatican City AP A Vatican cardinal on trial in the Holy See’s big financial crimes case complained Friday that he can’t properly defend himself from “the nightmare of these accusations” because prosecutors have withheld key evidence from the defence. Cardinal Angelo Becciu spoke out in court after Judge Giuseppe Pignatone rejected his lawyers’ latest appeal […]
Pope doubles down on need for financial trials in Vatican
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis said Saturday that financial misconduct by Vatican personnel harms the church’s mission and scandalizes the faithful, doubling down on the need for trials in the tiny city state to find justice. Francis made the comments during an address to prosecutors, judges and employees of the Vatican City State’s civil and […]
Pope nationalises Vatican assets, property in new reform
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis has essentially nationalised all assets and property owned by Vatican departments and affiliated institutions, declaring them to be sovereign patrimony owned by the Holy See and not any individual or office. The action outlined in a new law published Thursday marks Francis’ latest initiative to centralise Vatican assets so they […]