In a meeting with the Office of the Auditor General staff, Pope Francis praised their dedication while emphasizing the importance of “absolute transparency” in financial matters. The meeting precedes a significant verdict in a Vatican financial corruption case involving Cardinal Angelo Becciu and others, facing charges including embezzlement and fraud.
Addressing concerns about corruption, the Pope urged vigilance against the “lure of corruption” and called for preventive safeguards. Despite facing criticism, he advocated for “merciful discretion” in handling corruption cases to avoid sensationalizing financial scandals.
The Pope’s remarks come amid ongoing legal battles within the Vatican. Libero Milone, a former head of the auditor’s office, alleges wrongful dismissal for uncovering corruption. Milone and his deputy, Ferruccio Panicco, claim they were ousted for successfully exposing financial misconduct at the highest levels of the Vatican.
Vatican City’s judiciary is expected to deliver a verdict in the financial corruption trial soon, with prosecutors seeking substantial prison sentences and damages. Moneyval, the Council of Europe’s watchdog, previously warned of internal corruption risks in Vatican financial institutions.
Adding complexity to the situation is a public dispute between the Holy See and Milone, who was forced from office in 2017. The Pope’s call for discretion aligns with the ongoing legal tussle between the Vatican and the ousted auditors, seeking over 9 million euros in damages.
During the Pope’s audience, he emphasized the independence of the Auditor General’s office within the Roman Curia. This statement coincides with ongoing legal considerations regarding oversight by the Secretariat of State during Cardinal Becciu’s tenure.
The Pope’s stance on keeping scandals private contrasts with his previous disapproval of financial scandals becoming public. In a thinly veiled reference to Milone’s dismissal in 2017, the Pope criticized those corrupted by “ambition or vainglory.”As Vatican City braces for the verdict and navigates internal disputes, the Pope’s call for transparency and discretion reflects the complex challenges faced by the Vatican in addressing financial misconduct within its ranks.
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