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The anti-corruption agency statement contradicts Italian media speculation that the money might be linked to the overturned convictions of Cardinal George Pell for child sex abuse.

Last month, several Italian newspapers reported unsubstantiated claims that Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu was suspected of wiring €700,000 to Australian banks in 2018.

This money was supposedly used to help secure evidence against Cardinal Pell in his sexual abuse trial.

Federal financial crimes regulator AUSTRAC confirmed it had provided information to both the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police.

The AFP said it referred some of the financial intelligence onto Victoria's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

But in a statement on Nov 11, IBAC said there was not enough substance to warrant an investigation.

"IBAC confirms it received information based on media reports which alleged Vatican funds were transferred to individuals in support of the recent case against George Pell," the commission said.

"IBAC has reviewed the information and found the threshold to commence inquiries or an investigation was not met.

"This matter would only be further considered if any additional, credible information is received," the commission said in a statement.

Pell was brought in by Pope Francis to bring accountability and transparency to the Vatican's opaque finances in 2014. Becciu and Pell were known to have clashed over Pell's financial clean-up efforts at the Holy See.

The Italian newspaper speculated that Becciu might have "bought" the testimony of Pell's accuser to get Pell out of the Vatican.

Pell's accuser, who cannot be identified, has denied the allegation.

Becciu was subsequently dismissed over allegations that he wired 100,000 euros in Vatican funds to a charity headed by his brother.

He has denied wrongdoing over those funds and has repeatedly denied involvement in Pell's conviction.

In 2019 Pell was convicted of sexual offences and sentenced to six years imprisonment. The charges were overturned by the High Court of Australia in 2020 and Pell was freed from prison in April.

Sources

ABC News

ABC Net

The debate was organised by the International Consultation Group for justice, corruption, organized crime and mafias, which is part of the Vatican dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The Consultation Group co-hosted the debate with the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences.

The debate's 50 participants came from all over the world. They included anti-mafia and anti-corruption magistrates, bishops, Vatican officials, representatives from the U.N. and various States, heads of movements, victims and ambassadors.

As a result of the debate, the Consultation Group issued a joint text highlighting the participants' anti-corruption priorities. These were accompanied by 21 goals and actions points they hope to accomplish in the coming year.

They say their role will be "educational and informative, and will address public opinion and many institutions to create a mentality of freedom and justice, in view of the common good."

In their opinion the consequences of corruption are not often recognised, so people are "unaware that an act of corruption is often at the base of a crime."

The Consultation Group says it aims to intervene and "fill this gap, especially wherever, in the world, corruption is the dominant social system."

Source

• CNA
• Vatican Radio
• Image: Corruption Watch

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 police said it had referred the matter to the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission.

The commission will now review the case to see if it requires an investigation.

The police said they were concerned details had been made public about the investigation into allegations of historical child sexual abuse.

Victoria's state treasurer, Tim Pallas, earlier said he did not believe an investigation into the source of the leaks was necessary.

On Monday, Cardinal Pell is scheduled to testify to Australia's Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The cardinal will testify via video-link from the Hotel Quirinale in Rome.

This will be the third time he has testified before the commission and the second time he has used a video-link to do so.

He will be asked about how the Archdiocese of Melbourne handled allegations of child sexual abuse within its institutions while he served as auxiliary bishop.

He will also be asked how the Diocese of Ballarat handled abuse allegations while he served as an assistant priest.

He expected to be quizzed about notorious paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, with whom he once shared a presbytery.

A group of survivors of child sexual abuse in Ballarat Catholic institutions and their supporters will fly to Rome to be in the same room as Cardinal Pell when he testifies.

This came after a crowd-funding campaign raised more than A$200,000.

Cardinal Pell will be subjected to questioning from the royal commission from 10 pm until 2am Rome time nightly for at least three and possibly four nights.

He has not been allowed to have a lawyer travel from his home country to be at his side.

Cardinal Pell has said he is prepared to meet the victims who travel to Rome.

Sources

• The Guardian
• The Guardian
• Los Angeles Times
• 9News
• SBS
• Image: The Guardian