Cardinal George Pell says the “full implementation” of financial reforms at the Vatican will take time. Cardinal Pell gave a statement to The Tablet in the wake of the Holy See announcing that a full audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers would not take place. Instead, PwC will assist an internal auditor-general with the work. The cardinal is Read more
The Vatican has brought nine more Syrian refugees to Rome. This adds to the 12 who accompanied Pope Francis when he returned from the Greek island of Lesbos in April. The nine refugees, like the twelve who preceded them, were living in a refugee camp on Lesbos. The Sant’Egidio community in Rome has agreed to Read more
The superior of a US order of Catholic sisters has been summoned to the Vatican to discuss “areas of concern”. The Vatican’s congregation for religious life issued the requirement to the Sisters of Loretto. The order will be asked to explain alleged “ambiguity” in its adherence to Church teaching and its way of living religious Read more
The Vatican has cancelled the first full external audit of its finances, which was to have been done by a global accounting firm. The Vatican announced last week that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) would no longer be responsible for the audit. Instead it will be performed by the Holy See’s Auditor General. In a statement, the Vatican Read more
A Church of England vicar on an alcohol-fuelled nightclub binge told police he was from the Vatican and had diplomatic immunity. Rev. Gareth Jones of Ilford in London punched, kicked, bit and spat at a police officer and a paramedic who found him passed out in Covent Garden. Prosecutor Edward Avdin said the vicar yelled Read more
Pope Francis has said that up to this point in his papacy he hasn’t thought about resigning. The Pope was asked about the subject by two young YouTube stars at a function at the Vatican on Sunday. He was asked if he has ever considered resigning because he finds the demands of his job too Read more
In a new papal ruling, bishops who don’t consult the Vatican before approving would-be religious orders in their dioceses risk having that approval stopped. Before the latest ruling, bishops were required to consult with the Vatican about such matters, but there were no consequences if they didn’t. The new ruling, issued in the form of Read more
Some lay workers at the Vatican think Pope Francis should put his own house in order in terms of employment justice before slagging off other bosses. Last week, Francis condemned employers who exploit workers through temporary contracts or by not offering health insurance. He called such employers “blood suckers” who turn people into “slaves of Read more
The director of “The Exorcist” movie has revealed that he was allowed to film a real exorcism at the Vatican. William Friedkin told a masterclass at the Cannes film festival about the episode and its impact on him. “I was invited by the Vatican exorcist this month to shoot and video an actual exorcism which Read more
An Irish priest who saved thousands of Jews and Allied soldiers during World War II has been honoured at the Vatican. Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty disguised himself from Nazi secret police and set up safe houses in Rome between 1943 and 1944. One of the safe houses was right next to the secret police’s main headquarters Read more