Pope names president of Vatican financial agency

Catholic Culture
November 19, 2014

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=23277

Pope Francis has named René Brülhart the president of the Financial Information Authority, a Vatican body created in 2010 to combat illegal financial activities.

Brülhart directed Liechtenstein’s financial intelligence until 2012, when he was appointed the Financial Information Authority’s director.

In November 2013, Pope Francis assigned the authority three functions: “prudential supervision and regulation of those entities that carry out professionally a financial activity; supervision and regulation for the prevention and countering of money laundering and financing of terrorism; [and] financial intelligence.”

The president chairs the Financial Information Authority’s board and serves the Authority’s legal representative, while the director runs the Authority on a day-to-day basis. No successor to Brülhart as director has been named.

Cardinal Attilio Nicora, 77, resigned as president of the Financial Information Authority in January. Pope Francis appointed Bishop Giorgio Corbellini, president of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See, as his interim successor. In June, Pope Francis replaced the Authority's board.