Pope’s Choice George Pell ‘untouchable’ Despite Spending Spree

By Paola Totaro
The Australian
December 26, 2015

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In his new book Avarizia (Feltrinelli, 2015), Italian investigative journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi tells the stories behind the massive cache of documents leaked from Pope Francis’s inner sanctum. Known as Vatileaks II, the paper trail also contained details of Cardinal George Pell’s first year heading the Vatican’s financial reforms. The leaked accounts and documents reveal that:

• The Pope introduced Pell to the Vatican media and has nicknamed him the “Ranger”.

• Pell’s first act as newly appointed financial tsar was to appoint Danny Casey, a close friend and colleague from his days in Melbourne, as his assistant on a ˆ15,000 ($22,750) a month salary.

• Casey has been given an apartment in Rome’s elegant Via dei Coronari, which costs ˆ2900 a month, and furniture and renovations costing more than ˆ80,000 were also paid for.

• Between July last year and January this year, Pell’s office spent ˆ500,000 on setting up apartments and offices, including computers, furniture and clothing from one of Rome’s oldest specialist religious tailors.

• Pell likes to travel business class even on short-haul flights, paying more than ˆ1000 to fly from Rome to various European capitals, including London and Monte Carlo. Economy tickets cost two-thirds less.