VATICAN CITY
Newsmax
Friday, 23 May 2014
By Drew MacKenzie
Pope Francis has expressed displeasure at a sumptuous banquet held on a Vatican veranda during the recent dual canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, according to reports in Italy.
The pontiff, who leads a life of austerity and humility, was “not pleased” when alleged photos of the extravagant feast appeared in the Italian website Dagospia, according to the Catholic News Agency quoting a Vatican official.
The photos appeared to depict 150 guests, including businessmen, leading journalists and Italian religious leaders, gathered on the veranda of the Vatican Prefecture for Economic Affairs during the April 27 canonization ceremony.
Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect of the Vatican Prefecture for Economic Affairs, told Italia 1 television network, “I can’t reveal what he (Francis) said. I informed him about it, and I can only say that he was not pleased, so to speak. But I can assure you that these incidents will not happen again.”
Versaldi said that he was trying to get to the bottom of who was behind the VIP dinner in a Vatican office, which reportedly cost private sponsors around $25,000, according to the news agency.
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