Vatican denounces leaks of documents on finance reforms

VATICAN CITY
Seattle PI

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press
Friday, February 27, 2015

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican spokesman on Friday condemned as “unworthy and petty” the leaks of documents detailing power struggles inside the Holy See and the expenditures of Pope Francis’ new finance czar.

In a cover story Friday, Italy’s L’Espresso weekly detailed opposition to Cardinal George Pell’s financial reform and revealed that his Secretariat for the Economy had racked up a half million euros (dollars) in expenditures in the last six months. Some of the expenses seemed legitimate, but one was a 2,508-euro ($2,800) bill from Rome’s swanky Gamarelli tailor.

The Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, condemned the leaks as illegal and called the attacks on Pell “unworthy and petty.” He said Pell’s office was moving ahead efficiently with reforms.

Pope Francis tasked Pell last year to put the Vatican’s finances in order after years of mismanagement, waste and scandal. Francis gave him broad powers and the Australian has received widespread support from cardinals outside Rome.

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