VATICAN CITY
Reuters
Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Two men who used to run a Vatican-owned children’s hospital were put on trial on Tuesday, accused of diverting nearly half a million dollars of funds to renovate a top cardinal’s luxury flat.
The trial, which puts on public display the challenges Pope Francis faces in trying to clean up the Vatican, began with the court rejecting a defense motion to dismiss, as well as a request to bar journalists.
Giuseppe Profiti and Massimo Spina, respectively the former president and treasurer of the Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome, are charged with spending 422,000 euros ($481,000) in 2013 and 2014 on refurbishing the large Vatican apartment of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s former number two.
The trial was adjourned until Sept. 7, and the court left open the possibility that Bertone, who was not indicted, might be called as a witness.
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