Holy See pledges full cooperation with Italian investigation of Vatican official
July 01, 2013
The Holy See has pledged to “cooperate fully” with Italian authorities following the arrest of a prominent Vatican cleric on charges of attempting to bring €20 million (about $26 million) into Italy illegally.
Msgr. Nunzio Scarano, who until recently served as director of accounting for the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), faces charges of corruption and fraud. He was already being investigated on suspicion of money laundering.
“Msgr. Nunzio Scarano has been suspended from duty at APSA (Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See) for over a month, as soon as his superiors were informed that he was under investigation,” Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement. “This is in accordance with the Regulations of the Roman Curia, which requires the precautionary suspension for persons against whom criminal proceedings have begun.”
“The Holy See has not yet received any request from the competent Italian authorities on the matter, but has confirmed its willingness to cooperate fully,” he added. “The competent Vatican authorities, the AIF [Financial Information Authority], are following the problem to take, if necessary, measures appropriate to its competence.”
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Further information:
- Vatican statement on investigation into Mons. Scarano (VIS)
- Vatican official arrested on international money-laundering charges (CWN, 6/28)
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