Cardinal Bertone under investigation for financial transfer?

May 20, 2014

The German tabloid Bild has reported that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the former Vatican Secretary of State, is under investigation in connection with reports of embezzlement.

The Vatican press office has issued a statement countering the Bild report. “There is currently no investigation of a criminal nature" involving Cardinal Bertone, the statement said.

Citing anonymous Vatican sources, Bild reports that Vatican investigators are looking into the transfer of €15 million ($20.5 million) from the Vatican bank to Lux Vide, an Italian television-production company with which Cardinal Bertone has ties. The transfer took place in December 2012, Bild says, despite objections from Vatican bank officials.

Cardinal Bertone has denied the Bild report. The cardinal told the ADNKronos agency that the transfer was approved by the board of cardinals who supervise the workings of the Vatican bank, and the minutes of that board’s meetings would confirm this.

René Brülhart, the director of the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority, declined to comment on the Bild story.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Bertone 'probed' in Vatican, says Bild (ANSA)
• Vatican launches internal investigation into Bertone, Bild says (La Stampa)