Vatican defends official who is focus of embezzlement inquiry

May 20, 2016

Reacting to revelations that Cardinal Domenico Calcagno is the subject of an investigation into alleged financial misconduct, the Vatican press office has issued a statement indicating that the cardinal feels "serenity" about his innocence, and emphasizing that the allegations do not relate to his current work at the Vatican.

A prosecutor in Savona, Italy, has launched a probe of financial transactions by an institute that supports the clergy in that city. Cardinal Calcagno was Bishop of Savona from 2002 to 2007. The May 20 Vatican statement notes that "the investigation in no way relates to Vatican-owned assets or to the office currently held by the Cardinal."

Cardinal Calcagno is now president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, which handles Vatican real-estate investments. 

 

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Further information:

• Communiqué (Vatican press office)
• Vatican cardinal involved in real-estate investment probe (CWN, 5/17)