Pope Orders Audit of Church's Wealth as Whistleblowers Pursued
- Francis seeks assessment of real estate wealth, spending curbs
- Five people on trial in Vatican after financial details leaked
St. Peter's Basilica stands on the horizon in Rome.
Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Pope Francis, galvanized by a scandal over Vatican finances, has ordered the most powerful bodies in the city-state to launch an unprecedented audit of its wealth and crack down on runaway spending.
At the suggestion of his economic chief, Cardinal George Pell, Francis has set up a “Working-Party for the Economic Future” which brings together the Secretariat of State, or prime minister’s office, the Vatican Bank and other agencies.