Baghdad-INA
The Vatican announced the launch of a new system that allows whistleblowers to raise cases related to fraud and corruption, in the latest move by Pope Francis to tighten oversight of the Holy See’s finances.
The Vatican said in a statement that the new system will come into effect at the beginning of February, when it will become possible to report violations in spending and public procurement, in addition to corruption crimes.
Officials, advisors and contractors can report anything suspicious either via an email to a designated address or to the Comptroller General, who heads the Vatican’s anti-corruption unit.
The process requires that reports must not be anonymous, but the Office of the Comptroller General ensures that the sender’s identity and the content he reports are kept confidential, unless the matter reaches the judiciary.
The Vatican noted in the statement that whistleblowing “is one of the most effective tools to combat corruption.”
Since assuming his position as head of the Catholic Church worldwide in 2013, Pope Francis has set his sights on reforming financial affairs.
He established a special secretariat for the economy in 2014 and intensified scrutiny of investments and the Vatican Bank, leading to the closure of five thousand accounts.
Last month, the Vatican Criminal Court sentenced Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu to five and a half years in prison in a case related to a lost real estate deal in London, but the cardinal appealed the ruling.
2024-01-25 11:25:36