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Vatican confirms investigation of 2 ex-hospital officials Probe of 2 ex-officials confirmed at Vatican-owned hospital
(about 1 hour later)
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has confirmed that its prosecutor is investigating two former officials of the Bambino Gesu hospital over renovations made to the apartment of the city-state’s former secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said Thursday that its prosecutor is investigating two former officials of a Vatican-owned children’s hospital over renovations at the penthouse apartment of the city-state’s former secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
The Vatican statement on Thursday confirmed a report in Espresso magazine that Giuseppe Profiti, the hospital’s former president, and Massimo Spina, its ex-treasurer, are under investigation. Bertone denied that he had authorized any such payments related to his apartment, said his lawyer, Michele Gentiloni Silverj.
The report by journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi, one of four people now on trial at the Vatican in a leaked documents case, said the renovations to Bertone’s apartment totaled 422,000 euros ($480,500) — more than twice the sum that Fittipaldi revealed previously in a book that led to the Vatican leaked document charges. The Vatican statement confirmed a report in Espresso magazine that Giuseppe Profiti, the Bambino Gesu hospital’s former president, and Massimo Spina, its ex-treasurer, were under investigation. The Vatican said the investigation was ongoing but did not say when it began.
Bertone’s lawyer said the cardinal never “authorized” the hospital foundation to make any payments relating to his apartment. The report by journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi, among five defendants on trial at the Vatican in a leaked documents case, said the renovations totaled 422,000 euros ($480,000) — more than twice the 200,000-euro sum that Fittipaldi revealed previously in a book that led to the leaked document charges.
Bertone’s lawyer issued a statement saying that the cardinal never “gave indications or authorized” the hospital foundation to make any payments relating to his apartment.
Bertone, who has insisted he paid for the renovations himself, has already sought to make amends with a 150,000-euro donation to the hospital for medical research. Bertone stressed the donation was voluntary and not a repayment.
Bertone was formerly the secretary of state, the Vatican’s No. 2 official, under Pope Benedict XVI and for the first months of Francis’ papacy. Now 81, he no longer holds any top Vatican post.
The trial against Fittipaldi, another journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, two former officials of a papal reform commission and another defendant is set to resume next week.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.