Italian 'old guard' ousted in Vatican shake-up
Pope Francis on Thursday named four new members to the Vatican's Financial Information Authority including a former security adviser to US President George W. Bush, sweeping away an "old guard" of Italian appointees.
Juan Zarate from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, who was Bush's deputy national security adviser for counter-terrorism, will now have to enforce transparency rules for scandal-hit Vatican finances.
The three others chosen are Italian manager Maria Farina, Swiss financial consultant Marc Odendall and Joseph Pillay, who helped build up Singapore's economy as a top civil servant and businessman, the Vatican said in a statement.
Five Italian members of the body who were appointed by the pope's predecessor, Benedict XVI, were also dismissed.
A source told Vatican affairs news agency I.MEDIA that this was part of a bid by Francis to get rid of the "old guard".
Vatican finances have been hit by a series of scandals in recent years and two former directors of the Vatican bank, officially known as the Institute for Religious Works, are facing trial in Italy for money laundering.
Benedict XVI and Francis have instituted a series of major reforms to clean up the bank and promote greater transparency in a bid to align the Vatican with international financial norms.
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Juan Zarate from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, who was Bush's deputy national security adviser for counter-terrorism, will now have to enforce transparency rules for scandal-hit Vatican finances.
The three others chosen are Italian manager Maria Farina, Swiss financial consultant Marc Odendall and Joseph Pillay, who helped build up Singapore's economy as a top civil servant and businessman, the Vatican said in a statement.
Five Italian members of the body who were appointed by the pope's predecessor, Benedict XVI, were also dismissed.
A source told Vatican affairs news agency I.MEDIA that this was part of a bid by Francis to get rid of the "old guard".
Vatican finances have been hit by a series of scandals in recent years and two former directors of the Vatican bank, officially known as the Institute for Religious Works, are facing trial in Italy for money laundering.
Benedict XVI and Francis have instituted a series of major reforms to clean up the bank and promote greater transparency in a bid to align the Vatican with international financial norms.
Don't miss a story about Italy - Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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