Pell meets Pope at Vatican
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis yesterday met Australian Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican’s former economy minister who has returned to Rome after the firing of an Italian cardinal whom Pell had accused of obstructing financial reform.
Pell was cleared earlier this year of sexual abuse charges in Australia after spending 13 months in prison, and it remains unclear whether he will take up another role in the Vatican.
The Vatican announced the meeting between Pell and Pope Francis in a statement on the Pope’s daily private audiences, but gave no details.
‘‘It went very well,’’ Pell told reporters in front of his residence just outside the Vatican walls.
Pell returned to Rome on September 30, just days after the Pope fired Pell’s nemesis, Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was accused of embezzlement and nepotism. Becciu has denied all wrongdoing.
Four members of the Vatican Swiss Guards the elite and colourfully dressed corps that protects the pope, have tested positive for Covid19, the Vatican said yesterday.
The results came in at the weekend and added to three other residents or citizens of the tiny citystate who have tested positive in recent weeks, according to a statement.
They are believed to be the first in the corps to test positive.
The Vatican said all those who had tested positive had mild symptoms. They had been isolated and tracing of those with whom they had been in direct contact was under way.
The Vatican last week instituted prevention measures stipulating that everyone had to wear masks and practise social distancing. — Reuters