Rome posters target Pope
Conservative criticism of Pope Francis has intensified since his intervention in the Knights of Malta order, with posters appearing around Rome at the weekend citing his actions against conservative Catholics and asking: “Where’s your mercy?”
At the weekend Francis cemented his authority over the Knights by naming a top Vatican archbishop, Angelo Becciu, to be his special delegate to the ancient aristocratic order. At the same time, dozens of posters appeared around Rome featuring a sternlooking Francis and referencing the “decapitation” of the Knights and other actions Francis has taken against conservative, traditionminded groups. — AP Vatican decided it had no jurisdiction over them. Their books revealed mismanagement, waste and extravagant spending by cardinals, as well as trenchant resistance to Pope Francis’ drive for greater accountability and transparency in the Vatican’s finances.
During the trial, Monsignor Balda claimed that he had been seduced by Chaouqui, breaking his vow of celibacy. He said they went to bed together in a hotel in Florence, claiming she left a skimpy nightie in his room, but then turned against him, calling him “a worm”.
Chaouqui, who is married, strenuously denied having an affair and insisted that Balda was, in any case, gay.
She claims in her book that the Spanish prelate had a gay lover in Rome, for whom he obtained Vatican accreditation as his “butler”.
Pope Francis has conceded that it was an “error” to appoint Chaouqui and Balda to the finance commission that he set up shortly after his election in 2013.
He suggested that Chaouqui had been driven to leak the documents because of her anger at not being retained by the Vatican once the commission’s work was done.
The Vatican said it was not concerned by the revelations in the new book.
“We’re not losing sleep over it,” said Greg Burke, a spokesman.