Although the pope took a few days of rest inside the Vatican, the work within the walls did not stop.
The pope implemented a bold economic reform within the Vatican: for the Holy See's bank, the Institute for the Works of Religion, to become more transparent. Since August, by law and for the first time in history, the accounts will be subject to an external audit.
In August, Australia's Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of Card. George Pell, the exprefect of the Vatican's Secretariat for the Economy. The court dismissed the appeal against his six-year prison sentence commissioned for four indecent acts and one of sexual violence, dating back to the '90s. The prelate underwent a canonical trial.
MATTEO BRUNI
Director of the Holy See Press Office
“At this time, together with the Church in Australia, the Holy See confirms its closeness to the victims of sexual abuse and its commitment to pursue, through the competent ecclesiastical authorities, those members of the clergy who commit such abuse.”
August was also a month of numerous meetings, such as when the pope met with 5,000 scouts participating in the Euromoot meeting.
POPE FRANCIS
“Giving means to stop suffering through life and go out and give the world a little good. Please, do not leave your life on a nightstand. Do not settle for watching life on television. Do not believe the next app to download will make you happy.”
Although August was a month of high temperatures, “snow” fell in the middle of this Roman summer. Like every year, the miracle of snow was commemorated with millions of white rose petals descending from the altar of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. It's a sign of the miracle that led to the construction of the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the West, and is where an image of the patroness of Rome, Salus Populi Romani, is kept.
