In June of 2017, Card. George Pell decided to return to Australia to respond to abuse accusations against him. He didn't imagine he would end up in prison.<\/p>\n
One of the risks of his departure was the interruption of economic reforms he himself had spearheaded at Pope Francis' request.<\/p>\n
Now, in Rome, he's presenting the journal he kept during his 404 days in jail. He looks with satisfaction at the reforms still well underway.<\/p>\n
CARD. GEORGE PELL<\/strong> The cardinal explains that his years in Rome, as the head of the Secretariat for the Economy, were difficult, detrimental even to his health.<\/p>\n CARD. GEORGE PELL<\/strong> He now confesses that many aspects of his work were sources of worry. He said there was no lack of suspicious incidents involving his collaborators.<\/p>\n CARD. GEORGE PELL<\/strong> The cardinal is still worried about the Holy See's current financial situation, which the pandemic has rendered more delicate.<\/p>\n CARD. GEORGE PELL<\/strong> George Pell was the first Vatican Secretary for the Economy. His successor is Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves. The role is key in Pope Francis' reform plans.<\/p>\n It's a titanic task that began with reforming the Vatican bank, followed by removing many of its clients, and finally, revoking managerial power of funds reserved to the Secretariat of State.<\/p>\n It's a difficult cleansing process that has brought to light many scandals, but that will give future popes more peace of mind.<\/p>\n
\nFormer Head of Vatican Secretariat for the Economy
\n\u201cWe have made progress. There's no doubt about it, and we have a modern methodology. It's not perfect by any manner or means. We still don't have a powerful external auditor. I'm not sure there's been appointed yet a permanent auditor within the Vatican. So there are things\u2026 A lot of abuse has been revealed, and that has been made more possible by the reforms we introduced. We are much better placed now to know where we are.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nFormer Head of Vatican Secretariat for the Economy
\n\u201cA number of people said, even while my case was going on, that I looked in better health, and I think one reason for that was I was out of Rome. It's very exhausting, fighting to try to get the right thing done in a bureaucracy, very frustrating, very exhausting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nFormer Head of Vatican Secretariat for the Economy
\n\u201cI remember Danny Casey, who was my executive officer in the reforms. He did a great job. He started to get interested in the sum of 50 million, and a day or two later, a car was burnt just outside his residence. Now I'm sure that was a coincidence. Cars catch fire all the time, but nonetheless, it's interesting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nFormer Head of Vatican Secretariat for the Economy
\n\u201cWe had, in my time, a structural deficit of 20, 25 million euros a year. The last two years before Covid, Fr. Guerrero, my successor, said the losses were 50 million a year. I don't know what they will be with Covid, perhaps double that, certainly greater than 50. Now that is on a budget of 300 million plus every year.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n