Reverend: Pope Francis tried reform

AlArabiya English

Reverend Robert Gahl says Pope Francis worked to reform Vatican finances but left challenges and opportunities for the next pontiff. #PopeFrancis #Vatican

Transcript

00:00He was a pope who was determined to make changes within the church.

00:04What did you make of his efforts?

00:07Indeed, very important that he was elected by the previous conclave back 12 years ago in 2013

00:13in order to reform the Vatican because the economic situation,

00:19the financial situation of the Vatican is truly in disarray.

00:23And Pope Francis put in some very serious effort and established principles in the rule of law

00:28and in governance for financial transparency, really mandating it for the first time.

00:34And yet, with respect to many things of his papacy, including his financial reform,

00:39he established principles and rules.

00:42And yet, through appointments and other, I would say, misdirection,

00:45he didn't follow through on those reforms.

00:48So in a sense, he prepared things for his successor in order to follow through on those principles

00:54that he really established in law regarding financial crimes, transparency,

01:01and there being a general audit of the Vatican.

01:04You know, specifically for the first time ever in history,

01:07there's a general auditor of the Vatican that was appointed.

01:09But he was then ushered out of the Vatican and threatened with prosecution

01:14because he was finding corruption.

01:16And now there's a new man there who is doing a quiet job,

01:20but it's not so clear that he's doing it with such great transparency

01:23as this predecessor who was appointed under Francis.

01:27So his successor will have a challenge and an opportunity to follow through

01:31on those principles that Francis promoted.

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