A second high-ranking Holy See official told a Vatican court on Friday that Pope Francis had authorized spending hundreds of thousands of euros in ransom payments to try to free a nun who was kidnapped by al-Qaida-linked militants in Mali.
Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, the Holy See’s No. 3, told the Vatican tribunal that he had sought, and received Francis’ approval to wire the money soon after he took up his duties as the “substitute” in the secretariat of state in late 2018.
Pena Parra was answering questions for a second day Friday after being called by defense attorneys representing the 10 people on trial for a host of alleged financial crimes. One tangent of the Vatican trial concerns 575,000 euros wired from the Vatican’s Swiss Bank account to a Slovenian-based front company owned by Cecilia Marogna, a self-styled security analyst who was hired in 2016 by Pena Parra’s predecessor, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, as an outside consultant.that he had sought Marogna’s advice in 2017 following the kidnapping of Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which has bankrolled its insurgency by kidnapping Westerners.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sheetz drops prices on premium, mid-grade and ethanol-free gas to match regular unleadedThe prices are effective from Friday, March 17, 223, through Friday, March 24.
Read more »
Holy Fvck, Demi Lovato Is Directing a Documentary About Child StardomIncluding themself.
Read more »
Newark Archdiocese lifts COVID restrictions on shared Communion chalice, holy waterThe Archdiocese of Newark says the return to pre-March 2020 rules starts just before Easter Sunday.
Read more »
Holy Bible Suggested Reading-Group QuestionsJohn the Baptist famously lived near the River Jordan. Do you find it difficult to separate your work and home lives?
Read more »
Holy Smoke: Air Pollution Link to Bone Damage Confirmed'The scientific literature...is clearly pointing toward a negative effect of chronic pollution exposure on bone health,' says expert. New study is the first to show a specific effect in postmenopausal women.
Read more »
Calm Thursday; Strong to Severe Storms Possible Friday - Alabama NewsYou couldn't ask for a better Thursday, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s! However, strong to severe storms are possible tomorrow... alwx
Read more »