New money laundering charges have been levelled against a former Vatican prelate who is currently under house arrest.
Msgr. Nunzio Scarano was arrested by Italian authorities last July along with a broker and a secret service agent for allegedly attempting to transport 20 million euros on a private jet from Switzerland into Italy.
The new charges raised against Msgr. Scarano stem from alleged money laundering activities through his Vatican accounts. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi assured journalists today that the Holy See is cooperating with Italian authorities in the investigation.
“All requests for assistance have been answered and the documentation has arrived at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See.» The requests, he continued, were met completely.
The director of the Holy See Press Office also denied reports from an Italian newspaper that Italian authorities went to the offices of the Institute for Religious Works (IOR). The report stated that requests from the Italian Ministry of Justice received no response from the Vatican.
Fr. Lombardi reiterated that the Holy See has been in full cooperation with Italian authorities in assisting with the investigation. “I believe that the process of the investigation has gone forward thanks to this good collaboration that has been established,” he said.
