Rev. Baldi and Chaouqui were members of the COSEA – Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organization of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See – tasked with managing and oversight of the Vatican’s financial affairs. “Roberto Zannotti, vice-Promoter of Justice, convalidated the arrest of the above named persons, but provided for the release of Dr. Chaouqui, given that the demands of preventative detention were no longer judged necessary because of her cooperation with the investigations”. Nuzzi is also the author of the book “His Holiness”, based on leaks of private documents that Pope Benedict’s butler stole from his desk.
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The prelate was taken in for questioning at the weekend along with another member of the ex-panel, Francesca Chaoqui, following investigations by the Swiss Guards on the “theft and disclosure of confidential news and documents”, the Vatican said.
The Vatican on Monday confirmed that there was an investigation into the tampering, but declined to say if that incident was related to the two arrests.
The Vatican said the leaks represented a “serious betrayal of the trust bestowed by the pope”, without providing any details.
In announcing the extraordinary arrests, the Vatican seemed to foreshadow the pending release of potentially damaging information and suggested it may pursue legal action against the authors.
Pope Francis delivers a blessing from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, on November 1.
Later this week, two expose books by Italian journalists about the Vatican’s finances are being published, and the Vatican on Monday contended that such publications only hamper Pope Francis’ clean-up drive.
Such books “generate confusing and partial, tendentious interpretations”, the statement said.
The arrests come in a week when two books, Avarizia (or Greed) by Emiliano Fittipaldi, and The Via Crucis by Gianluigi Nuzzi (dealing with the ongoing “Vatileaks 2”) are to be released.
The Vatican has said a high-ranking official is suspected of leaking classified information to the media. “We must absolutely avoid the mistake of thinking that this is a way to help the mission of the pope”, the Vatican said. The commission was disbanded a year ago after providing the Pope with a detailed report.
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As a result of the stolen information, Pope Francis approved an amendment to the Vatican constitution following his election under the section “Crimes Against the Security of the State”; the additions state the release of confidential information can result in up to eight years in prison and a fine of 5,000 euros.
