Vatican’s Auditor General Resigns. Pope loses a fight.

The job — overseeing Vatican departments — was a new one. He resigned “unexpectedly” after two years, giving no reason, had said three months ago he was “enthusiastic” about the assignment.​

The background of​ [Libero] Milone’s
resignation is the fight between Cardinal George Pell’s Secretariat for the Economy and Cardinal Domenico Calcagno’s APSA, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, ​​
the most resistant to introducing greater financial scrutiny. Milone belonged to the Pell-group​.​
​

​​And the Pope?

Pope Francis first wanted Pell’s Secretariat to replace APSA, ​​
but then gradually rowed back. Milone’s resignation is ​​
another example of a pope ​​
who promised reform, but is delivering ​​
more of the same.

He can’t clean his own house? Ineffective where he has most influence? Or prophet without honor in his own country?

Later, the Vatican responds:

(Vatican Radio) The Press Office of the Holy See released a statement in connection with the statements from the Vatican’s former Auditor General, Libero Milone, which were widely quoted today, saying the Holy See notes “with surprise and regret” the remarks made by the former Auditor General.

Milone told reporters from several news organizations that he had been forced to resign after discovering unspecified “irregularities” within his bailiwick – or face criminal charges he told reporters were fabricated.

The Statement from the Holy See’s Press Office goes on to say, “In [acting] this way, [Milone] has failed to agree to keep confidential the reasons for his resignation from the Office. It is recalled that, according to the Statutes, the Auditor General’s task is to analyze the budgets and accounts of the Holy See and the related administrations. Unfortunately, the Office headed by Dr. Milone, exceeding its powers, illegally commissioned an external concern to conduct investigative activities into the private lives of Holy See Personnel.” [Italics added]

The Statement also says, “In addition to constituting a crime, this [course of action] irretrievably crippled the trust placed in Dr. Milone, who, faced with his responsibilities, freely agreed to resign.”

Note the illegality, hiring the “external concern” etc. Did the world wrongly think that his appointment signaled an opening to the outside world? Hard to swallow, that.