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POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI will “probably” return to the Vatican on Thursday, a spokesman for the Holy See said, two months after the German pontiff’s resignation stunned the world.
For the first time in history, a retired pope and a serving pope will both be resident in Vatican City, the world’s smallest state.
Benedict will move into the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, a two-storey brick building on a hilltop inside Vatican walls overlooking St Peter’s that has been renovated especially for the former pope.
Spokesman Federico Lombardi declined to be drawn on the practicalities of the move or whether he would be greeted by Pope Francis, saying only: “There is no fixed programme at this stage.”
Since Benedict dramatically stepped down as pontiff on 28 February, he has been living in the Castel Gandolfo, a luxurious 136-acre property, which is larger than the Vatican City itself, located 25 kilometres southeast of Rome.
As he had promised, Joseph Ratzinger has led an extremely discreet life since he stepped down and has not made any comment on Vatican affairs.
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The committee did better than I thought they would. All Kelly was short of was having gold teeth and an platform shoes. And Tubridy defaulted to the “I’m a decent guy lead stray by a snake-oil salesman.” I hope we never have to see him again after today…ever!
@Robert Bradshaw: so what did the committee demonstrate that he did wrong in terms of the barter account and the tri partite agreement, i m interested to hear your views
@Liam O’Connor: At the very least he knowingly was part of a conspiracy to money launder tax payer funds.
Giving a falsified invoice to a third party – and agreeing to hide its true purpose – then refusing to speak up to perpetuate fraud on the taxpayer… that’s all demonstrably true.
Claiming he committed fraud cause his employer told him to isn’t a legal defense.
He was paid 10s of thousands of euro – which cost extra 10s of thousands because it was hidden via the barter account – for work he didn’t do: consultancy.
He then knew RTE was misstating his wages – and his manager was in cahoots with RTE to launder the money – and didn’t say boo until a public audit found it.
Here’s the definition of money laundering:
“Money laundering is the illegal process of hiding the origins of money obtained illegally by passing it through a complex system of banking transfers or other transactions”
Falsifying invoices to receive money, then hiding that money via barter accounts and offshoot companies – that’s what drug gangs do.
And also apparently our state media and its biggest star and his manager.
Scratch cards?
Sneakily, that’s how.
Our money. Give up the licence fee or go to prison…
Most CFOs are compete bluffers
have your say