Pope Francis Fires Entire Vatican Financial Watchdog Agency

Vatican observers were stunned Friday when Pope Francis fired all five Italian members of the Vatican’s financial watchdog agency and replaced them with four international board members.

The Holy See’s Financial Information Authority has been facing conflict between the former board members and the agency’s head that wants to bring in international experts in rooting out money laundering.  The agency has been cracking down on any potential money laundering or financial improprieties since Pope Francis assumed the Papacy.

“[FIA head Rene] Bruelhart wanted a board he could work with and it seems the pope has come down on his side and sent the old boy network packing,” an unnamed Vatican official told Reuters news agency.

The new board includes a woman for the first time.

The new members are Marc Odendall from Switzerland, Juan C. Zarate from the U.S., Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay from Singapore, and Maria Bianca Farina from Italy.

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