The newest leaked information associated with the Vatileaks scandal states that properties owned by the Vatican along Piazza Barberini and the Italian parliament have now been converted to “massage parlours” and saunas, and their patrons are priests.
The leaked document points to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, a department under the Vatican that owns and operates numerous properties within Rome. The properties in question are referred to as “peppercorn rents” and are said to be leased for cheap to “powerful colleagues” of the religious institution.
The leak was said to have come from two individuals connected to the Vatican itself. One is a laywoman, while the other is a high ranking monsignor. Both were arrested prior to investigation about the leak. Pope Francis called the actions of the individuals involved as a “crime.”
The public first became aware of this scandal two years ago.
As reported by The Independent:
“Two years ago it emerged the Vatican had purchased a €23m (£16m) share of a Rome apartment block, 2 Via Carducci, which housed the Europa Multiclub, Europe’s biggest gay sauna. Tales of visiting priests were legion, and a section of the sauna’s website promoting special ‘bear nights’ included a video of a hirsute man stripping down and changing into a priest’s outfit.
“Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who held the Vatican’s purse strings under the previous Pope Emeritus Benedict, was said to have been behind the purchase of the block of flats in 2008.”
