Vatican is investigating the purchase of luxury apartments in London with donation money

On October 1, Vatican justice confiscated documents in the offices of the State Secretary, the heart of the Vatican Government, and the Financial Information Authority (IDA).

Five people, including the number two of this anti-money laundering authority and a prelate, were "suspended as a precaution" from their duties as part of the investigation, which was leaked to L'Espresso.

The pope reportedly considered the escape as a slap in the "presumption of innocence" and Francisco accepted the resignation – a week ago – of the head of the Vatican Gendarmerie, Domenico Giani.

According to the magazine, the researchers have 650 million euros of funds "mainly from donations received by the Holy Father for charitable activities and their operation of the Roman Curia."

Of this amount, approximately 500 million euros were entrusted to Credit Suisse Bank for reinvestment.

The investigation began following a request made in 2018 by the Secretary of State for the Institute of Religious Work (IOR), the Vatican Bank ", which was awarded 150 million euros for the purchase of a building of 50 luxury apartments in the area.The elegant London Borough of Chelsea