Pope backs his new Vatican economy czar

May 03, 2014

Pope Francis today publicly backed his new economy czar, who is overhauling the Vatican's administration amid grumblings from some Holy See bureaucrats about a perceived abrasive and secretive style.

Francis acknowledged Cardinal George Pell's "tenacity" in calling the imposing Australian the Vatican's resident "rugby player." Francis echoed Pell's call for a new way of doing business at the Vatican in urging Holy See employees to embrace a "new mentality of evangelical service."