After 20 years of service to the pontificate, the commander of the Vatican Gendarmerie, Domenico Giani, has presented his resignation to Pope Francis.
To understand this decision better, it is necessary to go back to Oct. 2, when one of his orders was leaked to the public. This order referred to the suspension of five Vatican employees at the start of an investigation for a possible diversion of funds for real estate investments. This official document should not have left the Vatican walls.
As a consequence of the leak, the pope requested an investigation for “the illicit dissemination of an internal document of the Holy See's security forces.”
Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Bruni, explains that to the pope, the gravity of this fact “comparable to a mortal sin, because it damages the dignity of these people and the principle of assumption of innocence.”
Domenico Giani has not been able to identify the gendarme or Swiss guard responsible for the leak and has presented his resignation. The Vatican, in this official statement, has exonerated him of any “personal responsibility in the development of events” and has indicated that “he has presented his resignation to the Holy Father out of love for the Church and fidelity to the successor of Peter.” Meanwhile, the investigation to find the origin of the leak continues.
Before leaving his post, Domenico Giani visited Pope Francis. The pope thanked him for his work and professionalism he brought to the Vatican Gendarmerie.
