Pope Francis is taking additional steps to crack down on corruption at the Vatican by decreeing that all bishops and cardinals be tried if they are suspected criminal behavior. This marks the second time in two days that the pope has worked to hold top church officials accountable for their actions.
Under the law published Friday, Vatican-based high prelates who work in the Holy See will be tried by the lay court that also hears criminal cases. They will no longer be given special judicial treatment by a body made up of high-ranking clergy members known as the court of cassation.
The measure comes after eight years of the pope’s calls to reform the Vatican. Just three days after his election in 2013, Francis made clear his vision of what the Catholic Church should be: “Oh, how I would love a poor church … for the poor.”
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