EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

Rome: The spotlight is on Cardinal George Pell's Secretariat for the Economy following the unexpected resignation of the Vatican's auditor-general, Libero Milone.

Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, head of the Vatican's central bank APSA, resigned suddenly last week. Credit:Basicilico/Commons

Milone who had an autonomous role in Pell's office, was appointed two years ago for a five-year term after an executive search to audit the city state's financial dealings. Pell was appointed in 2014 to establish the secretariat and untangle the Vatican finances.

Only three months ago, Milone gave an enthusiastic interview with no suggestion that he might leave before the end of his term. Then he said he had at last acquired adequate knowledge of the complex network of 142 Vatican entities. He had a 12-member, all lay staff, half of whom are women.