“Pandora Papers”: the departed millions of the Legionaries of Christ – Le Monde

By ICIJ

Posted today at 5:00 a.m., updated at 08:19 a.m.

On this July 9, 2010, the hour is serious for the Legion of Christ. The powerful Catholic congregation, founded in 1941 by the Mexican priest Marcial Maciel Degollado, is preparing to come under the tutelage of the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI has given full powers to one of his most faithful lieutenants to reform this religious order, shaken by a decade of scandals, between sexual violence and embezzlement. Parachuted at the head of the congregation, Cardinal de Paolis, former Vatican finance minister, has a clear mission: to investigate suspicions of sex crimes and set up a commission to compensate possible victims, while unraveling the tortuous labyrinth financier of those who have earned over the years the nickname of “Millionaires of Christ”.

To read : “Pandora Papers”: a world dive into the secrets of offshore finance

Shortly after his arrival, the Vatican envoy takes stock of a financial situation “Worrying”. Ruined, the Legion of Christ will not be able to compensate victims of sexual violence up to what they demanded. What he did not know was that, three days before his arrival, influential leaders of the congregation had laid the first stones of a tortuous financial package which would allow the exfiltration of hundreds of millions of dollars abroad. .

This heavy secret is revealed, eleven years after the facts, by the “Pandora Papers”, a leak of confidential documents on tax havens obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Documents reviewed by the ICIJ and its partners reveal the existence of three ultra-opaque structures in New Zealand linked to the congregation: the AlfaOmega Trust, the Salus Trust and the Retirement and Medical Charitable Trust. retirement and medical care ”).

Also listen Tax havens: understand everything in the “Pandora Papers”

A heritage of 270 million dollars

The “trust” is an Anglo-Saxon instrument designed to facilitate the transmission of assets within families, or the management of charitable activities. But the opacity of their operation has turned them into a privileged tool for fraud and financial manipulation.

These three trusts held, in 2017, a total heritage of 270 million dollars, in the form of bank assets in Switzerland and various participations. Among them, a chain of detoxification clinics, a manufacturer of dietary supplements, but also shares in Pensam Capital, an American real estate firm, known for having evicted many tenants in arrears during the pandemic, despite a national moratorium. According to confidential documents consulted by the ICIJ, these investments generate millions of dollars in profits each year. For whose benefit? This is where the mystery thickens.

You have 52.19% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.

1 thought on ““Pandora Papers”: the departed millions of the Legionaries of Christ – Le Monde”

  1. Download A$AP Ferg – Still Striving Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Paul Oakenfold – Paul Oakenfold – Mount Everest: The Base Camp Mix Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Innellea – Vigilans – EP Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Angus & Julia Stone – Big Jet Plane – EP Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Sleeping Giant – I Am Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Firespawn – The Reprobate Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Ashlee Simpson – Autobiography Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Ryan Ike – Where the Water Tastes Like Wine (Original Game Soundtrack) Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Arin Ray – Platinum Fire (Deluxe) Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Reik – Des/Amor Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Tia Gostelow – Thick Skin Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Nicolas de Angelis – Le meilleur de la guitare Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Kraftwerk – Minimum – Maximum Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Joshua Radin – The Fall Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Axel Catalán – En el Aire Sessions – EP Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Boney M. – The Greatest Hits Album Mp3 Zip
    Download DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper Album Mp3 Zip
    Download ICEHOUSE – White Heat: 30 Hits Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Isabelle Boulay – Merci Serge Reggiani Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Manolo Sanlucar – Manolo Sanlucar – Antología Flamenca Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Vitamin Z – Rites of Passage Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Frou Frou – Details Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Fleet Foxes – First Collection: 2006-2009 Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Apache Indian – Apache Indian – EP Album Mp3 Zip
    Download Emma Louise – Supercry Album Mp3 Zip

Comments are closed.