Report: Rector of Lourdes embezzled ~$700,000 from pilgrims

UK Mail Online:

The Roman Catholic shrine of Lourdes was tonight at the centre of a major fraud investigation.

Father Raymond Zambelli, the 65-year-old Treasurer and Rector of the pilgrimage site, is suspected of embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Much of the money was raised for the sick and the dying who visit the shrine in the foothills of the Pyrenees in south west France every year because they believe it is a place of miracles.

Father Zambelli, who last night denied all wrong doing, was due to welcome the Pope to Lourdes in September to celebrate its 150th anniversary as a place of Christian pilgrimage.

Instead he will now be asked to explain how at least £350,000 destined for Lourdes came to end up in his personal bank account. [More.]

Pope Benedict is scheduled to visit Lourdes on September 13th. I hope this is straightened out by then.