The administration of the Sistine Chapel’s world-renowned choir is being investigated for allegedly committing embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering. It is, one might say, a PR nightmare: accusations which allow the words ‘fraud’ and ‘choirboys’ to appear in the same headline.

Thus far, at least, the press has been uncharacteristically generous and restrained. But that does not alter the fact that we have here a veritable sacrament of this Pontificate: beautiful music on the surface, and the sinister rumble of corruption beneath.

Francis, needless to say, has dealt with the problem by a nifty piece of reorganisation, which has co-laterally allowed him to get rid of Georg Ganswein, Prefect of the Pontifical Household, whose post is now said to be under threat.

This Pope never misses an opportunity to advance his own agenda and settle his own scores.