Smearing Cardinal Pell with... Frugality

In the race to tarnish the image of His Eminence Cardinal George Pell, a staunch defender of Catholic orthopraxy at last year's Synod on the Family, malcontents have illegally leaked confidential information regarding the costs hitherto incurred by the Secretariat for the Economy in the ongoing efforts to bring the Vatican's finances in line with international standards and eliminate rumors of corruption.

Leaving no expense unscrutinized, the leaked information revealed that Cardinal Pell spent a whopping €2,508 ($2,813) on clerical clothing. At which you, gentle reader, are supposed to gasp in shock and dismay.

If you look like this, you're doing it right.
(Photo: Getty)

Let's put things in perspective.

In an article published at Vatican Insider in 2012, Andrea Tornielli put together an itemized list of all the garments and items required for each Cardinal to be considered properly dressed. As you can't simply saunter down to your local Wal-Mart and pick up a triple-pack of fascia on sale, it's natural that you would have to turn to a tailor specializing in clerical garb. If you're in Rome, that would be the renowned Gammarelli's, which also services the Pope. Here's the list:

• red mozzetta: €200
• red cassock: €800
• black cassock with red piping: €200
• red biretta: €120
• red and golden pectoral cord: €80
• red fascia: €200
• red zucchetto: €40
• red socks: €15 per pair

As you can see, things add up pretty quickly. Tornielli notes:

Given that cardinals usually purchase two sets of each of these outfits, they can expect to spend around four to five thousand Euro to complete their wardrobe.

And that's for just four complete suits, which must be worn by a Cardinal whenever he is fulfilling his official duties.

I'd say Cardinal Pell got out of Gammarelli's on the cheap.