Pope names new economic chief to succeed disgraced cardinal

Pope Francis on Thursday named the Vatican's new economy minister to succeed Cardinal George Pell, who is appealing a conviction in his native Australia for sexually assaulting two teenaged choir boys.

The naming of the new head, Spanish Jesuit priest Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, effectively confirmed that Pell, who has been on a leave of absence from the post since 2017, would not be returning. The position's formal title is Prefect for the Secretariat of the Economy.