Msgr. Battista Mario Salvatore Ricca was appointed interim prelate of the Istituto delle Opere di Religione, known as "the Vatican bank", after he had been exposed for salacious conduct while a diplomat in Uruguay. Trapped in an elevator with a male prostitute, he had been found there by firemen who rescued them. Ricca was also put in charge of the Casa Santa Marta residence where Pope Francis lives.

In an interview during a flight from Brazil, Pope Francis said in reference to gay people, "who am I to judge him?"