said that when Benedict asked for his reaction in advance, he agreed because it was how he wanted to end his career. Others thought Pope Benedict preferred to have a prelate from a traditional missionary country, in this instance Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias, lead the Congregation responsible for missionary work. In 2007 he called for an end to gang violence. In June 2010, Sepe was under investigation by Perugia's public prosecutor's office for financial corruption in connection with the renovation and sale of some of the Congregation's properties. Media reports alleged that during his time as prefect, he sold property owned by the Congregation at discounted prices to politicians positioned to help the Congregation. Sepe said that he has "nothing to hide" and he was expected to waive the diplomatic immunity afforded by his Vatican passport and meet investigators. In March 2018 Sepe forwarded to the Vatican a 1,200-page dossier compiled by Francesco Mangiacapra, a male escort, that purported to identify 40 actively gay Catholic priests. He said: "those who have erred must pay the price, and be helped to repent for the harm done". He has been a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. He formally retired as Archbishop of Naples in 12 December 2020, with the appointment of his successor, Domenico Battaglia, at the time Bishop of Diocese of Cerreto Sannita–Telese–Sant’Agata de’ Goti. Notes References External links 21st-century Italian cardinals Archbishops of Naples Sapienza University of Rome alumni Pontifical Lateran University alumni Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni Pontifical Roman Seminary alumni Members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Members of the Congregation for the Clergy Members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II People from the Province of Caserta 1943 births Living people 21st-century Italian Roman Catholic archbishops