FLORENCE - Pope Francis’ new personal doctor, Roberto Bernabei, is one of 39 university professors under investigation by prosecutors for abuse of office, criminal association and the unjust allocation of university seats, as revealed by La Nazione.

  The Florence-born Bernabei, 69, was appointed by the pope on Feb. 23, after the death of his former doctor, Fabrizio Soccorsi.

  The Guardia di Finanza investigation, led by prosecutors Luca Tescaroli and Antonino Nastasi, is mostly concerned with illegal activity at the University of Florence, though professors from Ancona, Bologna, Milan and Brescia are also being investigated.

  Dr Bernabei was picked to sit on a commission concerned with the hiring of a full professor of geriatrics at Careggi University Hospital in Florence. On Jan. 21, they hired Andrea Ungar, an ‘insider’ at Careggi.

  This recruitment was one with a “predetermined winner”, according to the Florence prosecutors. The eight people on this commission, among the the Rector of the Universtiy, Luigi Dei, are suspected of having formed a “criminal association” with the purpose of controlling the outcome of the recruitment process.

  The pope’s doctor has said he “reviewed the acts and they seemed well done.” 

  Also on the commission were Claudio Borghi from Bologna and Niccolò Marchionni, a key figure according to the investigations. 

  Faculties of urology at the Universities of Florence, Ancona, Milan and Brescia are also under investigation for the unlawful assignment of university positions.

  The investigations have been put in front of a judge to decide whether to grant the interdictive measures requested by the prosecutors.

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