Nicole Winfield, chief correspondent for Italy and the Vatican, landed the first interview with Cardinal George Pell after his return to the Vatican following acquittal in Australia on sex abuse charges. Winfield worked for months to win the access, triangulating with Pell’s publisher, his secretary and the former Australian ambassador to the Holy See to give AP the edge.
Pell’s comments to AP about a swirling Vatican corruption investigation made headlines, since he had tried to root out financial corruption when he was Vatican treasurer but was forced to abandon the efforts when he had to return to Australia to face trial.
Cardinal George Pell, right, responds to a question during an interview with AP Vatican correspondent Nicole Winfield at his residence in Rome, Nov. 30, 2020.
AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia