Rogue Trader Jerome Kerviel on Bizarre Rome to Paris Pilgrimage Against 'Tyranny of Markets'

Jerome Kerviel, the convicted Societe Generale rogue trader, has embarked on a bizarre reverse-pilgrimage from Rome to Paris in a stand against the "tyranny of the markets" after his meeting with Pope Francis.

According to the French newspaper 20 Minutes, Kerviel has already started the near 900 mile journey and is not expected to reach Paris before 19 March – the date of the Supreme Court's ruling on his appeal against his conviction.

Kerviel was sentenced to three years in prison for making unauthorised trades that lost the French investment bank Societe Generale €4.9bn - a huge sum he was ordered to pay back by the court. But because of his ongoing appeal against the conviction he has not been locked up.

The former banker had met Pope Francis outside the Vatican on 19 February. The two discussed what the pope called the "tyranny of the markets" as Kerviel sought divine help through 'God's representative on earth' in his legal struggle.

Kerviel is carrying a rosary blessed by the Catholic leader home and intends to give it to his mother.

If he loses his appeal, Kerviel will have to stop his journey short of reaching Paris and head straight to prison.

He claims his seniors knew about his trades and that no independent assessment has been made of the Societe Generale losses attributed to him.

"No legal expert has ever validated Societe Generale's alleged losses," said David Koubbi, Kerviel's lawyer, at the appeal's launch in June 2013.

"It is now imperative that the court order an independent review that brings to light Societe Generale's dealings, which do not conform to its status as victim."