Daijiworld Media Network – Rome
Rome, Dec 18: A Vatican court delivered a historic verdict on Saturday, sentencing the once influential Italian cardinal, Angelo Becciu, to five years and six months in jail for financial crimes. Becciu, 75, a former adviser to Pope Francis and a onetime papal contender, became the most senior clergyman in the Catholic Church to face a Vatican criminal court.
The charges, including embezzlement, abuse of office, and witness tampering, were part of a trial involving ten defendants, including financiers, lawyers, and former Vatican employees. The focus of the trial was financial crimes related to an opaque London property deal.
Giuseppe Pignatone, the court president, announced the verdict, holding Becciu accountable for his actions. Becciu's lawyer, Fabio Viglione, expressed respect for the sentence but indicated they would appeal. Additionally, Becciu was fined 8,000 euros.
The central point of the trial was the 350-million-euro ($380-million) purchase of a luxury property in London, initiated in 2014, resulting in significant financial losses for the Vatican. The trial, which commenced in July 2021, has shed light on the Vatican's financial complexities, a subject Pope Francis has aimed to address since taking office in 2013.
The verdict is a crucial test of Pope Francis's reforms, as he recently granted Vatican civilian courts the authority to try cardinals and bishops. The prosecution sought seven years and three months for Becciu, with varying sentences for the other defendants.
Becciu consistently maintained his innocence, vehemently denying the charges. The trial has underscored the Vatican's efforts to rectify its financial practices and punish wrongdoing. Multiple Vatican entities are seeking compensation, including 177 million euros for moral and reputational damage.
The proceedings, spanning over 80 hearings within the Vatican Museums, have faced procedural challenges, with defense lawyers citing limited access to critical evidence. Becciu, a former Vatican diplomat, occupied a prominent position in the Secretariat of State, the department working closely with the pope, before resigning in 2020 amid the investigation.
The trial also involves brokers Gianluigi Torzi and Raffaele Mincione, former Vatican investment manager Enrico Crasso, and ex-Vatican employee Fabrizio Tirabassi. The allegations extend to payments made to Cecilia Marogna, who claims her involvement was related to negotiating the release of a kidnapped Colombian nun.