Senior cardinal convicted in Vatican corruption trial
Vatican CityReuters Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, was convicted on Saturday of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. The Italian prelate’s lawyer, Fabio Viglione, told reporters in the courtroom he would appeal, saying his client was innocent. Becciu, […]
After two years, Vatican financial trial closes preliminary stage
Vatican CityRNS The Vatican’s “trial of the century,” in which 10 defendants, including a cardinal, face charges of fraud and corruption in a shady real estate deal, has already seen a century’s worth of testimony alleging blackmail, scandalous liaisons and secretly taped conversations with Pope Francis. The trial itself, however, has only just begun. On Tuesday, a hearing ended […]
Vatican official describes frenzy to turn London deal around
Vatican CityAP A former Vatican official testified Tuesday that he was under intense “psychological pressure” to finalise a deal over the Holy See’s troubled investment in a London property, but entered into the negotiations without a lawyer and didn’t realise the deal got the Vatican nothing in return. Fabrizio Tirabassi testified for some seven hours […]