The first outside legal analyses of Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ are in, and they’re critical
Vatican City AP Several prominent lawyers have published stinging academic critiques and legal opinions about the Vatican’s recently concluded “trial of the century,” highlighting violations of basic defense rights and rule of law norms that they warn could have consequences for the Holy See going forward. The opinions cite Pope Francis’ role in the trial, since he […]
Vatican prosecutor appeals verdict that largely dismantled his fraud case but convicted cardinal
Vatican CityAP The Vatican’s chief prosecutor has appealed a court verdict that largely dismantled his theory of a grand conspiracy to defraud the Holy See of millions of euros but found a cardinal guilty of embezzlement. Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi filed his appeal this week of the three-judge tribunal’s decision in a complicated financial trial that aired the […]
Cardinal, nine other defendants, await verdicts at Vatican trial
Vatican CityReuters A two-and-a-half year corruption trial that exposed infighting and intrigue in the highest echelons of the Vatican closes on Saturday with the key defendant, an Italian cardinal, praying that the court will believe his innocent plea. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 75, a one-time Vatican power broker, is charged with embezzlement, abuse of office and […]
Closing arguments in Vatican trial seek to expose problems in the city state’s legal system
Vatican CityAP Lawyers for a once-powerful cardinal accused Vatican prosecutors of being “prisoner to their completely shattered theory” on Wednesday in the latest round of closing arguments of a trial that has raised fundamental questions about the rule of law in the city state. Despite attempts to demonise Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the two-year trial hasn’t proved […]
Vatican prosecutor seeks seven-year sentence for cardinal
Vatican CityReuters The prosecutor at a Vatican corruption trial linked to a botched London real estate deal asked a court on Wednesday to convict Cardinal Angelo Becciu and sentence the former Holy See power broker to seven years and three months in jail. Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi made the request at the end of his summing […]
Vatican reports income boost in charitable fund, even as donations dip following financial scandals
AP The Vatican has reported that a key charitable fund, Peter’s Pence, doubled its income in 2022 to €107 million, or more than $US166 million, even as donations from the faithful dipped slightly following years of scandal over financial mismanagement at the Holy See. Overall, the Peter’s Pence fund, which finances the Vatican bureaucracy and […]
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 […]
Cardinal blasts vendettas, “plots against me” in Vatican financial trial
Vatican CityAP A Vatican cardinal on trial in the Holy See’s big financial crimes case complained Friday that he can’t properly defend himself from “the nightmare of these accusations” because prosecutors have withheld key evidence from the defence. Cardinal Angelo Becciu spoke out in court after Judge Giuseppe Pignatone rejected his lawyers’ latest appeal for […]
Pope sought to lose “as little as possible” in London deal
Vatican City AP Pope Francis gave clear indications to get out of a disastrous London real estate deal by saying the Vatican must “start over and lose as little money as possible”, an exit strategy that eventually involved paying off a broker €15 million, the Holy See’s number three official told a court Thursday. Archbishop […]
In surprise, Pope Francis receives cardinal on trial for corruption
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis, in a surprise move, on Thursday granted an official private audience to Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the once-powerful Vatican prelate who is on trial for corruption and embezzlement. Pope Francis blesses new cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu of Italy during a consistory ceremony to install 14 new cardinals in Saint Peter’s Basilica […]