In an historic decision, the Tribunal of Vatican City State has convicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu of embezzlement and abuse of office, marking a pivotal moment in the Vatican’s history.
This trial, aptly named the “trial of the century,” involved Becciu alongside nine other individuals and four companies, all facing charges linked to financial misdeeds within the Secretariat of State.
The case, which began in July 2021, culminated after 86 hearings and the testimony of 76 witnesses. Judge Giuseppe Pignatone handed down the verdict on Saturday, sentencing Becciu to five and a half years in prison, along with a €8,000 fine. Additionally Becciu faces a lifetime ban from holding office, a severe blow to his life’s work, as reported by Fox News.
In addition to Becciu, five other individuals received prison sentences: Enrico Crasso with seven years, Cecilia Marogna with three years, Raffaele Mincione and Fabrizio Tirabassi each with five years, and Gianluigi Torzi with six years.
Others, including René Brülhart and Tommaso Di Ruzza, faced fines, while Nicola Squillace received a suspended sentence. Msgr. Mauro Carlino, a former official of the Secretariat of State, was acquitted of all charges.
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This trial marks the first instance of a cardinal being tried and convicted under the Vatican’s civil court system. Becciu’s attorney, maintaining his client’s innocence, announced plans to appeal the verdict.
The central issue of the trial was a disastrous real estate investment in London’s Chelsea neighborhood. The Secretariat of State’s acquisition and subsequent forced sale of the property resulted in a staggering $150 million loss.
Moreover, Becciu was found guilty of unrelated misconduct, including embezzling funds through a Sardinian Catholic charity managed by his brother and misappropriating funds intended for the ransom of a kidnapped nun.
The financial repercussions of the scandal are immense. The court ordered the confiscation of over $181 million linked to the case and imposed a collective fine of approximately $218 million on all defendants, payable to the civil parties involved.
Logsic Humitarne Dejavnosti, the sole company found guilty, faced a sanction of $44,000. The trial, a critical event in the Vatican City State’s highest civil court, has set a precedent for handling such high-profile cases within the Church’s jurisdiction.
As Vatican City lacks a prison system, those sentenced to imprisonment will serve their terms under the authority of Italian law.
The Vatican seems to have no trouble policing its own when it comes to misappropriation of money. It seems a stark disparity from how the church has managed its rampant pedophilia and rape crisis across the globe with seemingly very little punishment for the guilty clergy and little to no reparations for the mass number of victims.
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