“Process of the century” in the Vatican. The convicted cardinal does not lay down their arms
In addition to purple, the appeal was made by people who in this trial received penalties from a year and 10 months to 7 years in prison, among others for fraud and corruption. Among them are financiers and a former employee of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.
The “process of century” starts in the Vatican
Lasting over two years and ended in December 2023, a court case before the Tribunal in the Vatican was then called the “trial of the century”, mainly because the accused sat on the bench of the accused, who accused of financial abuse. It was also a record process there; 86 hearings took place during it.
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The trial concerned the time when Cardinal Becci, from Sardinia, was deputy secretary of the Holy See until 2018. The media revealed that for the sum of over EUR 300 million, an investment purchase of luxury real estate in London was made from the state of the Secretariat of State, including from Świętopietrz, i.e. donations from the faithful for the needs of papal ministry, as well as to support apostolic and charity activities. The tenement house was later sold at a much lower price. The losses suffered by the Secretariat of State as a result of this transaction were estimated at at least 139 million euros.
When the matter of purchasing the property came to light in 2020, Pope Francis released the cardinal from the prefect of the Congregation for Causes and deprived him of the rights related to the dignity of the cardinal.
Cardinal Becciu felt the consequences of this decision this year, when it turned out that after the death of Pope Francis, he could not take part in the conclave. Initially, he demanded this, and then withdrew from these demands, which he explained in the announced list that he was guided by the good of the Church and decided to obey the will of the deceased pope. He also noted that he did it convinced of his innocence.
Throughout the entire trial, the defense of Cardinal Becci, ended almost two years ago, argued that as a deputy secretary of state he dealt with administrative issues and had no influence on the purchase of this property.
In addition, Cardinal Becciu was also accused of making transfers from the state of the Secretariat of State to the accounts of the cooperative run in Sardinia by his brother. Purpurat also repelled these allegations, ensuring that the money – over 100,000 in total. The euro was intended for charity.
Started in 2022, the process in the Vatican revealed a whole series of cases of irregularities and recklessness in the approach to the issue of finance, as well as a shadow of corruption, dubious investments and sharp conflicts between institutions behind the bronze gate and, as the Italian press emphasized, led to a serious figure on the image of the Secretariat of State.
The defense of Cardinal Becciu immediately announced a reference to a 5.5 -year sentence in prison.
The process of appeal in the new hall of the Vatican Tribunal will start over a year and a half from the announcement of penalties at first instance, already during the pontificate of Franciszek's successor, Leon XIV. In the only interview he had given so far, the new pope said, among others, referring to the purchase of a tenement house at the London Sloane Avenue: – How many millions were lost.
The chairman of the judicial composition will be the Spanish archbishop Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, dean of the Roman Rota. There will also be two secular in the judge.
The process of appeal arouses great emotions also because the interviews published by the Italian press on one of the internet messengers showed that in the course of the investigation and trial there could be manipulation and influence on the testimonies of witnesses due to personal pubs and a desire to retaliate.
