VATICAN, Rome – Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once a figure seen as potentially the next pope, has been found guilty of embezzlement in a trial that has gripped the Vatican and exposed deep-seated issues within its financial system.
On Saturday, December 16, 2023, the Vatican’s criminal court sentenced the 75-year-old Italian to five years and six months in prison, following a trial marked by accusations of witness tampering and papal interference.
The trial, held in a space near the Sistine Chapel, saw Becciu, the former head of the office responsible for canonizing saints, facing several counts of embezzlement.
His lawyers have indicated plans to appeal the verdict. With this conviction, Becciu is barred from holding any Vatican office and faces the possibility of jail time.
The case, which stretched over 86 hearings, brought to light the opaque nature of Vatican finances and the Pope’s crusade for accountability.
Becciu, once a close confidant of Pope Francis, fell from grace following a 2020 meeting with the Pope, who stripped him of his cardinal privileges before any formal charges were made. Some rights were later informally reinstated.
This trial’s origins lie in a failed investment in a London property, leading to significant losses for the Vatican and prompting sweeping investigations.
Becciu was accused of misappropriating funds, including 125,000 euros to a Sardinian charity run by his brother and 575,000 euros to Cecilia Marogna, who was supposed to aid in freeing a kidnapped nun.
The prosecution, led by Alessandro Diddi, sought sentences ranging from four to 13 years for the defendants, including nearly 500 million euros in restitution. Becciu maintained his innocence throughout, denying any theft.
The trial has raised questions about the Vatican’s legal system’s effectiveness and fairness. Critics argue that Pope Francis’s involvement, seen as a push for transparency, may have overstepped the boundaries of the rule of law.
The Pope had approved secret edicts to empower prosecutors, including allowing wiretapping.
Becciu’s journey from a high-ranking Vatican official frequently seen with the Pope to a defendant in a criminal trial reflects the complex dynamics and intrigue within the Holy See.
His conviction marks a significant moment in the Vatican’s efforts to reform its governance and financial practices, albeit with mixed results in terms of transparency and legal fairness.
