A former adviser to the Pope who was once tipped for the Catholic Church’s top position himself has been jailed after being convicted of financial crimes.
Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, was found guilty of fraud and embezzlement. He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
Fabio Viglione, the Italian prelate’s lawyer, insisted that his client was innocent and that an appeal would launched.
Cardinal Angelo Becciu attends a consistory inside St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, on 27 Aug, 2022 (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Becciu, who lives in the Vatican, was expected to remain free for the time being.
In all, 10 defendants were accused of crimes including fraud, abuse of office and money laundering as part of the scandal. All denied wrongdoing.
It took court president Giuseppe Pignatone 25 minutes to read all the verdicts and sentences.
Becciu, like most of the other defendants, was convicted on some counts and acquitted of others. Only one, Becciu’s former secretary, father Mauro Carlino, was acquitted of all charges.
The trial, which exposed infighting and intrigue in the highest echelons of the Vatican, lasted for 86 sessions over two-and-a-half