A Vatican appeals court this week overturned the conviction of senior Catholic Cardinal Angelo Becciu, sentencing him to five and a half years in prison, in a landmark fraud case related to a botched London property deal worth around £200 million (approximately €230 million). The court ruled the initial judgment was flawed due to procedural errors by prosecutors and by former Pope Francis, highlighting significant legal irregularities in the Holy See's judicial process.
The court found that prosecutors failed to share the full case files with the defendants and their legal teams, and improperly redacted some documents, depriving the defense of due process. Becciu's lawyers, Fabio Viglione and Maria Concetta Marzo, stated: "It shows that from the first moment, we were right to raise the violation of the right to defense and to request that the law be respected to have a fair trial." This decision underscores ongoing challenges in the Vatican's efforts to hold its officials accountable.
Additionally, the court ruled that a decree by then-Pope Francis, which allowed prosecutors to proceed without preliminary judicial oversight, effectively constituted a new law. However, since the decree was not published, it was declared void and without legal effect when implemented. This ruling could potentially invalidate other cases based on the same decree, marking the first time in Vatican history that a papal rescript has been annulled for lack of publication. Lawyers for other defendants anticipate swift acquittals in retrials.
Eight other defendants were also convicted by the Vatican tribunal in December on various charges, all of whom deny wrongdoing and are pursuing appeals. The case has partially exposed the murky finances of the Holy See, which Pope Francis had purportedly sought to clean up after taking office in 2013. Prosecutors allege the Vatican lost €140 million or more in the deal, with some losses reportedly dipping into funds intended for charity, raising questions about financial mismanagement.
Current Pope Leo XIV, a canon lawyer, recently met with judges and prosecutors overseeing the Vatican's legal apparatus to open the new judicial year. In his remarks, he spoke of justice as a means to foster unity in the Church, interpreted by some as an oblique reference to the Becciu case and the reputational damage to the Holy See from its handling of the prosecution. This development highlights the internal strife and intrigue within the Church's hierarchy, further complicating its governance and public image.
Source: www.dw.com