Cardinal Becciu Trial Declared Invalid
In a 16-page ruling, the court found on Tuesday procedural errors by both prosecutors and Pope Francis. It did not rule on Cardinal Becciu’s guilt or innocence, but concluded the original proceedings were flawed.
The indictment was nullified for two main reasons. First, Francis issued four secret decrees granting prosecutors expanded powers, including surveillance. These decrees were never published and were disclosed to the defense only shortly before trial. The court ruled that at least one decree effectively functioned as law and, because it was not made public, was legally invalid.
Second, prosecutors were found to have withheld and redacted key evidence, including phone records and messages. The court said this violated the defendants’ right to a fair trial.
The ruling is historic, because it raises questions about the exercise of papal authority within the Vatican’s legal system.
The case centres on a €350 million property deal in London that resulted in significant losses for the Vatican, as well as the embezzlement of funds by Becciu for his friends and family. Cardinal Becciu was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison, but has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Picture: Angelo Becciu © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsPkxirvezju