In a shocking turn of events, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former adviser to the Pope and once a potential candidate for the Catholic Church’s highest position, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
This marks a historic moment as Becciu becomes the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court. The conviction is a result of his involvement in financial crimes, including fraud and embezzlement. The trial, spanning 86 sessions over two-and-a-half years, exposed infighting and intrigue within the highest echelons of the Vatican.
Cardinal Becciu Convicted
At the heart of the scandal lies the purchase of a building in London by the Secretariat of State, the Vatican’s key administrative and diplomatic department.
Becciu, who held the number two position in the Secretariat in 2013, played a pivotal role in investing Vatican funds in a venture managed by Italian financier Raffaele Mincione.
The court found Becciu “highly speculative” and irresponsible for investing over $200 million in Mincione’s fund between 2013 and 2014, which amounted to about a third of the holdings of the Secretariat of State at the time.
As the scandal unfolded, it was revealed that Becciu, now a cardinal residing in the Vatican, had engaged in questionable financial practices, leading to significant losses for the Vatican.
The court found Mincione guilty of embezzlement and money laundering, imposing the same five-and-a-half-year sentence as Becciu. Additionally, Gianluigi Torzi, brought in to assist in dealing with Mincione, was convicted of fraud and extortion, receiving a six-year sentence.
Becciu faced additional charges of embezzlement related to the funneling of money and contracts to companies or charities controlled by his brothers in Sardinia.
Furthermore, the cardinal was found guilty of involvement in a secret project that included the hiring of Cecilia Marogna, a self-styled security analyst, to aid in the release of a kidnapped nun in Mali.
Both Becciu and Marogna were convicted of aggravated fraud, with Marogna ordered to return funds received from the Vatican.
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Vatican Financial Scandal
The repercussions extended to other individuals connected to the financial scandal. Enrico Crasso, a banker managing funds for the Secretariat of State, was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to seven years.
Fabrizio Tirabassi, who worked in the Secretariat, received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence. The court ordered Becciu, Mincione, Tirabassi, and Crasso to repay a total of more than 100 million euros to the Vatican.
The fall from grace of Cardinal Angelo Becciu sends shockwaves through the Catholic Church, marking an unprecedented chapter in its history.
As the Vatican grapples with the aftermath of this financial scandal, questions arise about transparency, accountability, and the need for reform within the Church’s highest ranks.
The conviction of such a prominent figure underscores the importance of addressing financial misconduct to preserve the integrity of one of the world’s oldest institutions.
