VATICAN CITY (AP) – Catholic cardinals acknowledged on Wednesday that the final verdict is still awaited regarding the Vatican trial that convicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu of financial crimes. This conviction has emerged as a significant topic of discussion leading up to the May 7 conclave, where Pope Francis' successor will be elected.
Becciu, 76, once a powerful figure within the Vatican, formally withdrew his participation in the conclave on Tuesday, amidst continued uncertainty regarding his status. The Vatican's criminal court found Becciu guilty in 2023 of embezzlement and other finance-related offenses at the conclusion of what has been termed the "trial of the century." However, these convictions are currently under appeal, raising questions about the integrity of the trial.
In the statement issued by the College of Cardinals, they expressed gratitude towards Becciu for his withdrawal, recognizing it as a contribution to the communion and serenity of the conclave. The statement emphasized, "The Congregation of Cardinals expresses its appreciation for the gesture he has made and hopes that the competent organs of justice will be able to definitively ascertain the facts."
Pope Francis had previously forced Becciu's resignation in 2020 as head of the Vatican’s saint-making office due to allegations of financial misconduct, which eventually led to the trial. Becciu has consistently denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged earlier that he would not participate in a future conclave. Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, Becciu attempted to claim his right to partake in the conclave, but he retreated after being confronted with letters from Francis, dated before his death, stating he could not take part.
Concerns surrounding the trial have been raised, particularly regarding the Vatican’s mismanagement of a 350 million euro investment in a London property. During the trial, defense attorneys uncovered that Francis had secretly issued four decrees during the investigation to aid prosecutors, permitting them to conduct intercepts and detain suspects without judicial oversight. The defense argued that these actions by a monarch in a judicial proceeding violated fundamental rights and undermined the possibility of a fair trial.
Additionally, revelations emerged revealing that the prosecution's primary witness against Becciu was allegedly coerced, threatened, and influenced by external agents to testify against him. Despite these claims, the tribunal dismissed the defense objections, and the trial proceeded. Recent reports have suggested collusion between Vatican prosecutors and external parties, implying a concerted effort to manipulate witness testimony against Becciu. In response, Becciu expressed outrage, maintaining that these developments validate his claim of being wrongfully prosecuted from the outset.
The appeal process is expected to initiate in September. During the trial, significant evidence of fiscal mismanagement came to light, revealing that the Vatican suffered losses amounting to tens of millions of euros during a financially precarious period. Notably, the Vatican has not published a consolidated budget in over two years, but previous reports indicated a structural deficit exceeding 50 million euros and a pension fund facing severe resource limitations, as indicated by warnings from Pope Francis last year.
The cardinals involved in the pre-conclave meetings on Wednesday discussed the dire financial situation, which the next pope will need to address. They received updates from leading cardinals managing the economic council, the Vatican bank, and the investments committee. Notably, two key officials in charge of other critical financial bodies were absent from this discussion, as they are not cardinals: Maximino Caballero Ledo, the prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, and Sister Raffaella Petrini, president of the Vatican City State.
