Vatican City authorities express gratitude towards Cardinal Becciu for recusing himself from the upcoming papal conclave, acknowledging that his legal trial appeal remains ongoing.
Cardinal Becciu's Trial Verdict Hangs in the Balance Ahead of the Vatican's May 7 Conclave
Vatican City (Our Website) - In a gripping twist before the May 7 conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor, the trial that convicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu of financial crimes remains undecided, with his appeal scheduled for September.
The 76-year-old Italian cardinal, once a prominent figure, withdrew from participating in the conclave on Tuesday following days of indecision regarding his eligibility.
Becciu's conviction for embezzlement and related charges came in 2023, wrapping up the so-called "trial of the century," but it's being appealed, and doubts linger about the trial's integrity. Convictions in the Vatican's judicial system are not final until all appeals are exhausted, similar to Italy's justice system.
In response to Becciu's withdrawal, the College of Cardinals thanked him for contributing to the conclave's tranquility and hoped that the justice system would clarify the facts definitively.
Pope Francis forced Becciu to resign as the head of the Vatican's saint-making office in 2020, after allegations of financial misconduct surfaced, ultimately leading to the subsequent trial. Becciu initially denied wrongdoing but later said he wouldn't be able to vote in future conclaves. However, after Francis' passing on April 21, Becciu asserted his right to participate in the conclave. But he withdrew on Tuesday following the presentation of letters from Francis stating that he couldn't take part.
Questions Surrounding the Trial
During the Vatican trial, the focus was on the Vatican's mismanaged 350 million euro investment in a London property. Defense lawyers unearthed secret decrees issued by Francis, benefiting prosecutors and allowing them to conduct intercepts and detain suspects without a judge's warrant. These actions were accused of violating fundamental rights and denying a fair trial.
Moreover, it emerged that the prosecution's star witness against Becciu was coached, threatened, and manipulated by outsiders to testify against the cardinal. The tribunal dismissed these objections at the time, but recently, additional evidence has surfaced indicating collusion between Vatican prosecutors and gendarmes, and the witness's manipulation.
Cardinal Becciu has expressed outrage at these revelations, claiming the trial was rigged from the start.
Vatican Finances: A Mounting Concern
The trial also uncovered serious financial mismanagement, costing the Holy See millions at a time when its finances were fragile. The Vatican hasn't released a consolidated budget for over two years, but previous estimates hint at a structural deficit of over 50 million euros and a underfunded pension fund that may struggle to meet its obligations in the medium term.
Cardinals gathered for pre-conclave meetings discussed the grim financial picture, which the next pontiff will face. They heard from top cardinals in charge of the Vatican's economics council, the Vatican bank, Vatican investments committee, but officials from two other crucial financial organs of the Holy See, namely Maximino Caballero Ledo and Sister Raffaella Petrini, were absent, as they're not cardinals themselves.
- The Vatican's media outlets have been scrutinizing the ongoing appeals process of Cardinal Becciu's trial, with concerns about the integrity of the trial and the Vatican's financial management coming to the forefront.
- As the world turns its attention towards the Vatican's May 7 conclave, global media outlets are also examining the repercussions of the embezzlement case on the Vatican's economy, particularly the questionable 350 million euro London property investment.
- The health of the Vatican's economy, potentially affected by financial mismanagement, is now on the radar of not only the Vatican's media outlets but also global finance analysts, given the significance of the papal election on the Vatican's future stability and its global business interests.
