The case largely revolves around a real estate investment that the Vatican made in the Chelsea district of London. This would involve 350 million euros, coming from donations from believers. Under Becciu’s leadership, millions were found to have been spent on intermediaries or on unexplained expenses. Last year, the building was sold at an estimated loss of 140 million euros, reports Reuters news agency.
To reach a verdict in this case of unprecedented magnitude for the Vatican, 85 hearings were needed. It took two and a half years of research. On Saturday morning, court president Giuseppe Pignatone spoke after completing the investigation into a criminal trial that was “exceptionally complex” for the Vatican.
Possible successor Francis
Becciu has always maintained his innocence. From 2011 to 2018, the cardinal was part of the Vatican government. This made him one of the most powerful people in the Vatican and for a long time was even considered a possible successor to Pope Francis.
Becciu’s aspirations came to an end after Vatican police raids in 2019 on the Vatican City Financial Information Service and the Secretariat of State. Becciu was linked to money laundering, fraud and corruption, after which the Pope asked him to step down, a rarity among cardinals. He lost his right to vote at a subsequent Conclave, but he was allowed to keep his titles and so-called dignity.
The defense believed that the pope was premature in his request to step down before a conviction had been handed down. Francis’ show of power would have made a fair trial more difficult. By the way, the London real estate debacle was not cited by the Pope when Becciu resigned. Becciu is said to have donated 125 thousand euros from the Vatican’s coffers to a charity that his brother ran.
