The Vatican City’s promoter of justice asked judges Wednesday to sentence Cardinal Angelo Becciu to more than seven years in prison, as he made closing arguments in the landmark financial crimes trial. But do prosecutors really have a case against Becciu? In his argument July 26, Alessandro Diddi spent the day focused on Becciu, the Read more
Search warrants have been executed across northern Italy this week by Italian financial police investigating an Italian businessman who is a suspect in racketeering, fraud and criminal corruption. The investigations targeted broker Gianluigi Torzi who, along with four others, is currently on trial in the Vatican. The group are allegedly involved in packaging bad debt Read more
Lawyers defending those accused of defrauding the Vatican in a $400 million real estate investment asked judges on Wednesday (Nov 17) to release written transcripts of Pope Francis’ statements on the deal, alleging that prosecutors’ use of the pontiff’s statements may have influenced another witness in the case. From the start of the trial in Read more
A new probe into Vatican finances coincided with the resignation of Cardinal Angelo Becciu (pictured) last week. His resignation followed an unscheduled meeting with the pope. Francis told him he had lost his trust and ordered him to step down. News of Becciu’s resignation was followed by reports that Italian businessman Gianluigi Torzi has provided Read more
The Vatican has jailed an Italian banker for extortion, embezzlement, aggravated fraud and money laundering. The arrest warrant for Gianluigi Torzi, who had acted as an intermediary for the Holy See in the 2018 purchase of a luxury building in London, was issued last week by the Vatican’s civil court. It has been carrying out Read more