Post by account_disabled on Feb 18, 2024 1:47:36 GMT -5
Verdicts expected Saturday for a cardinal and nine other defendants in the complicated financial trial in the Vatican's modern history: a case with a cast of Hollywood-worthy characters, unseemly revelations about the Holy See and questions about the role of the Pope himself Francisco in the offers. The trial was initially seen as a stained glass window for Francis' reforms and his willingness to crack down on alleged financial scams at the Vatican that long had a reputation as a tax haven. But after two and a half years of hearings, no conclusive evidence emerged to support the prosecution's hypothesis of a vast conspiracy to defraud the Pope of millions of euros (dollars) in charitable donations.
Although some condemnations are handed down, the Europe Mobile Number List general impression is that The "Trial of the Century" became a kind of Pandora's Box of unforeseen revelations about the Vatican's revenge, incompetence and even ransom payments that ultimately cost the Holy See damage to reputation. What did the trial consist of? After a two-year investigation that included unprecedented police raids on the Apostolic Palace, Vatican prosecutors issued a 487-page document in in which 10 people were charged with numerous financial crimes, including fraud, embezzlement, extortion , corruption, money laundering and abuse of power.
Room where the trial took place. Photo: Reuters The main focus was on the Holy See's 350 million euro investment in a luxury property in London. Prosecutors allege that Vatican stockbrokers and monsignors fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros in fees and commissions, then extorted it for 15 million euros ($16.5 million) to give up control. of the property. The original London investigation led to two tangents implicating the accused star, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once a top Francis adviser and papal contender. Chief prosecutor Alessandro Diddi is seeking prison sentences of between three and thirteen years for each of the ten defendants, as well as the confiscation of some €415 million ($460 million) in damages and restitution.