The Tribunal of the State of Vatican City held this Tuesday the fifth hearing of the appeal process in the trial for the management of the Holy See’s funds, a case that has as its main protagonist Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, former substitute of the Secretariat of State, along with other defendants. The hearing is framed in the review phase of the sentence issued in the first instance in December 2023, which imposed criminal and economic penalties on several accused.
According to Vatican News, the hearing focused on procedural aspects and the presentation of arguments by the defenses, in a procedure that continues to develop before the Vatican Court of Appeal. The process aims to examine the legal correctness of the previous sentence and evaluate the appeals presented by both the convicted and the Prosecution.
The development of the fifth hearing
During this fifth session, the defense lawyers insisted on the need to review certain evidentiary elements and questioned the interpretation of the facts made in the first instance. In particular, alleged procedural irregularities were highlighted, and it was reiterated that some of the decisions examined would have been adopted within the framework of the competencies proper to the positions held in the Secretariat of State.
The Tribunal heard the arguments without any relevant incidents occurring, and scheduled the continuation of the process according to the planned calendar. The appeal is developing in a climate of special media and ecclesial attention, given the institutional scope of the case and its implications for the credibility of the Holy See’s economic management.
A key process for Vatican justice
The appeal trial is considered a decisive moment not only for the accused, but also for the Vatican judicial system, which in recent years has been the object of reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and the independence of the courts. The Becciu case has been presented in this context as a significant test of the functioning of these reforms in practice.
The Holy See has reiterated on various occasions that the process is developing with full respect for procedural guarantees and the right to defense, emphasizing the importance of justice being able to follow its course with serenity and legal rigor.
A brief review of the Becciu case
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, former substitute of the Secretariat of State, was one of the central figures in the judicial process opened for the management of Holy See funds, especially in relation to a controversial real estate investment in London financed with Vatican resources. The case came to public light in the context of a broader investigation into high-risk financial operations and alleged irregularities in the use of ecclesial funds.
In December 2023, the Vatican first-instance Tribunal convicted Becciu of embezzlement and abuse of power, imposing a prison sentence, economic sanctions, and disqualification from public office. The cardinal has maintained his innocence from the beginning, denying having acted with illicit intent or for personal benefit, and defending that his decisions complied with the responsibilities proper to his position.
After the sentence, the defense filed an appeal, initiating this new procedural phase, in which the Tribunal will have to rule definitively on the criminal and administrative responsibilities arising from the case.
Awaiting the development of the process
The Court of Appeal will continue to examine in the upcoming hearings the arguments presented by the parties before issuing a resolution. The outcome of the process will be closely followed both inside and outside the Vatican, given that it affects one of the most relevant judicial cases in the recent history of the Holy See.