The Vatican has opened an investigation into Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui in relation to the judicial process against Cardinal Angelo Becciu, in a case that once again calls into question the development of the trial for the so-called “London palace”. The decision comes after the appearance of new materials that point to possible interferences in the instruction.
The Vatican investigates Chaouqui’s role in the Becciu case
According to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, the tribunal of Pope Leo XIV has opened a file to clarify the actions of Chaouqui, former Vatican consultant and already convicted in the Vatileaks case, for her alleged involvement in a series of actions that would have affected the development of the process against Cardinal Becciu.
The matter came to light after the death of Pope Francis, when during the vacancy more than a hundred WhatsApp messages from 2020 were disseminated. These messages, which were not incorporated into the process at the time, had been kept secret by the Promoter of Justice, Alessandro Diddi, without being made available to the defenses.
Hidden messages and new doubts about the instruction
The content of these messages has raised questions about the basis of the accusation. Part of the communications point to Chaouqui having anticipated key decisions of the process and maintained contact with people close to Monsignor Alberto Perlasca, the main witness in the case.
Other materials, including chats published by Italian media and audios disseminated by the program Le Iene, reinforce doubts about the preparation of some testimonies. In one of these audios, a conversation is recorded in which indications are suggested about what Perlasca should declare.
Accusations of influence peddling and false testimony
Chaouqui is being investigated for alleged influence peddling and false testimony. According to the published information, it is being analyzed whether she received money to influence the main accuser of Cardinal Becciu and whether she participated in the construction of statements during the instruction phase.
The opening of this file by the Promoter of Justice introduces a new element in a process that had already been questioned due to the absence of certain evidence and the difficulties pointed out by the defenses to adequately exercise their work.
The defenses point to irregularities in the process
The lawyers of Cardinal Becciu have pointed out that the opened investigation confirms aspects that had already come to light during the trial. From the beginning of the process, the defense has maintained that there were irregularities that would have conditioned both the investigation and the subsequent development of the hearings.
Becciu himself has repeatedly defended his innocence and has denounced the existence of maneuvers against him, a thesis that now regains strength in light of the new known elements.
A case that remains open
The judicial process, which concluded in the first instance with the conviction of the cardinal, will continue in the appeal phase starting in September. The opening of this new investigation could have implications in the overall assessment of the case.
In this context, the Becciu case remains one of the most complex episodes of recent Vatican judicial life, with questions still open about the development of the instruction and the guarantees of the process.