Vatican Court Declares Mistrial in ‘Trial of the Century’
AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File
A Vatican appeals court on Tuesday declared a mistrial in the Holy See’s major financial corruption case often described as the Vatican’s “trial of the century,” dealing a major setback to prosecutors and casting new scrutiny on the handling of the case during the papacy of Pope Francis.
In a 16-page decision, the appeals tribunal determined that procedural mistakes were made by both Pope Francis and Vatican prosecutors during the early stages of the case. According to the court, those errors invalidated the original indictment against Cardinal Angelo Becciu and several other defendants, meaning the previous proceedings cannot stand. As a result, the court ordered the entire case to be retried and scheduled the new trial to begin on June 22.
Defense attorneys said the decision was extremely significant, noting that it effectively means a Vatican court ruled that a legal action authorized by the pope could not be upheld. Lawyers for Becciu argued that the ruling confirms their long-standing claim that the defense was placed at an unfair disadvantage during the original trial. In a statement, Becciu’s attorneys Fabio Viglione and Maria Concetta Marzo said the decision validated their argument that the defendants’ right to a proper defense had been violated and that legal procedures had not been properly followed.
The case centers on the Vatican’s $413 million investment in a luxury property in London. Prosecutors alleged that financial brokers working with Vatican officials manipulated the deal, collecting tens of millions of dollars in fees and commissions during the purchase. Investigators also claimed the Holy See was later pressured into paying $16.5 million more to regain full control of the property.
The broader investigation eventually expanded to include Cardinal Becciu, once one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican and previously considered a potential candidate for the papacy. He was ultimately convicted of embezzlement in the original trial and sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
In addition to Becciu, eight other defendants were found guilty of charges including fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of office. The court also ordered tens of millions of dollars in restitution to be paid back to the Holy See. The appeals ruling now resets the case, sending it back for a new trial that will reconsider the allegations from the beginning.
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