In a significant verdict, a Vatican court has handed down a five-and-a-half-year jail sentence to Italian cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former adviser to Pope Francis, marking the highest-ranking Vatican official ever to face financial crime charges.
The 75-year-old cardinal, once considered a potential papal contender, was convicted in connection to a London property deal that resulted in substantial losses for the Catholic Church.o
The trial focused on allegations of embezzlement and abuse of office, charges vehemently denied by Cardinal Becciu. The case also involved nine other defendants facing accusations of embezzlement, abuse of office, and witness tampering. The verdict rendered mixed outcomes, with all defendants being convicted on some counts and found not guilty on others.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Cardinal Becciu's lawyer has announced plans to appeal the decision. The trial's conclusion has brought attention to the complexities surrounding financial dealings within the Vatican, as the Church grapples with the fallout from the London property transaction and the legal implications for those involved.
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