Cardinal Angelo Becciu Convicted of Embezzlement in Landmark Vatican Trial

The trial, focusing on a 350 million euro investment in a London property, raises questions about the rule of law in the Vatican and Pope Francis' absolute power.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the first cardinal ever prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court, has been convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison.
The trial focused on the Vatican secretariat of state’s 350 million euro investment in developing a former Harrod’s warehouse into luxury apartments, with prosecutors alleging Vatican monsignors and brokers fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros.
Becciu was convicted of embezzlement stemming from the original Vatican investment of 200 million euros into a fund that invested in the London property, and for his 125,000 euro donation of Vatican money to a charity run by his brother in Sardinia.
Many of the suspects were acquitted of the biggest charges, including fraud, corruption and money-laundering, but the tribunal ordered the confiscation of 166 million euros from them and payment of civil damages to Vatican offices of 200 million euros.
The trial raised questions about the rule of law in the city state and Pope Francis’ power as absolute monarch, given that he wields supreme legislative, executive and judicial authority.