The public prosecutor of the “trial of the century” in the Vatican is challenging the sentence and asking for the maximum sentences to be applied

The historic sentence of the “trial of the century”, pronounced on Saturday in the Vatican, has been disputed by the promoter of justice Alessandro Diddi, public prosecutor in the trial for the multi-million dollar maneuvers for which Cardinal Angelo Becciu was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for aggravated embezzlement, together with 10 other defendants.

Two days ago the public prosecutor Diddi filed the so-called “statement of appeal”, declaring determined to defend the accusatory structure for all the defendants. The Promoter of Justice had asked for 7 and a half years in prison for Becciu, the first cardinal in the memory of the modern Church to be tried in the Vatican and convicted by civil magistrates. For the others there are several with sentences of 13 years in prison

The worst scandal of the pontificate of the Argentine Pope Francis it was dealt with in 86 hearings held in a large room of the Vatican Museums and It lasted two and a half years.

Who are the defendants in the “trial of the century” in the Vatican?

The ten accused were Cardinal Becciu and Monsignor Mauro Carlino, who was acquitted by the judges of the Vatican Tribunal presided over by Giuseppe Pignatone, for their collaboration with justice, together with nine others, most of them financiers and fraudsters who robbed the church.

The crux of the process was the decision by Becciu and other unidentified authorities to buy as an investment a building in central London which housed the Harrods stores. The Vatican puts it 350 million dollars and the maneuvers led to an enormous loss of vehicle 160 and 200 million euros.

Stellar protagonists were financiers such as Raffaele Minione, Gianlugi Torzi, Enrique Crasso and others. In Torzi’s case, after a meeting with the Pope he agreed to return to the Vatican one thousand shares of the company that the Vatican no longer controlled and which included the treasury of the “Palace” purchased and sold by the Holy See. Instead he asked for and received another 15 million euros.

The defendants’ lawyers appeal against the sentence. One of them, Cataldo Intriere, a well-known criminal lawyer, stated that the defense wanted to question both Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, about what happened in the fateful sale of the London palace.

Intriere and other defense lawyers argue that the evidence suggested that the Pope and Cardinal Parolin gave authorizations during the financial transaction. But the requests were rejected.

It is even stated Cardinal Becciu spoke with the Pope and recorded his comments it could be compromising. This weapon has not yet reached the Vatican courts.

The problem is that The Vatican courts also depend on the absolute authority of the pontiffwho has the power to remove magistrates as well as any authority subject to his power.

The trial and the sentences demonstrated its existence a panorama of corruption and dirty deals That He acted inside and outside the Vaticandamaging the Pope but with internal support.

Cardinal Becciu, who has become deputy of the Secretariat of State, a sort of Vatican Interior Minister, said a few days ago on television that He will defend his innocence no matter what. “And I hope the Pope believes me innocent,” Becciu said ambiguously.

The maneuvers and extortions, the scandals, the trial, have not been fully clarified.

The sentences, which in some cases reached 13 years of imprisonment, only partially accepted prosecutor Diddi’s accusations. The court presided over by Giuseppe Pignatone (a former top Italian magistrate), convicted nine defendants of only some charges, although it sentenced all to pay 366 million euros in restitution.

The trial of the century in the Church will continue for a long time producing deep echoes, shocks and something else. The Vatican Secretariat of State, chaired by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, now calls for the accused 177 million euros for the damage caused.