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Letter #176, 2023, Tue, Dec 5: Trial #1[2023-12-05][Engleză]Cardinal Angelo Becciu | Vatican NewsCardinal Angelo Becciu, 75, on Trial This letter is a continuation of the letter the other day, Letter #173 entitled Old Mazda (link). In that letter, I noted that Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 75, the Vatican cardinal who has been charged in the Vatican trial of the century with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars (and perhaps more), drives a 22-year-old 2001 Mazda Demio worth, arguably, only $1,000 dollars, through the streets of Rome. *** The trial is near an end So here is the situation: We are in the final days of the more than two-year-and-four-month-old Vatican trial of the century (the trial started on July 27 of 2021, more than 28 months ago). But the investigation which led to the trial started in mid-2018, more than five years ago. In this trial, for the first time in 500 years(!), a cardinal of the Church Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 75 is being put on trial, and, for the first time, not before judges who are also cardinals, but before lay officials. The final verdict, guilty or innocent, is expected on December 14, 15, or 16, so, by the last days of next week. So, we are eight or 10 days from the end of the trial. Just around the corner, for a trial that has lasted almost two and a half years. *** The Many Mysteries of the Trial of the Century And yet, even as the trial heads to its conclusion, there are many mysteries that remain mysteries about the charges, about the witnesses, about the testimony given, about where the money went, about who is to blame for the losses, and about why this trial is being held at all So I will now make an effort to try to shed, perhaps, some light on this trial, and its many mysteries. I think by the time you will have read these upcoming letters, you will agree that this story has all the elements of a crime thriller, with many twists and turns, a bit like the film Oceans Eleven (link), a crime thriller featuring an ensemble cast, fake money, fake videotapes, and famous actors including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy García, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, and Carl Reiner Perhaps the brilliant and mercurial Vatican financial genius, now in disgrace but not charged with any crime, because he has become the key witness of the Vatican prosecutor against the accused, especially against his former boss, Cardinal Becciu Monsignor Alberto Perlasca (who signed some of the checks), could be played by Matt Damon, and perhaps then Cardinal Becciu (who for many years was the trusted right-hand man of Pope Francis) could be played by George Clooney? *** A preliminary confession I must make a preliminary confession: I have not closely followed this trial for all of the almost three years since it started I have only begun to focus my attention on it in recent months. So, I am less knowledgeable about the details of this trial than some other journalists and observers, who have followed the matter for years. Therefore, I will (inevitably) miss some points and will perhaps make some mistakes (hopefully not too many) For example, I greatly admire the knowledge of these four Italian Vaticanisti (Vatican experts and the list could be longer): Andrea Gagliarducci (link) who writes for Catholic News Agency and has attended about 70 of the 82 trial sessions (more than 80%); he is the journalist the other journalists, who often do not attend the trial, listen to when he gives a briefing in the press office on what has happened at the trial at the end of each session; Barbara Castelli, who writes for the official Vatican News website (link), and who has been present at the last few sessions of the trial, taking copious notes; Fausto Gasparroni of the Italian news agency ANSA (link); he too has been attending the trial daily, and he too is one of the briefers, with Gagliarducci, for the rest of the press corps, after each session of the trial; Maria Antonietta Calabrò, famous for her book on the 1978 kidnapping and execution of Italys prime minister (and close friend of Pope Paul VI) Aldo Moro. She has written for 30 years for Corriere della Sera, and, more recently for the Huffington Post (link) So, by drawing on the reports of these other journalists, then adding to what they say based on my own reading of the testimony in this case, I hope to make a contribution. In recent days, I have been present at the trial and have seen these four Italian journalists takes copious notes while observing the trial, as the various lawyers for the defense have stood, hour upon hour, before the panel of three Vatican judges, giving their summary statements, arguing for the innocence, for the acquittal, of their clients. These lawyers have argued passionately occasionally raising their voices to the level of shouting(!) that their clients are completely innocent, that no corruption, or theft, or embezzlement occurred. The defense lawyers have acknowledged that mistakes may have been made in choosing various investments (including in the Palace on Sloane Avenue in London), but they have argued that the result of these mistakes (losing money) happens in many investments, and does not in itself constitute a crime, just reveals bad judgement, or bad luck So which is it: corruption? Or simple bad judgment in investments? That is a key question in this case. If it is corruption, the defendants are guilty. If it is bad judgement (at least, in most cases, if the bad judgment is not so bad that it becomes criminal negligence), they are innocent. *** Other chroniclers and analysts of this trial I also benefit from the work of a number of others who have followed this trial for years now, including: John Allen, the founder and chief writer of Crux (link); Ed Condon, the founder and one of the chief writers of The Pillar (link Condons profile may be seen if you scroll down); Phil Pullella, long-time Vaticanist (40 years and 2 months) of one of the leading global news agencies, Reuters (link) Nicole Winfield, long-time Vaticanist of another leading global news agency, Associated Press (AP) (link). And many others. However, I might add: When I came to Rome on May 19, 1984 40 years ago in five months I met and came to know Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. His dissertation (Habilitationsschrift) on The Theology of History in St. Bonaventure was an inspiration for my own dissertation. He later became Pope Benedict XVI. We spoke on several occasions about Vatican government and finances. This helped shape the way I formulated questions about these matters. I also met and came to know, in the mid-1980s, Archbishop Paul Casimir Marcinkus (January 15, 1922-February 20, 2006; he died at the age of 84). Marcinkus was the controversial President of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR) the Vatican bank. Marcinkus took pains to explain to me his version of the story of the Banco Ambrosiano-Vatican Bank scandal the greatest financial scandal in Vatican history. This also helped to shape my understanding of how to approach the question of Vatican finances. Then, in the past 20 years, I came to know the Australian Cardinal George Pell (June 8, 1941-January 10, 2023; he died at the age of 81; link). He was charged by Pope Francis to try to bring transparency to the Vaticans finances during the past decade. He died 11 months ago. His work, also, became important to me in assessing the Vaticans finances. Moreover, I have spoken at some length about Vatican finances and this case with other leading Church officials and Vatican observers, who have been helpful in allowing me to see this trial as part of a larger question, a larger battle. So lets begin with where we are today, and then work back, and then forward again The trial is about to end. What are the arguments of the defense lawyers for one of the two main defendants, Swiss financier Raffaele Mincione arguments made just in the last few days in Rome? subscribe to Inside the Vatican *** Here is a report about the defense arguments made on December 4, when the lawyers for Raffaele Mincione spoke. Mincione was present in the courtroom in Vatican City, along with his wife, Maddalena, who sat in the guest section where journalists sit. *** Vatican trial, Minciones lawyers: The truth has been twisted to attempt to prove an objective The financiers defense was the protagonist of the 81st hearing of the trial on the events in London. ( ) The Promoter of Justices Office (the Vatican prosecutors office) has requested 11 years and 5 months of imprisonment, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and a fine of 15,450 euros By Barbara Castelli Vatican News December 4, 2023 I think I have provided important elements of evaluation. Here [i.e., during the 2+ years of trial, but also during the 2 years of investigation prior to the trial] there was an outrage against the truth, about the person [that is, about Raffaele Mincione], against his professional reputation, against the alleged predatory nature of Falcon Oils due diligence, against the role of Credit Suisse: there is not an ounce of truth in these decisive chapters of the story, (or) on the alleged lack of awareness of the Secretariat of State, on the concealment of decisive negotiating information. There is nothing true. Thus (spoke) the lawyer Giandomenico Caiazza, one of the defense lawyers of Raffaele Mincione, accused of aggravated fraud, embezzlement and aggravated embezzlement, aggravated abuse of office, aggravated embezzlement, self-laundering and aggravated corruption. In the multipurpose hall of the Vatican Museums, among the accused, in addition to the financier, were Enrico Crasso and Fabrizio Tirabassi. During the 81st hearing of the trial on the financial investments of the Secretariat of State in London, the lawyer criticized the scheme with which, according to him, the investigations were conducted. There is (first) a belief, he said, thanking, however, the Board for giving everyone the opportunity to speak, and (then) the material acquired is aimed at confirming the prejudice. The truth of the facts, he added, the documentary evidence, has been distorted to support ones own beliefs [i.e., the beliefs of the prosecutors that the Vatican had been deceived] In over two hours of speech, the lawyer Giandomenico Caiazza wanted above all to point the finger at the investigative gaps that have characterized the accusatory system since its inception. The truth he declared has been bent to one objective: the promoter of Justice has built a sort of parallel reality, a place where the facts can be represented in a way that is exclusively functional to the objectives of the prosecution. [My note: On a large screen to the side of the courtroom, the defense projected pictures of a 51-page contract from 2014 regarding the purchase of the London property in question The defense argued that the document had been deposited with the court, but that during the trial only the first 3 pages of the document had been cited by the prosecution. The defense argued that the 48 remaining pages, which the defense claimed had been kept hidden throughout the trial, contained contractual clauses agreed upon by both parties, proving (the defense maintained) that the Vatican had not been deceived or tricked into signing the contract. In other words, the defense claimed that the Vatican prosecution had intentionally avoided presenting evidence which contradicted its thesis that Raffaele Mincione had committed fraud by deceiving the Vatican about the nature of the original contract regarding the London property purchase. RM] Tomorrow going back in time to the origins of this trial Below, other articles which supply background about this case RM *** P.S. Special Note! Any donation in support of this letter would be appreciated: here. Support the Moynihan Letters The fact that it took 37 hearings before even beginning the testimony of the prosecutions star witness, by the way, speaks volumes about the glacial pace at which the process is unfolding. John Allen (story in full below), writing one year ago, in late 2022, explaining that the trial had unfolded with glacial slowness Vaticans trial of the century sets new standards for the surreal (link) By John Allen November 25, 2022 ROME Just when you think that the Vaticans trial of the century against a cardinal and nine other defendants for various alleged financial crimes cant get any more surreal, two developments pop out of the woodwork to prove you wrong. A hearing Thursday produced both a previously unknown, and unauthorized, recording of a phone call with Pope Francis, as well as testimony from the prosecutions star witness, who essentially blamed everyone in the system both above him and below him, but not himself for what went wrong. Lets begin with the phone call. The recording apparently was made by a relative of Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, one of the defendants in the trial, whos facing charges related to transfers of Vatican money to a Catholic charity in his native Sardinia and also his financial dealings with a self-described lay security consultant named Cecilia Marogna. Although reporters and other members of the public were escorted out of the hearing room Thursday before the recording of the conversation was played, the news agency AdnKronos provided a transcript. It occurred in late July 2021, just three days before the trial opened and not long after the popes colon surgery, and the recording was apparently preserved on a cell phone belonging to one of Beccius nephews. In the call, Becciu clearly wanted Pope Francis to acknowledge that he had authorized payments through Marogna to a British firm to secure the release of a Colombian nun who had been kidnapped by Islamic militants in Mali in 2017. The firm was paid roughly $350,000 for its expenses, and then $500,000 was paid in ransom. The nun, Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez, was eventually released and met Pope Francis in the Vatican afterwards. Asked if he remembered being briefed on the transactions, Francis appeared to confirm that he had been: I remember that, vaguely, but I remember, yes, I had it [the information], yes. Becciu then says he cant call the pope as a witness, but asks him for a written statement that he had authorized the expenses. Francis suggests that Becciu put something on paper and send it to him, promising to look it over. Prosecutors in the Vatican trial introduced the recording after having obtained it from Italian financial police, who are conducting their own investigation of a charity in Sardinia linked to Becciu. Clearly the prosecution hoped it would put Becciu in a bad light for having taped the pontiff surreptitiously, though defense attorneys pounced on it to argue that it illustrates why the pope needs to be questioned to establish what he knew and what he approved. From the beginning, defense lawyers have argued that the people charged in the trial didnt do anything that wasnt fully approved by their superiors including the substitute, meaning the number two official in the Secretariate of State, at the beginning Becciu and now Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peńa Parra; the Secretary of State, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin; and Pope Francis himself. Prosecutors dont dispute that authorization occurred, but insist it was granted under false pretenses because, they claim, the defendants misrepresented the nature of the transactions involved. As for the star witness, were talking about Italian Monsignor Alberto Perlasca, originally from the Diocese of Como in northern Italy, who for years headed an office within the Secretariat of State which administered funds reserved to the Secretariat, including the income of the annual Peters Pence collection to support the activities of the pope. As the investigation of the London deal began, Perlasca seemed to loom as an obvious target for criminal charges, since he was involved at every stage of the transaction. Perhaps seeing the handwriting on the wall, Perlasca repositioned himself as a whistle-blower and volunteered to give damaging testimony on former colleagues and business associates who were also part of London negotiations. On Thursday, Perlasca took the witness stand for the first time in the Vatican trial. (The fact that it took 37 hearings before even beginning the testimony of the prosecutions star witness, by the way, speaks volumes about the glacial pace at which the process is unfolding.) In effect, Perlasca suggested that responsibility for the London deal resides with pretty much everyone else involved, but not him. At the level of detail, he said, decisions about the transaction were made by his lay assistant, Fabrizio Tirabassi, whos a defendant in the trial. At the big-picture level, Perlasca said, the deal was authorized by Becciu and later by Peńa Parra, and it wasnt his place to question their decisions. We have a saying when things arent said to you, it means you dont need to know, so I never asked, Perlasca told the court. So, to sum up: More than a year into this prosecution, we now have the star defendant on tape with Pope Francis, who appears to acknowledge that he personally approved at least one set of transactions at issue in the trial and, we have the star witness implying that basically everyone else in the situation bears responsibility for what went wrong, but not him. Its impossible to know right now what all this means for the fate of the prosecution, given that we havent even reached the defense stage of the trial. What it does seem to suggest, however, is staying tuned, since there may be yet more rabbits to emerge out of various ecclesiastical hats. [End, John Allen story from a year ago ] And here is an even earlier piece, by Gagliarducci, which also helps to set the scene for what has happened in this trial: Heres what the Vatican finance trial has revealed about the London deal (link) By Andrea Gagliarducci June 8, 2022 This week at the Vatican finance trial, it was the broker Raffaele Minciones turn to be questioned. The responses of the Italian businessman the first person to manage the London building at the center of the intricate trial shed more light on the disastrous deal. Sursa: www.InSideTheVatican.com Contor Accesări: 307, Ultimul acces: 2026-08-29 02:21:11
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