Chief prosecutor defends Vatican's legal system after recent criticism of pope's absolute power
6 months ago

Chief prosecutor defends Vatican's legal system after recent criticism of pope's absolute power

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Vatican’s chief prosecutor has strongly defended the integrity and fairness of the city state’s justice system following criticism that Pope Francis' absolute power and his interventions in the so-called “trial of the century” last year violated the defendants’ fundamental rights. These critics have cited Pope Francis’ role in the trial, since he secretly issued four decrees during the investigation that changed Vatican procedures to benefit prosecutors. He said the pope’s four decrees merely filled regulatory loopholes in the Vatican's peculiar legal code and had no impact on the outcome of the trial or the rights of the defendants. Diddi noted that Swiss and Italian courts have previously recognized the independence and impartiality of the Vatican City State's legal system in agreeing to provide judicial assistance in freezing assets of the suspects.

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Chief prosecutor defends Vatican’s legal system after recent criticism of pope’s absolute power
6 months ago

Chief prosecutor defends Vatican’s legal system after recent criticism of pope’s absolute power

Associated Press  

ROME — The Vatican’s chief prosecutor has strongly defended the integrity and fairness of the city state’s justice system following criticism that Pope Francis’ absolute power and his interventions in the so-called “trial of the century” last year violated the defendants’ fundamental rights. These critics have cited Pope Francis’ role in the trial, since he secretly issued four decrees during …

Vatican chief of staff testifies in UK finance trial, admits to false invoice and blames a deputy
6 months ago

Vatican chief of staff testifies in UK finance trial, admits to false invoice and blames a deputy

Associated Press  

ROME — Pope Francis’ chief of staff became one of the highest-ranking Holy See officials to testify in a foreign court Thursday, telling a British tribunal about the negotiations at the heart of the Vatican’s so-called “trial of the century,” admitting he filed a false invoice and pointing a finger at his one-time deputy who escaped the scandal unscathed. Archbishop …

Defendant in Vatican trial takes case to UN, accuses pope of violating his rights with surveillance
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Defendant in Vatican trial takes case to UN, accuses pope of violating his rights with surveillance

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — One of the defendants in the Vatican’s big financial trial has filed a formal complaint with the United Nations, alleging that Pope Francis violated his human rights by authorizing wide-ranging surveillance during the investigation. The complaint cited four secret executive decrees Francis signed in 2019 and 2020 that gave Vatican prosecutors wide-ranging powers to investigate, including via …

Lawyers hit out at Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ after Pope secretly changes law four times
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Lawyers hit out at Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ after Pope secretly changes law four times

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Reporters watch a screen in …

The first outside legal analyses of Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ are in, and they’re critical
9 months, 3 weeks ago

The first outside legal analyses of Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ are in, and they’re critical

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — Several prominent lawyers have published stinging academic critiques and legal opinions about the Vatican’s recently concluded “trial of the century,” highlighting violations of basic defense rights and rule of law norms that they warn could have consequences for the Holy See going forward. After the first verdicts were issued, the Vatican’s editorial director, Andrea Tornielli, insisted that …

Vatican prosecutor appeals verdict that largely dismantled his fraud case but convicted cardinal
1 year ago

Vatican prosecutor appeals verdict that largely dismantled his fraud case but convicted cardinal

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s chief prosecutor has appealed a court verdict that largely dismantled his theory of a grand conspiracy to defraud the Holy See of millions of euros but found a cardinal guilty of embezzlement. Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi filed his appeal this week of the three-judge tribunal’s decision in a complicated financial trial that aired the Vatican’s dirty …

Vatican court convicts cardinal of embezzlement in corruption trial
1 year ago

Vatican court convicts cardinal of embezzlement in corruption trial

The Hindu  

A Vatican court on Saturday convicted Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu of several counts of embezzlement and sentenced him to five years and six months in jail. Becciu was the highest ranking Church official ever to stand trail before a Vatican criminal court. The 75-year-old, a former adviser to Pope Francis who was once considered a papal contender himself, was the …

Vatican cardinal accused in financial crimes case says he can’t get a fair trial
1 year, 7 months ago

Vatican cardinal accused in financial crimes case says he can’t get a fair trial

LA Times  

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, shown in 2022, was once one of the most influential Vatican cardinals and a close aide to Pope Francis. A Vatican cardinal on trial in the Holy See’s big financial crimes case alleged Friday that he can’t properly defend himself from “the nightmare of these accusations” because prosecutors have withheld key evidence from the defense. Cardinal Angelo …

Vatican vendettas: Alleged witness manipulation jolts trial
2 years, 1 month ago

Vatican vendettas: Alleged witness manipulation jolts trial

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The text message to the Vatican monsignor offered forgiveness along with a threat: “I know everything about you … and I keep it all in my archives,” it read. “I pardon you, Perlasca, but remember, you owe me a favor.” The message was one of more than 100 newly revealed WhatsApp texts and other correspondence entered into …

Vatican judge tosses defense motions as fraud trial advances
2 years, 10 months ago

Vatican judge tosses defense motions as fraud trial advances

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s criminal tribunal on Tuesday resoundingly rejected defense motions to dismiss a landmark financial fraud case and ruled the trial will go ahead with the questioning of a cardinal scheduled for later this month. Vatican prosecutors have accused the Holy See’s longtime money manager, Italian brokers and lawyers of fleecing the Vatican of tens of millions …

At Vatican trial, defense questions the legal system itself
3 years, 3 months ago

At Vatican trial, defense questions the legal system itself

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — Defense lawyers are questioning the legitimacy of the Vatican tribunal where 10 people are on trial on finance-related charges, arguing their clients can’t get a fair trial in an absolute monarchy where the pope has already intervened in the case and where prosecutors have failed to turn over key evidence. AP asked the prosecutors’ office in January …

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