Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s Trial (2021): A Prince of the Church Falls in the Courtroom
The Vatican’s highest-ranking official ever put on trial, accused of embezzling donations meant for the poor.
By [Your Website Name] Investigations Desk
A Trial That Shook the Vatican
In July 2021, the Vatican witnessed history. For the first time, a cardinal, Angelo Becciu, once one of Pope Francis’s closest aides, stood trial before a Vatican tribunal. The charges were breathtaking: embezzlement, fraud, abuse of office, and misuse of hundreds of millions in Church funds.
According to Reuters (July 27, 2021), prosecutors accused Becciu and nine others of “bleeding the faithful” by diverting Peter’s Pence donations into speculative deals and personal favors. What was meant for charity for orphans, refugees, and the poor was allegedly funneled into luxury real estate, offshore companies, and even family businesses.
The Fall of a Vatican Power Broker
Becciu was no ordinary cleric. As Sostituto (Substitute) in the Secretariat of State, he was effectively the Pope’s chief of staff, managing billions in Vatican assets. His word carried weight across the Catholic world. But prosecutors painted a very different picture: a man who abused his position to enrich himself and those close to him.
One shocking allegation involved €500,000 in Church money sent to a company run by Becciu’s brother in Sardinia. Another involved his ties to Cecilia Marogna, a mysterious “security consultant” who allegedly received €575,000 of Vatican funds, which prosecutors claim she spent on luxury handbags and hotels.
“From Shepherd to Fraudster”
The Italian press was merciless. La Repubblica called him “a shepherd who turned into a fraudster.” The Guardian (Oct 2020) noted that Pope Francis personally fired Becciu after internal investigators uncovered irregular transactions. The scandal revealed a Vatican hierarchy riddled with loopholes, favoritism, and financial rot.
The London Property Scandal Connection
Becciu’s trial was directly tied to the London property deal (2019–2021), where Vatican officials blew €350 million on a speculative real estate project in Chelsea. Prosecutors alleged Becciu was a key player in approving shady contracts and ignoring red flags. According to court documents, middlemen pocketed tens of millions, while the Vatican suffered over €100 million in losses.
The faithful, who donated thinking they were helping the poor, were instead funding failed luxury ventures.
The Defense and Denials
Becciu denied all charges, claiming he was the victim of internal politics and media attacks. His lawyers argued that Vatican finances were “chaotic by tradition” and that Becciu merely followed standard practices. But as BBC News (Nov 2021) reported, judges were unconvinced by these excuses, given the sheer scale of missing funds and the brazenness of the deals.
A Stain on the Pope’s Legacy
For Pope Francis, who promised to clean up the Vatican’s finances, the Becciu scandal was a devastating blow. The Pope’s own ally, whom he elevated to cardinal, became the face of Vatican corruption. Francis allowed the trial to proceed, even stripping Becciu of his rights as a cardinal, an unprecedented humiliation.
The Broader Reality
The Becciu trial was more than one man’s downfall. It exposed systemic rot:
- A culture of impunity among Vatican elites.
- Lack of external audits.
- Billions in Church money hidden in offshore accounts and secret deals.
For ordinary Catholics, the message was brutal: their donations were treated not as charity, but as a personal piggy bank by corrupt clerics in red robes.
The courtroom drama continues, but one thing is clear: Cardinal Becciu’s trial shattered the myth of holiness in Vatican finances. When shepherds betray their flock, the result is not only financial scandal, it is spiritual bankruptcy.
