The appeals phase of the Vatican’s widely watched “trial of the century” resumed on Tuesday, following a series of setbacks for the prosecution that could reshape the outcome. The case centers on Cardinal Angelo Becciu and eight other defendants, who were convicted of financial crimes in 2023 after a sprawling two-year trial involving tens of millions of euros in questionable Vatican investments.

A key development came when the Vatican’s high Court of Cassation dismissed the prosecutors’ appeal due to a lack of specificity, effectively limiting their ability to challenge the original verdicts. On the same day, the chief prosecutor, Alessandro Diddi, resigned from the case amid controversies over WhatsApp chats suggesting potential bias in his handling of evidence and witnesses.

The original trial revolved around the Vatican’s 350-million-euro investment in a London property, with prosecutors alleging embezzlement, fraud, and misuse of church funds. Becciu received a 5½-year sentence, while the other defendants were convicted on select charges but acquitted on multiple counts, sparking appeals from both sides.

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Defense attorneys have also challenged the trial on broader grounds, questioning Pope Francis’ role. The defense argues that secret executive decrees signed by Francis in 2019 and 2020 granted prosecutors extraordinary powers, including unrestricted wiretapping and deviations from existing laws, without oversight or publication—raising concerns over fairness and due process.

Legal experts have noted that the secretive nature of these decrees potentially violated the principle of equality between defense and prosecution, as defendants were unaware of the expanded powers wielded against them. While the Vatican maintains that the trial was fair, the appeals continue to examine these constitutional and procedural questions under Vatican law.

The outcome of the appeals could significantly affect the convictions, with defense teams pushing to overturn Becciu’s sentence and other rulings, while prosecutors hope to salvage parts of their original case. Observers say the trial highlights the complexities of applying canon law and secular legal principles within the Vatican’s unique judicial system.

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