A Vatican court sentenced Angelo Becciu, a once-powerful Italian cardinal and former adviser to Pope Francis, to five years and six months in prison for financial crimes.
Becciu, 75, faced charges including embezzlement, abuse of office, and witness tampering in connection with a Vatican investment in a luxury building in London. The trial, which spanned over two and a half years, implicated financiers, lawyers, and ex-Vatican employees.
Becciu's appeal is underway, with his lawyer maintaining his innocence. The trial exposed the Holy See's murky finances and resulted in the conviction of several individuals, shedding light on the Vatican's efforts to address financial misconduct within its ranks.
