The London property at the centre of
a Vatican trial into alleged mismanagement of the Holy See's
financial affairs has been a "double Via Crucis," a key witness
told the court Thursday.
The trial into alleged graft and negligence in managing the
Vatican's property portfolio includes the purchase of the luxury
apartment on London's Sloane Avenue.
Among those on trial is Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the highest
ranking Vatican official to be tried for financial crimes.
Among the witnesses for the defence announced recently is the
Substitute for General Affairs, mons. Edgar Pena Parra, the
president of Vatican bank IOR, Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, and
Cardinal Becciu's brother, Antonino.
Sardinian-born Becciu, 74, had an audience with France at the
end of November after which he said he pope had encouraged him
in the case, contradicting what Sardinian cardinal was last year
heard on a wiretap saying: Francis "wants me dead".
In four and a half hours of testimony Thursday, Substitute for
General Affairs Monsignor Pena Parra said the Sloane Avenue case
"was indeed a Way of the Cross! Indeed, we doubled the Way of
the Cross, because the Lord fell three times, we fell six
times".
Among other things, confirming the contents of his 'memorial' of
2 June 2020, Pena Papa reiterated that Becciu's former
secretaty, Msgr. Alberto Perlasca, did not have the power to
sign contracts and that there was 'clientelism and favouritism'
in the offices.
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