(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 18 - Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the
highest-ranking Catholic cleric to be charged with financial
crimes, told journalists outside his trial Friday that he had
given funds to a youth social cooperative rather than, as
accused, to family members in Sardinia.
He said he was proud to have funded the SPES Cooperative, which
he said employs 60 young people including ex drug addicts,
former prisoners and youths with health problems.
He again denied sending money to relatives via the Ozieri branch
of the Catholic charity Caritas. (ANSA).