Cardinal Found Guilty of Serious Financial Offenses by Vatican Court

A Vatican cardinal and former advisor to Pope Francis has been convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s trial lasted for two-and-a-half years and involved nine other defendants. Becciu resigned from his high-ranking position within the Catholic Church in 2020, claiming that he was instructed to do so by the Pope following an investigation into potential financial crimes published by Italian news magazine L’Espresso. This marked the first time a cardinal has been prosecuted by the Vatican’s court.

While Becciu was found guilty on some charges, he was also acquitted of others. He has consistently denied the allegations and his lawyer has stated that they will appeal the sentencing. The majority of the charges against Becciu revolved around the controversial purchase of a luxury property in London’s upscale Chelsea neighborhood during his tenure as a senior leader in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. The property was eventually sold at a loss of at least €140 million ($152 million), according to Vatican News.

In addition to Becciu, two financiers involved in the property sale were also found guilty of financial crimes and received sentences of five-and-a-half years and six years. The investigation into the London property purchase led to further allegations, including Becciu’s embezzlement of €125,000 ($136,000) of Vatican funds to a charity run by his brother, as well as a payment of €575,000 ($627,000) to a woman for her intelligence services. The woman received a sentence of three years and nine months.

Becciu defended his actions by claiming that the money sent to the charity was at the request of the local bishop and remained within the church to support charitable work. As for the payment to the woman, Becciu believed the funds were intended for a security service to negotiate the release of a nun held hostage by militants connected to al-Qaeda in Mali in 2017.

In addition to Becciu’s conviction, two former Vatican officials received seven-year sentences, while two others were fined. A lawyer and former advisor to the Secretariat, who played a role in negotiating the property deal, received a sentence of one year and 10 months.

TIME attempted to contact the Vatican press office for further information and comment, but they were unavailable at the time of publication.