A gripping new chapter in the Vatican’s tumultuous fraud and corruption trial unfolded on Wednesday. Cardinal Angelo Becciu found himself embroiled in heated exchanges with Commissioner Stefano De Santis, a key prosecution witness and the leading officer of the Vatican’s police force. The arguments centered on the financial transactions involved in the hostage negotiations aimed at securing the release of a Colombian nun, who had been abducted by militants associated with al-Qaeda. As reported by Nicole Winfield for the Associated Press, this escalation adds another layer of complexity to Becciu’s already serious allegations, which include abuse of office and embezzlement concerning misappropriated Vatican funds allegedly funneled to his brother’s nonprofit organization.

Testimony from De Santis revealed that in 2020, Vatican police discovered that Cecilia Marogna, a security analyst employed by Becciu as a marketing consultant, had received over half a million euros intended for humanitarian efforts. However, De Santis claimed that these funds were instead misused for extravagant personal expenses. In a dramatic turn of events, after this revelation, both De Santis and the chief of Vatican police visited Becciu’s residence to inform him of their findings. During this visit, Becciu allegedly pleaded with them, urging them not to disclose the financial details to anyone. It’s important to note that Becciu has categorically denied De Santis’ allegations, maintaining his innocence as the trial continues to unfold with significant public interest.