Cardinal Becciu: Vatican official forced out in unusual resignation
High-ranking Vatican official Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu has unexpectedly resigned but has revealed he was told to try to to so by Pope Francis.
Cardinal Becciu was an in depth aide to the Pope and previously had a key job within the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.
He became involved during a controversial deal to take a position during a luxury London building with Church funds. That investment has since been the topic of a financial investigation.
Resignations at this level of the Vatican are extremely rare and therefore the Holy See said little in its communique released late on Thursday.
But the cardinal, 72, told Italian website Domani he was being forced out because he was suspected of giving Church money to his brothers. “I didn’t steal even one euro. I’m not under investigation but if they send me to trial, i will be able to defend myself,” he was quoted as saying.
The anguished words of 1 of the Church’s most senior cardinals – now fired and stripped of his right to settle on subsequent Pope. Giovanni Angelo Becciu had served as Deputy Secretary of State – a task with unfettered access to Pope Francis – and was latterly head of the department that chooses future saints.
But on Thursday evening, he was summoned for a reportedly tense meeting together with his boss. Cardinal Becciu had managed a controversial €200m (£180m) purchase of a London property with Church funds, including alms money. Other reports allege he propped up a failing Roman hospital which employed his niece.
“The Pope explained that I had given favours to my brothers and their businesses with Church money… but I’m certain there are not any crimes”, he told new Italian newspaper Domani.
But his denial wasn’t enough. it has been dubbed an “earthquake at the Vatican”.
The choreography of his dismissal could seem cloak-and-dagger. But it’s a reminder once more that the scandal and corruption that. Beset governments across the planet also reach the very best echelons of the Holy See .
It was during the cardinal’s time as Substitute for General Affairs that. He was linked to a luxury property deal during a wealthy area of London.
The $200m (£155m) purchase of the apartment block in Sloane Avenue was bought out of Church money through offshore funds and corporations .
Earlier this year, Cardinal Becciu defended the acquisition .
“An investment was made on a building. It had been good and opportune occasion. Which many of us envy us for today,”. He said in February. He also denied that cash collected for the poor. Called hearth money , had been utilized in the deal.
The cardinal’s sudden departure might not just be linked to the London deal. In his interview on Friday, the cardinal said the Pope confronted him over Church money. He had given to co-operatives and businesses travel by his brothers.
A co-operative in Sardinia, travel by his brother Tonino Becciu. Provided help to migrants and therefore the cardinal said all the cash had been accounted for. Other funding was wont to renovate the Holy See’s building in Cuba.
Italian reports also suggest the Pope was unhappy with the utilization of hearth money funds for other investments.
Last year, Italian weekly L’Espresso published a report from the Vatican’s anti-corruption authority. Alleging more widespread speculative investments amounting to $725m.
The last cardinal to offer up his right to vote for a replacement Pope was Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien. Who resigned in 2013 amid a s3x scandal. He died five years later.
Cardinal Becciu: Vatican official forced out in unusual resignation
Source: bbcnews.com
