Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was convicted of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail, looks on during the taping of the television talk show "Cinque minuti" (Five minutes) in Rome, Italy, December 18, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A Vatican tribunal on Wednesday defended its 2023 decision to convict a senior Catholic cardinal of misappropriation of funds, saying the prelate was "aware of all the steps" in a botched $200 million London real estate deal.
Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, was convicted last December on several charges and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. He denies wrongdoing and remains free pending an appeal.
