In a 50-page declaration on May 5, Becciu argued his innocence against charges of embezzlement, abuse of office, and witness tampering.
In his personal statement, which he took almost two and half hours to read, the 73-year-old cardinal responded to accusations against him and explained details of his position as Sostituto (Substitute) of the Secretariat of State from 2011 to 2018, including that it relied on him having total faith in his collaborators, while at the same time total autonomy.
The declaration was followed by several hours of intense and heated questioning, during which Becciu responded to requests from a prosecutor for more information about certain investments made by the Secretariat of State.
Responding to questions, the cardinal denied that the Secretariat used funds from Peter’s Pence, the pope’s charitable fund, for the investment in the London building.
Becciu was also asked whether Pope Francis was informed of the Secretariat of State’s investments, to which the cardinal said he would submit occasional reports to the pope, but there were no specific authorizations.
Becciu added that he is “old school — In odiosis non feci nomen pontifici,” explaining the Latin phrase as meaning that “one tries to preserve the moral authority of the pope without involving him in earthly things. That does not mean not informing him, but not giving him the responsibility.”
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