«In today's hearing we took stock of two years of trial. The innocence of Cardinal Angelo Becciu clearly emerged from the hearing." This is what Maria Concetta Marzo and Fabio Viglione, lawyers of Pattada Cardinal Angelo Becciu, accused of improper use of Vatican funds, declared in a note.
«First of all, not even the accusation accuses the Cardinal of having enriched himself, of having misappropriated any sum. Not even a cent. And", the lawyers continue, "this also applies to his family, which has been unfairly brought into play in recent years".
For Viglione and Marzo, «there is only one truth that forcefully emerged in the trial: the Cardinal is innocent. Thanks to the hearing we were able to ascertain that none of the accusations had any basis and that the Promoter remained prisoner of a completely collapsed theorem . The veil of Maya has fallen and all the distortions that have led to the construction of unfounded accusations orchestrated by figures devoid of any credibility have come to light. A disturbing pollution of the evidentiary framework which however did not stand the test of the trial and which represents the tombstone of an accusatory system disavowed by all the accused and the witnesses examined".
But it's not over. The cardinal's lawyers further declare: «Juridically, then, from the beginning there was no coherence in the accusation. How can you archive the position of the head of the Administrative Office, who did, see and evaluate everything, Monsignor Perlasca, and expect to prosecute the cardinal who approved what the head of the office proposed to him?".
«But what hurts most is the unsustainable series of incorrect assumptions that have been categorically denied once and for all», the lawyers argue, «Cardinal Becciu has always acted in harmony with the leaders of the Holy See and in compliance with the Apostolic Constitution and any other law in force at the time and, under his responsibility, Peter's Pence was never used for the disputed investments but always and only for the purposes for which it was intended"
«The correctness of Cardinal Becciu's behavior was proven by all the various accusations against which he defended himself: the real estate investments, the resources allocated to the attempt (which was ultimately successful) to save a nun kidnapped in Mali and the sums sent for charitable purposes to the diocese of Ozieri. For all this", conclude Viglione and Marzo, "our request to the Court can only be: acquit an innocent person".
« In these three years I have endured great pain , not only for the demolition of my person, but also for what this process has represented for the Church, the faithful and the people closest to me, starting with my family», declares the cardinal of Pattada.
«What hurt me even more deeply – continues Becciu – was also the mere suspicion, launched and unfortunately fueled by some, that I might have exploited my role for economic reasons and to benefit my family . At the Secretariat of State, at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and in the many corners of the world where I have had the honor of representing the Holy See, I have always intended to bring with me the teachings and values of honesty and selflessness that belong to my roots . I trust that the search for the truth desired by the Holy Father will soon find confirmation in the judgment of the tribunal while I entrust myself with confidence to the Lord ."
(Unioneonline)