Cardinal Becciu's Letter: A Testimony of Trial and Innocence Amidst Vatican Controversy

"My process has been the pit of the Gospel." The letter was sent shortly before Holy Thursday to all the cardinals residing in Rome as well as to the Italian ones, after having visited Santa Marta to wish the Pope. Cardinal Angelo Becciu had long wanted to send a message to the College of Cardinals. He awaited his first-degree conviction to 5 years and six months for the trial on the infamous London palace (which in the meantime was sold by the Vatican). "I'm sorry to say it, but in the trial against me, everything was seen except the implementation of the Pauline phrase veritatem facientes in caritate (Eph 4:15)! I suffer for all the damage that, despite myself, has been done to the Church, but I do not have the responsibility for it. I do not know how this procedural story will end, but I am sure that the truth will sooner or later triumph, it may even be after my death, but it will break through with all its force. History will prove me right: it is on the side of the innocent!" In another part of the letter, it reads: "Looking at Christ and with the awareness of my clean conscience I have the strength to shout that I am innocent, I am not corrupt. As long as I have a breath of life I will shout it to the whole world, in all venues and by all means. I have been convicted of embezzlement and fraud, but no evidence has been produced. In the nearly forty years in which I have served the Holy See - not only as Substitute - I have never appropriated a cent" is what is read in the text that was confidential and was first fully disclosed by the conservative blog Messa in Latino. Il Messaggero was able to view the text. The letter draws inspiration from the decision not to be in the basilica for the Chrism Mass "and celebrate together, as it has always been, our priestly day! It is the first time this has happened to me in my nearly 52 years of priesthood, but the external conditions that have been created lead me to this painful decision." Becciu summarizes the meeting he had with Pope Bergoglio. "I replied that I did not have the courage to participate. It is with suffering that I will do so because I would not want to overshadow the splendor of your purples with mine, stained by a heavy and unjust sentence: five years and six months in prison! The label of convicted, while not affecting the serenity of those who feel totally innocent, does not make me feel at ease in your celebrations." In these years, a bit out of timidity, a bit out of fear or probably just to avoid trouble, the cardinals of the College of Cardinals have avoided raising the Becciu case in front of the Pope. Now there has been the first-degree sentence Becciu wanted to show without filters the loneliness experienced in this time, the abandonment by friends, the sadness in seeing his whole family affected. In practice, he describes his via crucis. "Only by looking at the Cross can I give meaning and value to my suffering. I feel almost privileged in finding myself united with the Lord, who also experienced the humiliation of ridicule, failure, condemnation without real motivations, the total annihilation of his dignity as a person. I must recognize that the Trial I have been subjected to has been a terrible experience (...) I confess, I would have desired consolation from some of the Brethren who out loud would say a simple word: enough! Unfortunately, it was not there. However, I have always relied on your silent prayer!" For Becciu what happened is certainly the result of an internal plot. "Learning in Court that some had plotted against me deeply wounded me! In light of what happened in the Courtroom, I must bitterly admit that the Trial has been the pit of the Gospel. As we well know, the Gospel demands the search for truth, respect for others, bans falsehoods, perjury, blind and partisan opposition to prevail at any cost. This was not the case. I was crudely and violently hit by baseless, malicious accusations full of hatred, prejudice, unscrupulous accusers have poured against me who swore falsely on the Gospel, in bad faith I was attributed behaviors not befitting my priestly life. The accusation that most hurt me was that of having dishonored the Holy See. No, I do not accept such a false and unjust accusation! I have given my life for the Holy See and wherever I have been I have received generous recognition for my selfless service."