Part 6/9:
As allegations mounted, Cardinal Becciu was promoted in May 2018, ostensibly to distance him from the quagmire surrounding the controversial investments. But this move raised more eyebrows than it calmed when it became evident the financial malfeasance was deeply rooted within the walls of the Vatican itself.
The Extortion and Fallout
The unraveling of trust and honor culminated when Cardinal Becciu faced numerous allegations of corruption, extending to claims of extortion as various contracts were renegotiated to benefit financiers that operated at the fringes of legality. It came to light that Jan Luigi Tori, another financier, engaged in questionable activities surrounding his management of the London property, offering “catch-ups” to Vatican officials in the form of kickbacks.