A Spanish monsignor, a pair of Italian journalists and two others are defending themselves at a Vatican trial for the leak of confidential information detailing alleged greed, wasteful spending and poor management inside the Holy See.
Resuming on Monday, the trial is the Vatican’s attempt to discourage further leaks exposing power struggles over Pope Francis’ efforts to reform finances and bureaucracy at the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
Baldo may be the first defendant
Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Baldo, who headed a reforms panel advising the pontiff, is under arrest in Vatican City. He is expected to be the first defendant to testify.
The court has indicated verdicts could come before the December 8 start of the church’s Holy Year of Mercy.
