Vatican official to give testimony in London property case at UK High Court

Welcome to London, where the drama surrounding the Vatican’s purchase and sale of the property on Sloane Avenue in Chelsea continues to unfold. Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, will take the stand at the prestigious British High Court from July 4–8 to provide crucial testimony in this high-stakes trial.

Months after the Vatican Tribunal’s landmark trial that led to the conviction of ten individuals for various crimes related to the property deal, a new chapter has opened at the His Majesty’s High Court of Justice in England. The trial, initiated by a civil complaint filed by Raffaele Mincione, the financier involved in the Vatican trial, sheds new light on the controversial transactions.

In the heart of this legal battle lies the question of whether Mincione, in his dealings with the Holy See, truly acted in good faith. The Vatican has contested the exorbitant price of the property and the extent of Mincione’s powers in the transactions, leading to a clash between the two parties in the courtroom.

Archbishop Peña Parra’s testimony is pivotal in unraveling the complexities of the case. His arrival in Rome in 2018 coincided with the unfolding of a financial operation that he later described as a “fraud” against the Holy See. Now, he faces the British magistrates, recounting the tumultuous events that transpired behind the scenes.

As the sole representative of the Holy See in this trial, Archbishop Peña Parra’s presence carries immense weight. With other key players from the Secretariat of State embroiled in the Vatican Tribunal’s proceedings, he stands as a crucial witness whose insights could shape the outcome of the trial.

The defense team for the Secretariat of State has meticulously prepared an 84-page defense memorandum, highlighting crucial details that could sway the case in their favor. The trial promises to be a battleground of arguments, evidence, and testimonies that will ultimately determine the fate of those involved.