This Tuesday, the Vatican City Court convicted the former director of the Sistine Chapel Choir, Monsignor Massimo Palombella, and two other former officials for irregularities in their financial management.
Palombella has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison, fined 9,000 euros and banned from holding public officeas reported by the Holy See in a statement.
They have also been convicted Michelangelo Nardella, former administrative director of the institution, to four years and eight months in prison, a fine of 7,000 euros and a “perpetual” ban from holding public office, and to his wife, Simona Rossi, to two years in prison and 5,000 euros fine.
The Court has also ordered the seizure of 123,646 euros from Nardella and another 127,000 euros between him and Palombella.
Laura Sgrò, defense attorney for Nardella and Rossi, said in a statement that she will appeal to the sentence against her two clients “as soon as possible.”
“We still do not know the reasons for the sentencewhich we will appeal regarding the charges that resulted in conviction,” said the lawyer.
According to Sgrò, during the trial she “questioned many aspects of the reconstruction of events carried out by the promoter of Justice, as well as several procedural annulments that will undoubtedly be grounds for appeal.” The lawyer He added that his clients were acquitted in more than half of the charges brought against him.
The trial against the three defendants began in May 2023accusing them of mismanagement of the Choir’s funds, specifically for the crimes of embezzlement, laundering and fraud.
The case broke out in September 2018, when Pope Francis authorized the opening of an investigation into possible financial irregularities in the famous Sistine Chapel Choir.
In January 2019, the pontiff ordered that the Sistine Chapel Choir become part of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff and appointed an economic administrator, following these detected financial irregularities.
The Sistine Chapel choir is considered one of the oldest in the world and was created in 1471. It is made up of children and adolescents between 10 and 14 years old, although it also has some adult singers.
