Prosecutors lay out details in Vatican’s biggest trial in modern times

St Peter’s square in Rome looking towards the Vatican (Phil Noble/PA)

Vatican prosecutors have alleged a jaw-dropping series of scandals in the biggest criminal trial in the Vatican’s modern history, which opens on Tuesday in a modified courtroom in the Vatican Museums.

A once-powerful cardinal and nine other people are accused of bleeding the Holy See of tens of millions of dollars in donations through bad investments, deals with shady money managers and apparent favours to friends and family.