Francis wrote four rescriptum during the investigations by prosecutors, giving them ample legal leeway in the treatment of witnesses and defendants.
Using incendiary language, the defense asked that the trial be considered void and that all charges be revoked, citing the lack of access to crucial evidence, disregard for fundamental human rights and the absence of rule of law.
“Clearly the pope can write rescriptum, but he obviously can do it to create an exception to the law, but not to violate the law of the Vatican legal system,” said Marco Franco, an attorney representing the Italian broker Gianluigi Torzi, who is accused of extorting the Vatican to hand the real estate development over to him at a loss.
Vatican judges adjourned the trial to Feb. 28 and hope to issue a decision on the objections by the defense on March 1.
This article originally appeared here.
