Vatican tribunal explains conviction of cardinal and others in 'trial of the century'

FILE - Saint Peter's Basilica is silhouetted against the sky at the Vatican, Dec. 16, 2023. FILE - Judge Giuseppe Pignatone reads the verdict of the Vatican corruption trial, at the Vatican, Dec. 16, 2023.

The Vatican tribunal said Wednesday it convicted a cardinal of aggravated fraud and other charges because of his “objectively inexplicable behavior” in paying a self-styled intelligence analyst over a half-million euros in Vatican money that she then spent on luxury items and vacations.