Texts reveal behind-the-scenes maneuvering in Vatican trial

In the Vatican's high-profile financial misconduct case, new WhatsApp messages reveal behind-the-scenes maneuvering by two women connected to the investigation, suggesting coordinated efforts to influence a key witness.

Over the last two years, defense lawyers obtained 3,225 pages of WhatsApp messages between Francesca Chaouqui, a public relations specialist, and Genevieve Ciferri, a family friend tangentially involved in the inquiry. The chats, written in Italian and translated by The Associated Press, cover 2020 through 2024 and show these two women intimately aware of the probe and, in some ways, involved. They relate to the Vatican's trial of 10 people, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, and to the man who would become a pivotal witness, Monsignor Alberto Perlasca. Perlasca eventually turned on Becciu, was spared indictment, while Becciu was convicted. The messages suggest the two women sought to persuade Perlasca to revise his story and implicate Becciu. The chats were first reported by Domani.

In the messages, Chaouqui implied to Ciferri that she had close contact with Vatican investigators and with Pope Francis, and that she wanted to help Perlasca. She reportedly told Ciferri that everyone from the pope on down knew and approved of their maneuvering. On May 19, 2024, Ciferri demanded Chaouqui confirm that police, Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi, and Francis all knew and approved of the collaboration and had direct knowledge of it. Chaouqui replied that they were in agreement but warned: if it became public that all had agreed, it could be the end. Ciferri pressed: whether all the people she mentioned, including the Holy Father, were aware and whether Chaouqui and Diddi might have lied; Chaouqui responded that there are two levels: the level of truth where everyone from the pope down knew what they were doing, and the other level, the trial level, where it would be claimed that no one knew, to avoid voiding the proceedings. Ciferri acknowledged she would act accordingly. The chats were described as collateral to the appeals trial, not central to the case itself.

In April, Domani released an audio recording that purportedly captured Vatican police commissioner Stefano De Santis instructing Chaouqui about how Perlasca should revise his statements in August 2020, when he remained a suspect. The audio suggested Perlasca discuss the wider system of Crasso and Tirabassi and align his testimony with a narrative that could be seen as protecting the investigation. The Vatican has not disputed the audio’s authenticity or commented on its contents.

Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi declined to comment on the chats, saying the trial is the venue for adversarial proceedings; Chaouqui likewise declined to comment. Ciferri, in a statement to AP, said the chats are collateral and not central to the appeals trial, and she has filed complaints with Vatican prosecutors against Chaouqui for psychological manipulation. She said the appeals trial will hinge on the crimes and individual responsibilities for each count, not these messages.

Taken together, the documents and audio deepen questions about the Vatican's handling of internal investigations and witness management in a case that has inflamed a long-simmering reform debate within the church. While the Vatican has not disputed the authenticity of the audio or the texts, the messages raise questions about how far private influence can intersect with official inquiries in a case already marked by political and financial sensitivity.