International
Sins of the Vatican: Scandals, abuse, and a cardinal’s fall from grace
Sexual predators, financial fraudsters, spies, and even the occasional murderer. While the Catholic Church proclaims its saints on Earth, many demons lurk behind the Vatican’s walls.
“The Church is holy, but it is made up of sinners,” says historian Martin Dumont, quoting a homily by Pope Benedict XVI.
In the 21st century, sexual abuse committed by clergy against minors and fellow religious figures stands as the gravest crime facing the Catholic Church. It will also be the central issue awaiting Pope Francis’s successor, who must continue the efforts of investigation, truth-seeking, and reparation that were deeply advanced during Francis’s papacy.
The Argentine pope, who took up the pilgrim’s staff from his German predecessor, also tackled other forms of depravity—notably financial crimes.
Although others have been implicated, one man now symbolizes the Vatican’s internal cleanup efforts: Cardinal Angelo Becciu.
Becciu, the highest-ranking church official ever convicted by the Vatican’s criminal court, once served as a close advisor to Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis). He has come to represent the sins of greed and abuse of power that for centuries plagued the Church’s central authority—an institution once known for vaults full of unchecked gold.
Facing growing pressure from within the Church, Cardinal Becciu announced Tuesday that he would not participate in the upcoming conclave.
International
Prosecutor José Domingo Pérez reinstated in Fujimori corruption case
José Domingo Pérez, Peru’s top anti-corruption prosecutor who leads the case against political figure Keiko Fujimori for the alleged illegal financing of her 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns, will resume his duties on Tuesday after successfully appealing a suspension imposed in April.
The National Control Authority of the Public Ministry (ANC) nullified the six-month suspension, according to local media reports citing the official resolution.
The decision, issued Monday by the ANC’s General Appeals Directorate, partially upheld Pérez’s appeal and ordered his reinstatement to the Special Team investigating the Lava Jato and Odebrecht corruption cases in Peru.
Pérez was suspended on April 7 for six months, during which time he was barred from carrying out his role as provincial prosecutor of the Special Lava Jato Team, due to alleged administrative misconduct.
The resolution noted that “preventive removal from prosecutorial duties is reserved for exceptional and severe circumstances that compromise the dignity of the role and damage the prosecutor’s public reputation.”
Pérez had called the suspension “unjust and abusive,” adding that Peruvian prosecutors are enduring “difficult and resistant times.”
Meanwhile, on April 3, the Peruvian judiciary upheld a decision to annul the trial against Fujimori regarding alleged irregular campaign financing, affirming a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
As a result, Pérez’s previous appeal was rejected, and the Public Ministry must now rework parts of the investigation and file new charges—a process legal experts say could take between one year and 18 months.
A judge will then determine whether to proceed to trial against Fujimori and 32 other individuals connected to her political party, Fuerza Popular, over alleged illegal contributions from companies like Brazil’s Odebrecht and several Peruvian conglomerates.
International
Spain approves plan to reduce workweek to 37.5 hours
Spanish workers could soon enjoy an extra 2.5 hours of free time per week.
On Tuesday, the Spanish government approved a draft bill to reduce the standard workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours.
According to the Ministry of Labor, the measure will benefit 12.5 million private sector workers, both full-time and part-time. The ministry also stated that the move is expected to improve productivity and reduce absenteeism.
“Today, we are modernizing the world of work and, more importantly, helping people be a little happier,” said Vice President and Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz during a press conference.
International
Sinaloa Cartel faction leader ‘Chuy’ Guzmán Castro detained in Mexico amid rising violence
Mexican authorities have arrested Jesús Guzmán Castro, also known as ‘Chuy’ or ‘Narizón’, a member of the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically from the ‘Los Mayos’ faction. He is accused of conspiracy and distributing cocaine to the United States, according to security sources.
Guzmán Castro was captured in Culiacán, the capital of the northern state of Sinaloa, and authorities confirmed that he has an arrest warrant for extradition to the United States. He is linked to criminal charges including organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) reported that his arrest was the result of an investigation and international cooperation aimed at dismantling criminal networks, according to an official statement.
The arrest is significant as it occurred amid the Sinaloa Cartel’s internal struggle following the capture of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada in the United States, which led to a violent confrontation between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos. This conflict has exacerbated violence in Sinaloa, particularly in Culiacán, with over 800 homicides reported since September 2024.
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