Vatican Court Jails Sistine Chapel Choir Officials in Fraud Case
Former Choir Director and Administrators Convicted of Financial Misconduct
The Vatican court has sentenced three defendants in a high-profile financial fraud case involving the management of the historic Sistine Chapel Choir.
Massimo Palombella, the former musical director, received a three-year and two-month prison sentence and a €9,000 fine. Michelangelo Nardella, the former administrative director, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.
Nardella’s wife was also sentenced to two years in prison, with her lawyer announcing plans to appeal the verdict.
The trial involved allegations of embezzlement, money laundering, and fraud, including claims that officials misappropriated proceeds from choir concerts and engaged in irregular financial transactions.
Investigations began in 2018 following complaints about the choir’s financial management, prompting Pope Francis to initiate an inquiry.
The Sistine Chapel Choir, founded in 1471 and described as the world’s oldest active choir, features both adult singers and boys aged nine to 13 who perform at Papal Masses in St. Peter’s Basilica.
