Two significant Vatican trials are reaching a critical point this week, raising uncomfortable questions for the Holy See. These cases highlight Pope Francis’ authority as an absolute monarch and the challenges that can emerge in terms of legal, financial, and reputational issues when he exercises this power.

In one trial, the Vatican’s former in-house auditor, Libero Milone, appeared in court for a hearing regarding his 9.3 million euro wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the Holy See. Milone claims that Vatican police forced his resignation in 2017, threatening him with arrest, after he pursued vigorous efforts to audit Vatican monsignors, leading to Pope Francis losing faith in him.