A Vatican judge has ordered 10 people, including an Italian cardinal, to stand trial for alleged financial crimes.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu has become the highest-ranked cleric in the Vatican to be indicted over charges that include embezzlement and abuse of office.

The 73-year-old cardinal, who denies wrongdoing, was forced to resign last September but retains his title.

The charges relate to a multi-million-dollar property purchase with Church funds in London.

Cardinal Becciu was a close aide to the Pope and previously had a key job in the Vatican's Secretariat of State.

Last year, he told Italian media that he had been being sacked because he was suspected of giving Church money to his brothers, but denied the allegations.

"I didn't steal even one euro," he said at the time.

The Pope's former secretary and former heads of the Vatican's financial intelligence unit are also among the 10 defendants.

They face charges including embezzlement, money-laundering, fraud, extortion and abuse of office.

An Italian woman who worked for Cardinal Becciu was charged with embezzlement last year.

The first hearing is due to be held on 27 July, according to the statement on Vatican News.