A postal clerk walking across London's Blackfriars Bridge on 18 June 1982 discovered the body of Roberto Calvi hanging from the scaffolding beneath the structure. The banker, who had recently fled Rome using a false passport, carried approximately US$14,000 in various currencies and had five bricks inside his pockets at the time of his death.
Professional Rise in Banking
Born in Milan in 1920, Calvi pursued an education at Bocconi University before entering the financial sector. His career began after World War II at the Italian Commercial Bank, where his father served as manager. By 1947, he transitioned to Banco Ambrosiano, which eventually became the second-largest bank in Italy. Under the guidance of Carlo Alessandro Canesi, Calvi ascended through the ranks, achieving the position of general manager in 1971 and chairman by 1975.
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In 1978, the Bank of Italy initiated a report regarding Banco Ambrosiano that uncovered the illegal export of several billion lire. By 1981, Calvi faced trial, resulting in a four-year suspended sentence and a US$19.8 million fine for violating national currency laws. Despite legal challenges, he maintained his role at the institution. By June 1982, the bank faced total collapse with debts ranging between US$700 million and 1.5 billion, prompting Calvi to warn Pope John Paul II of potential catastrophe.
Investigations into Death
Following the discovery of his body, initial London inquests returned a verdict of suicide in 1982, though a second inquest in 1983 recorded an open verdict. Independent investigations, including forensic reports commissioned by the Calvi family in 1991 and later by Italian courts, challenged the suicide theory by noting physical inconsistencies regarding the scaffolding and the bricks found in his clothing. The City of London Police reopened the case as a murder inquiry in 2003.
Links to Propaganda Due
Calvi held membership in Propaganda Due, an illegal masonic lodge led by Licio Gelli. Members referred to themselves as black friars, a term later linked by some observers to the location of Calvi's death at Blackfriars Bridge. His secretary, Graziella Corrocher, committed suicide at the bank's headquarters the day before his body was found, leaving a note that criticized Calvi's management and the resulting damage to the institution.
Fast facts
- Born: 1920, Milan
- Died: 1982, London
- Education: Bocconi University
- Role: Chairman, Banco Ambrosiano
- Masonic Affiliation: Propaganda Due
- Known Alias: Gian Roberto Calvini
- Citizenship: Italy
Questions readers ask
Why was Roberto Calvi called God's Banker?
The press dubbed him this due to his extensive business dealings with the Holy See and the Vatican Bank.
Was the death of Roberto Calvi a suicide?
Although the initial 1982 inquest recorded a suicide verdict, subsequent forensic investigations and legal reviews suggested the death was a murder, leading the City of London Police to reopen the inquiry in 2003.
Achievements
- Educated at Bocconi University