Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican, has withdrawn from the secret conclave to elect the new pope. Becciu was ordered by Pope Francis to resign his cardinal rights in 2020 after becoming embroiled in a Vatican financial scandal.
Following Pope Francis’ death last week, Becciu launched an appeal to be included in the conclave, but he now says he will not participate. “I have decided to obey, as I have always done, Pope Francis’ will not to enter the Conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence,” he said in a statement.
Becciu’s decision comes after he told a Sardinian newspaper that he had not been explicitly excluded from the conclave and did not need to renounce his participation in writing. The cardinal previously held a high-ranking position in the Vatican, including being the chief of staff equivalent.
Becciu was convicted of embezzlement and fraud in 2023 and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. He has maintained his innocence throughout and is allowed to continue living in a Vatican apartment while his appeal is considered.
The conclave, set to start on May 7, will elect a new leader for the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/29/europe/cardinal-becciu-withdraws-conclave-intl/index.html