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Vatican. The convicted cardinal Angelo Becciu will not take part in the conclave

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Cardinal Angelo Becciu (archival recording)

Source: Reuters

The Italian cardinal Angelo Becciu announced that he would not take part in the conclave. Earlier, the 76-year-old clergyman, convicted of embezzlement, announced that despite the loss of cardinal rights, he wanted to participate in the election of a new pope. This caused divisions among other cardinals.

Key facts:

  • The Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu – once number three in the hierarchy of the Holy See – was convicted of confusing money and the abuse of the office.
  • Despite the judgment and loss of cardinal laws, the priest claimed that Pope Francis had forgiven him and declared that he wanted to take part in the conclave.
  • He informed about changing his opinion in a letter, also citing “the will of Pope Francis”.
  • Pope Francis deprived the cardinal in the Vatican in 2020. In 2023 he was convicted of embracing money and an abuse of powers. Despite this, after Franciszek's death he announced that he wanted to take part in the conclave.

In the Beccii letter announced on Tuesday, once an influential cardinal in the Vatican administration, he wrote: “Having the good of the Church in my heart I served and I will serve with faithfulness and love, and to contribute to the unity and peace of the conclave, I decided to obey the will of Pope Francis and not go to the conclusion, although I am convinced of my innocence.”

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The Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu was sentenced to over five years in prison

The Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu was sentenced to over five years in prison

Source: Riccardo Antimiani/PAP/EPA

Cardinal without the right to participate in the conclave

In the years 2011-2018, the dignitary from Sardinia was the deputy secretary of the state of the Holy See, and then the prefect of the Congregation for Causes. In September 2020 Pope Francis He called on the audience and unexpectedly released him from the prefect of the Congregation and deprived “the rights related to the dignity of the cardinal.” This meant that the Italian dignitary kept the title of cardinal, but lost all positions in the Roman Curia, including the right to participate in conclave.

The Pope reacted to the first reports of the financial scandal in the secretary's office that occurred when Becci was a substitute, i.e. the deputy secretary of state. The Italian weekly “L'Espresso” described irregularities in this institution. It was about, among others, an investment purchase of luxury real estate in London from the funds of the Secretariat of State, originating, among others from Świętopietrz, i.e. donations from the faithful for the needs of papal ministry, as well as to support apostolic and charity activities.

The cardinal lost the trial

Cardinal Becciu recognized that article as defamation and sued the publisher of the weekly, demanding EUR 10 million for charity. He argued that the publication led him to deprive him of the right to participate in the conclave and a chance to choose the pope, which in turn would be in danger of invalid. However, the court agreed that it was not defamation, and the cardinal had to cover the costs of the trial.

Later, the matter of financial irregularities in the Secretariat of State and the London transaction went to the Vatican State Tribunal, which in December 2023 sentenced Becciu to 5.5 years imprisonment for embracing money and abuse of powers. However, as Reuters informed, until the appeal is made, the priest remains at the wild.

“Black sheep conclave”

After the death of Pope Francis, the cardinal could not accept the decision to deprive him of the right to participate in the conclave. He argued that by inviting him to the last consistory, the Pope recognized his “prerogative of the cardinal”. He also maintained that the Pope had forgiven him. After the Pope's death of the Becci case, they reminded the largest Italian media. The daily “Il Fatto Quotidiano” called the dignitary “Black sheep conclave”.

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