Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Italian cleric central to the Vatican’s historic financial misconduct trial, announced on Tuesday he would not participate in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope, according to AP News.
The decision ends days of speculation over whether the convicted cardinal would assert his right to vote despite his tarnished legacy. Becciu, once a powerful Vatican chief of staff and potential papal contender, was stripped of his rights as a cardinal in 2020 following allegations of embezzlement and financial mismanagement.
Though he denies wrongdoing, a Vatican court convicted him in December 2023 on charges related to a controversial London property deal and misuse of church funds, sentencing him to five-and-a-half years in prison. An appeal is pending.
In a statement issued via his lawyers, the 76-year-old acknowledged “the will of Pope Francis” as the reason for his withdrawal, alluding to letters reportedly sent by the late pontiff before his demise. Italian newspaper Domani revealed last week that Francis had twice instructed Becciu to abstain from the conclave, a directive the cardinal initially resisted.
Legal ambiguity and conclave controversy
Becciu’s eligibility had sparked debate, as Vatican law permits cardinals under 80 to vote unless formally “canonically deposed” or stripped of their title. Though Francis removed Becciu’s rights in 2020, the Vatican’s vague phrasing—citing only the surrender of “rights connected to the cardinalate”—left room for interpretation. Critics argue his participation would have undermined the conclave’s credibility, given his conviction.
Questions also linger over the fairness of Becciu’s trial. Proceedings exposed extraordinary interventions by Francis, who allegedly bolstered prosecutors’ efforts, while witnesses claimed evidence was manipulated. Becciu’s defence team has denounced the process as politically motivated, a charge the Vatican denies.
The cardinal’s exit avoids a potential clash between reformers and conservatives within the College of Cardinals. Becciu, closely tied to Benedict XVI’s traditionalist faction, had been seen as a likely opponent of Francis’ progressive legacy. His withdrawal narrows the field for a conclave already fraught with divisions over the church’s future direction.
For now, his decision to step aside removes one flashpoint as cardinals prepare to gather in the Sistine Chapel on 7 May.
