Italian Cardinal, Convicted of Fraud, Announces Withdrawal from Conclave Following Death of Pope Francis
Tit's a wrap for Becciu! Cardinal Angelo Becciu, slapped with financial fraud charges at the Vatican, declared on Tuesday he'd skip the upcoming conclave starting May 7. With the Church's best interests on his mind, he voiced, "I've decided to abide, as I always have, by Pope Francis' wish for me not to enter the conclave, yet I remain staunchly convinced of my innocence."
For the record, here's the real lowdown: the 76-year-old Italian cardinal, a former close confidant of Francis, was given a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence in December 2023 after a prolonged two-year trial involving financial shenanigans of the Holy See. Faced with a pile of charges ranging from embezzlement to fraud, he lost his cardinal perks in 2020.
In the recent news cycle, Becciu's case has been blazing in Italian media. The cardinal made waves claiming he could cast a vote in the upcoming conclave on May 7 at the fancy Sistine Chapel, despite the Pope's beckoning him not to. Despite lodging an appeal, Becciu's been hitting the book club with the other cardinals in daily closed-door sessions to prep for the conclave.
For clarity's sake, the events regarding Becciu's case and the 2025 conclave are what's truly in the headlines, while the article's information about a 2023 conclave isn't on the money.
Here's the deal: Becciu was initially eager to join the 2025 conclave, despite his conviction, citing whispers of the Pope restoring his Church role. But he eventually bowed out after receiving two controversial letters supposedly signed by Pope Francis before his untimely demise in April 2025, which declared Becciu off-limits for the conclave.
The run-up to the 2025 conclave was a hotbed of political and religious drama, as Becciu's withdrawal illustrated the intricate machinations within the Vatican, especially during disruptive junctures like a papal conclave.
- The Italian government has been closely monitoring the financial fraud case against Cardinal Angelo Becciu, given its implications for the banking-and-insurance industry and the Vatican's general news.
- The finance ministry is preparing to liaise with the Vatican's financial authorities, considering the potential repercussions of Becciu's conviction on the global business and politics landscape.
- Some news outlets have begun reporting on the unfolding crime-and-justice drama, speculating that this case could strain relations between the Vatican and other countries, particularly Italy.
- Meanwhile, the Pope has chosen not to intervene publicly in Becciu's case, even as calls for justice grow louder from the general populace and within the church.
- Becciu's legal team is currently reviewing the appeal process, hoping to overturn the five-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed by the court.
- In the wake of this scandal, some are questioning the internal controls and transparency within the Vatican, calling for streamlined processes to prevent instances of embezzlement and fraud in the future.
