An Italian cardinal who was convicted of embezzlement and fraud said on Tuesday (29) that he will not participate in the secret conclave to elect the new Pope.
Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the highest employee of the Catholic Church ever tried in a Vatican criminal court, said in a statement that he would not participate in the conclave.
Becciu was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by a Vatican Court in December 2023. He denies all crimes and is free while waiting for an appeal.
“Having in heart the good of the Church … I decided to obey, as I always did, at the will of Pope Francis and not enter the conclave, still being convinced of my innocence,” said the cardinal.
Francisco, who died on April 21, had fired Becciu from the Vatican tall in 2020 and accused him of embezzlement.
The Pope allowed Becciu to maintain his ecclesiastical title and his apartment in the Vatican, but he deprived him of what the Vatican said at the time they were “the rights associated with cardinalato.”
The writing of this statement left doubts about whether Becciu could still enter the conclave to elect Francisco’s successor.
The world’s Catholic cardinals, who are gathering this week to discuss general matters facing the global church before voting for the new Pope, were known for discussing what to do with the case of Becciu.
The conclave should start on May 7th.
This content was originally published in Cardinal convicted and fired by Francisco says he will not be on the conclave on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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