Disgraced Cardinal Becciu withdraws from conclave to elect pope for ‘the good of the church’

The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican’s “trial of the century” announced on Tuesday he was withdrawing from taking part in the coming conclave to elect a new pope for “the good of the church.”

Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis’ death, amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect his successor.

After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any future conclave. But in recent days, he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on May 7.

On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said: “Having at heart the good of the church, which I have served and will continue to serve with fidelity and love, as well as to contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave, I have decided to obey as I have always done the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence.”

Becciu was once an influential Vatican chief of staff who was a leading papal contender himself. But he fell from grace in 2020 when Francis forced him to resign his job as head of the Vatican’s saint-making office and his rights as a cardinal because of allegations of financial misconduct.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu was convicted of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. Photo: Reuters

Becciu denied wrongdoing but was put on trial in the Vatican criminal court and convicted of finance-related charges in December 2023. He is appealing the conviction and 5 1/2-year prison sentence, and had taken part in the pre-conclave meetings, including on Monday.

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