Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican, has announced that he will not participate in the upcoming papal conclave to elect the new pope.
Despite launching an appeal to support his right to be in the conclave, Becciu stated that he will obey Pope Francis’ will and withdraw from the process.
Becciu was convicted of embezzlement and fraud in 2023 and handed a five-and-a-half-year jail sentence.
He was ordered by Pope Francis in 2020 to resign the “rights and privileges” of a cardinal after becoming embroiled in a Vatican financial scandal.
The conclave is scheduled to begin on May 7, where cardinals will gather to elect a new leader for 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Becciu’s decision to withdraw comes after he initially stated that he believed he had the right to participate in the conclave.
Becciu maintains his innocence and has launched an appeal against his conviction, which is currently under consideration.
He is allowed to continue living in a Vatican apartment while the appeal process is underway.
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