Nairobi, Kenya- Cardinal Angelo Becciu—the central figure in the Church’s largest financial scandal in decades—has voluntarily removed himself from the conclave to elect the next pope. His reason? Church unity over personal redemption.
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once a Vatican power broker and later its most infamous defendant, has formally declared that he will not take part in the upcoming May 7 conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor.
The 76-year-old Italian prelate, convicted in 2023 of embezzlement and abuse of office, made the announcement via a statement released through his lawyers on Tuesday.
“Having at heart the good of the Church… I have decided to obey, as I have always done, the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave,” Becciu said, adding that he remains “convinced of [his] innocence.”
The move comes just days after Becciu had reignited controversy by asserting that he still held the canonical right to vote for the next pontiff, given that he was never officially expelled from the College of Cardinals.
His status had remained a grey area, sparking debate among canon law experts and Vatican insiders alike.
From Power Player to Persona Non Grata
Once dubbed the Vatican’s “shadow pope,” Becciu served as the sostituto in the Secretariat of State—a role that placed him just steps away from Pope Francis and at the heart of Vatican decision-making.
That all changed with the unraveling of the now-infamous London real estate deal, a $200 million debacle that triggered the largest criminal trial in modern Church history.
Becciu became the poster child for Vatican mismanagement, eventually convicted and sentenced to five and a half years in prison, though he is appealing and still resides within Vatican territory.
Pope Francis’ move to allow cardinals like Becciu to be tried in civil courts marked a bold shift toward financial accountability and transparency, earning praise from reform advocates and Vatican watchers.
A Conclave Without Its Most Controversial Cardinal
With Pope Francis’ recent passing, the Church has now entered sede vacante—a period without a pope.
And with the May 7 conclave approaching, Becciu’s presence had threatened to overshadow the spiritual solemnity of the event with a cloud of scandal and speculation.
Under Vatican law, it’s the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who ultimately determines who can enter the conclave.
However, Becciu’s voluntary withdrawal may have spared the Church from a divisive standoff at the Sistine Chapel doors.
His exit now paves the way for a conclave more focused on discernment and less on damage control.
