Convicted Cardinal Gives Up Spot in Papal Conclave – “I Obey, but I Am Innocent”

The Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu has announced that he will not take part in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope.

The decision comes just one week after the death of Pope Francis – and only months after Becciu was convicted by the Vatican’s own court for financial crimes.

The cardinal, formerly one of the most powerful men in the Vatican, issued a statement on Tuesday confirming his withdrawal. “I have decided to obey, as I have always done, the Pope’s will not to enter the conclave – while remaining convinced of my innocence,” the statement read.

From Vatican Insider to Criminal Trial

Becciu previously held a key role as “sostituto” – a kind of chief of staff within the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.

The position granted him direct access to the pope and significant influence over the central administration of the Catholic Church. He was later reassigned to head the department responsible for the canonization of saints.

In 2020, Pope Francis ordered Becciu to resign the rights and privileges of a cardinal after he became involved in a major financial scandal.

Three years later, he was convicted of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five and a half years in prison. It was the first time the Vatican’s criminal court had handed down a conviction against a cardinal.

No Formal Exclusion – But a Clear Message

The decision not to participate in the conclave came even though Becciu recently told a Sardinian newspaper that he had not received any explicit order to stay away. “There was no explicit will to exclude me from the conclave, nor a request for my explicit renunciation in writing,” he said at the time.

The comment could be interpreted as an attempt to leave the door open for his participation – but Tuesday’s statement made it clear that, in the end, he chose obedience.

The Appeal Continues

Although Becciu has withdrawn from the historic election of the new pope, he continues to fight for exoneration. His appeal is still under review, and in the meantime, he has been allowed to remain in a Vatican apartment.

With 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and the conclave set to begin on May 7, the election will proceed without one of the Church’s most controversial figures. Becciu has chosen silence and patience – but has not yet given up.

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