Controversial cleric vying for papal election; fellow church dignitaries face decision dilemma
In the heart of VATICAN CITY, the anticipated secret conclave to select a new Pope following the resignation of Pope Francis is underway. A pressing predicament has arisen among the cardinals as they ponder whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a cardinal previously convicted of embezzlement and fraud, merits a vote.
Becciu, now facing a sentence of 5-1/2 years in prison, was the highest-ranking Catholic Church official ever to stand trial in a Vatican court. He maintains his innocence and is appealing the verdict. On Thursday, a message seeking comment from the Italian cardinal went unanswered.
The conundrum surrounding Cardinal Becciu dates back to September 24, 2020, when Pope Francis dismissively dismissed him from his post as the head of the Vatican department responsible for canonizing saints. According to Becciu's account, this dismissal took place at the Pope's residence.
Becciu argues that his cardinal privileges remain intact, enabling him to cast a vote in the conclave. He cites the Pope's invitation for him to attend a consistory in 2022 as evidence, asserting that this invitation underscores his cardinal rights and that he has not formally renounced them in writing.
Despite Becciu's stance, Vatican records categorize him as a "non-elector," a status denoting his ineligibility to vote in the conclave. This classification corresponds to the stripping of his cardinal privileges in 2020, following an investigation into financial irregularities, and his subsequent imprisonment and permanent disqualification from public office.
According to Catholic canon law, cardinals under 80 years of age can only participate in papal elections if they retain their full cardinal privileges. Becciu formally relinquished these privileges in 2020. Cardinals who have lost these privileges, like Becciu, are ineligible to vote in general congregations, which do not grant conclave voting rights [1][4].
At present, Cardinal Becciu is appealing his conviction, still seeking formal reinstatement of his voting privileges. However, Vatican law and practice suggest that Becciu is barred from voting in the upcoming conclave [1][2][3][4].
In 2023, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was sentenced to 5-1/2 years in prison for embezzlement and fraud, is attempting to try for a vote in the secret conclave to select a new Pope, despite being classified as a "non-elector" due to his ineligibility and the stripping of his cardinal privileges in 2020. This ongoing conundrum over Becciu's voting eligibility has become a general-news topic under the crime-and-justice category.
