Tainted Cardinal withdraws candidacy for the papal position
Untold Tale of Cardinal Angelo Becciu's Conclave Withdrawal
Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once a trusted confidant of Pope Francis, has announced his decision to skip the upcoming papal conclave. This surprising move comes after years of turbulence that's left his once influential position tainted.
During the recent general congregation, Becciu reportedly addressed his fellow cardinals, stating that he holds the right to partake in the electoral process. However, he opted to forgo his participation, a decision expected to be made official in a statement later today.
Becciu served as the Vatican's Secretary of State's right-hand man for seven years, a position bestowed upon him by the Pope himself. Yet, in 2020, a mysterious conversation led to Becciu's removal from his post. The reasons behind this move remained unclear at the time.
Behind Bars: Becciu's Criminal Sentence and Appeal
In late 2023, Becciu made headlines as the first cardinal in history to be sentenced to prison by a Vatican court. He received a five-and-a-half-year prison term for his part in a shady real estate scandal involving millions of dollars. His current circumstances are unclear.
Becciu's name remains absent from the Vatican's list of active electors, having been demoted to non-elector status. However, in a recent newspaper interview, he disputed the legal validity of this list. In 2022, Pope Francis extended an olive branch by inviting Becciu to a meeting of cardinals, which Becciu sees as a form of reconciliation following the loss of his cardinal rights. As of now, the Vatican has yet to provide an official statement regarding this matter.
The Legal Battles Continue
Despite his attempt to participate in the conclave based on private conversations with Pope Francis, Becciu's claims appear to have been refuted due to an alleged letter from the Pope explicitly excluding him. Becciu's decision to waive his right to vote is likely influenced by the ongoing legal battles he faces for financial misconduct.
Back in 2020, Pope Francis effectively removed him from his position as head of the Vatican's saint-making office and requested his resignation, stripping him of his cardinal rights [1, 2]. However, Becciu maintains that his status remains intact [2]. With the upcoming conclave on the horizon, the Vatican community anticipates the resolution of these legal and religious complexities.
[Reference: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
- The pope, in an alleged letter, is said to have refuted Becciu's claims to participate in the upcoming papal conclave, a decision that may be influenced by Becciu's ongoing legal battles for financial misconduct.
- Becciu, despite being demoted to non-elector status, disputes the legal validity of the Vatican's list of active electors and sees his meeting with Pope Francis as a form of reconciliation.
- In a surprising move, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once a trusted confidant of Pope Francis, announced his decision to skip the upcoming papal conclave, a decision expected to be made official in a statement later today.
- In late 2023, ANSA (news agency) reported that Becciu, the first cardinal in history to be sentenced to prison by a Vatican court, received a five-and-a-half-year prison term for his part in a shady real estate scandal involving millions of dollars.
