Vatican in crisis: Cardinal Beccius withdraws from papal vote

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu has officially withdrawn from participating in the conclave to elect a new pope.

The 76-year-old Italian announced Tuesday he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope for the good of the church.

His status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis’ death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect Francis’ successor.

Following his downfall in 2020, Becciu had said he would not take part in any future conclave.

But in the past few days, he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on May 7.

However, on Tuesday, Becciu released a statement through his lawyers , saying; “having at heart the good of the church.

“I have served and will continue to serve with fidelity and love, as well as to contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave.

“ I have decided to obey as I have always done the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence.”

Becciu was once an influential Vatican chief of staff who was a leading papal contender himself.

But he fell from grace in 2020 when Francis forced him to resign his job as head of the Vatican’s saint-making office and his rights as a cardinal because of allegations of financial misconduct.

Becciu denied wrongdoing but was put on trial in the Vatican criminal court and convicted of finance-related charges in December 2023.

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