Cardinal Angelo Becciu Bows Out of Papal Conclave, Citing Loyalty to Late Pope Francis

Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, previously convicted of embezzlement and fraud, has stated that he will not take part in the upcoming conclave to choose a new pope following the recent passing of Pope Francis. Becciu, who was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison by a Vatican court in December 2023, continues to maintain his innocence and is currently free pending an appeal.

Expressing his decision to abide by the will of Pope Francis, Becciu mentioned, “Having the best interests of the Church at heart, I have chosen to comply, as I always have, with the wishes of Pope Francis and refrain from participating in the conclave, while still maintaining my belief in my innocence.”

Reportedly, Pope Francis had previously removed Becciu from his senior Vatican position and related privileges. Becciu’s situation has been under review by Catholic cardinals worldwide, who are meeting this week to address matters impacting the global Church before proceeding with the papal election. The conclave is set to commence on May 7.

German cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, known for his clashes with Francis, expressed his personal opinion to Reuters, stating, “As for the conclave, that issue has been resolved. Regarding (Becciu’s) case, I would say that he was not treated fairly.”

In a previous report by Crosswalk Headlines, it was noted that over 200,000 individuals attended Pope Francis’ funeral at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican last Saturday, alongside 250 cardinals and several world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Prince William, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 last Monday due to a stroke followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. The interim head of the Church of England, Stephen Cottrell, described him as “a great Pope” and emphasized his devotion to Jesus, calling on the world to follow his example.

Francis, who was the first pope in 350 years to be interred at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, has left a lasting impact on the global community with his life and teachings.