A cardinal convicted of monetary crimes by the Vatican is declaring he can take part in the upcoming conclave despite being listed as a non-elector.
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, as soon as one of the most effective figures in the Vatican, was purchased by Pope Francis in 2020 to resign the rights and privileges of a cardinal after he became embroiled in a Vatican monetary scandal.The Sardinian cardinal previously held the position of sostituto (replacement) in the Holy Sees Secretariat of State - a papal chief of staff equivalent.The role provided Becciu walk-in advantages to see the pope and he commanded huge authority across the churchs main federal government.
He was later relocated to a position running the Vaticans saint-making department.Becciu was convicted of embezzlement and scams in 2023 and handed a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
He is the very first cardinal to be founded guilty by the Vaticans criminal court.While the Holy See press workplace has listed him as a non-elector, Becciu informed a Sardinian newspaper on Tuesday that there was no specific will to omit me from the conclave nor a request for my specific renunciation in writing.The choice of his involvement will likely be decided by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who will oversee the conclave procedures inside the Sistine Chapel.The examination into Becciu fixated the Holy Sees dreadful investment in a London property that saw the church lose 10s of millions of dollars.During his papacy, Francis sought to tidy up Vatican finances and altered the law to ensure that Becciu, as a cardinal, might be judged by a Vatican tribunal of judges.Although Becciu lost his rights and opportunities as a cardinal, he was never technically eliminated from the College of Cardinals.
He is enabled to take part in the pre-conclave discussions.Only cardinals under the age of 80 are permitted to vote in a papal election.
As it currently stands, there are 135 qualified cardinals who will participate in conclave.
Becciu is 76 and still qualified when it pertains to his age.But the cardinal, who has always preserved his innocence, introduced an appeal thats currently still under consideration.
Hes permitted to continue to reside in a Vatican apartment or condo while this process is underway.Source: CNN-- Agencies