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The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from participation in conclave to elect Pope
The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican's 'trial of the century' announced on Tuesday (April 29, 2025) he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new Pope for 'the good of the church,' ending days of drama that had overshadowed the proceedings. Cardinal Angelo Becciu' s 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 or not. After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any future conclave. But in recent days he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on May 7. On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said: 'Having at heart the good of the church, which 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. He is appealing the conviction and 5 1/2-year prison sentence and had participated in the pre-conclave meetings, including on Monday. Becciu's withdrawal doesn't affect the Vatican's official statistics about the conclave because internally it never considered him eligible to vote. There remain 135 cardinal electors, though Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed Tuesday that two had formally announced they weren't coming due to health reasons, bringing the number of electors down to 133. Becciu is under the age limit of 80 and technically eligible to vote, but the Vatican's official statistics list him as a 'non-elector.' The Vatican document regulating a conclave, known by its Latin name Universi Dominici Gregis, lays out the criteria for electors, making clear that cardinals under 80 have the right to elect the pope, except those who have been 'canonically deposed or who with the consent of the Roman Pontiff have renounced the cardinalate.' It adds that after a pope has died, 'the College of Cardinals cannot readmit or rehabilitate them.' There has never been any clarity on what exactly Becciu renounced or how: The one-line statement issued by the Vatican press office on Sept. 24, 2020, said merely that Francis had accepted Becciu's resignation as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints 'and his rights connected to the cardinalate.' There is no indication he has been sanctioned canonically. Italian daily Domani reported last week that during the initial pre-conclave discussions, Becciu was presented with two letters signed by Francis before he died saying he should not participate in the conclave. Becciu's reference to Francis' will in his statement Tuesday suggests that the letters were the tipping point that convinced him to withdraw from the vote. Becciu rose to prominence and power under conservative Pope Benedict XVI and is very much affiliated with the conservative Vatican old guard. While he initially became a close adviser to Pope Francis, Becciu's subsequent downfall at the hands of Francis might suggest he would have voted for someone keen to undo some of Francis' reforms. After he forced Becciu's resignation, Francis visited Becciu on occasions and allowed him to participate in the life of the Vatican. But Francis also changed Vatican law to allow the city state's criminal tribunal to prosecute him. Questions, meanwhile, have continued to swirl about the integrity of the trial that convicted Becciu and eight others. During the proceedings, the court heard that Francis intervened on several occasions on behalf of the prosecutors and that the prosecution's prime witness against Becciu was coached and manipulated by outsiders. Defense lawyers discovered that the pope had secretly issued four decrees during the investigation to benefit prosecutors, allowing them to conduct intercepts and detain suspects without a judge's warrant. Lawyers cried foul, arguing such interference by an absolute monarch in a legal system where the pope exercises supreme legislative, executive and judicial power violated their clients' fundamental rights and robbed them of a fair trial. The tribunal rejected their objections, but in recent weeks even more evidence has emerged about the outside manipulation of the witness and apparent collusion with Vatican prosecutors and gendarmes to target Becciu. The appeal is scheduled to begin in September.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Convicted Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu pulls out of the conclave to choose the next pope
A cardinal convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican who was demanding he should be able to participate in the upcoming conclave to decide who will replace Pope Francis now says he will not take part in it. Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, 76, was asked by Francis to step down from his position and resign all 'rights and privileges' of being a cardinal at the Vatican in 2020 after he was accused of being involved in embezzlement and fraud. Three years later, Becciu was convicted of the charges and given a five-and-a-half-year sentence. Since his conviction, Becciu has maintained his innocence. Last week, he told a Sardinian newspaper that despite being labeled by the Holy See's press office a 'non-elector' in the conclave, 'there was no explicit will to exclude me from the conclave nor a request for my explicit renunciation in writing.' Becciu released a statement on Tuesday, saying, 'I have decided to obey, as I have always done, Pope Francis' will not to enter the conclave, while remaining convinced of my innocence.' Here's what we know about Becciu: Becciu has been involved with the Vatican since 2001. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as substitute for general affairs in the secretariat of state, similar to a chief of staff position, making him the third most powerful person at the Vatican. Francis made Becciu a cardinal in 2018 and then appointed him prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, another powerful position where he was in charge of the Vatican's saint-making department. The Vatican issued a statement in September 2020 announcing that Francis had accepted Becciu's resignation from his position at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and 'his rights connected to the cardinalate.' The Vatican identified Becciu as 'His Eminence Cardinal,' which means that Becciu still had the cardinal title but none of the rights. At the time, it was reported that Becciu was involved in a financial scandal involving the Vatican's investment in a real estate deal in London. In 2014, the Vatican entered a real estate venture by investing $200 million in a fund run by Raffaele Mincione, an Italian businessman, to grant the Vatican 45% ownership of a luxury building in London's Chelsea neighborhood, the Associated Press reported. The investment funds came from the asset portfolio of the secretariat of state, which Becciu had been No. 2 in at the time, and is funded by Peter's Pence donations from Catholics around the world. Peter's Pence donations are forwarded to the pope to help maintain the Vatican and donate to charities. When Becciu left the position in 2018 after Francis named him a cardinal, Becciu's successor wanted to end the fund and buy out the full building to avoid losing more money. Instead, the buyout deal cost the Vatican millions of euros, which launched the investigation into Becciu and other Vatican employees involved in organizing the deal in 2014. Becciu wasn't investigated only because of the London building. He was also accused of funneling money to his home diocese of Sardinia, BBC News reported. In 2022, Becciu was accused of sending large amounts of money to Australia when an Australian cardinal was on trial. Becciu and nine other defendants — including financiers, lawyers and former Vatican employees — faced charges including embezzlement, fraud, money laundering and abuse of office, according to BBC News. After two years of trials, the Vatican court sentenced Becciu to five and a half years in jail for financial crimes in December 2023. Becciu became the first cardinal to be tried and convicted by the Vatican's criminal court. 'We reaffirm Cardinal Angelo Becciu's innocence and will appeal,' Becciu's lawyer, Fabio Viglione, said after the verdict. 'We respect the ruling, but we will definitely appeal.' Becciu and his lawyer have appealed the 2023 ruling. While the appeal process is ongoing, Becciu has avoided jail and has been allowed to live in his Vatican apartment.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Convicted Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu pulls out of the conclave to choose the next pope
A cardinal convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican who was demanding he should be able to participate in the upcoming conclave to decide who will replace Pope Francis now says he will not take part in it. Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, 76, was asked by Francis to step down from his position and resign all 'rights and privileges' of being a cardinal at the Vatican in 2020 after he was accused of being involved in embezzlement and fraud. Three years later, Becciu was convicted of the charges and given a five-and-a-half-year sentence. Since his conviction, Becciu has maintained his innocence. Last week, he told a Sardinian newspaper that despite being labeled by the Holy See's press office a 'non-elector' in the conclave, 'there was no explicit will to exclude me from the conclave nor a request for my explicit renunciation in writing.' Becciu released a statement on Tuesday, saying 'I have decided to obey, as I have always done, Pope Francis' will not to enter the Conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence.' Here's what we know about Becciu: Becciu has been involved with the Vatican since 2001. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as substitute for general affairs in the secretariat of state, similar to a chief of staff position, making him the third most powerful person at the Vatican. Francis made Becciu a cardinal in 2018 and then appointed him prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, another powerful position where he was in charge of the Vatican's saint-making department. The Vatican issued a statement in September 2020 announcing that Francis had accepted Becciu's resignation from his position at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and 'his rights connected to the cardinalate.' The Vatican identified Becciu as 'His Eminence Cardinal,' which means that Becciu still had the cardinal title but none of the rights. At the time, it was reported that Becciu was involved in a financial scandal involving the Vatican's investment in a real estate deal in London. In 2014, the Vatican entered a real estate venture by investing $200 million in a fund run by Raffaele Mincione, an Italian businessman, to grant the Vatican 45% ownership of a luxury building in London's Chelsea neighborhood, the Associated Press reported. The investment funds came from the asset portfolio of the secretariat of state, which Becciu had been No. 2 in at the time, and is funded by Peter's Pence donations from Catholics around the world. Peter's Pence donations are forwarded to the pope to help maintain the Vatican and donate to charities. When Becciu left the position in 2018 after Francis named him a cardinal, Becciu's successor wanted to end the fund and buy out the full building to avoid losing more money. Instead, the buyout deal cost the Vatican millions of euros, which launched the investigation into Becciu and other Vatican employees involved in organizing the deal in 2014. Becciu wasn't investigated only because of the London building. He was also accused of funneling money to his home diocese of Sardinia, BBC News reported. In 2022, Becciu was accused of sending large amounts of money to Australia when an Australian cardinal was on trial. Becciu and nine other defendants — including financiers, lawyers and former Vatican employees — faced charges including embezzlement, fraud, money laundering and abuse of office, according to BBC News. After two years of trials, the Vatican court sentenced Becciu to five and a half years in jail for financial crimes in December 2023. Becciu became the first cardinal to be tried and convicted by the Vatican's criminal court. 'We reaffirm Cardinal Angelo Becciu's innocence and will appeal,' Becciu's lawyer, Fabio Viglione, said after the verdict. 'We respect the ruling, but we will definitely appeal.' Becciu and his lawyer have appealed the 2023 ruling. While the appeal process is ongoing, Becciu has avoided jail and has been allowed to live in his Vatican apartment.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from participation in conclave to elect new pope
VATICAN CITY: The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican's 'trial of the century' announced Tuesday he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope for 'the good of the church.' After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any future conclave. But in recent days he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on May 7. On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said: 'Having at heart the good of the church, which 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 rose to prominence and power under conservative Pope Benedict XVI and is very much affiliated with the conservative Vatican old guard. While he initially became a close adviser to Pope Francis, Becciu's subsequent downfall at the hands of Francis might suggest he would have voted for someone keen to undo some of Francis' reforms. At 76, Becciu is under the age limit of 80 and technically eligible to vote, but the Vatican's official statistics list him as a 'non-elector.' The Vatican document regulating a conclave, known by its Latin name Universi Dominici Gregis, lays out the criteria for electors, making clear that cardinals under 80 have the right to elect the pope, except those who have been 'canonically deposed or who with the consent of the Roman Pontiff have renounced the cardinalate.' It adds that after a pope has died, 'the College of Cardinals cannot readmit or rehabilitate them.' There has never been any clarity on what exactly Becciu renounced or how: The one-line statement issued by the Vatican press office on Sept. 24, 2020, said merely that Francis had accepted Becciu's resignation as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints 'and his rights connected to the cardinalate.' There is no indication he has been sanctioned canonically. Italian daily Domani reported last week that during the initial pre-conclave discussions, Becciu was presented with two letters signed by Francis before he died saying he should not participate in the conclave. Becciu's reference to Francis' will in his statement Tuesday suggests that the letters were the tipping point that convinced him to withdraw from the vote. After he forced Becciu's resignation, Francis visited Becciu on occasions and allowed him to participate in the life of the Vatican. But Francis also changed Vatican law to allow the city state's criminal tribunal to prosecute him. Questions, meanwhile, have continued to swirl about the
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from participation in conclave to elect pope
The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican's 'trial of the century' announced Tuesday he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope for 'the good of the church.' Cardinal Angelo Becciu's status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis' death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect his successor. On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said: 'Having at heart the good of the church, which 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. He is appealing the conviction and 5 1/2-year prison sentence and had participated in the pre-conclave meetings, including on Monday. Becciu rose to prominence and power under conservative Pope Benedict XVI and is very much affiliated with the conservative Vatican old guard. While he initially became a close adviser to Pope Francis, Becciu's subsequent downfall at the hands of Francis might suggest he would vote for someone keen to undo some of Francis' reforms. At 76, Becciu is under the age limit of 80 and technically eligible to vote, but the Vatican's official statistics list him as a 'non-elector.' The Vatican document regulating a conclave, known by its Latin name Universi Dominici Gregis, lays out the criteria for electors, making clear that 80 cardinals under 80 have the right to elect the pope, except those who have been 'canonically deposed or who with the consent of the Roman Pontiff have renounced the cardinalate.' It adds that after a pope has died, 'the College of Cardinals cannot readmit or rehabilitate them.' There has never been any clarity on what exactly Becciu renounced or how: The one-line statement issued by the Vatican press office on Sept. 24, 2020, said merely that Francis had accepted Becciu's resignation as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints 'and his rights connected to the cardinalate.' There is no indication he has been sanctioned canonically. After he forced Becciu's resignation, Francis visited Becciu on occasions and allowed him to participate in the life of the Vatican. But Francis also changed Vatican law to allow the city state's criminal tribunal to prosecute him. Italian daily Domani reported last week that during the initial pre-conclave discussions, Becciu was presented with two letters signed by Francis before he died indicating he should not participate in the conclave. Becciu's reference of Francis' will in his statement Tuesday suggests that the letters were the tipping point that convinced him to withdraw from the vote. Questions, meanwhile, have continued to swirl about the integrity of the trial that convicted Becciu and eight others. During the proceedings, the court heard that Francis intervened on several occasions on behalf of the prosecutors and that the prosecution's prime witness against Becciu was coached and manipulated by outsiders. The appeal is scheduled to begin in September.
