Convicted Cardinal Wants To Take Part In Conclave To Select Pope Francis' Successor | rssama.com

A cardinal who was sentenced to 5 and a half years successful prison aft being convicted of embezzlement said Tuesday he intends to participate successful nan adjacent conclave — nan predetermination to prime Pope Francis’ successor — moreover though nan Holy See property agency has declared him a “non-elector.”

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who became nan first cardinal to ever beryllium prosecuted by nan Vatican’s criminal tribunal successful December 2023, has appealed nan conviction, denying wrongdoing. Becciu tin still unrecorded successful a Vatican flat while his entreaty is pending, according to CNN.

While nan property agency of nan Holy See designated Becciu arsenic a “non-elector,” Becciu is demanding that he return portion successful nan conclave.

“The Pope recognized my cardinal’s prerogatives arsenic being intact arsenic location was nary definitive wish to exclude maine from nan conclave, nor a petition for an definitive written renunciation connected my part,” Becciu told Sardinian newspaper L’Unione Sarda, according to a translator by nan Times of London.

Becciu was convicted of embezzlement complete a London existent property finance and for funneling money to a kindness led by his relative and utilizing nan Vatican’s costs to salary an intelligence analyst.

In September 2020, Pope Francis reportedly demanded nan resignation of Becciu, who astatine nan clip headed nan Vatican’s saint making office, complete his domiciled successful nan scandal, demanding that he springiness up his authorities and privileges arsenic a cardinal. Still, Becciu retained nan title of cardinal. Previously, Becciu besides served arsenic nan No. 2 successful nan Vatican’s secretariat of state.

CNN reports that Giovanni Battista Re, nan dean of nan College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin will beryllium nan ones to yet determine whether Becciu will participate successful nan upcoming conclave.

Experts told nan Times nan Vatican is successful a reliable spot, arsenic excluding Becciu could perchance springiness him grounds to title nan election, while allowing him to participate erstwhile he shouldn’t could let immoderate to declare nan conclave was tainted.

Pope Francis died Monday astatine property 88 owed to a changeable that led to a coma and “irreversible bosom failure,” nan Vatican said. His ceremonial and funeral are group to return spot Saturday; respective world leaders, including President Donald Trump, are scheduled to recreation to Rome to be nan ceremony.