Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, the Italian prelate at the center of the Vatican’s high-profile financial scandal, has formally withdrawn from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope. This decision comes just days before the conclave is set to begin on May 7, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
Becciu, once a powerful figure in the Vatican and a former chief of staff equivalent in the Secretariat of State, was stripped of his cardinal privileges by Pope Francis in 2020 after being implicated in a major financial scandal. In 2023, he became the first cardinal convicted by the Vatican’s criminal court, receiving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence for embezzlement and fraud. Despite his conviction, Becciu has maintained his innocence and is currently appealing the verdict.
After Pope Francis’ death, Becciu initially asserted his right to participate in the conclave, arguing there was no explicit written order barring him. However, amid mounting controversy and concerns over the integrity of the papal election, Becciu released a statement through his lawyers on April 29, 2025, confirming his decision to withdraw. He cited his desire to serve “the good of the church” and to “contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave,” while continuing to insist on his innocence.
Becciu’s withdrawal ends a dramatic episode that had threatened to overshadow the conclave and the selection of the next leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. His case, often referred to as the Vatican’s “trial of the century,” has been a focal point of discussion among church leaders and the faithful in the lead-up to the papal election.
In summary, Cardinal Becciu will not take part in the 2025 papal conclave, complying with Pope Francis’ directive and stepping aside amid ongoing legal appeals and controversy over his eligibility.