Cardinal found guilty announces he will not participate in the conclave to select the next Pope after Pope Francis

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 76, will not participate in the upcoming papal conclave after being obliged by Pope Francis to step down from his position at the Vatican and subsequently being found guilty of embezzlement.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Becciu stated, “I have chosen to comply with the request of Pope Francis to abstain from participating in the conclave with the interest of the church at heart. I have dedicated myself to the church with loyalty and affection, aiming to uphold unity and harmony during the conclave while maintaining my belief in my innocence.”

Angelo Becciu, previously a significant figure as the head of the Vatican’s saint-making division and a prominent candidate for the papacy, faced a significant downfall in 2020. Pope Francis demanded his resignation from the Vatican and stripped him of his title as cardinal due to suspicions of financial impropriety concerning the acquisition of a property in London. According to the Associated Press, Angelo Becciu was considered a top contender for the position of pope before his reputation tumbled.

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. 

Cardinal Angelo Becciu greets Cardinal Matteo Zuppi during a consistory ceremony to elevate Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, at Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in August 2022.  (Reuters/Remo Casilli)

Angelo Becciu presides over a Eucharistic liturgy at the St. John in Latheran Basilica in Rome in February 2017.  (AP/Gregorio Borgia)

The conclave is set to begin next Wednesday, while Becciu’s appeal will unfold in September. 

Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez of El Salvador, an 82-year-old who is not eligible to vote in the conclave, said Tuesday that “I have the impression that the conclave will be short, two or three days, this is the feeling we have inside the room,” according to Reuters. 

Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter’s Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, April 20. (AP/Gregorio Borgia))

The Vatican recently announced “the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.