Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Italian cleric who was convicted for his involvement in the Vatican financial scandal, has bowed out of the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope after reportedly receiving a letter from Pope Francis asking him not to vote. Becciu’s decision to step back marks a significant moment in the lead-up to the May 7 conclave, where cardinals from around the world will gather to choose a successor to the late pope.
Becciu, who was once considered a frontrunner for the papacy, had initially planned to participate in the conclave, despite his conviction. However, on Tuesday, he reversed his stance, announcing, “I have decided to obey the will of Pope Francis, as I have always done, and not enter the conclave despite remaining convinced of my innocence.” This decision follows reports that Pope Francis, prior to his death on Easter Monday, left letters requesting certain cardinals, including Becciu, to step down from their role in the election.
The scenario echoes the plot of the recent film Conclave, in which a fictional pope’s final letters demand that a cardinal resign from the election. In real life, the letters, allegedly shown to Becciu by Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, have confirmed the late pope’s wishes. According to reports, one of these letters, signed ‘F’, was written on March 24, just before Pope Francis’s release from the hospital and shortly before his passing.
Cardinal Becciu, who once served as Pope Francis’s chief of staff, has been at the center of a scandal involving a €350 million investment in a luxury property in Chelsea, London, which resulted in a loss of approximately €140 million. The investment, which aimed to convert a former Harrods car showroom into high-end flats, became a focal point of accusations regarding mismanagement, exorbitant consultancy fees, and disappearing funds. Becciu was also embroiled in a separate controversy regarding payments to a charity run by his brother and a questionable €575,000 fee paid to Cecilia Marogna, a self-styled intelligence expert involved in negotiations for the release of a nun held hostage by extremists in Africa. Marogna, dubbed the “Mata Hari of the Vatican,” used part of the fee to purchase luxury items, including Prada, Gucci, and Hermès products.
In 2023, Becciu was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in the scandal. However, he has maintained his innocence and is planning to appeal the conviction. He has also criticized the investigation, claiming that the late pope altered Vatican rules to strengthen the case against him. The British legal system has also expressed concerns over the fairness of the Vatican’s investigation.
Becciu had attended pre-conclave meetings and gave a defiant interview to an Italian newspaper, asserting that he was still entitled to vote. However, the recent reports of Pope Francis’s letters have raised questions about his participation. The decision to exclude Becciu from the conclave has been a topic of significant debate at the Vatican, with discussions surrounding whether he should take part in the election or not.
In his statement, which was released by his lawyer, Becciu expressed his hope that his decision to withdraw would “contribute to the unity and serenity of the conclave,” signaling his desire to avoid further controversy during this critical moment for the Church. As the conclave approaches, the question of Becciu’s involvement remains a key issue in the final preparations for electing the next pope.
