Vatican City: Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once considered a strong contender for the papacy, has formally stepped back from participating in the conclave to elect the next pope. This move follows a complex financial scandal that led to his conviction and a dramatic fall from grace.

Once a powerful figure in the Vatican

Angelo Becciu, aged 76, was a high-ranking Vatican diplomat before becoming a central figure in the Roman Curia. He served in Vatican embassies in Angola, Cuba, and elsewhere, later rising to the influential role of “substitute” in the Secretariat of State — effectively the Pope’s chief of staff.

Pope Francis appointed him as the head of the Vatican’s saint-making office and elevated him to cardinal in 2018. However, just two years later, Becciu was asked to resign amid allegations of financial mismanagement.

Conviction and controversy

In 2023, Becciu was convicted by the Vatican’s criminal court on charges of embezzlement and other financial offences. The trial, often referred to as the “trial of the century,” centred on the Vatican’s €350 million investment in a luxury property in London — a deal that prosecutors claimed resulted in massive losses and fraud.

Becciu’s specific charges included the transfer of €125,000 in Vatican funds to a diocesan charity in Sardinia, managed by his brother. Prosecutors argued this constituted embezzlement, while Becciu maintained the funds were intended to support at-risk youth through a bakery project.

He was also accused of transferring €575,000 to a Slovenian company run by Cecilia Marogna, allegedly for intelligence services. The money was reportedly spent on luxury goods. Becciu claimed it was meant to negotiate the release of a kidnapped nun in Mali.

Removal from cardinal duties

Pope Francis forced Becciu to resign from his position and relinquish the rights of the cardinalate on 24 September 2020, though he retained his title. Despite this, Becciu remained under the age of 80, making him technically eligible to vote in the next papal conclave.

However, amid renewed scrutiny and controversy, he formally announced on Tuesday that he would not participate, stating through his lawyer:

“Having at heart the good of the Church, which I have served and will continue to serve with fidelity and love... I have decided to obey... the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence.”

Papal letters prompt withdrawal

Becciu’s decision appears to have come after he was shown two letters written by Pope Francis before his death, urging him not to take part in the conclave. While the content of these letters has not been made public, Vatican sources confirmed their existence.

The Holy See’s official statistics have since confirmed that Becciu is no longer an elector.

A trial under scrutiny

The trial raised questions about judicial fairness within the Vatican’s unique legal system. Defence lawyers highlighted Pope Francis’ direct interventions, including four secret decrees that gave prosecutors unusual powers — such as conducting surveillance and detaining suspects without judicial oversight.

Concerns were also raised about the credibility of the prosecution’s main witness, who was allegedly coached by external actors and manipulated during the trial process.

Although the Vatican tribunal rejected claims of bias, more evidence has recently surfaced suggesting collusion between Vatican police and prosecutors, further complicating the legal proceedings. Becciu and his co-defendants are appealing the verdict, with hearings set to begin in September.

A symbol of internal struggle in the Vatican

Becciu's rise and fall reflects the broader tensions within the Vatican between reformist and conservative factions. A favourite of Pope Benedict XVI and once close to Pope Francis, Becciu ultimately became a symbol of the financial and ethical controversies that have challenged the Vatican under Francis’ leadership.

Despite his conviction and withdrawal from the conclave, Becciu insists on his innocence and loyalty to the Church — a claim that will likely continue to divide opinion as the Vatican prepares to select its next leader.