Cardinal Becciu pulls out of papal election amid ongoing appeal

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu from Sardinia, Italy has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming papal conclave, despite his ongoing appeal against a conviction for embezzlement and fraud.

He made this announcement on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in a statement announcing he was formally pulling out.

“I have decided to obey as I have always done the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave, while remaining convinced of my innocence.” he said.

Becciu was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to 5.5 years in prison.

In 2020, Pope Francis ordered Becciu to resign his rights and privileges as a cardinal due to a Vatican financial scandal. 

Cardinals have selected May 7, 2025 to elect a new leader for 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

Becciu's decision comes after he previously stated that he saw no explicit reason to exclude him from the conclave. His appeal against the conviction is still ongoing.

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Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu