Rome (CNN) 鈥 A cardinal convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican is claiming he can take part in the forthcoming despite being listed as a 鈥渘on-elector.鈥
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican, was ordered by Pope Francis in 2020 to resign the 鈥渞ights and privileges鈥 of a cardinal after he became embroiled in a Vatican financial scandal.
The Sardinian cardinal previously held the position of 鈥渟ostituto鈥 (鈥渟ubstitute鈥) in the Holy See鈥檚 Secretariat of State - a papal chief of staff equivalent.
The role offered Becciu walk-in privileges to see the pope and he commanded huge authority across the church鈥檚 central government. He was later moved to a position running the Vatican鈥檚 saint-making department.
Becciu was in 2023 and handed a five-and-a-half-year jail sentence. He is the first cardinal to be convicted by the Vatican鈥檚 criminal court.
But the cardinal, who has always maintained his innocence, launched an appeal that鈥檚 currently still under consideration. He鈥檚 allowed to continue to live in a Vatican apartment while this process is underway.
While the Holy See press office has listed him as a 鈥渘on-elector,鈥 Becciu told a Sardinian newspaper on Tuesday that 鈥渢here was no explicit will to exclude me from the conclave nor a request for my explicit renunciation in writing.鈥
The decision of his participation will likely be decided by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who will oversee the conclave proceedings inside the Sistine Chapel.
The investigation into Becciu centered on the Holy See鈥檚 disastrous investment in a London property that saw the church lose tens of millions of dollars.
During his papacy, Francis sought to clean up Vatican finances and changed the law to ensure that Becciu, as a cardinal, could be judged by a Vatican tribunal of judges.
Although Becciu lost his rights and privileges as a cardinal, he was never technically removed from the College of Cardinals. He is allowed to take part in the pre-conclave discussions.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote in a papal election. As it currently stands, there are 135 eligible cardinals who will participate in conclave. Becciu is 76 and still eligible when it comes to his age.
The-CNN-Wire
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