After the death of Pope Francis, occurred on April 21, the Cardinal College of the Catholic Church must celebrate the conclavethe meeting in which the cardinals choose the new Supreme Pontiff, who will also be a bishop of Rome, sovereign of the state of the city of the city VaticanSuccessor of San Pedro and earthly head of Catholicism.
Since February 1996, during the conclave all cardinals must stay in the Vatican residence known as the Santa Marta house; However, votes are made in the Sistine chapelwhere only cardinals under 80 have the power to choose the new Pope, who will be one of them.
Currently, 135 cardinals are enabled to be able to choose the new Supreme Pontiff in May 2025. Of that total, 53 are originally from Europe23 of Asia21 center and South America18 of Africa16 North America and 4 of Oceania. For this occasion, Italy It will be the nation again with the greatest representation, with 17 cardinals.
There is the case of Cardinal Italian Angelo Becciusentenced to five years and six months in jail for financial irregularities. Given this situation, Pope Francis withdrew his privileges within the Cardinal College; despite which, The 76 -year -old religious arrived at the Vatican with the intention of participating in the new conclave.
Who is Angelo Becciu?
Born on the Italian island of Sardinia, Giovanni Angelo Becciu He is currently a Catholic cardinal without cardinal rights. However, before being sanctioned by Pope Francis, the 76 -year -old Italian occupied the charges of Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints and Special Delegate of the Malta order.
It was precisely the Argentine pontiff who announced the appointment of Becciu as Cardinal of the Catholic Church last May 20, 2018. However, three years later, the Holy Father decided to withdraw his cardinal rights after knowing a “controversial real estate operation ”in the city of LondonEngland.
Read more: the moment when the Vatican bells announced the death of Pope Francis
According to the authorities in the city of the Vatican, this operation was managed by Becciu and disbursed US $ 232 million from funds of the Roman Catholic Church, in a transaction in which allegedly the main beneficiaries were two of their siblingsalthough the cardinal denied these accusations.
On July 3, 2021, a Vatican judge accused Becciu of multiple crimes, including: Malversation of funds, money laundering, fraudextortion and abuse of power. Two days later, Pope Francis personally approved the accusation, although Angelo claimed that everything was “a plot“Against your family.
Despite this situation, various Italian analysts have pointed out that Pope Francis suspended Angelo Becciu in 2021 and stripped him of “almost all” the rights associated with cardinals, “but did not suspend all his homework”, So, allegedly, I could participate in the next election of the new Supreme Pontiff.
“Pope Francis recognized my prerogatives cardinals as intactbecause there was no explicit will to exclude me of the conclave, or request for my explicit resignation in writing, “Becciu told the Italian newspaper on Wednesday UNION SARDAgenerating one of the main debates Among the congregations of Cardinals in Italy.
Regardless of their statements, unless opposite decision, the Vatican authorities will not allow you “Cardinal no voter”, Despite being 76 and meet the requirements to choose the next Holy Father.
Reality always surpassing fiction.
Pope Francis dismissed Angelo Becciu by fiscal fraud and withdrew his rights as a cardinal, including participating in the conclave.
Today the Italian appeared at the Vatican. They didn’t let him in.
pic.twitter.com/jedcm17A7T– Carla ❁ (@Shannonlada) April 23, 2025