Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu announced on Tuesday, April 29, that he will not take part in the conclave set to begin on May 7 to elect the successor to Pope Francis. The cardinal cited obedience to the wishes of the late pontiff, despite maintaining his innocence in the face of past controversies.
“Having at heart the good of the Church, which I have served and will continue to serve with faithfulness and love, and in order to contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave, 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,” Becciu said in a public statement, according to multiple news sources.
Cardinal Becciu, who was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018, resigned from his curial post and the rights of the cardinalate in 2020 at the pope’s request amid a financial scandal involving Vatican funds. While not formally laicized or stripped of his title, Becciu’s participation in future papal elections was widely understood to be restricted by papal decree.
His public reaffirmation of obedience to Pope Francis—even after the pope’s death—underscores the gravity with which Becciu regards the unity and peace of the Church during this time of transition.
“I have always done” what the pope asked, he emphasized, highlighting his continuing commitment to the Church despite his exclusion from the voting body of the College of Cardinals.
The conclave, set to begin May 7, will bring together 134 cardinal electors under the age of 80 to vote for the 267th pope. With Becciu’s absence, one fewer voice will be present in the Sistine Chapel, but his decision reflects what some in the Church are calling a gesture of humility and fidelity to ecclesial communion.
Becciu’s case remains a point of concern and discussion, particularly as the Church seeks transparency and reform in the wake of financial and governance challenges. Nonetheless, his decision to refrain from participating in the conclave may help avoid further division during a sensitive and sacred time for the Church.
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