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Eugene

(64,692 posts) Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:20 PM Apr 23

Convicted cardinal demands to be part of conclave to choose new pope, setting up Vatican standoff

Source: CNN

Convicted cardinal demands to be part of conclave to choose new pope, setting up Vatican standoff

By Christopher Lamb and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN
2 minute read
Published 10:13 AM EDT, Wed April 23, 2025

Rome (CNN) — A cardinal convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican is claiming he can take part in the forthcoming conclave despite being listed as a “non-elector.”

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican, was ordered by Pope Francis in 2020 to resign the “rights and privileges” of a cardinal after he became embroiled in a Vatican financial scandal.

The Sardinian cardinal previously held the position of “sostituto” (“substitute”) in the Holy See’s 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’s central government. He was later moved to a position running the Vatican’s saint-making department.

Becciu was convicted of embezzlement and fraud in 2023 ...

-snip-

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/23/europe/cardinal-becciu-conclave-controversy-intl/index.html

4 replies

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Convicted cardinal demands to be part of conclave to choose new pope, setting up Vatican standoff (Original Post) Eugene Apr 23 OP

Catholic trump. Scrivener7 Apr 23 #1

I didn't know there's an age limit. Due to travel? underpants Apr 23 #2

Not due to age... regnaD kciN Apr 23 #3

Ah. Thanks. underpants Apr 23 #4

Scrivener7

(55,539 posts)

1. Catholic trump.

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:30 PM

Apr 23

underpants

(190,237 posts)

2. I didn't know there's an age limit. Due to travel?

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:35 PM

Apr 23

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.

regnaD kciN

(27,005 posts)

3. Not due to age...

Reply to underpants (Reply #2)

Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:58 PM

Apr 23

…as they can still show up at the conclave and debate the choices, but not vote.

It was a change made sometime in the last half-century, because there were a large bloc of elderly, long-retired cardinals, most with pre-Vatican II views, that had the power to swing the result.

underpants

(190,237 posts)

4. Ah. Thanks.

Reply to regnaD kciN (Reply #3)

Wed Apr 23, 2025, 03:09 PM

Apr 23

I think it’s funny that they have a “saint-making department”. So that’s where they come from.

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