• Cardinal Becciu, convicted of embezzlement, wants to participate in the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor.
• The Vatican designates Becciu as a “non-elector,” raising legal and ethical questions among cardinals.
• The conclave is set to begin after the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88.
• Disputes over Becciu's eligibility could complicate the election process.
• The final decision regarding Becciu's participation rests with senior cardinals and the Vatican leadership.

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, recently convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to five and a half years in prison, announced his intention to participate in the upcoming conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor. Despite being declared a "non-elector" by the Vatican, Becciu argues that his cardinal's rights remain intact, citing a lack of formal exclusion from the conclave proceedings according to an interview he provided to L'Unione Sarda, reported by HuffPost and Reuters.

Becciu, who has appealed his conviction, contends that the Vatican's classification of him as a "non-elector" holds no legal significance. He adds that there has been “no explicit willingness” to bar him from voting and has not been asked to formally renounce his privileges. Meanwhile, cardinals have been deliberating the implications of allowing or prohibiting Becciu from participating in the upcoming conclave, as excluding him could lead to allegations of a tainted process, according to reports from Channel News Asia and Dawn.

The conclave, which is expected to start no earlier than May 6, will follow Pope Francis' funeral, scheduled for Saturday after his passing at age 88. Cardinal Becciu's background adds to the complexity of the decision facing about 135 cardinals eligible to vote. Historically, cardinals under 80 years old can participate in the conclave, while Becciu, now 76, is among those whose eligibility has been questioned due to his recent legal troubles, as noted by Reuters and HuffPost.

Past communications between Becciu and Pope Francis, as described by Becciu himself, suggest the pontiff had previously permitted Becciu to retain his ecclesiastical title while stripping him of certain rights associated with the Cardinalate, including participation in future conclaves. Nevertheless, Becciu remains adamant about his perceived entitlement to vote, claiming discussions about a potential resolution regarding his status with the papacy are ongoing, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.