• Cardinal Angelo Becciu confirms he will not participate in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope.
• Becciu cites "the good of the Church" and obedience to the late Pope Francis as reasons for his withdrawal.
• The conclave is scheduled to begin on May 7, with Becciu's departure reshaping the dynamics among cardinal electors.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, following his conviction for embezzlement, has officially announced he will not participate in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope on May 7. Becciu stated that his decision was influenced by a desire to serve "the good of the Church," denouncing any intention of contesting his exclusion, which was reportedly guided by the will of the late Pope Francis, according to Dawn and Reuters.

Initially, during the days following Pope Francis’ death, speculation surrounded Becciu’s eligibility and intentions to participate in the vote. He had indicated previously that he believed he should have a right to join the conclave despite the Vatican deeming him a “non-elector” due to his conviction, as reported by South China Morning Post and CBS News.

The 76-year-old cardinal was convicted in December 2023 on charges of embezzlement related to improper financial dealings that had significant ramifications for Vatican operations. Becciu’s allegations included misusing Vatican funds for personal charities and overseeing a disastrous investment in London real estate, bringing severe scrutiny to both him and the Vatican, according to HuffPost and Newsweek.

During his statement, Becciu emphasized that he remains steadfast in his innocence, despite the legal challenges he faces, noting, "I have decided to obey as I have always done the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave," as reported by Le Monde and New York Times.

His withdrawal adds further complexity to the upcoming conclave, with discussions previously focused on how his presence might influence the election of Pope Francis' successor. Mixed sentiments about the integrity of Becciu's conviction and its implications have circulated, suggesting deeper underlying tensions within the Vatican regarding governance and financial oversight, highlighted by HuffPost, CBS News, and South China Morning Post.