The Christmas of 2023 was about to arrive when we learned that an important cardinal of the Vatican had been sentenced to 5 and a half years in jail. He was Angelo Becciu and his crime a case of financial irregularities. Consequently, Pope Francis withdrew his privileges as purple. And yet Becciu occupies a site in the conclave who will choose the successor of the Pontiff, who died last Monday.
Except for the opposite decision, Cardinal Becciu must not participate in the conclave, and even in the Vatican statistics they tell him as a non -elector cardinal, despite being 76 years old (they can vote children under 80). However, the Vatican press office said that all Cardinals can participate in congregations, preparatory meetingsbut something else is to enter the conclave.
Who is Cardinal Becciu
Giovanni Angelo Becciu is Italian from Sardiniawhere he was born on June 2, 1948. He became a priest in 1972 and worked in several apostolic nunciatures, including those of the Central African Republic, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.
In 2001, He received episcopal ordination from Cardinal Angelo Sodano. That year, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Nuncio in Angola. Then it was from Santo Tomé and Príncipe, and in 2009, Benedict XVI transferred to the important Apostolic Nunciature of Cuba.
After his services abroad, Becciu returned to Rome in 2011. The Pope names him Secretary for General Affairs of the Secretary of State of the Holy See. Five years later, he was confirmed as a congregation consultant for the doctrine of faith.
In 2017, Francisco trusted him as a pontifical delegate before the order of Malta to represent him during the process of updating the norms and laws of this State (secondly was Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke). A year later, Bergoglio appointed Becciu Cardenal of the Catholic Church.
Church real estate businesses
Things soon twisted for the prelate. In 2020, it came to light A controversial real estate operation In London, which had been managed by Becciu. Millions of pounds had been disbursed in the purchase of a building in the London heart, in Sloane Avenue, an old headquarters of the Harrods galleries in the exclusive Barrio de Chelsea.
The purchase of the building was closed by the Vatican State Secretariat When Becciu was his general affairs substitute (2011-2018). The operation was not only speculative, but also badly economically: created a hole in the accounts of the Holy See of at least 139 million euros. The building cost the church about 350 million euros and then sold for about 214.
In addition, that acquisition ended up being used to extort the Vatican. The London scandal demonstrated the little transparency and irregularities that were in the Holy See accounts.
If it was already ugly and censurable that the Church spent dozens of millions in a real estate operation, worse it resulted when it was discovered that Money came from church funds (Including money from the San Pedro Obol). In addition, during the process other financial crimes arose allegedly committed by Becciu.
Financially favoring his brothers
Complaints of improper appropriation were received for having allegedly favored his brothers. Specifically, they were donations of 125,000 euros that the cardinal entered the account of an association, linked to the Cáritas Sarda de Ozieri, its hometown, and that At that time he presided over one of his brothers.
Becciu denied the accusations, but in September 2020 was imposed by the resignation by Pope Francis to the position of Prefect of the Congregation for the causes of the saints and the rights related to the cardinal. That is, he retained the title of Cardinal, but lost any position and the right to enter into a future conclave.
It was also known then that 575,000 euros had been paid to Cecilia Marogna. This woman is supposed to be presented as an expert in diplomatic affairs and espionage, helped the Holy See to free a kidnapped Colombian nun In Mali.
On July 3, 2021, a Vatican judge accused Becciu of multiple positions, including embezzlement, money laundering, fraud, extortion and abuse of power. Pope Francis personally approved his accusation. Another ten people were also accused, four of whom were former Vatican officials.
First Cardinal convicted by Civil Court of the Vatican
In 2023, the cardinal was sentenced to 5 and a half years in jail. Even then, Becciu defended his innocence and advanced his intention to resort to the sentence. “We respect the sentence, we will read the motivations, but we continue to be insurance that sooner or after the absurdity of the accusation against the cardinal and, therefore, the truth will be recognized: the truth: His eminence is innocent“They declared their lawyers. The appeal is expected for the next fall.
It was the first cardinal condemned by a civil court of the Vatican City State.
That is why the doubt that now arises: Can Becciu enter the conclave that will choose the new Pope? In principle, no. The Vatican says that all cardinals can participate in the congregations and preparatory meetings, and the Italian is a cardinal although without rights as such. However, the conclave is something else.
Becciu’s commitment to be in the conclave
Cardinal Sardo is clear that he can participate in the conclave for the choice of Francisco’s successor. He has said it and not only to his closestbut to the media. “Referring to the last town consistory (the one in which Arrigo Miglio, exarzobispo de Cagliari and received Jorge Bergoglio in his historic visit in September 2013, became a cardinal), the Pope recognized intact my prerogatives cardinals, since there was no explicit will to exclude me from the concalave or request for my explicit resignation in writing,” has declared the newspaper UNION SARDA.
It was an immense pain to see how the Pope suddenly changed his judgment on me so radically “
Becciu was in his native patada, spending a few days off. When the news of the Pope’s death is known, interrupted his vacation to fly to Romewhere he arrived late on Monday. “Like everyone, it has impacted me, I have deeply shocked me the news that has come so suddenly, also because nothing made you think of such a sudden death,” said the cardinal.
The prelate has been asked about the scandal that led the Pope to remove him from his functions. “It was an immense pain to see how the Pope suddenly changed his judgment on me so radically. A pain that I accepted as proof of my faith and my choice – confirmed at the time I received from his hands the Cardinal Birrete – to give life for the Pope and for the Church of Christ, “he said.
The General Congregation of the Cardinals, which already met on Tuesday, is who You must decide on Becciu’s effort to have a seat in the conclave.
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