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Sentenced fraudster cardinal stripped of ecclesiastical conclave voting rights demands on taking part as Pope Francis lies in state

A cardinal indicted of extortion and misappropriation by the Vatican and assigned as a “non-elector” is requesting he be permitted to take an interest within the prepare to choose the following pontiff, as thousands of grieving steadfast line up to pay their final regards to Pope Francis in Rome.

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, 76, was explored for taking portion in an speculation conspire including a property in London, which wound up costing the church tens of millions of dollars.

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu
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Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once a capable figure inside the Catholic Church, was stripped of his conclave voting rights after the Vatican indicted him of misappropriation and fraud.k

Upon his conviction by a Vatican tribunal of judges, he was requested to serve a five-and-a-half-year imprison sentence, and actually requested by the late Pope Francis to leave the “rights and privileges” of his position in 2020, agreeing to CNN.

It was a marvelous drop from elegance for Becciu, who once held the elevated position of “sostituto” (“substitute”) within the Sacred See’s Secretariat of State — successfully a chief-of-staff to the pope — getting to be the primary cardinal ever indicted by the Vatican’s possess criminal court in 2023.

His role indeed managed him walk-in benefits to see the pope.

After his conviction, Becciu was moreover accused of utilizing Vatican stores to bribe witnesses within the sex-abuse trial of his match, Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction was toppled in 2020 after investing 13 months in jail in Australia.

Vatican prosecutors compiled a file of prove that appeared Becciu wired more than $800,000 to assist influence the declaration against Pell’s case — charges he fervently denied.

The cardinal keeps up his blamelessness and is within the prepare of engaging his extortion conviction, amid which he’s been permitted to live in his Vatican loft.

The late Pope’s body was transported to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday.
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In spite of the fact that the Sacred See’s press office presently assigns him as a “non-elector,” Becciu claimed “there was no unequivocal will to prohibit me from the conclave nor a ask for my express renunciation in writing” in an meet with a Sardinian daily paper, the outlet composes.

Becciu being stripped of his rights as a cardinal didn’t authoritatively boot him 

  from the College of Cardinals — the body of 135 eligible cardinals who will take part in the conclave when it begins in the next few weeks. This means he’s still eligible to participate in pre-conclave discussions, which have already begun.

Whether he’s allowed to participate will likely be decided by Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is tasked with overseeing the conclave proceedings.

The College of Cardinals
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The College of Cardinals will convene in the next few weeks to begin the process of electing a new pope, which Becciu claims he has a right to participate in despite his conviction. POOL/AFP

Pope Francis, who died Easter Monday at age 88 after a two-month battle with pneumonia, prioritized getting the Vatican’s financial house in order during his 12-year papacy.

He personally changed the law to ensure Becciu was eligible to have a sentence handed down by a Vatican tribunal.

On Wednesday, a massive crowd made its way through St. Peter’s Basilica, where the late pope will lie in state for three days ahead of his Saturday funeral.

Francis’ modest wooden casket was displayed on the historic basilica’s main altar, his body adorned in traditional red robes and a bishop’s miter — his hand grasping a rosary.

In the first eight-and-a-half hours of visitation, nearly 20,000 mourners viewed the pontiff’s open casket, prompting the Vatican to consider extending viewing hours in order to accommodate the turnout.

The public viewing period will end Friday at 7 p.m., at which point the casket will be closed and sealed.

Nearly 20,000 mourners viewed the pontiff’s open casket during the first eight-and-a-half hours of visitation.
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Nearly 20,000 mourners viewed the pontiff’s open casket during the first eight-and-a-half hours of visitation. REUTERS
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Francis’ funeral will be on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, with world leaders including President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance.

Following the service, Pope Francis will be interred at the basilica of St. Mary Major near the Vatican, rather than beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, where many of his predecessors were laid to rest.