Overview

• Cardinal Angelo Becciu announced his decision to step back from the upcoming papal conclave, scheduled to begin on May 7, 2025.
• Becciu stated his withdrawal is intended to protect the Church's image and is not an admission of guilt regarding his legal conviction.
• In December 2023, Becciu was convicted by a Vatican tribunal for fraud related to the London property scandal and is currently appealing the ruling.
• The cardinal continues to assert his innocence, alleging his conviction is part of a conspiracy, and claims he has evidence to support this.
• Pope Francis previously removed Becciu from his role as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 2020, stripping him of cardinalate rights while allowing him to retain the title.