Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once a leading figure in the Vatican’s diplomatic corps and former Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, has officially withdrawn from the upcoming papal conclave despite being under the canonical voting age of 80. His decision comes after he reportedly received two private letters from the late Pope Francis, written shortly before His Holiness’s death on Easter Monday. Becciu, who was convicted of embezzlement by the Vatican’s criminal court in 2023 but has consistently maintained his innocence, issued a statement through his legal counsel confirming that he would comply with the Pope’s wishes “for the good of the Church” and to preserve the “communion and serenity” of the conclave process.
1. Background: The Period of Sede Vacante
1.1 Definition and Significance
When a pope dies or resigns, the Catholic Church enters a period termed sede vacante, or “the seat being vacant.” This interregnum begins immediately upon the pontiff’s death or resignation and continues until a new pope is elected and takes formal possession of the See of Peter. The period is governed by precise canonical regulations that balance reverent mourning with the practical necessity of organizing the papal conclave.
1.2 The Death of Pope Francis
Pope Francis, aged 88, passed away on Easter Monday of 2025, concluding a ten-year papacy marked by outreach to the peripheries, curial reform initiatives, and a focus on social justice issues. His funeral, held a week later, was attended by an unprecedented array of global leaders—including former President Donald Trump—as well as heads of state, religious dignitaries, and pilgrims from around the world. In the days that followed, cardinals moved into the Domus Sanctae Marthae at the Vatican, preparing for the conclave set to commence on May 7, 2025.
2. Cardinal Angelo Becciu: Career and Controversy
2.1 Ecclesiastical Rise
Born in 1949 in Pattada, Sardinia, Angelo Becciu entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy after ordination in 1972. Over the ensuing decades, he served in the Holy See’s diplomatic service, with postings in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and the United States. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the College of Cardinals and named him Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State—effectively the Vatican’s chief of staff for administrative matters.
2.2 Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
In 2018, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Becciu Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, entrusting him with the critical role of overseeing canonization processes. His tenure coincided with a wave of beatifications and canonizations, but it was abruptly interrupted in mid-2020.
2.3 Embezzlement Trial and Conviction
In July 2021, Vatican prosecutors charged Becciu and several co-defendants with misappropriating tens of millions of euros in Church funds, including through real-estate acquisitions and transfers to family-linked entities. In June 2023, the Vatican’s criminal tribunal convicted Becciu of embezzlement, sentencing him to five years in a clerical detention facility. Becciu appealed the verdict and has consistently asserted his innocence, maintaining that he acted under papal authority and that the transactions in question were standard diplomatic or charitable disbursements.
3. Canonical Eligibility and the Withdrawal
3.1 Age Requirement for Conclave Electors
According to Canon 332 §2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, cardinals who have not yet reached their 80th birthday on the day the Holy See becomes vacant retain the right to participate in the conclave as electors. At 76, Becciu fell well within this threshold, making him both eligible and, under ordinary circumstances, expected to cast a vote in the secret proceedings.
3.2 Papal Solicitation and Private Correspondence
Sources close to Cardinal Becciu report that, in the months leading up to his death, Pope Francis personally reached out to him via two letters. Although the texts of these letters have not been published, multiple Vatican insiders describe their tenor as a direct request from the Pontiff that Becciu refrain from participating in the election of his successor—a rare instance of a pope seeking to influence the conclave roster.
3.3 Becciu’s Formal Statement
On Tuesday following the release of these reports, Cardinal Becciu issued a public declaration through his lawyer, Fabio Viglione:
“Having at heart the good of the Church, which I have served and will continue to serve with fidelity and love, as well as to contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave, I have decided to obey—as I have always done—the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence.”
This statement underscores Becciu’s dual commitment: obedience to papal authority and a steadfast assertion of personal integrity.
4. Theological and Procedural Implications
4.1 Obedience and Papal Authority
In Catholic ecclesiology, the vow of obedience taken at episcopal ordination commits bishops—and by extension cardinals—to uphold the directives of the Roman Pontiff. Although the conclave is designed to be a free and secret assembly, the moral weight of a papal request—especially one delivered in writing—carries significant force among the College of Cardinals.
4.2 Preserving Conclave Sanctity
The conclave’s integrity rests on the principle that electors enter the Sistine Chapel without external pressures. By withdrawing, Becciu aims to preempt any perception that his presence or vote might be tainted by his ongoing legal battles or the controversy surrounding his conviction.
4.3 Precedents for Withdrawal
While rare, there is historical precedent for cardinals abstaining or being excluded:
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1903 Conclave: Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria vetoed Cardinal Mariano Rampolla—a secular intervention that was later abolished by Pope Pius X.
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1800s Conclaves: Health issues or political conflicts sometimes led to voluntary withdrawals.
Becciu’s case, however, stands out because it involves a personal, posthumous papal request designed to safeguard both ecclesial harmony and the reputational clarity of the voting process.
5. Reaction within the Vatican and Beyond
5.1 Curial Response
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Secretary of State: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, acting as the Vatican’s chief diplomat, has declined public comment, emphasizing that the matter is a private correspondence between the late pope and a fellow cardinal.
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Dean of the College of Cardinals: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re expressed sorrow at Becciu’s forced withdrawal but lauded his decision as an exemplar of obedience and humility.
5.2 Secular Observers
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Italian Media: La Stampa noted the unprecedented nature of a pope’s personal plea altering the conclave’s makeup.
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International Press: The New York Times and The Guardian characterized Becciu’s withdrawal as a dramatic twist in an already highly charged papal succession.
5.3 Theological Scholars
Experts in canon law and Church governance have debated the efficacy and appropriateness of such a request:
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Supporters argue that it reflects Pope Francis’s pastoral concern and desire for an unencumbered election.
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Critics caution that it may set a new—and potentially problematic—precedent for future papal-electors interactions.
6. The Road to May 7: Conclave Procedures
6.1 Gathering of the Electors
With Becciu’s withdrawal, the number of cardinal electors hovers around 115—a figure within the maximum of 120 stipulated in Universi Dominici Gregis, Pope John Paul II’s apostolic constitution on the election of the Roman Pontiff.
6.2 The Setting: The Sistine Chapel
The conclave will convene under tightly controlled conditions:
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Seclusion: Electors are sequestered in the Domus Sanctae Marthae and proceed only to the Vatican, with no external communication.
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Voting Rounds: Ballots are cast up to four times daily, with a two-thirds majority required for election until the concluding day, after which a simple majority suffices.
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Smoke Signals: Black smoke indicates an inconclusive vote; white smoke signals the election of a new pope.
6.3 Potential Papabili
While Becciu’s candidacy was effectively removed, leading contenders include:
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Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines): Renowned for his pastoral warmth and theological acumen.
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Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana): Advocate for environmental stewardship and social justice.
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Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy): Known for his mediation in conflict zones and emphasis on dialogue.
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Cardinal Robert McElroy (USA): A progressive voice on migration and human rights.
Observers note that the conclave’s dynamics may now shift slightly, as Becciu’s absence removes both a conservative vote and a figure whose legal controversies might have complicated consensus-building.
