Cardinal Becciu's controversy stems from his role in Vatican reforms initiated by Pope Francis, sparking debates and scrutiny.

Cardinal Becciu's controversy stems from his role in Vatican reforms initiated by Pope Francis, sparking debates and scrutiny.

The London Property Fiasco: Angelo Becciu's Fall from Grace

The upcoming conclave to appoint the new Pope has taken an unexpected turn with the withdrawal of disgraced Cardinal Angelo Becciu. His decision could save the Catholic Church from a potentially damaging scandal that might overshadow the proceedings.

Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu's back-out from the conclave could spare the Church from a potential scandal that threatens to overshadow the elections. The Vatican's criminal court found Becciu guilty of embezzlement, among other financial charges, at the end of the so-called "trial of the century" in 2023.

He is still free while he appeals against the conviction and five-and-a-half-year prison sentence, and had participated in the pre-conclave meetings, including on Monday. However, on Tuesday, the 76-year-old announced he would not partake in the conclave for the "good of the Church" and out of "love" for the late Pope Francis.

The Fall of a Former Power Player

Once an influential chief of staff at the Vatican and a leading papal contender, Becciu fell from grace in 2020. Pope Francis forced him to resign from his post as head of the Vatican's saint-making office and his rights as a cardinal due to allegations of financial misconduct. Becciu denied any wrongdoing, but was convicted in December 2023. His appeal is scheduled to start in September.

According to the Vatican court, Becciu managed the purchase of a London property with funds from the Vatican Secretariat of State in 2014. The property was then sold by the Holy See, for approximately €214 million, to the Bain Capital investment firm in 2022, resulting in a net loss of more than €100 million for the Vatican.

A Stumbling Block for the Church

The Becciu affair emerged at a delicate time for the Church. Pope Francis was overseeing major reforms, including a drastic downsizing of the central role of the Vatican's Secretariat of State in favor of local communities worldwide. Despite the scandal surrounding him, Becciu was a key ally of the late pope in his efforts to restructure the Vatican's institutions and finances.

The sale of the London property, however, has raised concerns among the faithful, with law experts pointing out a lack of transparency before Pope Francis. The proceeds of the sale are yet to be disclosed. Charges of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency continue to linger over the Vatican.

In his defense, Becciu stated that the decision to purchase the property was made with the knowledge and approval of the late Pope Francis.

Behind Closed Doors

Reports suggest that Pope Francis expressed his desire for Becciu to be excluded from the conclave in letters to senior Vatican officials. If true, it would not be the first time that the pope has exercised his influence in such matters.

The Becciu affair, while shocking, is not an isolated incident in the Vatican's checkered financial history. In the early 1980s, the Vatican's bank was embroiled in the bankruptcy of Banco Ambrosiano. The bank's chairman, Roberto Calvi, nicknamed "God's banker," was found hanging from London's Blackfriars Bridge in 1982.

However, many believe that the Becciu case represents a new chapter in the Vatican's financial accountability, signaling a push towards greater transparency under Pope Francis.

Public scrutiny and calls for reform have increased in the wake of the scandal, and the upcoming conclave promises to be observed more closely than ever before.

References:

1. BBC News
2. Reuters
3. CNN
4. Vatican News
5. The upcoming conclave, minus disgraced Cardinal Angelo Becciu, may prevent a potential scandal that could overshadow the election process, as he was found guilty of embezzlement and other financial charges in 2023.
6. Despite being handed a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Becciu, once a leading papal contender and the Vatican's former chief of staff, is still free while he appeals against the conviction.
7. Becciu's fall from grace began in 2020 when Pope Francis forced him to resign due to allegations of financial misconduct, leading to his conviction in December 2023.
8. The Vatican court found that Becciu managed the purchase of a London property using funds from the Vatican Secretariat of State in 2014, which was later sold to Bain Capital investment firm in 2022, resulting in a significant loss for the Vatican.
9. The Becciu affair, occurring during Pope Francis's major reforms, including restructuring the Vatican's institutions and finances, has raised concerns over a lack of transparency and financial mismanagement within the Church.
10. Reports suggest that Pope Francis might have influenced the decision to exclude Becciu from the conclave, as the late pope was a key ally in the Vatican's restructuring efforts.
11. Historical incidents like the Banco Ambrosiano bankruptcy in the 1980s, involving "God's banker" Roberto Calvi, have shown the Vatican's checkered financial past, but many believe that the Becciu case represents a push towards greater transparency under Pope Francis.

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