The Election of the Pope. Convicted Cardinal Demands to Participate in the Conclave.

Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who was convicted by the Vatican for financial crimes, stated that he has the right to participate in the upcoming papal elections, despite being officially stripped of his 'rights and privileges' as a cardinal.In 2020, Pope Francis demanded Becciu to renounce his cardinal privileges after he was involved in a financial scandal related to irreversible losses to the Holy See due to investments in London real estate. The cardinal, who previously held significant power within the Vatican, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for embezzlement and fraud.Despite this, Becciu has filed an appeal that is currently under consideration. He may continue to stay in his apartment in the Vatican during the trial. Although the Holy See has designated him as a 'non-voter,' the cardinal claims that he has not received a clear desire to exclude him from the upcoming conclave or to ask him to formally withdraw.The question of Becciu's participation in the conclave will be decided by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who will oversee the election process in the Sistine Chapel. Currently, there are 135 cardinals eligible to vote in the papal elections, and Becciu, who is 76 years old, meets the age criteria.Pope Francis, who seeks to clean up the Vatican's finances, changed the legislation to ensure that even cardinals can be criminally prosecuted. The investigation focused on Becciu's role in financial operations that caused significant losses to the Church.It should be noted that the conclave is the process of selecting a new pope after the death or resignation of the previous one. During this period, the governance of the Church passes to the College of Cardinals, and all official matters are temporarily coordinated by the cardinal camerlengo. After the mourning ceremonies and funerals, the election of the new pope begins.