Becciu: I obey Francis, I do not enter Conclave
The official step back after rumours in recent days
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Key points
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The step back, announced in recent hours, is now official. Cardinal Angelo Becciu has declared that he will not enter the Conclave. "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 Pope Francis' will not to enter the Conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence." These are his words.
Conviction at first instance
.Becciu has reaffirmed in recent days his innocence and his right to enter the conclave. But faced with two letters from the Pope indicating his desire not to include him among the electors, the cardinal has decided to give up his battle. Becciu has been the protagonist of the trial on the mismanagement of funds of the Secretariat of State, starting with the affair of the Sloane Avenue building. The appeal trial will open on 22 September. In first instance he was sentenced to five years and six months imprisonment and to perpetual disqualification from public office for the crimes of embezzlement and aggravated fraud against the Holy See.
Conclave on 7 May
.The conclave will begin on Wednesday 7 May. This is the decision taken at the fifth general congregation of the cardinals: set for that date in the morning the celebration in the Basilica of the Mass 'Pro eligendo Pontifice' and in the afternoon the entrance into the Sistine and the beginning of the voting.
First vote in the afternoon
.The general schedule envisages the first vote on the afternoon of 7 May, and the possible continuation in the following days with two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon. Having set the date on which the cardinals will proceed to elect the successor to Pope Francis, in "fraternal conversations", strategies are being woven in this decisive week to arrive at the choice of the new successor to Peter.
Shared choice and quorum
Which will necessarily have to be a shared choice, since a qualified majority of two thirds will be required to elect the Pope. If it ever comes to the 33rd or 34th ballot, there will be an obligatory runoff between the two cardinals with the most votes. But even then a two-thirds majority will still be required. The Conclave operations will be presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, former Secretary of State.
