Angelo Becciu was sentenced by the Church for financial irregularities. Accused of corruption, in 2020 Pope Francis withdrew his rights
04/23/2025 – 10: 36hs
After the death of Pope Francisattention is directed to the choice of your successor and to the number of cardinals who will participate in the next conclave.
As reported by the Vatican Press Office,Ra 135 voters enabled to vote. However, different sectors indicate that the real figure could be 136.
Cardinal Becciu questions his exclusion from papal vote
The focus of the discrepancy is in the situation of the cardinal Angelo Becciu76, who was relieved of his position for Pope Francis in 2020. Who held functions as a substitute for general matters in the Secretariat of State of the Vatican, He maintains that He was not revoked the right to participate in the conclave and that his exclusion was not formally established.
The Cardinal argues that his alleged exclusion was not notified by a legal act, but through a note from the Vatican press office. In addition, he affirms that, during the last town hall, the Pontiff would have told him that Keep all your rights as a cardinalas long as there was no express decision to exclude it or a voluntary resignation from its part.
What are the accusations against Becciu
The debate on its inclusion in the vote is intensified by the judicial investigations it faces. Becciu is accused of embezzlement and abuse of power, in the context of financial maneuvers under its management in the Secretary of State, including the purchase of a property in London that caused repercussion in the Holy See.
In 2023, he was sentenced in the first instance to five and a half years in prison. But he denies the accusations and has offered public statements, disseminated by the Italian newspaper Domani, where ratifies your innocence.
The sentence included permanent disqualification to exercise public office in the Vatican. He was the first cardinal to be criminally tried by Vatican justice And, after the process, he was separated from his functions by papal decision. Despite this, he retained Cardinal’s title, although without responsibilities within the Roman curia.
Within that framework, Becciu questioned the validity of the official payroll published by the Vatican. He pointed out that said list “It lacks legal value“And that has to be considered as a reference without binding.
The definition of its eventual participation in the conclave remains one of the most observed points in the prior to the choice of the next pontiff.
The candidates with more chances in the papal election, according to betting platforms
After the death of Pope Francis At 88, several Betting houses Internationals enabled markets to predict who will be the next pontiff. Among the platforms that allow these types of bets to be William Hill, Bet365, Paddy Power and Sportium.
In these sites, the names of the cardinals considered “papable” are accompanied by quotas that indicate How much would pay the bet in case this candidate is elected. The lower the quota, the greater the probability assigned by the betting house to the candidate.
The main favorites, according to the lowest quotas, are:
- The Italian cardinal Pietro Parolincurrent Secretary of State of the Holy See
- The Filipino Luis Antonio TaglePrefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
These are the differences between platforms
Sportium (Spain)
- Pietro Parolin Heads bets with a fee of 2.75 euros for each euro bet.
- Luis Antonio Tagle Figure as a second favorite, with a quota of 3.20 euros.
Other relevant candidates on this platform:
- Peter Turksson (Ghana): Fee 8
- Matteo Zuppi (Italy): quota 8
- Peter Erdo (Hungary): quota 9
- Antonio Cañizares (Spain), who will not participate in the conclave for health reasons, appears with a quota of 101, located among the least probable according to this house.
In the betting houses of the United Kingdomrecognized for its trajectory in the sports field, the dispute between Parolin and Tagle also presents itself as one of the most at odds.
William Hill:
- Pietro Parolin: quota 2.5 (descended after the death of the Pope)
- Luis Antonio Tagle: Fee 3
Paddy Power:
- Pietro Parolin: quota 3.5, the favorite of this platform
- Luis Antonio Tagle: triples the bet (approximate fee of 3)
Ladbrokes:
- Pietro Parolin: FEA 4
- Luis Antonio Tagle: Fee 4.5
