Pope Francis: The letter left in cardinal was not for good – what did he ask for
Cardinal Angelo Betsiou, sometimes powerful official of Vatican and a leading candidate for the papal throne, he was officially withdrawn from his participation in the Conqueror for election of a new Pope.
The Vatican Criminal Court sentenced Betsiou in 2023 for embezzlement and other financially -related charges at the end of the so -called « trial of the century ».
In recent days he has insisted that he still had the right to vote in the Conclave.
The letter left by the Pope’s cardinal
However, on Tuesday, he retired, apparently after he was presented by letters written by Pope Francis before his death, who said he should not be involved.
The 76 -year -old is a long -term diplomat of the Vatican, served in embassies in Angola, Cuba and elsewhere before taking on one of the most powerful positions as « alternate » at the Vatican State Secretariat.
Pope Francis was the one who upgraded the Italian cardinal and he was also forced to give up
Francis promoted him to a cardinal in 2018, but later forced him to resign due to complaints of financial mismanagement.
The descent from Sardinia was elected to Pope Benedictus and is closely linked to the conservative old Vatican guard. While he initially became a close adviser to Francis, Betsiou owes his fall to him.
What happened in 2020?
Franciscus forced Betsiou to resign from the Vatican’s bureaucratic office and forced him to resign from Cardinal Rights on September 24, 2020, after receiving complaints that he had sent the Vatican’s money to his brother in Sardinia.
Betsiou told reporters that his fall was « surreal », but that he had a clear consciousness. He said that he remained loyal to Francis and was ready to die for him.
The Vatican, in his official statistics, said he was no longer an elector in the concussion.
In his 76th year, Betsiu is below the age of 80 and technically the right to vote.
After days of controversy over his participation in Conclave, Betsiu issued a statement through his lawyer, with whom he resigns.
« Having the good of the Church in my heart, which I served and will continue to serve with faith and love, as well as my contribution to the society and serenity of Conclavian, I decided to obey, as I always did, in the will of Pope Francis, not to join Conqueror, »
It was not clear what Francis’ letters said.
What was the trial?
The Vatican prosecutors issued a 487 -page indictment in 2021 accusing Betsiou and nine others for many financial crimes, such as fraud, embezzlement, blackmail, corruption, money laundering and an abuse of office.
The main focus was on the investment of 350m euros in the Holy See in a luxurious property in London. Prosecutors argue that brokers and Hieromonks of the Vatican deceived the Holy See with tens of millions of euros in remuneration and supplies and then blackmailing the Holy See for 15 million euros ($ 16.5 million) to grant control of the property.
O Angelo Beckyu
London’s investigation caused two side effects involving the protagonist, Betsiu, including allegations of Sardinia.
What was Betsiu blamed for?
Prosecutors accused him of embezzlement of sending 125,000 euros from the Vatican money to a bishopric charity in Sardinia his brother. Becciu argued that the local bishop has asked for money for a bakery that would be at risk and that the money remained in the Diocese’s funds.
Becciu was also accused of paying a woman from Sardinia, Cecilia Marogna, for her intelligence services. Prosecutors found about € 575,000 in remittances from the Vatican to the Marogna Slovenian-Bittina, then expenses for luxury goods of high quality.
Becciu said he believed that money was to be used to pay a British security company to negotiate the liberation of a Colombian nun who had been held hostage by Islamist fighters in Mali in 2017.
Becciu and Marogna, as well as six others, were convicted of embezzlement and other categories and all of them appeal.
