Cardinal Becciu claims that Pope will reinstate him

This development would be a surprise: The accused Cardinal of the Curia Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who has been deposed by the Pope in the meantime, will, according to his own statement, soon regain his cardinal dignity. Francis, he said, had informed him that he would return to the rank of cardinal.

The accused Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who has been temporarily deposed by the Pope, says he will soon receive his cardinalate back. Francis had informed him by telephone that he would return to the rank of cardinal, Becciu explained during a Mass in the Sardinian Golfo Aranci on Sunday, according to the newspaper "La Nuova" (Monday). Furthermore, the Pope had asked him to participate in the upcoming major cardinals' meeting at the Vatican. The Vatican has not yet confirmed the conversation between the Pope and Becciu.

In 2020, Pope Francis had relieved the Curia cardinal of his office as Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He also accepted Becciu's renunciation of all rights and privileges of his cardinalate. He would thus also no longer have been able to participate in a papal election. The reason for the Pope's unusual measure was Beccius' suspected involvement in a Vatican financial scandal. During his time as second man in the Vatican's central authority, the Secretariat of State, irregularities occurred in investments worth millions. At the centre was the purchase of a luxury property in London. Since mid-2021, Becciu has had to stand trial for this in the Vatican State.

The trial is also about irregularities in transfers by Becciu to his home diocese and Caritas there. His brother is president of the social co-operative Spes, which is linked to Caritas. Becciu maintains his innocence. A major meeting of cardinals will be held at the Vatican next weekend. At this consistory, 20 clerics will be accepted by Pope Francis into the College of Cardinals, 16 of whom are among the future papal electors. Shortly afterwards, the Pope meets with the cardinals to discuss the reform of the Curia.

Source