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After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any future conclave. But in recent days he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on May 7.

On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said: 鈥淗aving 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 the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence.鈥�

Becciu was once an influential Vatican chief of staff who was a leading papal contender himself. But he fell from grace in 2020 when Francis forced him to resign his job as head of the Vatican鈥檚 saint-making office and his rights as a cardinal because of allegations of financial misconduct.

but was put on trial in the Vatican criminal court and in December 2023. He is appealing the conviction and 5 1/2-year prison sentence and had participated in the pre-conclave meetings, including on Monday.

Becciu rose to prominence and power under conservative Pope Benedict XVI and is very much affiliated with the conservative Vatican old guard. While he initially became a close adviser to Pope Francis, Becciu鈥檚 subsequent downfall at the hands of Francis might suggest he would have voted for someone keen to undo some of Francis鈥� reforms.

At 76, Becciu is under the age limit of 80 and technically eligible to vote, but the Vatican鈥檚 official statistics list him as a 鈥渘on-elector.鈥�

The Vatican document regulating a conclave, known by its Latin name Universi Dominici Gregis, lays out the criteria for electors, making clear that cardinals under 80 have the right to elect the pope, except those who have been 鈥渃anonically deposed or who with the consent of the Roman Pontiff have renounced the cardinalate.鈥� It adds that after a pope has died, 鈥渢he College of Cardinals cannot readmit or rehabilitate them.鈥�

There has never been any clarity on what exactly Becciu renounced or how: The one-line statement issued by the Vatican press office on Sept. 24, 2020, said merely that Francis had accepted Becciu鈥檚 resignation as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints 鈥渁nd his rights connected to the cardinalate.鈥� There is no indication he has been sanctioned canonically.

Italian daily Domani reported last week that during the initial pre-conclave discussions, Becciu was presented with two letters signed by Francis before he died saying he should not participate in the conclave. Becciu’s reference to Francis’ will in his statement Tuesday suggests that the letters were the tipping point that convinced him to withdraw from the vote.

After he forced Becciu鈥檚 resignation, Francis visited Becciu on occasions and allowed him to participate in the life of the Vatican. But Francis also changed Vatican law to allow the city state鈥檚 criminal tribunal to prosecute him.

Questions, meanwhile, have continued to swirl about the that convicted Becciu and eight others. During the proceedings, the court heard that Francis intervened on several occasions on behalf of the prosecutors and that the prosecution鈥檚 prime witness against Becciu was coached and

The appeal is scheduled to begin in September.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.