Until a few years ago, Cardinal Angelo Becciu was one of the most influential figures in the Vatican. As the former second-in-command at the Secretariat of State—the Holy See's political and diplomatic engine—he was often called the pope's right-hand man. In 2018, Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal and gave him another key role: overseeing the Vatican's saint-making department.
Fast forward to 2025, and Becciu who was once a leading papal contender for pope is the first cardinal in modern history to be tried and convicted by the Vatican's criminal court. And now, according to reports, despite his claims to the contrary, he has been formally excluded from the upcoming conclave that will choose Francis' successor.
