Vatican conclave to decide whether convicted cardinal can vote for new pope

Cardinals attend the procession of the body of Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday. About 135 cardinals are currently eligible to take part in the conclave. File photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino

Cardinals in meetings ahead of the start of a secret conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis are scratching the hair under their red skull caps as they try to decide whether a cardinal convicted of embezzlement and fraud can join in the vote.

Their quandary concerns Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who in December 2023 was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. He was the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court.