Disgraced Cardinal Becciu withdraws from participation in conclave to elect pope

Angelo Becciu (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican’s “trial of the century” has announced that he is withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope for “the good of the church”.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis’s death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect his successor.