The funeral of the late Pope Francis is still two days old, but the fight has already begun over the process to choose his heir.
As thousands of supporters flock to the Vatican to give their respect for Ponif, who will be laid to rest on Saturday at the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major, the members of the Cardinals College gather in Rome and prepare for the papal tonight, millennia of the process of choosing a new pope.
Of the 252 cardinals worldwide, 135 are under the age of 80 and are therefore eligible for voting, according to the Vatican. Francis appointed 108 of the so -called “voters”.
One of the cardinals who are usually allowed to vote is Giovanni Angelo Beckiu, Sardinski, who had previously served as substitute in the Secretariat of the Holy See. This made it the equivalent of a papal head of staff and one of the most powerful people in the Vatican, according to CNN.
But in 2020, Beckiu was accused of misappropriation and fraud and ordered by Pope Francis to resign the Cardinal’s “rights and privileges”. He was sentenced in 2023 and sentenced to five and a half years in prison, making him the first cardinal sentenced by the Vatican Criminal Court, CNN reported.
Pope Francis is known to criticize the treatment of Trump administration migrants. / Lisa Mare Williams/ Getty Images
He appealed his sentence and lives in a Vatican apartment while the process of appeal plays. Given the loss of rights and privileges, the Vatican referred to becciu as a “non-election” when it comes to a conclave.
But the Cardinal thinks he should be allowed to vote, he said in a Sardinian newspaper. He has never been technically removed from the Cardinals College and is allowed to participate in discussions before a conclave, CNN reported.
His request creates a potential opposition that is likely to be allowed by Giovanni Batista Re, who is Dean of the Cardinals College, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was the Secretary of State of Francis. The two men monitor the production of a conclave.
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Beckiu thinks he has to be Alex to participate in the conclave, although he is deprived of Cardinal’s “rights and private”. / Mondadori Portfolio/ Maximum Life/ Maximum Life/ Mondadori Portfolio Archive via Getty Images
As his health worsened, the 88 -year -old Francis unilaterally expanded the Battista Re term in early February, bypassing the planned vote for the next dean, Politico reported.
The Battista Re is too old to participate in a conclave, but as a college dean, he plays an important role in discussions before the conclave. Francis probably extended his mandate because he wanted an ally to help protect his inheritance during production, sources told Politico.
As his health failed, Pope Francis extended Cardinal Giovanni Batista Re as Dean of the Cardinals College in an attempt to protect his inheritance after he died. / Tiziana Fabi/ AFP via Getty Images
This heritage has already been attacked, with conservative cardinals arguing that choosing another liberal leader as Francis will divide the Catholic Church.
German Cardinal Gerhard Müller, 77, has already announced that he is planning to promote a highly orthodox and dogmatic view of Catholicism during the “common congregations”, meetings before a conclave, which will begin seriously after Francis’ funeral, Saturday, The Times of London Reported.
Mueller opposed the approach of Francis’ “Mercy Before Dogma” and encountered the late Pontiff over his decision to bless the same -sex couples and to allow communion for divorce, who again married outside the church. He also opposed Francis’ concerns about migrants and the environment.
Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Mueller is an unwavering opponent of Pope Francis’
He said he hoped the other cardinals would ignore Francis’s attractiveness and avoid the intrigue depicted in the movie, a winning Oscar ConclaveS
“This is not a power game played by stupid people who want to manipulate, as in this movie that has nothing to do with reality,” he told TimesS
Although Francis has chosen nearly 80 percent of the cardinals who will vote for his heir – which means that liberals can have an advantage – many of their political views remain somewhat a mystery.
After the conclave begins, the cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel and then remain detached from the outside world, participating in consecutive circles of voting, until two -thirds of the Cardinals agree on a new pontiff.
“Pressing to the conclave is more important as lobbying continues there,” a source told Politico.
The conclave should start between 16 and 21 days after the Pope’s death, which means that it will start somewhere between May 6 and 12. Since the 1900s, the conclaves have lasted less than four days, NPR reports.
Pope Francis was selected after five rounds of vote lasting two days.