A cardinal convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican said Tuesday he will not take part in the secret conclave to elect the new pope.

All eyes have turned toward the upcoming papal conclave on May 7 where 138 cardinals from across the world will be electing the new pope. While there are no official papal candidates, speculations are rife that one of the following ‘papabile’ cardinals will become the next pontiff.

An Italian cardinal who was convicted of embezzlement and fraud said on Tuesday he will not take part in the secret conclave to elect the new pope. Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court,