Vatican City, 29 April

The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican's “trial of the century” announced on Tuesday he was 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' death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect his successor.

After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any future conclave. But in recent days he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on 7 May.

On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said: “Having at heart the good of the church, which I have served and will continue to serve with fidelity and love, as well as to contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave, I have decided to obey as I have always done the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence.”