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Pope Celebrates Coena Domini Mass at Cardinal Becciu’s Private Chapel
Despite Losing Cardinal Rights and Vatican Prefect Post, Italian Prelate Has Maintained His Innocence
On Holy Thursday, in a surprise gesture, Pope Francis has celebrated the Mass in Coena Domini in the private chapel of Cardinal Angelo Becciu in the cardinal’s apartment.
This was communicated via Cardinal Becciu to journalists and later reported by Vatican News. Ordinarily, the Pope would have presided over the Mass in Coena Domini in the Vatican at around the same time, but this year Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided instead. The Vatican did not give reason for this change.
In September 2020, the Holy Father had accepted the double resignation of Cardinal Becciu after accusations of nepotism and embezzlement.
Cardinal Becciu had served as Substitute in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, and later as Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, until he would be removed at that time in light of the suspected financial misdeeds.
Moreover, Becciu, despite retaining the title of cardinal, had his rights of being a cardinal removed, including the right to vote in a conclave.
Cardinal Becciu has maintained his innocence.
Deborah Castellano Lubov
Deborah Castellano Lubov is Editorial Director & Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for EXAUDI (& Prior, for ZENIT); Author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/
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