Becky has served as a “substitute” for the Vatican Secretariat since 2011, a position as powerful as that of Chief of Staff.
The 72-year-old was made cardinal in 2018 by Pope Francis and made head of the office that oversees the Scholarship of Saints.
Becky’s term was abruptly interrupted late Thursday night, when the Vatican announced in a brief conversation that Pope Francis had accepted the cardinal’s resignation. No further explanation was given by the Vatican.
“Yesterday, until 6:02 pm, I felt like a friend of the Pope,” Becky said at an uninterrupted press conference on Friday.
“Then he told me he would not trust me anymore because he was informed by the magistrates that I had embezzled.”
Becky claimed that Francis was apparently upset during the meeting.
“He told me to relinquish my privilege of being a cardinal,” Becky added.
Despite a tense meeting with the pope, Becky claimed he would prove his innocence and was still “willing to give his life” for Pontiff.
Becky said he has not received any official notification of the charges against him, but he understands that he is accused of using money from the Vatican to facilitate the business of his two brothers.
The cardinal admitted that he transferred 100,000 euros (6116,000) to the Catholic charity, Caritas, to a Cadillac Catholic affiliated with his native company, but said the money had not been given to his brother.
Becky also admitted that he had paid another brother’s window and door company for reconstruction work at the Vatican embassies in Angola and Cuba, but the payment was approved by the Vatican.
The Vatican Bank has long been plagued by financial scandals.
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