The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican’s “trial of the century” is withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave.

An Italian cardinal who was convicted of embezzlement and fraud said on Tuesday he would not take part in the conclave to elect a new pope as thoughts turned to who will succeed Pope Francis, who died last week.

The Vatican said that Francis had stripped a convicted cardinal, Angelo Becciu, of his right to vote for the next pope. Cardinal Becciu maintains his innocence but said he would sit this one out.