A cardinal convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican is claiming he can take part in the forthcoming conclave despite being listed as a “non-elector.”

A cardinal who was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement said Tuesday he intends to participate in the next conclave — the election to pick Pope Francis’ successor — even though the Holy See press office has declared him a “non-elector.

Pope Francis' death on Monday started a significant transition for the Catholic Church, which will now elect its next head through a process known as the conclave. This process is held typically two to three weeks after a pope's funeral and gathers the College of Cardinals in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.