A high-ranking Italian cardinal investigated for fraud recorded Pope Francis without his consent during a telephone conversation in which he tried to get him to confirm that he had approved confidential financial movements, Italian media reported on Friday.

The registration, made by Cardinal Angelo Becciu on July 24, 2021, took place three days before the start of his trial and when Pope Francis had just undergone a major colon operation. The audio has not been made public, but a hearing in the Vatican court revealed its existence on Thursday.

Becciu, 74, is a former adviser close to the Popebut he was removed from office and stripped of his privileges as a cardinal the following September 2020 a scandal over a real estate deal in London in which he pleads his innocence.

At its best, Becciu was the most influential character in the Vatican, which had amassed so much power because it was not alone the confidant adviser of the Argentine pope in big business, but also the rocky son of the island of Sardinia who knew better hidden secrets of the factions that vie for power within the Vatican.

Faced with the corruption charges filed, the Pope accepted Becciu’s resignation in what appeared to be a tense meeting. Becciu has lost his position as Prefect (equivalent to “minister”) of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, better known as the Fabbrica dei Santi della Chiesa. Furthermore, the rights relating to his status as cardinal.

A dozen people have appeared before the Vatican criminal court since July 2021 on charges of fraud, embezzlement, abuse of power, money laundering, bribery and extortion.

The cardinal’s lady

Among them is Cecilia Marognaintermediary hired by Becciu as a security consultant eaccused of having spent 575,000 euros (similar dollar amount) from the Vatican in hotels and luxury products.

According to prosecutors, the funds given to Marogna – known as “the cardinal’s lady” in the Italian press — they were supposed to help free priests and nuns held hostage abroad.

In his telephone conversation with the pope, Cardinal Becciu asks the pontiff to confirm that he has approved the release funds free a Colombian cleric detained by a group linked to Al Qaeda in Mali.

“Did he or not give me the authorization to start the operations to free the nun?”, asked Archbishop Becciu. “We had set the ransom at 500,000 eurosnot anymore because we felt it was immoral to give more money to (…) terrorists… I think I informed you about all this… do you remember?”, he continues.

According to the transcript, published among other things by the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, the pope responds as follows “vaguely” remembers it.

So the Argentine pontiff asks Becciu asks him the question in writing. The call was recorded in Becciu’s apartment by one of his relatives, according to the court.

the process, the first of a cardinal of such a high rank, continues on Friday with hearings of key witnesses.

AFP extension

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