An Italian cardinal under investigation for fraud recorded the pope without his consent during a phone call in which he tried to confirm his approval of secret financial transactions, Italian media reported on Friday.
The recording, made by Cardinal Angelo Becciu on July 24, 2021, took place three days before the start of his trial and when Pope Francis underwent major colon surgery.
The audio recording has not been made public, but a court hearing in the Vatican on Thursday revealed the presence of the audio.
Becciu, 74, was a former close adviser to the pope, but was dismissed and stripped of his privileges as cardinal in September 2020 following a scandal over a London real estate deal. He claims to be innocent.
Since July 2021, a large number of people have gone to the Vatican Criminal Court on charges of fraud, embezzlement, abuse of power, money laundering, corruption and racketeering.
Among them is Cecilia Marogna, an intermediary hired by Becciu as a security consultant. He is accused of spending 575,000 euros from the Vatican on luxury hotels and products.
Prosecutors say the money given to Marogna, known as “the cardinal’s lady” in the Italian press, should be used to free priests and nuns held hostage abroad.
In a phone call with the Pope, Cardinal Becciu asked him to confirm that he had approved the release of money for the release of a Colombian nun in Mali held by an al-Qaeda-linked group.
Bishop Becciu said, “Did you or did you not authorize me to launch an operation to save the nun?” she asked. “We set the ransom at 500,000 euros, nothing more, because (…) it seemed immoral to give more money to terrorists (…) (…) I think I already told you all this… Remember? ? “, continued it will.
According to the transcript published by the Italian newspaper “Il Messaggero”, among other means, the pope says he remembers “vaguely”.
The Argentine pastor then asks Becciu to put the question in writing to him.
According to the court, the interview was recorded at Becciu’s apartment by someone close to him.
The trial, the first for such a high-ranking cardinal, continues Friday with key witnesses being heard.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.