A high-ranking Italian cardinal, currently on trial for financial fraud, asked the pope to confirm he approved confidential financial movements during an unbeknownst to Francis taped phone conversation shortly before his trial, local authorities reported Friday (November 25). Italian media.
This recording, made in the summer of 2021, three days before the start of the trial and after Pope Francis had just undergone a major colon operation, has not been made public but its existence was revealed on Thursday on the occasion of a hearing at the Vatican tribunal.
The cardinal stripped of his functions in September 2020
Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 74, a former close adviser to the pope, was dismissed from his post and stripped of his cardinal privileges in September 2020 amid a London property deal scandal, despite claiming his innocence.
In total, a dozen people have appeared since July 2021 before the Vatican Criminal Court for fraud, embezzlement, abuse of power, money laundering, corruption and extortion.
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Among them is Cecilia Marogna, an intermediary hired by Bishop Becciu as a security consultant and accused of having spent 575,000 euros received from the Vatican on hotel nights and luxury goods.
According to prosecutors, the funds paid to Ms Marogna - dubbed "
the cardinal's lady
" by the Italian press - were intended to free priests and nuns held hostage abroad.
"Do you remember that?"
In his telephone conversation with the pope dated July 24, 2021, Cardinal Becciu asks him to confirm having approved the release of funds to free a Colombian nun detained in Mali by a group linked to Al-Qaeda.
“
Did you or did you not give me the authorization to launch the operations to free the nun?
asked Bishop Becciu.
"
We had set the ransom at 500,000 euros, no more because it seemed immoral to give more money to (...) terrorists... I think I had informed you of all that... do you remember? you?
»
The pope would remember it “vaguely”
According to the transcript, published in particular by the Italian daily Il Messaggero, the pope replies that he remembers it “
vaguely
”.
The Argentine pontiff, who seems perplexed, then asks Bishop Becciu to make his request in writing.
The exchange was recorded in Angelo Becciu's apartment by one of his relatives, on a loudspeaker, according to the court.
This trial, the first of such a high-ranking cardinal, is due to continue on Friday with the hearing of key witnesses in this nebulous affair.
