A high-ranking Italian cardinal currently on trial for financial fraud asked the Pope to confirm that he approved secret financial moves in a recorded phone call without Francis’ knowledge just before his trial, local authorities said on Friday (Nov 25).
The recording, made in the summer of 2021, three days before the trial began and after Pope Francis had just undergone major colon surgery, has not been made public, but its existence was revealed during a hearing on Thursday. The Vatican Tribunal.
Cardinal was deposed in September 2020
Cardinal Angelo Beccu, 74, a former close adviser to the Pope, was deposed and stripped of his cardinal privileges in September 2020 over the London property deal scandal, despite maintaining his innocence.
In total, since July 2021, a dozen people have appeared in the Vatican’s criminal court for fraud, embezzlement, abuse of power, money laundering, corruption and extortion.
Among them is Cecilia Maronia, a broker hired by Bishop Becciu as a security consultant, who is accused of spending €575,000 on hotel nights and luxury goods received from the Vatican.
According to prosecutors, the funds were paid to Ms. Maronya, nicknamed “lady of the cardinalby the Italian press – were intended to free priests and nuns held hostage abroad.
“Do you remember that?”
In his July 24, 2021 phone call with the Pope, Cardinal Baekchu asks him to confirm that he has approved the release of funds for a Colombian nun held in Mali by an al-Qaeda-linked group.
“Have you given me permission or not to begin the process of freeing the nun?Bishop Baekchu asked. “We set the ransom at 500,000 euros, not more, because it seemed unethical (…) to give more money to terrorists… I think I informed you about all that… Do you remember? »
Papa would remember it “vaguely”
According to the transcript, which was published in particular by the Italian daily Il Messaggero, the Pope replied to remember “vaguely“. The Argentine pontiff, who seems puzzled, then asks Bishop Becciu to put his request in writing. The exchange was recorded in Angelo Becciu’s apartment by one of his relatives on a loudspeaker, the court heard.
The trial, the first of its kind for a high-ranking cardinal, is set to continue Friday with hearings from key witnesses in the murky case.
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Ashley Mark, a news website author for Buna Times. I specialize in writing articles about current trends and breaking news stories. With my passion for uncovering the truth behind every story, I strive to bring readers the most up-to-date information available.