The Vatican Court hears a secretly taped phone call between a cardinal and the Pope

The Vatican Court hears a secretly taped phone call between a cardinal and the Pope

A secretly recorded phone call between the main defendant, embattled Cardinal Angelo Becciu, and Pope Francis was played in court on Thursday at a Vatican corruption trial.

The court was informed that the recording was made in July 2021, without the pope’s knowledge by someone in a room with Becciu, shortly before the trial began and while the pope was still recovering from major intestinal surgery.

Reporters were asked to leave the room while the tape was played, but lawyers who heard it said Becciu asked the pope to confirm that the pontiff had authorized a payment to aid in the release of a kidnapped African nun.

According to the lawyers, the pontiff appeared perplexed and confused on the phone as to why Becciu was calling, and he repeatedly asked the cardinal to send him a written note outlining what he desired.