Vatican City, Oct 31, 2013 / 01:04 am
A new report by an Italian publication accuses the U.S. National Security Agency of listening to the phone calls of Vatican officials and prelates, during a time period leading up to the conclave.
Father Federico Lombardi, head of the Vatican press office, told CNA on Oct. 30 that he is unaware of such activity and is "not worried."
His comments come in response to allegations published by Italian weekly magazine "Panorama," citing fears that "the great American ear continued to tap prelates' conversations up to the eve of the conclave."
According to the Italian magazine, the NSA tracked incoming and outgoing phone calls from the Vatican and classified them as "leadership intentions," "threats to the financial system," "foreign policy objectives" and "human rights."