[Right_Wing_Madman]

It wouldn’t surprise me if Rome would at least tacitly approve of the FBI’s activities.

I assumed the pope was the control officer of this operation.

[Hieronymus]

The Pope is more in control than Biden—but he does not appear to have ever been very smart for a Jesuit and he too is in decline. While he has aged better than Biden, he is 87.

That said, I can easily envision someone in Rome giving affirmation without the Pope ever hearing a word.