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Skeptical Italian man hung up on Pope Francis twice

Franco Rabuffi said Pope Francis thought it was "funny" that he twice mistook him for a prank caller.

By Ben Hooper
Pope Francis is known to make phone calls to people who write to him. File Photo by Stefano Spaziari/UPI
Pope Francis is known to make phone calls to people who write to him. File Photo by Stefano Spaziari/UPI | License Photo

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VATICAN CITY, May 1 (UPI) -- A skeptical Italian man said he was "speechless" when he discovered the apparent prank caller he had hung up on twice was actually Pope Francis.

Franco Rabuffi said he was less than amused Monday when someone called his house twice claiming to be the pontiff, so he hung up on the caller both times.

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However, on the third call, it became clear Rabuffi was speaking to the actual Pope Francis, who is known to make phone calls to fans who write to him.

Francis called Rabuffi to offer his well-wishes after finding out the man was ill.

"I was speechless, but Francis came to my rescue, saying that what had happened was funny," Rabuffi told the print edition of Vatican newspaper l'Osservatore Romano.

Rabuffi said he and his wife attended the Vatican's general audience Wednesday to apologize in person for hanging up on the pope.

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