A bombshell has rocked the Catholic world as the Vatican and the College of Cardinals allegedly released a clandestine video capturing a heated confrontation between tech mogul Elon Musk and the late Pope Francis. The footage, purportedly recorded in the Apostolic Palace just weeks before the pontiff’s death, has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with faithful Catholics worldwide expressing shock and outrage.

The grainy, 10-minute video, which surfaced on obscure online platforms before going viral, shows Musk, the enigmatic CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, engaged in a tense exchange with Pope Francis. Sources claim the meeting was arranged to discuss Musk’s ambitious plans for artificial intelligence and space colonization, topics that reportedly clashed with the Vatican’s ethical teachings. The video captures Musk gesturing animatedly, his voice rising as he defends his vision for humanity’s future, while Pope Francis, visibly frail, responds with measured but firm admonitions.

“You cannot play God!” the Pope is heard saying in Italian, his voice trembling with conviction. “Your machines threaten the soul of humanity.” Musk, undeterred, retorts, “Your dogma holds back progress. The stars are our destiny, not your relics!” The exchange escalates until Vatican aides intervene, ushering Musk out as the Pope bows his head in prayer.

The video’s release has sparked rampant speculation about its authenticity and motives. Some Vatican insiders claim the College of Cardinals, embroiled in a contentious conclave to select Francis’ successor, leaked the footage to discredit Musk, whose growing influence in global affairs has unnerved traditional power structures. Others suggest it was an act of sabotage by rogue elements within the Church, aiming to expose tensions between faith and technology.

Catholics worldwide have taken to social media, with hashtags like #MuskVsPope and #VaticanBetrayal trending globally. “This is a disgrace!” tweeted Maria Rossi, a devout Catholic from Milan. “How dare Musk disrespect our Holy Father?” Others, particularly Musk’s supporters, argue the video was manipulated to paint him as a villain. “Classic smear campaign,” posted a user on X. “Elon’s pushing boundaries, and the old guard can’t handle it.”

The Vatican has remained silent, issuing only a cryptic statement urging “discernment in the face of digital deception.” Meanwhile, Musk has neither confirmed nor denied the video’s authenticity, instead posting an enigmatic tweet: “Truth will outlast shadows.” His silence has only fueled conspiracy theories, with some claiming the video was AI-generated to destabilize both the Church and Musk’s empire.

As the world awaits answers, the scandal has deepened divides between traditionalists and futurists. Was this a genuine clash of titans or an elaborate hoax? For now, the faithful grapple with a crisis of trust, while the enigmatic figure of Elon Musk looms larger than ever.