Emanuela Orlandi was the daughter of a Vatican usher who failed to return home after a music lesson on June 22, 1983 in Rome. She was 15 years old at the time, and lived in the Vatican with her family. Her disappearance remains one of Italy’s longest-lasting mysteries.

On Tuesday, the case began a new chapter when Pietro met Alessandro Diddi the Vatican’s chief prosecutor. Francis gave Diddi free reign to investigate the case.

Pietro Orlandi, who had spent more than eight-hours with Diddi, appeared on a TV programme and played a part of the audio recording of a man he said was a member of an organized crime group. Italian media has speculated for decades that this man may have been responsible for his sister’s disappearance.

The voice of an alleged gangster claims that, more than 40 years ago, girls brought to the Vatican were molested, and said Pope John Paul was aware of this.

Orlandi said on the show in his own words: "They told me Wojtyla (Pope John Paul 2) used to go out with two Polish monsignors in the evenings and it was certainly not to bless homes."

In the last few days, Vatican officials condemned the comments before the pope addressed 20,000 people at noon in St. Peter’s Square.

Francis said: "I am certain that I’m expressing the sentiments and feelings of all the believers from around the world. I give thanks to St. John Paul who has in recent days been the subject of offensive, unfounded accusations."

The majority Italian crowd broke out in applause.

Laura Sgro was summoned by Diddi on Saturday. Vatican says she invoked attorney client privilege. Sgro said that Diddi did not mention John Paul in their conversation. She added in a message sent via text: "I never questioned the sanctity of John Paul II."

Orlandi, on Sunday, said by phone that "it was correct that Francis defended John Paul the II". Orlandi also said that he "repeated what others have said" during his television appearance. "I did not witness it."

Andrea Tornielli was the Vatican’s editorial head at the time and condemned Orlandi for his "sleazy", vilifying comments about the pontiff. He led the Catholic Church between 1978 and 2005, before being declared a Saint in 2014.

Cardinal Stanislaw dziwisz was John Paul II’s secretary during his entire leadership. He called Orlandi’s actions “ignoble, absurd, laughable, if not tragic or criminal”.

In the last four decades, tombs have been opened and bones exhumed. Conspiracy theories have also been circulating in an attempt to find out what happened to Emanuela Orlandi.

Netflix’s "Vatican Girl" series, released late last year, brought renewed attention to the case.

If still alive, Orlandi would now be 55 years old.

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