The Cold War has ended.

With a scope and daring not possible until now, an

unlikely international alliance of top-level political, financial, and religious interests
sees the way clear at last to its ultimate goal: the establishment of a single global
society. Utopia.
With nothing in common but immense power and a towering ambition for still
more; with world unity and prosperity as their slogan; with betrayal, scandal, and
murder as their ready weapons—these men have the means and the will to capture
as their own the perfect global machinery for their plans: the oldest, wiliest, and
most stable political chancery in the world. The Vatican.
At the vortex of this lethal struggle, along with the embattled Pope, stand two
American brothers, Paul and Christian Gladstone—one a lawyer and the other a
priest—who appear to be the perfect pawns. One falls prey to the sharp teeth of
greed. The other will become one of the Pope's closest allies...ultimately discover-
ing the darkest of secrets in papal Rome.
From America to Europe to Russia, in broad landscapes and clandestine corri-
dors, a rich and varied cast—presidents and politicians, saints and sinners, pope-
makers and papal wannabes—clash amid dramatic and sometimes bloody events
while the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

A close associate of Pope John XXIII and Cardinal Augustin Bea,

MALACHI MARTIN is the author of such national bestsellers
as The Jesuits, Vatican, The Final Conclave, and Hostage to the
Devil. He lives in New York City.

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY
LARRY LURIN

COVER HAND LETTERING BY

RON ZINN

COVER DESIGN BY
AMYC. KING
 W i n d s w e p t House
A V A T I C A N N O V E L
 B O O K S BY MALACH1 M A R T I N

The Scribal Character of the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Pilgrim (under the pseudonym Michael Serafian)
The Encounter
Three Popes and the Cardinal
Jesus N o w
The N e w Castle
Hostage to the Devil
The Final Conclave
King of Kings
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church
There Is Still Love
Rich C h u r c h , Poor Church
Vatican
The Jesuits
The Keys of This Blood
Windswept House: A Vatican Novel
Windswept
House

A Vatican Novel

Malachi
Martin

Broadway Books
New York
 BROADWAY

A hardcover edition of this book was originally published in 1996 by Doubleday, a division
of Random House, Inc. It is here reprinted by arrangement w i t h Doubleday.

Windswept House. Copyright © 1996 by Malachi M a r t i n . A l l rights reserved. Printed in the

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First Broadway Books trade paperback edition published 2 0 0 1 .

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has cataloged the hardcover

edition as:
M a r t i n , Malachi.
Windswept house: a Vatican novel / Malachi M a r t i n . — 1 s t ed.
p. c m .
1. Catholic Church—Vatican City—Clergy—Fiction.
2. Vatican C i t y — F i c t i o n . I . Title.
PS3563.A725W56 1996
813'.54—dc20 95-26716
CIP

ISHN 0-385-49231-6

17 16 15 14 13 12 11
 For Pope St. Pius V
in honor of Mary
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary
 Contents

History as Prologue: End Signs

1

PART O N E • PAPAL EVENTNG

Best-Laid Plans . . .
29

Friends of Friends
121

Windswept House
173

... Of Mice and Men

213

PART T W O • PAPAL TWILIGHT

Roman Service
297

Unthinkable Realities and Policies of Extremes

349

PART T H R E E . PAPAL NIGHT

The Resignation Protocol

467

Quo Vadis?
563
WHO'S WHO IN "WINDSWEPT HOUSE"
A KEY TO THE CHARACTERS IN FR. MALACHI MARTIN'S "WINDSWEPT HOUSE"

TRADITIO Traditional Roman Catholic Network

E-mail: traditioStraditio.com, Web: www.traditio.com
Copyright 1994-2007 CSM. Reproduction prohibited without authorization.
Last Revised: 07/11/07

The following i s a possible key relating the f i c t i o n a l names used i n F r .

Malachi Martin's Windswept House to the r e a l persons involved.

1. Jean-Claude Cardinal de Vincennes - Jean Cardinal V i l l o t (deceased)

2. Cosimo Cardinal Mastroianni - Agostino Cardinal Casaroli (deceased)
3. S i l v i o Cardinal Aureatini - Achille Cardinal S i l v e s t r i n i , Cong. Oriental
Church
4. Leo Cardinal Pensabene - Pio Cardinal Laghi, Congregation of Christian
Education
5. Cardinal Moradian - Gregoire Pierre Cardinal Agagainian (deceased)
6. Cardinal Karmel - Jean-Marie Cardinal Lustiger, Paris
7. Leonard Cardinal Boff - B a s i l Cardinal Hume, Westminster (deceased)
8. Aviola -Silvano Cardinal P i o v a n e l l i , Florence
9. Cardinal Sturz - Franz Cardianl Koenig, Vienna (retired)
10. Cardinal Leonardine - Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Chicago (cf. also Cardinal
of Century City and Archpriest i n South Carolina) - p r i e s t who a s s i s t e d i n
the Satanic "Enthronment of the Fallen Angel Lucifer" ceremony i n the U.S.
referred to i n the boolc
11. German Jesuit Cardinal - Augustin Cardinal Bea, S.J. (deceased)
12. Bp. "Leo" James Russeton - Bp. John Russell (deceased 1993)
13. Otto Selculer - r e a l person/name not disclosed, a member of the KGB
14. Frater Medico - Agnes' father, an M.D. (deceased)
15. Aldo Carnesecca - r e a l person/name not disclosed (deceased)
16. Msgr. Daniel Sadowski - Msgr. Stanislao Dziewicz
17. Msgr. Taco Manuguerra - Msgr. Agosto Bueno
18. Jean Cardinal de Bourgogne - John Cardinal Cody
19. F r . Damian S l a t t e r y , O.P. - composite of Michael Cardinal Browne, O.P.,
and a l i v i n g former U.S. Dominican, perhaps F r . Fiore
20. F r . Christian Thomas Gladstone - composite of 3 p r i e s t s
21. Mrs. Francesca Gladstone - elderly woman, s t i l l l i v i n g
22. Windswept House - Galveston Island, Texas
23. Cyrus Benthoelc - B i l l Morrell (deceased)
24. J . J . Cardinal O'Cleary - John Cardinal O'Connor, New York (deceased)
25. Piet Cardinal Svensen ,
- Leo Cardinal Suenens, Belgium
.2.6... Lo.c.al....Criaoel/.S.S.PX.....'.Dai5ib.urv,7 - ,,,Dic.kins,o.n,......TX/. c.ha©el....o.f....t.he....S.S.PX
27. F r . Angelo Gutmacher - P. Schmidt, Cardinal Bea's secretary
2B. Giacomo Cardinal Graziani - Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Vatican Secretary of
State
29. Noah Cardinal Palombo - V i r g i l i o Cardinal Noe, Vatican (retired)
30. Michael Continho, S.J. - Carlos Cardinal Martini, S.J., Milan
31. Victor Venable, 0FM - F r . Vaughan
32. Serozha Gafin (Moscow) - A. Golovin
33. Gibson Appleyard (U.S.A.) - composite of J . Hale, State Department, and
William Colby, C.I.A.
34. Rev. Herbert Tartley, Church of England - former Archbishop of Canterbury
35. Nicholas Clatterbuck - r e a l person, s t i l l l i v i n g
36. Dr. Ralph Charming - r e a l person, s t i l l l i v i n g
37. Cliffview House - 304? Riverside Drive, New York
38. Jacques Deneuve (banker) - K. Schwab, World Trade Organization
39. Gynneth Blashford (publisher) - Bertelsmann
40. Brad Gerstein-Snell (communications) - Ted Turner
41. S i r Jimmie Blackburn (South A f r i c a , diamonds) - James Goldsmith
42. Kyun Kia Moi (Korea) - r e a l person, s t i l l l i v i n g
43. Bp. Novacy - Abp. Pavel Hnilica
44. Maldonado (I.R.A.) - S i g . Alberico Novelli
45. Card. Amedeo Sanstefano (I.R.A.) - S i l v i o Cardinal Oddi (deceased)
46. Bp. levin Rahilly (CT) - Abp. John Whealon, Hartford (deceased)
47. Bp. Primas Rochefort (NY) - Bp. Matthew Clark, Rochester
48. Bp. Bruce Longbottham (MI) - Bp. Kenneth Untener, Saginaw (deceased)
49. Abp. Cuthbert Delish (WI) - Abp. Rembert Weakland, Milwaukee (retired)
50. Bp. Manley Motherhubbe (NY) - Bp. Howard Hubbard, Albany
51. Bp. Raymond Luckenbill (MN) - Bp. Raymond Lucker, New Ulm
52. Bp. Ralph Goodenough (IL) - composite of Chicago a u x i l i a r i e s
53. Sr. Fran Fedora (Seattle) - Fran Ferder
54. Sr. Helen Hammentick (New Orleans) - ?
55. Sr. Cherisa Blaine (Kansas City) - Sr. Theresa Kane
56. "Capstone" - real person, s t i l l l i v i n g
57. Card. Schuyteneer (Belgium) - Godfried Danneels, Belgium
58. Card. Azande (Gold Coast) - Francis Arinze, Congregation of Saints
59. Card. Reinvernunft - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith
60. Abp. Canizio Buttafuoco - Abp. Gianni Danzi, Office of Secretary of State
61. Holy Angels House - Dominican House of Studies, River Forest, I L
62. F r . George Haneberry - F r . Donald Goergen, O.P., former provincial of
Chicago Dominicans, author of "Sexual Celibate, now at an ashram i n Kenosha,
Wisconsin
63. F r . Avonodor (Chicago Chancery) - Msgr. John Roche, Archdiocese of Chicago,
friend of Joseph Louis Cardinal Bernardin; now works for Helene Curtiss
Cosmetics, Chicago
64. F r . Lotzinger (Willowship) - F r . Robert Lutz, S t . Norbert's Church,
Northbrook, I L
65. S r . Angela - Alice Halpin, Lutz's school p r i n c i p a l , former nun
66. F r . Tomkins (Roantree) - f i c t i t i o u s name
67. F r . Keraly (Harding) - f i c t i t i o u s name, or perhaps F r . Kealy
68. F r . Goerge Hotelet, O.P. - F r . Georges Cottier, O.P., Rome, a papal
theologian
69. Dr. Carlo Fiesole Marraci - Giovanni Baptista Marini-Bettolo Marcioni
70. F r . Sebastian Scalabrini - Francis E. P e l l e g r i n i , murdered on May 30, 1984
in the process of exposing a satanic cult in Chicago
 W i n d s w e p t House
A V A T I C A N N O V E L
 History as Prologue: End Signs
1957

D I P L O M A T S schooled in harsh times and in the toughest ways of finance,

trade and international rivalry are not much given to omens. Still, today's
enterprise brimmed with such promise that the six Foreign Ministers who
gathered in Rome on March 25, 1957, felt that everything surrounding
them—the rock-solid centrality of Europe's premier city, the cleansing
winds, the open skies, the benign smile of the day's climate—was fortune's
very cloak of blessing drawn about them as they laid the foundation stone
for a new edifice of nations.
As partners in the creation of a new Europe that would sweep away the
squabbling nationalism that had so often split this ancient delta, these six
men and their governments were one in their faith that they were about to
open their lands to a wider economic horizon and a taller political sky
than had ever been contemplated. They were about to sign the treaties of
Rome. They were about to create the European Economic Community.
In recent memory, nothing but death and destruction had been spawned
in their capitals. Only the year before, the Soviets had underscored their
expansionist determination in the blood of Hungary's attempted uprising;
any day Soviet armor could roll across Europe. No one expected the
U.S.A. and its Marshall Plan to carry forever the burdens of building the
new Europe. Nor did any European government wish to be clamped be-
tween the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. in a rivalry that could only deepen in
the decades ahead.
As if already accustomed to acting as one in the face of such reality, all
six ministers signed on as founders of the E E C . The three representatives
of the Benelux nations, because Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxem-
bourg were the very crucible in which the idea of a new Europe had been
tried and found true. O r at least true enough. The minister representing
France, because his country would be the beating heart of the new Europe,
as it had always been of the old Europe, Italy, because his country was the
living soul of Europe. West Germany, because the world would never
shunt his country aside again.
So the European Communit y was born. There were toasts to the geopo-
litical visionaries who had made this day possible. To Robert Schuman
and Jean Monnet of France; to Konrad Adenauer of West Germany; to
Paul-I lenri Spaak of Belgium. And there were congratulations all around.
It wouldn't be long before Denmark, Ireland and England would see the
 2 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

w i s d o m o f the new v e n t u r e . A n d , w h i l e they m i g h t require some patient

help, Greece, Portugal and Spain w o u l d j o i n as w e l l . O f course, there was
still the matter o f h o l d i n g the Soviets at bay. A n d there was the matter o f
finding a new center o f g r a v i t y . But no d o u b t a b o u t i t : the nascent EEC
was the c u t t i n g edge o f the new Europe t h a t had to come i f Europe was to
survive.

W h e n all the signing and sealing and toasting were done, the m o m e n t
came f o r the distinctively R o m a n r i t u a l and privilege of d i p l o m a t s : an
audience w i t h the octogenarian Pope in the A p o s t o l i c Palace o n Vatican
Hill.
Seated o n his t r a d i t i o n a l papal t h r o n e a m i d the panoply o f Vatican
ceremonial i n an ornate sala, H i s Holiness Pius X I I received the six minis-
ters and their entourages w i t h s m i l i n g countenance. H i s welcome was
sincere. His remarks were brief. H i s attitude was o f a l o n g t i m e owner and
resident o f a vast p r o p e r t y g i v i n g some pointers t o n e w l y arrived and
i n t e n d i n g residents.
E u r o p e , the H o l y Father recalled, had had its eras o f greatness w h e n a
c o m m o n faith had a n i m a t e d the hearts o f its peoples. Europe, he urged,
c o u l d have its geopolitical greatness again, refurbished and burnished
anew, i f i t c o u l d create a n e w heart. Europe, he i n t i m a t e d , c o u l d again
forge a supernal, c o m m o n a n d b i n d i n g f a i t h .
I n w a r d l y , the ministers w i n c e d . Pius had p o i n t e d t o the greatest d i f f i -
culty facing the E E C o n the day of its b i r t h . Beneath his w o r d s lay the
w a r n i n g that neither democratic socialism n o r capitalist democracy nor
the prospect o f the g o o d life nor a mystic " E u r o p a " of the humanists
c o u l d p r o v i d e the engine to drive their d r e a m . Practically speaking, their
new Europe lacked a g l o w i n g center, a superior force or principle to b i n d
it together and drive it f o r w a r d . Practically speaking, their Europe lacked
w h a t this Pope h a d . L a c k e d w h a t he was.
H i s points made, the Holly Father traced three crosses i n the air as the
t r a d i t i o n a l papal blessing. Some few knelt t o receive i t . Some w h o re-
mained standing b o w e d t h e i r heads. But i t had become impossible for
t h e m to associate the Pope w i t h the healing balm o f the G o d he claimed to
represent as Vicar, or to recognize t h a t b a l m as the o n l y cohesive factor
t h a t c o u l d mend the w o r l d ' s soul; neither c o u l d they acknowledge that
economic and p o l i t i c a l treaties were n o t the glue that binds the hearts and
minds o f m a n k i n d .
A n d yet, frail as he was, they c o u l d only envy this solitary, enthroned
d i g n i t a r y . For, as Belgium's P a u l - H e n r i Spaak later r e m a r k e d , he presided
over a universal o r g a n i z a t i o n . A n d he was more t h a n the elected represen-
tative of t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n . He was the possessor o f its p o w e r . He was its
center o f g r a v i t y .
j • _ i -j
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : F N D S I G N S 3

F r o m the w i n d o w o f his study o n the t h i r d floor o f the Apostolic Palace,

the H o l y Father watched the architects o f the new Europe c l i m b i n t o their
limousines i n the square b e l o w .
" W h a t d o y o u t h i n k , Holiness? Can their new Europe develop strongly
enough to stop M o s c o w ? "
Pius t u r n e d to his c o m p a n i o n — a German Jesuit, a longtime friend and
favorite confessor. " M a r x i s m is still the enemy, Father. But the A n g l o -
Saxons have the i n i t i a t i v e / ' O n this Pope's lips, Anglo-Saxon meant the
A n g l o - A m e r i c a n establishment. " T h e i r Europe w i l l go far. A n d it w i l l go
fast. But the greatest day for Europe has n o t yet d a w n e d . "
The Jesuit failed to f o l l o w the papal v i s i o n . " W h i c h Europe, Holiness?
T h e greatest day for whose Eiurope?"
" F o r the Europe b o r n t o d a y . " T h e Pope's answer was unhesitating.
" O n the day this H o l y See is harnessed t o the new Europe o f the diplomats
and p o l i t i c i a n s — t o the Europe centered i n Brussels and Paris—on that day
the Church's misfortunes w i l l start in earnest." T h e n , t u r n i n g again t o
w a t c h the limousines d e p a r t i n g across St. Peter's Square, " T h e new E u -
rope w i l l have its little day, Father. But only a d a y . "

I960

N o more p r o m i s i n g enterprise had ever h u n g in the balance, and no more

i m p o r t a n t piece o f Vatican business had ever been transacted between a
Pope and his c o u n c i l l o r s , t h a n the issue o n the papal docket this February
m o r n i n g o f 1960. Since the day o f his election to the papacy just over a
year before, His Holiness John X X I I I — " g o o d Pope J o h n , " as he was
q u i c k l y called—had moved the H o l y See, the papal government and most
o f the outside d i p l o m a t i c a n d religious w o r l d i n t o a new o r b i t . N o w i t
seemed he w a n t e d t o raise the w o r l d as w e l l .
Already seventy-seven years o l d at his election, this r o l y - p o l y peasant of
a man had been chosen as an i n t e r i m Pope; as an inoffensive compromise
whose brief reign w o u l d buy a little t i m e — f o u r or five years had been the
r e c k o n i n g — t o find a proper successor to guide the C h u r c h t h r o u g h the
C o l d W a r . But, w i t h i n m o n t h s of his enthronement and t o everyone's
astonishment, he had opened up his Vatican i n a surprise call for an Ecu-
menical C o u n c i l . I n fact, nearly every Vatican o f f i c i a l — i n c l u d i n g every
advisor w h o had been s u m m o n e d t o this confidential meeting i n the papal
apartments o n the f o u r t h f l o o r o f the Apostolic Palace—was already hip
deep i n preparations for that C o u n c i l .
W i t h a directness n a t u r a l t o h i m , the Pope shared his m i n d w i t h the
h a n d f u l of men he had gathered f o r that purpose—a dozen or so of his key
C a r d i n a l s , plus a number o f hishops and monsignori f r o m the Secretariat
o f State. T w o expert Portuguese translators were present.
 4 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

" W c have a choice to m a k e , ' H i s Holiness confided t o his advisors.

9

" W e prefer n o t to make i t a l o n e . " T h e issue, he said, revolved a r o u n d a

n o w w o r l d - f a m o u s letter received by his predecessor o n the T h r o n e o f
Peter. T h e story s u r r o u n d i n g that lerrer was so well k n o w n , he said fur-
ther, that i t needed only the barest o u t l i n e this m o r n i n g .
F a t i m a , once a m o n g the most obscure t o w n s in Portugal, had become
suddenly famous i n 1917 as the site where three little peasant c h i l d r e n —
t w o girls and a b o y — h a d been the recipients o f six visits, or visions, of the
Blessed V i r g i n M a r y . A l o n g w i t h many m i l l i o n s o f Catholics, everyone in
this r o o m today k n e w t h a t the Fatima c h i l d r e n had been given three
secrets by the V i r g i n . Everyone knew t h a t , as their visitor f r o m Heaven
had f o r e t o l d , t w o o f the c h i l d r e n had died i n c h i l d h o o d ; only the oldest,
Lucia, had survived. Everyone knew that Lucia, n o w a cloistered n u n , had
l o n g since revealed the first t w o o f the Fatima secrets. But it was the
V i r g i n ' s w i s h , Lucia had said, that the t h i r d secret be published by " t h e
Pope o f 1 9 6 0 " ; and that simultaneously the same Pope was to organize a
w o r l d w i d e consecration o f " R u s s i a " to the V i r g i n M a r y . T h a t consecra-
t i o n was to be p e r f o r m e d by all the bishops of the w o r l d on the same day,
each in his o w n diocese, each using the same w o r d s . T h a t consecration
w o u l d be t a n t a m o u n t to a public w o r l d w i d e c o n d e m n a t i o n o f the Soviet
Union.
T h e V i r g i n had promised that i f the consecration was done, Lucia had
said, " R u s s i a " w o u l d be converted and w o u l d cease to be a threat. H o w -
ever, if her w i s h was n o t fulfilled " b y the Pope o f 1 9 6 0 , " then "Russia
w o u l d spread its errors t h r o u g h o u t all n a t i o n s , " there w o u l d be much
suffering and destruction and the faith o f the C h u r c h w o u l d be so cor-
rupted that only i n Portugal w o u l d " t h e dogma of the f a i t h " be preserved
intact.
I n the course of her t h i r d Fatima visit i n July o f 1917, the V i r g i n had
promised t o seal her mandate w i t h tangible p r o o f o f its authenticity as a
message f r o m G o d . She w o u l d p e r f o r m a miracle at n o o n t i m e o n the
f o l l o w i n g O c t o b e r 13. A n d i n that very h o u r o n that very day, a l o n g w i t h
some 7 5 , 0 0 0 people w h o had come, some o f them f r o m great distances—
along w i t h newsmen and photographers, along w i t h scientists and skep-
tics, a l o n g w i t h many reliable clerics—the c h i l d r e n had witnessed an
astonishing miracle.
The sun had violated eveiry possible natural l a w . Breaking f r o m a heavy
and unrelenting rain that had drenched everyone and turned the terrain o f
that remote place i n t o a m u d bog, it literally danced in the skies. I t had
showered a r a i n b o w f l o o d o f b r i l l i a n t colors. I t had plummeted d o w n w a r d
u n t i l it seemed certain to plunge i n t o the c r o w d . T h e n , just as suddenly, i t
had retreated to its n o r m a l position and shone as benignly as ever. Every-
one was stunned. T h e i r clothes were as immaculate as i f just laundered
and pressed. A l l were entirely u n h a r m e d . A l l had seen the dancing sun; b u t
o n l y the c h i l d r e n had seen the Virgin*
H I S T O R Y AS PROLOGHr.; E N D S I G N S 5

" S u r e l y " — g o o d Pope J o h n retrieved an envelope f r o m a humidor-sized

b o x resting o n the table beside h i m — " t h e first t h i n g to be done this m o r n -
ing must be o b v i o u s . " Excitement ran a m o n g his advisors. They were
here, then, for a private reading of Lucia's secret letter. It was no exagger-
a t i o n to say that tens of m i l l i o n s of people everywhere awaited w o r d that
" t h e Pope of i 9 6 0 " w o u l d reveal the p o r t i o n s of the t h i r d secret that had
been so closely guarded u n t i l n o w , and w o u l d obey the V i r g i n ' s mandate.
W i t h that t h o u g h t i n m i n d , H i s Holiness underscored his exact and literal
meaning o f the w o r d " p r i v a t e . " Certain that his a d m o n i t i o n of secrecy
was clear, the H o l y Father handed the Fatima letter to the t w o Portuguese
translators; and they in t u r n rendered the secret text, viva voce, i n t o Ital-
ian.
" N o w . " The reading c o m p l e t e d , the Pope q u i c k l y p i n p o i n t e d the choice
he preferred not to make alone. " W e must confide that since August o f
1959, we have been in delicate negotiations w i t h the Soviet U n i o n . O u r
a i m is to have at least t w o prelates f r o m the U.S.S.R/s O r t h o d o x C h u r c h
attend O u r C o u n c i l . " Pope J o h n frequently referred t o the c o m i n g Second
Vatican C o u n c i l as " O u r C o u n c i l . "
W h a t was he to d o , then? H i s Holiness asked this m o r n i n g . Providence
had w i l l e d thar he be " t h e Pope of 1 9 6 0 . " A n d yet, if he obeyed w h a t
Sister Lucia clearly described as the mandate of the Queen of Heaven—if
he a n d his bishops declared p u b l i c l y , officially and universally that " R u s -
s i a " was full o f baneful e r r o r s — i t w o u l d spell r u i n for his Soviet initiative.
But even aside f r o m that—aside f r o m his fervent w i s h to have the O r t h o -
d o x C h u r c h represented at the C o u n c i l — i f the Pontiff were to use the full
a u t h o r i t y of his papacy and his hierarchy to carry o u t rhe Virgin's m a n -
date, it w o u l d be t a n t a m o u n t t o b r a n d i n g the Soviet U n i o n and its current
M a r x i s t d i c t a t o r , N i k i t a Khrushchev, as c r i m i n a l . I n their rage, w o u l d n ' t
the Soviets retaliate? W o u l d the Pope not be responsible for a fresh wave
of persecutions—for the ugly death o f m i l l i o n s — t h r o u g h o u t the Soviet
U n i o n , its satellites and surrogates?
To underscore his concern. His Holiness had one p o r t i o n o f the Fatima
letter read o u t again. H e saw understanding—shock i n some cases—on all
the faces a r o u n d h i m . I f everyone in this r o o m had understood that key
passage of the t h i r d secret so easily, he asked, w o u l d not the Soviets be just
as quick? W o u l d they n o t rake f r o m i t the strategic i n f o r m a t i o n that
w o u l d give them an u n d o u b t e d advantage over the free w o r l d ?
" W e m i g h t still h o l d O u r C o u n c i l , b u t . . . " There was no need for H i s
Holiness to finish the t h o u g h t . Everything was clear n o w . Publication o f
the secret w o u l d set o f f repercussions everywhere. Friendly governments
w o u l d be gravely disturbed, T h e Soviets w o u l d be alienated o n the one
hand and strategically aided o n the other. The choice the good Pope had
to make came d o w n to bedrock geopolitics.
N o one d o u b t e d the g o o d faith o f Sister Lucia. But several advisors
p o i n t e d o u t that nearly t w e n t y years had elapsed between the time i n 1917
 6 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

w h e n she had heard the w o r d s o f the V i r g i n and the t i m e i n the mid-1930s

w h e n she had actually w r i t t e n this letter. W h a t guarantee had the H o l y
Father that time had n o t c l o u d e d her memory? A n d w h a t guarantee was
there t h a t three illiterate peasant c h i l d r e n — n o t one o f them twelve years
old at the t i m e — h a d accurately transmitted such a complex message?
M i g h t there n o t be some preliterate and childish fancy at w o r k here?
Indeed, m i g h t there n o t be something even more d e b i l i t a t i n g for the truth?
T r o o p s f r o m the Soviet U n i o n had entered the Spanish C i v i l War raging
only miles away at the t i m e Lucia had w r i t t e n her letter. H a d Lucia's
w o r d s been colored by her o w n fear of the Soviets?
There was one dissenting voice f r o m the consensus that was f o r m i n g .
One C a r d i n a l — a G e r m a n Jesuit, a friend and favorite confessor to this
Pope, as he had been to the l a s t — c o u l d n o t remain silent i n the face o f
such degradation o f the role o f divine i n t e r v e n t i o n . It was one t h i n g for
ministers o f secular governments to abandon the practicalities o f faith. But
surely such banality s h o u l d be unacceptable f o r churchmen advising the
H o l y Father.
" T h e choice t o be made here," the Jesuit argued, "is simple and p r i m a
facie. Either we accept thiis letter, do w h a t it says, and then a w a i t the
consequences. O r we honestly disbelieve i t . We forget it a l l . We suppress
the letter as a historical relic; we carry o n as we are going a n d , by our
deliberate decision, we s t r i p ourselves o f a special p r o t e c t i o n . But either
way, let nor one o f us here d o u b t that we are t a l k i n g a b o u t the fate of all
mankind."

For all the trust H i s Holiness placed in the Jesuit Cardinal's expertise and
l o y a l t y , the decision w e n t against Fatima. "Questo nan e per i nostri
tempi" the H o l y Father said. " T h i s is n o t f o r our t i m e s . " Shortly after
that day, the C a r d i n a l scaiuned the brief release distributed to the media by
the official Vatican press office. Its w o r d s w o u l d stand forever in his m i n d
as a c u r t refusal to obey the w i l l o f Heaven.
For the good o f the C h u r c h and the welfare o f m a n k i n d , the statement
declared, the H o l y See h a d decided n o t to publish the text o f the t h i r d
secret at this time. " . . . T he decision o f the Vatican is based o n various
reasons: (1) Sister Lucia is still l i v i n g . (2) The Vatican already k n o w s the
contents o f the letter. (3) A l t h o u g h the C h u r c h recognizes the Fatima ap-
p a r i t i o n s , she does n o t pledge herself to guarantee the veracity of the
w o r d s w h i c h the three litirle shepherds claim to have heard f r o m O u r
L a d y . In these circumstances, it is most probable that the secret o f Fatima
w i l l remain forever under absolute seal."
" C i vedremo" T h e C a r d i n a l set the release aside. " W e shall see." H e
knew the d r i l l . The H o l y See w o u l d have amicable w o r d s w i t h N i k i t a
Khrushchev. The P o n t i f f w o u l d have his C o u n c i l . The C o u n c i l w o u l d have
its O r t h o d o x prelates f r o m the Soviet U n i o n . But the question still to be
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D S I G N S 7

answered was whether H i s Holiness, his Vatican and his C h u r c h w o u l d

n o w undergo the consequences promised at Fatima.
O r , t o frame the issue in geopolitical terms, the question was whether
the H o l y See had harnessed itself to " t h e new Europe o f the d i p l o m a t s and
p o l i t i c i a n s / ' as the good Pope's predecessor had f o r e t o l d . " O n that d a y / *
that frail o l d m a n had said, " t h e Church's misfortunes w i l l start i n ear-
nest/'
" W e shall see." For n o w , the C a r d i n a l w o u l d have to settle for that.
One w a y or the other, it w o u l d only be a matter o f time.

1963

T h e E n t h r o n e m e n t o f the Fallen Archangel Lucifer was effected w i t h i n the

R o m a n Catholic Citadel o n June 29, 1963; a f i t t i n g date f o r the historic
promise a b o u t to be f u l f i l l e d . As the p r i n c i p a l agents o f this Ceremonial
well k n e w , Satanist t r a d i t i o n had l o n g predicted t h a t the T i m e o f the
Prince w o u l d be ushered in at the m o m e n t w h e n a Pope w o u l d take the
name o f the Apostle Paul. T h a t requirement—the signal t h a t the Availing
Time had b e g u n — h a d been accomplished just eight days before w i t h the
election o f the latest Peter-in-the-Line.
There had barely been time since the papal Conclave had ended for the
c o m p l e x arrangements to be readied; b u t the Supreme T r i b u n a l had de-
cided there c o u l d be no m o r e perfect date for the E n t h r o n e m e n t of the
Prince t h a n this feast day o f the t w i n princes o f the C i t a d e l , SS. Peter and
Paul. A n d there c o u l d be no m o r e perfect place than the Chapel o f St. Paul
itself, situated as i t was so near to the Apostolic Palace.
The c o m p l e x i t y of the arrangements were dictated m a i n l y by the nature
of the Ceremonial Event to be enacted. Security was so tight in the g r o u p -
ing o f Vatican buildings w i t h i n w h i c h this gem o f a Chapel lay t h a t the full
panoply of the Ceremonial c o u l d n o t possibly escape detection here. I f the
a i m was to be achieved—if the Ascent o f the Prince was actually to be
accomplished i n the A v a i l i n g T i m e — t h e n every element o f the Celebration
of the C a l v a r y Sacrifice m u s t be t u r n e d o n its head by the other and
opposite C e l e b r a t i o n . T h e sacred must be p r o f a n e d . T h e profane must be
adored. The u n b l o o d y representation o f the Sacrifice of the Nameless
W e a k l i n g on the Cross must be replaced by the supreme and b l o o d y viola-
t i o n o f the d i g n i t y o f the Nameless O n e . G u i l t must be accepted as i n n o -
cence. Pain must give j o y . Grace, repentance, p a r d o n must all be d r o w n e d
in an orgy o f opposites. A n d i t must all be done w i t h o u t mistakes. T h e
sequence o f events, the meaniing o f the w o r d s , the significance o f the ac-
tions must all comprise the perfect enactment of sacrilege, the ultimate
ritual of treachery.
The w h o l e delicate affair was placed i n the experienced hands o f the
 8 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

Prince's trusted G u a r d i a n i n Rome. A master o f the elaborate Ceremonial

o f the R o m a n C h u r c h , so m u c h more was this granite-faced, acid-tongued
prelate a Master of the Prince's Ceremonial o f Darkness and Fire. The
immediate aim of every C e r e m o n i a l , he k n e w , is to venerate " t h e a b o m i -
n a t i o n of d e s o l a t i o n . " But the further a i m n o w must be to oppose the
Nameless W e a k l i n g in His s t r o n g h o l d , to occupy the Weakling's Citadel
d u r i n g the A v a i l i n g T i m e , t o secure the Ascent o f the Prince in the Citadel
as an irresistible force, to s u p p l a n t the Citadel's Keeper, to take full pos-
session o f the Keys entrusted to the Keeper by the W e a k l i n g .
The G u a r d i a n tackled the p r o b l e m o f security head-on. Such u n o b t r u -
sive elements as the Pentagram and the black candles and the appropriate
draperies c o u l d be p a r t ot the Ceremonial in Rome. But other R u b r i c s —
the B o w l o f Bones and the R i t u a l D i n , for example, the sacrificial animals
and the v i c t i m — w o u l d be too m u c h . There w o u l d have to be a Parallel
E n t h r o n e m e n t . A C o n c e l e b r a t i o n c o u l d be accomplished w i t h the same
effect by the Brethren i n an A u t h o r i z e d Targeting Chapel. Provided all the
participants i n b o t h locations " t a r g e t e d " every element o f the Event on the
R o m a n C h a p e l , then the Event i n its fullness w o u l d be accomplished spe-
cifically i n the target area. I t w o u l d all be a matter o f u n a n i m i t y o f hearts,
identity of i n t e n t i o n and perfect synchronization o f w o r d s and actions
between the Targeting Chapel and the Target Chapel. The l i v i n g wills and
the t h i n k i n g minds o f the Participants concentrated o n the specific A i m o f
the Prince w o u l d transcend all distance.
For a m a n as experienced as the G u a r d i a n , the choice o f the 'Targeting
Chapel was easy. As simple: as a phone call to the United States. Over the
years, the Prince's adherents in Rome had developed a faultless u n a n i m i t y
of heart and a seamless i d e n t i t y o f i n t e n t i o n w i t h the Guardian's friend,
Leo, Bishop o f the Chapel i n South C a r o l i n a .
Leo was n o t the man's name. I t was his description. The silvery-white
mane o f hair o n his large head looked f o r all the w o r l d like a scraggly
lion's mane. In the forty years or so since H i s Excellency had established
his Chapel, the n u m b e r a n d the social importance o f the Participants he
had a t t r a c t e d , the p u n c t i l i o u s blasphemy o f his Ceremonies and his fre-
quent and ready c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h those w h o shared his p o i n t o f view and
ultimate goals, had so established the s u p e r i o r i t y of his o p e r a t i o n that by
n o w i t was w i d e l y a d m i r e d a m o n g initiates as the M o t h e t Chapel of the
United States.
T h e news t h a t his C h a p e l had been A u t h o r i z e d as the Targeting Chapel
for such a great Event as the E n t h r o n e m e n t o f the Prince w i t h i n the heart
of the R o m a n Citadel itself was supremely g r a t i f y i n g . M o r e to the p o i n t ,
Leo's vast Ceremonial k n o w l e d g e and experience saved a lot o f time.
There was no need, f o r e x a m p l e , to test his appreciation o f the contradic-
tory principles u p o n w h i c h all w o r s h i p o f the Archangel is structured. N o
need t o d o u b t his desire t o encompass the ultimate strategy i n that bat-
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D S I G N S 9

tie—the end o f the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h as the papal i n s t i t u t i o n it had

been since the Nameless W e a k l i n g had founded i t .
There was no need even to explain t h a t the u l t i m a t e a i m wasn't exactly
t o liquidate the R o m a n C a t h o l i c o r g a n i z a t i o n . Leo understood h o w u n i n -
telligent that w o u l d be, h o w wasteful. Far better t o make that organiza-
t i o n i n t o something t r u l y useful, to homogenize and assimilate it i n t o a
grand w o r l d w i d e order o f h u m a n affairs. To confine i t to broad h u m a n -
ist—and only humanist—goails.
L i k e - m i n d e d experts t h a t they were, the G u a r d i a n and the A m e r i c a n
Bishop reduced their arrangements for the t w i n Ceremonial Events to a
roster o f names and an i n v e n t o r y o f Rubrics.
The G u a r d i a n ' s list o f names—the Participants in the R o m a n C h a p e l —
turned o u t t o be men o f the highest caliber. H i g h - r a n k i n g c h u r c h m e n , and
laymen of substance. Genuine Servitors of the Prince w i t h i n the Citadel.
Some had been selected, c o - o p t e d , trained and p r o m o t e d in the Roman
Phalanx over the decades, w h i l e others represented the new generation
dedicated t o c a r r y i n g the Prince's agenda f o r w a r d for the next several
decades. A l l understood the need to remain undetected; for the Rule says,
" T h e Guarantee of O u r T o m o r r o w Is Today's Persuasion T h a i We D o N o t
Exist."
Leo's roster o f Participants—men and w o m e n w h o had made their
m a r k i n c o r p o r a t e , g o v e r n m e n t a n d social l i f e — w a s every b i t as impres-
sive as the G u a r d i a n had expected. But the V i c t i m , H i s Excellency said—a
c h i l d — w o u l d be t r u l y a prize f o r the V i o l a t i o n - o f - l n n o c e n c e .
The checklist o f Rubrics r e q u i r e d for the Parallel Ceremonial centered
mainly o n the elements that h a d t o be ruled o u t i n Rome. Leo's Targeting
Chapel must have its set o f Vials c o n t a i n i n g E a r t h , A i r , Fire and Water.
Check. It must have the B o w l o f Bones. Check. The Red and Black Pil-
lars. Check. The Shield. Check. The animals. Check. D o w n the list they
w e n t . Check. Check.
The matter o f s y n c h r o n i z i n g the Ceremonies in the t w o Chapels was
familiar f o r Leo. As usual, fascicles o f p r i n t e d sheets, irreligiously called
Missals, w o u l d be prepared f o r use by the Participants in b o t h Chapels;
a n d , as usual, they w o u l d be i n flawless L a t i n . A telephone l i n k w o u l d be
m o n i t o r e d by a Ceremonial Messenger at each end, so t h a t the Partici-
pants w o u l d always be able t o take up their parts i n perfect h a r m o n y w i t h
their C o o p e r a t i n g Brethren.
D u r i n g the Event, the pulse o f every Participant's heart must be per-
fectly a t t u n e d to make H a t e , n o t love. The g r a t i f i c a t i o n o f Pain and the
C o n s u m m a t i o n must be perfectly achieved under Leo's direction in the
Sponsoring Chapel. The A u t h o r i z a t i o n , the Instructions and the Evi-
dence—the final and c u l m i n a t i n g elements peculiar t o this o c c a s i o n —
w o u l d be an h o n o r f o r the G u a r d i a n himself to orchestrate in the Vatican.
Finally, if everyone d i d the needful exactly according to the Rule, the
Prince w o u l d at l o n g last C o n s u m m a t e his M o s t Ancient Revenge u p o n
 10 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

the W e a k l i n g , the Merciless Enemy w h o had paraded t h r o u g h the ages as

the M o s t H i g h M e r c i f u l O n e f o r w h o m the darkest o f darkness was light
enough t o see a l l .
Leo c o u l d imagine the rest. The E n t h r o n e m e n t Event w o u l d create a
perfect c o v e r i n g , opaque a n d velvet s m o o t h , t o conceal the Prince w i t h i n
the official C h u r c h membership of the R o m a n C i t a d e l . Enthroned i n
Darkness, the Prince w o u l d be able to foment t h a t same Darkness as never
before. Friend and foe w o u l d be affected alike. Darkness o f w i l l w o u l d
become so p r o f o u n d t h a t i t w o u l d obscure even the official objective o f the
Citadel's existence: the perpetual a d o r a t i o n o f the Nameless One. In time
and at last, the G o a t w o u l d expel the L a m b and enter into Possession o f
the C i t a d e l . T h e Prince w o u l d usher himself i n t o possession o f a house—
T h e H o u s e — t h a t was n o t his.
" T h i n k o f i t , m y f r i e n d . " Bishop Leo was nearly beside himself w i t h
a n t i c i p a t i o n . " T h e unaccomplished w i l l be accomplished. T h i s w i l l be the
capstone o f my career. T h e capstone Event o f the twentieth c e n t u r y ! "
Leo was n o t far w r o n g .

It was n i g h t . T h e G u a r d i a n and a few Acolytes w o r k e d i n silence to p u t

everything in readiness i n the Target Chapel o f St. Paul. A semicircle o f
kneelcr chairs was set up t o face the A l t a r . O n the A l t a r itself, five candle-
sticks were fitted w i t h graceful black tapers. A silver Pentagram was
placed o n the Tabernacle a n d covered w i t h a b l o o d - r e d veil. A T h r o n e ,
symbol o f the Prince Regnant, was placed to the left o f the A l t a r . The
walls, w i t h their lovely frescoes and paintings depicting events i n the life o f
Christ and o f the Apostle,, were draped in black c l o t h suitably e m b r o i -
dered i n gold w i t h symbols of the Prince's history.
As T h e H o u r d r e w near,, the genuine Servitors o f the Prince w i t h i n the
Citadel began to arrive. T h e R o m a n Phalanx. A m o n g t h e m , some of the
most illustrious men c u r r e n t l y t o be found in the c o l l e g i u m , hierarchy and
bureaucracy o f the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . A m o n g t h e m , t o o , secular
representatives of the P h a b n x as o u t s t a n d i n g i n their w a y as the members
of the hierarchy.
Take that Prussian f e l l o w just striding in the d o o r , for example. A prime
specimen o f the new lay breed if ever there was one. N o t yet f o r t y , he was
already a m a n o f i m p o r t a n c e i n certain critical tra n s n a tio n a l affairs. Even
the light f r o m the black tapers glinted o f f his steel-rimmed glasses and his
balding head as i f t o single h i m o u t . Chosen as I n t e r n a t i o n a l Delegate and
Plenipotentiary E x t r a o r d i n a r y to the E n t h r o n e m e n t , the Prussian carried
the leather pouch c o n t a i n i n g the Letters o f A u t h o r i z a t i o n and Instructions
to the A l t a r before he t o o k his place in the semicircle.
Some t h i r t y minutes before m i d n i g h t , all o f the kneeler chairs were
occupied by the current harvest o f a Prince T r a d i t i o n t h a t had been
planted, n u r t u r e d and c u l t i v a t e d w i t h i n the ancient Citadel over a period
of some eighty years. T h o u g h restricted i n numbers f o r a t i m e , the g r o u p
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D S I G N S 11

has persisted i n protective o b s c u r i t y as a foreign body a n d an alien spirit

w i t h i n its host and v i c t i m . I t permeated offices a n d activities t h r o u g h o u t
the R o m a n C i t a d e l , spreading its symptoms t h r o u g h the bloodstream of
the C h u r c h Universal like a subcutaneous i n f e c t i o n . Symptoms like c y n i -
cism a n d indifference, malfeasance and misfeasance i n high office, inatten-
t i o n t o correct d o c t r i n e , neglect o f m o r a l j u d g m e n t , loss o f acuity i n sacral
observance, b l u r r i n g o f essential memories a n d o f the w o r d s and gestures
that bespoke t h e m .
Such were the men gathered i n the Vatican f o r the E n t h r o n e m e n t : and
such was the T r a d i t i o n they fostered t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d w i d e adminis-
t r a t i o n headquartered i n this C i t a d e l . Missals i n h a n d , eyes fixed o n Altar
and T h r o n e , minds a n d w i l l s deep i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n , they w a i t e d in silence
for m i d n i g h t t o usher i n the feast of SS, Peter and Paul, the quintessential
holy d a y o f R o m e .

T h e Targeting Chapel—a large assembly hall i n the basement o f a p a r o -

chial s c h o o l — h a d been f u r n i s h e d i n strict observance of the Rules. Bishop
Leo had directed i t all personally. N o w , his specially chosen Acolytes
bustled quietly to p u t the final details i n order as he checked everything.
T h e A l t a r first, placed at the n o r t h end o f the Chapel. H a t o n the A l t a r ,
a large C r u c i f i x w i t h the head o f the corpus p o i n t i n g to the n o r t h . A
h a i r b r e a d t h a w a y , the red-veiled Pentagram flanked by t w o black candles.
A b o v e , a red Sanctuary L a m p gleaming w i t h the R i t u a l Flame. A t the east
end o f the A l t a r , a cage; and i n the cage, Flinnie, a seven-week-old p u p p y ,
m i l d l y sedated against the b r i e f m o m e n t of his usefulness to the Prince.
Behind the A l t a r , ebony tapers a w a i t i n g the touch of R i t u a l Flame to their
wicks.
A q u i c k t u r n to the south w a l l . Resting o n a credenza, the T h u r i b l e and
the container h o l d i n g the squares of charcoal and incense. I n f r o n t o f the
credenza, the Red and Black Pillars f r o m w h i c h h u n g the Snake Shield and
the Bell o f I n f i n i t y . A t u r n t o the east w a l l . Vials c o n t a i n i n g Earth, A i r ,
Fire a n d Water s u r r o u n d i n g a second cage. In the cage, a dove, oblivious
of its fate as a p a r o d y not onily o f the Nameless W e a k l i n g b u t of the full
T r i n i t y . Lectern a n d Book i n readiness at the west w a l l . The semicircle of
kneeler chairs facing n o r t h t o w a r d the A l t a r . F l a n k i n g the kneeler chairs,
the Emblems of E n t r y : the B o w l o f Bones on the west side nearest the
d o o r : to the east, the Crescent M o o n and Five-Pointed Star w i t h Goat-
Points raised u p w a r d . O n each c h a i r , a copy o f the Missal to be used by
the Participants.
F i n a l l y , Leo glanced t o w a r d the entrance t o the Chapel itself. Special
vestments for the E n t h r o n e m e n t , identical to those he and his busy Aco-
lytes had already d o n n e d , h u n g o n the rack just inside the d o o r . He
checked his w a t c h against the large w a l l clock just as the first Participants
a r r i v e d . Satisfied w i t h the arrangements, he headed for the large connect-
ing c l o a k r o o m that served as vestry. T h e Archpriest a n d Frater M e d i c o
 12 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

should have the V i c t i m prepared by n o w . Barely t h i r t y minutes more, and

his Ceremonial Messenger w o u l d open the telephone l i n k t o the Target
Chapel i n the Vatican. I t w o u l d be T h e H o u r .

Just as there were d i f f e r e n t requirements f o r the physical setup i n the t w o

Chapels, so too f o r the Participants. Those i n St. Paul's Chapel, all men,
w o r e robes and sashes o f ecclesiastical rank or faultlessly tailored black
suits of secular r a n k . Concentrated and p u r p o s e f u l , their eyes trained
u p o n A l t a r a n d e m p t y T h r o n e , they appeared t o be the pious Roman
clergy and lay w o r s h i p p e r s they were c o m m o n l y believed t o be.
As distinguished i n r a n k as the R o m a n Phalanx, the A m e r i c a n Partici-
pants in the Targeting Chapel nevertheless presented a j a r r i n g contrast to
their fellows i n the V a t i c a n . M e n and w o m e n entered here. A n d far f r o m
sitting or kneeling in fine a t t i r e , as they a r r i v e d each disrobed completely
a n d donned the single, seamless vestment prescribed f o r the Enthrone-
m e n t — b l o o d red f o r Sacrifice; knee length and sleeveless; V-necked and
open d o w n the f r o n t . D i s r o b i n g and e n r o b i n g were accomplished in si-
lence, w i t h n o h u r r y or excitement. Just concentrated, r i t u a l c a l m .
Once vested, the Participants passed by the B o w l o f Bones, dipped in
their hands t o retrieve s m a l l fistfuls, a n d t o o k their places i n the semicircle
o f chairs facing the A l t a r . As the B o w l o f Bones was depleted and the
kneeler chairs filled, the R i t u a l D i n began to shatter the silence. Cease-
lessly r a t t l i n g the Bones, each Participant began t a l k i n g — t o himself, to
others, t o the Prince, t o no one. N o t raucously at first, but in an unsettling
r i t u a l cadence.
M o r e Participants a r r i v e d . M o r e Bones were taken. T h e semicircle was
filled o u t . T h e m u m b l i n g cadence swelled f r o m a softly cacophonous SMS-
surro. The steadily m o u n t i n g gibberish o f prayer and pleading and Bone
r a t t l i n g developed a k i n d o f c o n t r o l l e d heat. T h e sound became angry, as
if verging on violence. Became a c o n t r o l l e d concert o f chaos. A m i n d -
g r i p p i n g h o w l o f H a t e and Revolt. A concentrated prelude to the celebra-
t i o n of the E n t h r o n e m e n t o f the Prince o f T h i s W o r l d w i t h i n the Citadel o f
the W e a k l i n g .

H i s b l o o d - r e d vestments f l o w i n g gracefully, Leo strode i n t o the vestry. For

a m o m e n t , i t seemed to h i m t h a t everything was i n perfect readiness.
A l r e a d y vested, his co-Celebrant, the b a l d i n g , bespectacled A r c h p r i e s u
had l i t a single black taper in preparation f o r the Procession. H e had filled
a large golden Chalice w i t h red w i n e a n d covered i t w i t h a silver-gilt
paten. H e had placed an outsized w h i t e w a f e r o f unleavened bread atop
the paten.
A t h i r d m a n , Prater M e d i c o , was seated o n a bench. Vested like the
other t w o , he held a child across his lap. H i s daughter. Agnes. Leo o b -
served w i t h satisfaction t h a t Agnes seemed quiet a n d c o m p l i a n t for a
change. Indeed, she seemed ready for the occasion this time. She had been
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : F.ND S I G N S 13
dressed i n a loose w h i t e g o w n t h a t reached to her ankles. A n d , like her
puppy on the A l t a r , she had been m i l d l y sedated against the time of her
usefulness in the Mysteries.
" A g n e s , " M e d i c o p u r r e d i n t o the child's ear. ' i t ' s almost time to come
with Daddy."
" N o t my d a d d y . . . " Despite the drugs, the g i r l opened her eyes a n d
stared at her father. H e r voice was weak but audible. " G o d is my
daddy . .
" B L A S P H E M Y ! " Agnes' w o r d s transformed Leo's m o o d o f satisfaction
exactly as electrical energy is; transformed i n t o l i g h t n i n g . "Blasphemy!"
H e shot the w o r d again like a bullet. In fact, his m o u t h became a cannon
shooting a barrage o f rebuke at M e d i c o . Physician o r n o , the man was a
h u m b l e r ! T h e c h i l d s h o u l d have been suitably prepared! There had been
ample t i m e to see to i t !
Under Bishop Leo's attack. M e d i c o t u r n e d ashen. But n o t so his daugh-
ter. She struggled to t u r n those unforgettable eyes o f hers; struggled to
meet Leo's w i l d glare of anger; struggled to repeat her challenge. " G o d is
m y daddy . . . ! "
T r e m b l i n g i n his nervous a g i t a t i o n , Prater M e d i c o gripped his daugh-
ter's head i n his hands and forced her to l o o k at h i m again. "Sweetheart,"
he cajoled. " I am y o u r d a d d y . I've been y o u r daddy always. A n d , yes, your
m u m m y t o o , ever since she w e n t a w a y . "
" N o t my d a d d y . . . You let Flinnie be taken . . . M u s t n ' t h u r t Flin-
nie . . . O n l y a little p u p p y . . . Little puppies are made by G o d . . . "
"Agnes. Listen t o me. I a m y o u r d a d d y . It's t i m e . . . "
" N o t my d a d d y . . . G o d is m y daddy . . . G o d is m y m u m m y . . .
Daddies d o n ' t d o things G o d doesn't like . . . N o t m y . . . "
Aware that the Target Chapel in the Vatican must be w a i t i n g for the
Ceremonial telephone l i n k to be engaged, Leo gave a sharp n o d o f instruc-
t i o n t o the A r c h p r i e s t . As so often in the past, the emergency procedure
was the o n l y remedy; and the requirement that the V i c t i m be conscious at
the first R i t u a l C o n s u m m a t i o n meant that it w o u l d have to be accom-
plished n o w .
D o i n g his priestly d u t y , the Archpriest sat d o w n beside Frater M e d i c o
and shifted Agnes' drug-weakened f o r m o n t o his o w n lap. " A g n e s . Listen.
I ' m y o u r d a d d y , t o o . Remember the special love between us? Remember?"
S t u b b o r n l y , Agnes kept up her struggle. " N o t m y daddy . . . Daddies
d o n ' t d o bad things t o me . . . d o n ' t h u r t me . . . d o n ' t h u r t
Jesus . . . "

In later years, Agnes* memory of this night—for remember it she finally

did—would contain no titillating edge, no trace of the merely porno-
graphic. Her memory of this night, when it came, would he one with her
memory of her entire childho od. One with her memory of prolonged as-
sault by Summary Evil. One with her memory—her never failing sense—
 14 W I N D S W E P T H O U S F,

of that luminous tabernacle deep in her child's soul where Light trans-
formed her agony with Courage and made her struggle possible.
In some way she knew but did not yet understand, that inner tabernacle
was where Agnes truly lived. That center of her being was an untouchable
refuge of indwelling Strength and Love and Trust; the place where the
Suffering Victim, the true target of the assault on Agnes, had come to
sanctify her agony forever with His own.
It was from within that refuge that Agnes heard every word spoken in
the vestry on the night of the Enthronement. It was from that refuge that
she met the hard eyes of Bishop Leo glaring down at her, and the stare of
the Archpriest. She knew the price of resistance. Felt her body being
shifted from her father's lap. Saw the light glinting on the spectacles of the
Archpriest. Saw her father draw close again. Saw the needle in his hand.
Felt the puncture. Felt the shock of the drug again. Felt herself lifted in
someone's arms. But still she struggled. Struggled to see. Struggled against
the blasphemy; against the effects of the violation; against the chanting;
against the horror she knew was still to come*
Robbed by the drugs of strength to move, Agnes summoned her will as
her only weapon and whispered again the words of her defiance and her
agony. "Not my daddy . . . Don't hurt Jesus . . . Don't hurt me . .

It was T h e H o u r . T h e b e g i n n i n g o f the A v a i l i n g T i m e for the Prince's

Ascent i n t o the C i t a d e l . At: the t i n k l i n g o f the Bell o f I n f i n i t y , all Partici-
pants in Leo's Chapel rose to their feet as one. Missals in h a n d , the con-
stant clickety-clack o f the Bones as grisly accompaniment, they chanted
their f u l l - t h r o a t e d processional, a t r i u m p h a n t p r o f a n a t i o n o f the h y m n o f
the Apostle Paul. "Maran Athal C o m e , L o r d ! C o m e , O Prince. C o m e !
Come! . .
Well-rehearsed Acolytes, men and w o m e n , led the way f r o m vestry to
A l t a r . Behind t h e m , gaunt b u t distinguished-looking even in his red vest-
ments, Frater M e d i c o c a r r i e d the V i c r i m to the A l t a r and placed her f u l l -
length beside the C r u c i f i x . In the flickering shadow o f the veiled Penta-
g r a m , her hair almost touched the cage that held her little d o g . N e x t
a c c o r d i n g t o r a n k , eyes b l i n k i n g behind his spectacles, the Archpriest bore
the single black candle f r o m the vestry and t o o k his place at the left o f the
A l t a r . Last, Bishop Leo strode f o r w a r d bearing chalice and H o s t , a d d i n g
his voice to the processional h y m n . "So mote i t b e ! " T h e final w o r d s o f the
ancient chant washed over the A l t a r in the Targeting Chapel.
"So mote it be!" The ancient chant washed over Agties* limp form,
fogging her mind more deeply than the drugs, intensifying the cold she had
known would envelop her.
"So mote it be! A m e n ! A m e n ! " The ancient w o r d s washed over the
A l t a r in the Chapel o f St. Paul. Their hearts a n d w i l l s as one w i t h the
Targeting Participants i n A m e r i c a , the R o m a n Phalanx t o o k up the M y s -
teries Refrain set o u t f o r t h e m in their L a t i n Missals, beginning w i t h the
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D S I G N S 15

H y m n o f the V i r g i n Raped a n d ending w i t h the C r o w n o f T h o r n s Invoca-

tion.
In the Targeting Chapel, Bishop Leo removed the V i c t i m Pouch f r o m his
neck and placed i t reverently between the head of the C r u c i f i x and the foot
of the Pentagram. T h e n , t o the resumed m u m b l i n g - h u m m i n g chorus of the
Participants and the r a t t l i n g of Bones, Acolytes placed three incense
squares o n the g l o w i n g charcoal i n the T h u r i b l e . A l m o s t at once, blue
smoke curled t h r o u g h the assembly hall, its pungent o d o r engulfing Vic-
t i m , Celebrants and Participants alike.
In the daze of Agnes' mind, the smoke and the smell and the drugs and
the cold and the Din all merged into a hideous cadenza.
T h o u g h n o signal was g i v e n , the well-rehearsed Ceremonial Messenger
i n f o r m e d his Vatican c o u n t e r p a r t that the Invocations were a b o u t t o be-
g i n . Sudden silence enveloped the American Chapel. Bishop Leo solemnly
raised the C r u c i f i x f r o m beside Agnes' b o d y , placed i t upside d o w n against
the f r o n t o f the A l t a r a n d , facing the congregation, raised his left hand in
the inverted blessing o f the Sign: the back o f his h a n d t o w a r d the Partici-
pants; t h u m b and t w o m i d d l e fingers pressed to the p a l m ; index and little
fingers p o i n t i n g u p w a r d to signify the horns of the Goat. " L e t us i n v o k e ! "
In an atmosphere of darkness and fire, the Chief Celebrant in each
Chapel intoned a series of Invocations to the Prince. T h e Participants in
b o t h Chapels chanted a response. T h e n , and o n l y in America's Targeting
C h a p e l , each Response was f o l l o w e d by a Convenient A c t i o n — a ritually
determined acting-out o f the spirit a n d the meaning o f the w o r d s . Perfect
cadence o f w o r d s a n d w i l l between the t w o Chapels was the responsibility
of the Ceremonial Messengers tending the telephone l i n k . From that per-
fect cadence w o u l d be w o v e n a suitable fabric of h u m a n i n t e n t i o n in
w h i c h the d r a m a o f the Prince's Enthronement w o u l d be clothed.
" I believe i n One Power.'* Bishop Leo's voice rang w i t h c o n v i c t i o n .
" A n d its name is C o s m o s , " the Participants in both Chapels chanted the
u p s i d e - d o w n Response set o u t in the Latin Missals. The Convenient Ac-
t i o n f o l l o w e d in the Targeting Chapel. T w o Acolytes incensed the A l t a r .
T w o more retrieved the Vials of E a r t h , A i r , Fire and Water, placed them
on the A l t a r , b o w e d t o the Bishop a n d returned to their places.
" I believe i n the O n l y Begotten Son of the Cosmic D a w n . " Leo chanted.
" A n d H i s N a m e is L u c i f e r . " The second ancient Response. Leo's Aco-
lytes lighted the Pentagram Candles and incensed the Pentagram.
T h e t h i r d I n v o c a t i o n : " I believe in the Mysterious O n e . "
T h e t h i r d Response: " A n d H e is the Snake w i t h Venom i n the Apple of
L i f e . " T o the constant r a t t l i n g o f Bones, Attendants approached the Red
Pillar and reversed the Snake Shield to expose the side depicting the Tree
of Knowledge.
The G u a r d i a n in Rome a n d the Bishop in America intoned the f o u r t h
I n v o c a t i o n : " I believe in the A n c i e n t L e v i a t h a n . "
In unison across an ocean a n d a c o n t i n e n t , the f o u r t h Response: " A n d
 16 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

His N a m e is H a t e . T h e Red Pillar a n d the Tree o f Knowledge were

11

incensed.
T h e fifth I n v o c a t i o n : " I believe i n the A n c i e n t F o x . "
T h e fifth lusty Response: " A n d His N a m e is L i e . " T h e Black Pillar was
incensed as the symbol o f all t h a t is desolate and a b o m i n a b l e .
In the flickering light cast by the tapers and w i t h the blue smoke c u r l i n g
a r o u n d h i m , Leo shifted bis eyes to Flinnie's cage close by Agnes o n the
A l t a r . T h e p u p p y was a l m o s t alert n o w , c o m i n g to its feet in response to
the c h a n t i n g and c l i c k i n g and clacking. " I believe in the Ancient C r a b , "
Leo read the sixth L a t i n I n v o c a t i o n .
" A n d Flis N a m e is L i v i n g P a i n , " came the fulsome chant o f the s i x t h
Response. Clickety-clack, came the c h a n t i n g o f the Bones. W i t h all eyes o n
h i m , an A c o l y t e stepped t o the A l t a r , reached i n t o the cage where the
p u p p y wagged its tail in expectant greeting, pinned the hapless creature
w i t h one h a n d a n d , w i t h the other, p e r f o r m e d a perfectly executed vivisec-
t i o n , r e m o v i n g the r e p r o d u c t i v e organs first f r o m the screaming a n i m a l .
Expert t h a t he was, the A t t e n d a n t prolonged both the puppy's agony and
the Participants* frenzied joy at the R i t u a l o f P a i n - G i v i n g .
But not every sound was drowned by the Din of dreadful celebration,
haint though it was, there was the sound of Agnes' mortal struggle. There
was the sound of Agnes' silent scream at the agony of her puppy. The
sound of slurred and whispered words. The sound of supplication and
suffering. ' God is my daddy! . . . Holy God! . . . My little puppy!
. . . Don't hurt Flinnie! . . . God is my daddy! . . . Don't hurt Jesus
. . . Holy God . . . "
A l e r t to every d e t a i l , Bishop Leo glanced d o w n at the V i c t i m . Even in
her near-unconscious state, still she struggled* Still she protested. Still she
felt p a i n . Still she prayed w i t h t h a t u n y i e l d i n g resistance o f hers. Leo was
delighted. W h a t a perfect little V i c t i m . So pleasing to the Prince. Pirilessly
and w i t h o u t pause, Leo and the G u a r d i a n led their congregations on
t h r o u g h the rest of the fourteen Invocations, w h i l e the Convenient Actions
that f o l l o w e d each Response became a raucous theater o f perversity.
Finally, Bishop Leo b r o u g h t the first p a r t o f the Ceremonial to a close
w i t h the Great Invocation:: " I believe t h a t the Prince o f T h i s W o r l d w i l l be
E n t h r o n e d this n i g h t i n the A n c i e n t C i t a d e l , and f r o m there He w i l l create
a New Community."
T h e Response was delivered w i t h a gusto impressive even in this ghastly
m i l i e u . " A n d Its N a m e w i l l be the Universal C h u r c h o f M a n . "
It was time f o r Leo to l i f t Agnes into his arms at the A l t a r . I t was time
for the A r c h p r i e s t t o l i f t the chalice in his r i g h t hand and the large H o s t in
his left. It was time f o r Leo t o lead the O f f e r t o r y Prayer, w a i t i n g after each
R i t u a l Question f o r the Participants to read the Responses f r o m their
Missals.
" W h a t was this V i c t i m ' s name w h e n once b o r n ? "
"Agnes!"
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D S I G N S 17

" W h a t was this V i c t i m ' s name w h e n twice b o r n ? "

"Agnes S u s a n n a h ! "
" W h a t was this V i c t i m ' s name when thrice b o r n ? "
"Rahab Jericho!"
Leo laid Agnes atop the A l t a r again and pricked the forefinger of her left
hand u n t i l b l o o d oozed f r o m the little w o u n d .
Pierced with cold, nausea rising in her, Agnes felt herself being lifted
from the Altar, but she was no longer able to focus her eyes. She flinched
at a sharp sting m her left hand. She absorbed isolated words that carried
a dread she could not voice. "Victim . . . Agnes . . . thrice born . . .
Rahab Jericho . . . "
Leo d i p p e d his left index finger in Agnes' b l o o d a n d , raising i t f o r the
Participants to see, began the O f f e r t o r y chants.

" T h i s , the Blood o f o u r V i c t i m , has been shed * So that o u r service t o

the Prince may be complete. * So that He may reign supreme in the
House o f Jacob * I n the N e w L a n d of the Elect."

It was rhe Archpriest's t u r n n o w . Chalice and H o s t still raised a l o f t , he

gave the R i t u a l O f f e r t o r y Response.

" I take You w i t h me, A l l - P u r e V i c t i m * I take y o u to the unholy n o r t h

* I take y o u to the Summit of the Prince."

The Archpriest placed the H o s t on Agnes' chest and held the chalice of
w i n e above her pelvis.
Flanked at the A l t a r n o w by his Archpriest and Acolyte M e d i c o , Bishop
Leo glanced at the Ceremonial Messenger. Assured that the granite-faced
G u a r d i a n and his R o m a n Phalanx were in perfect t a n d e m , he and his
celebrants i n t o n e d the Prayer of Supplication.

" W e ask Y o u , L o r d L u c i f e r , Prince of Darkness * Garnerer o f all o u r

Victims * To accept o u r o f f e r i n g * U n t o the commission of many
sins."

T h e n , in the perfect u n i s o n that comes f r o m l o n g usage, Bishop and

Archpriest pronounced the holiest w o r d s o f the L a t i n Mass. A t the eleva-
t i o n of the H o s t : " H O C EST E M M C O R P U S M E U M . " A t the elevation of the
chalice: " H I C EST E N I M C A L I X SANGUINIS M E I , N O V I E T A E T E R N I T E S T A M E N T ! ,
M Y S T E R I U M FID El Q U I PRO VOBIS E T PRO M U L T I S EFFUNDETTJR IN REMISSIONTM
P E C C A T O R U M . H A E C Q U O T I E S C U M Q U E F E C E R I T I S IN M E I M E M O R I A M FAC1ET1S."
I m m e d i a t e l y , the participants responded w i t h a renewal o f the R i t u a l
D i n , a deluge o f c o n f u s i o n , a babel o f w o r d s and r a t t l i n g bones, w i t h
r a n d o m lascivious acts of every k i n d , w h i l e the Bishop ate a tiny fragment
o f the H o s t and t o o k a small sip f r o m the chalice.
A t Leo's signal—the inverted blessing of the Sign again—the R i t u a l D i n
slipped i n t o somewhat m o r e o r d e r l y chaos as the Participants obediently
f o r m e d i n t o r o u g h lines. Passing by the A l t a r to receive C o m m u n i o n — a
 18 W I N O S W E P T H O U S E

bit o f the H o s t , a sip f r o m the chalice—they also had an o p p o r t u n i t y to

admire Agnes. T h e n , a n x i o u s n o t to miss any part o f the first Ritual Viola-
t i o n o f the V i c t i m , they r e t u r n e d q u i c k l y to their kneeler chairs and
watched expectantly as the Bishop focused his full a t t e n t i o n o n the c h i l d .
Agnes tried with all her might to free herself as the weight of the Bishop
came upon her. Even then, she twisted her head as if to look for help in
that unmerciful place. But there was no glimpse of help. There was the
Archpriest waiting his turn at this most ravenous sacrilege. There was her
father waiting. There was the fire from the black tapers reflecting red in
their eyes. Fire itself aflame in those eyes. Inside all those eyes. Fire that
would burn long after the candles died. Burn forever . . .
The agony that enveloped Agnes that night in body and soul was so
profound that it might have enveloped the whole tvorld. But not for a
moment was it her agony alone. Of that much she always remained cer-
tain. As those Servitors of Lucifer violated her on that defiled and unholy
Altar, so too did they violate that Lord Who was father and mother to
her. Just as He had transformed her weakness with His courage, so also
did He sanctify her desecration with the outrages of His scourging, and
her long-suffering with His Passion. It was to Him—to that Lord Who
was her only father and her only mother and her only defender—that
Agnes screamed her terror, her horror, her pain. And it was to Him she
fled for refuge when she lost consciousness.
Leo stood once m o r e a t the A l t a r , his perspiring face flush w i t h new
excitement at this, his supreme m o m e n t of personal t r i u m p h . A n o d to the
Ceremonial Messenger by the phone. A m o m e n t ' s w a i t . A n answering
nod. Rome was ready.
" B y the Power invested in me as Parallel Celebrant o f the Sacrifice and
the Parallel Fulfiller o f the E n t h r o n e m e n t , I lead all here and in Rome in
i n v o k i n g Y o u , Prince o f A l l Creatures! I n the name o f all gathered in this
Chapel and of all the Brothers o f the R o m a n Chapel, I invoke Y o u , O
Prince!"
T h e second Investment Prayer was the Archpriest's to lead. As c u l m i n a -
t i o n o f e v e r y t h i n g he w a i t e d f o r , his L a t i n reciration was a m o d e l o f con-
trolled emotion:

" C o m e , take possession of the Enemy's House. * Enter into a place

that has been prepared f o r Y o u . * Descend a m o n g Your faithful Servi-
tors * W h o have prepared Y o u r bed, * W h o have erected Your A l t a r
and blessed i t w i t h i n f a m y . "

It was r i g h t and fitting t h a t Bishop Leo s h o u l d offer the final Investment

Prayer o f the Targeting C h a p e l :

" U n d e r Sacrosanct instructions f r o m the M o u n t a i n t o p , * I n the name

of all the Brethren, * I n o w adore Y o u , Prince of Darkness. * W i t h the
Stole o f a l l Unholiness, * I n o w place in Y o u r hands * T h e Triple
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D S I G N S 19

C r o w n o f Peter * A c c o r d i n g to the adamantine w i l l o f Lucifer * So

t h a t Y o u reign here. * So chat there O n e C h u r c h be, * One C h u r c h
f r o m Sea to Sea, * One Vast a n d M i g h t y Congregation * O f M a n and
W o m a n , * O f a n i m a l and p l a n t . * So that o u r Cosmos again * Be
one, u n b o u n d a n d free."

A t the last w o r d and a gesture f r o m Leo, all i n his Chapel were seated.
The R i t u a l passed to the Target Chapel in Rome.

It was very nearly complete n o w , this Enthronement o f the Prince in the

Weakling's C i t a d e l . O n l y the A u t h o r i z a t i o n , the Bill of Instructions and
the Evidence remained. The G u a r d i a n looked up f r o m the A l t a r and
t u r n e d cheerless eyes t o w a r d the Prussian I n t e r n a t i o n a l Delegate w h o had
b r o u g h t the leather pouch c o n t a i n i n g the Letters of A u t h o r i z a t i o n and
Instructions. A l l watched as he left his place a n d strode to the A l t a r , t o o k
the p o u c h in h a n d , removed the papers i t contained and read o u t the Bill
o f A u t h o r i z a t i o n i n a heavy accent:
" B y mandate o f the Assembly and the Sacrosanct Elders, I d o institute,
authorize and recognize this C h a p e l , t o be k n o w n henceforth as the Inner
C h a p e l , as taken, possessed a n d a p p r o p r i a t e d w h o l l y by H i m W h o m we
have E n t h r o n e d as L o r d a n d Master o f o u r h u m a n fate.
"Whosoever shall, by means of this Inner Chapel, be designated and
chosen as the final In-the-Line successor i n the Petrine Office, shall by his
very o a t h o f office c o m m i t himself and all he does c o m m a n d to be the
w i l l i n g instrument and c o l l a b o r a t o r w i t h the Builders o f M a n ' s H o m e o n
Earth and t h r o u g h o u t M a n ' s Cosmos. H e shall t r a n s f o r m the ancient En-
m i t y i n t o Friendship, Tolerance and A s s i m i l a t i o n as these are applied to
the models o f b i r t h , e d u c a t i o n , w o r k , finance, commerce, i n d u s t r y , learn-
i n g , c u l t u r e , l i v i n g and g i v i n g life, d y i n g and dealing death. So shall the
N e w Age o f M a n be m o d e l e d .
"So mote it b e ! " T h e G u a r d i a n led the R o m a n Phalanx in the Ritual
Response.
"So mote it b e ! " A t a signal f r o m the Ceremonial Messenger, Bishop
Leo led his Participants in their assent.
T h e next order o f R i t u a l , the Bill o f Instructions, was i n reality a solemn
o a t h o f betrayal by w h i c h eveiry cleric present in St. Paul's C h a p e l — C a r d i -
n a l , bishop and monsignore a l i k e — w o u l d i n t e n t i o n a l l y and deliberately
desecrate the Sacrament of H o l y Orders by w h i c h he had once received the
grace and p o w e r to sanctify others.
T h e International Delegate lifted his left hand in the Sign. " D o y o u each
a n d a l l , " he read the O a t h , ll
h a v i n g heard this A u t h o r i z a t i o n , n o w sol-
e m n l y swear to accept i t w i l l i n g l y , unequivocally, immediately, w i t h o u t
reservation or c a v i l ? "
"We do!"
 20 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

" D o you each and all now solemnly swear that your administration of
office will be bent to fulfill the aims of the Universal Church of M a n ? "
"We do so solemnly swear."
" A r e you each and all prepared to signal this unanimous will with your
own blood, so strike you Lucifer, if you are unfaithful to this Oath of
Commitment?"
"We are willing and prepared."
"Are you each and all fully consenting that, by this Oath, you transfer
Lordship and Possession of your souls from rhe Ancient Enemy, the Su-
preme Weakling, to the All-Powerful Hands of our Lord Lucifer?"
"We consent."
The moment had arrived for the final Ritual. The Evidence.
With the two documents positioned on the Altar, the Delegate held out
his left hand to the Guardian. With a golden pin, the granite-faced Roman
pricked the tip of the Delegate's left thumb and pressed a bloody print
beside the Delegate's name on the Bill of Authorization.
Quickly then, the Vatican Participants followed suit. When every mem-
ber of the Phalanx had satisfied this last Ritual requirement, a little silver
bell was rung in the Chapel of St. Paul.
In the American Chapel, the Bell of Infinity rang its distant and as-
senting response lightly, musically, three times. Ding! Dong! Ding! An
especially nice touch, Leo thought, as both congregations took up the
recessional chant:

" D i n g ! Dong! Dell! * Thus shall the Ancient Gates Prevail! * Thus
the Rock and the Cross must fail * Forever! * Ding! Dong! D e l l ! "

The recessional line formed in order of rank. Acolytes first. Frarer

Medico, with Agnes limp and frighteningly pale in his arms. Finally, the
Archpriest and Bishop Leo kept up the chant as they retraced their steps to
the vestry.

The members of the Roman Phalanx emerged into the Court of St.
Damasus in the small hours of the feast day of SS. Peter and Paul. Some of
the Cardinals and a few of the bishops acknowledged the salutes of the
respectful security guards with an absentminded cross of priestly blessing
traced in the air, as they entered their limousines. Within moments, the
walls of St. Paul's Chapel glowed, as always they had, with their lovely
paintings and frescoes of Christ, and of the Apostle Paul whose name the
latest Peter-in-the-Line had taken.
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D SICN'S 21

1978

For the Pope w h o had taken the name o f the Apostle, the summer o f 1978
was his last on this earth. W o r n o u t as m u c h by the turbulence o f his
fifteen-year reign as by the p a i n and physical degradation o f long illness,
he was taken by his G o d f r o m the central seat of a u t h o r i t y in the R o m a n
C a t h o l i c C h u r c h o n August 6.
D u r i n g sede vacante—when Peter's chair is vacant—the practical affairs
o f the C h u r c h Universal are entrusted to a C a r d i n a l Camerlengo. A C h a m -
berlain. In this instance, to the u n f o r t u n a t e Pope's Secretary o f State; to
H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l Jean-Claude de Vincennes, w h o , Vatican wags
said, had all b u t r u n the C h u r c h a n y w a y even w h i l e the Pope still lived.
A n unusually t a l l , w e l l - b u i l t , spare-fleshed m a n , C a r d i n a l Vincennes
possessed f r o m nature an overdose of Gallic g u m p t i o n . H i s moods, w h i c h
ran the g a m u t f r o m acerbic t o p a t r o n i z i n g , regulated the atmosphere f o r
peers and subordinates a l i k e . The sharp lines o f his face were the very
badge o f his unquestionably supreme status in the Vatican bureaucracy.
Understandably, the Chamberlain's responsibilities are many d u r i n g
sede vacante, and the time t o carry t h e m out is short. N o t least a m o n g
those tasks is to sort the dead Pope's personal papers and documents in a
t h o r o u g h triage. The official object o f the exercise is t o learn of unfinished
business. But one u n o f f i c i a l b y - p r o d u c t is the chance t o discover firsthand
some o f the innermost t h o u g h t s o f the recent Pope concerning sensitive
C h u r c h affairs.
O r d i n a r i l y , H i s Eminence w o u l d have conducted the triage o f the o l d
Pope's documents before the Conclave had met to elect his successor. But
preparations f o r the August Conclave had absorbed all o f his energies and
a t t e n t i o n . O n the outcome o f that C o n c l a v e — m o r e precisely^ o n the type
o f man to emerge f r o m that Conclave as the new Pope—depended the fate
o f elaborate plans prepared over the previous t w e n t y years by C a r d i n a l
Vincennes a n d his l i k e - m i n d e d colleagues i n the Vatican and a r o u n d the
world.
They were men w h o p r o m o t e d a new idea o f the papacy and o f the
R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . For t h e m , no longer w o u l d Pope and C h u r c h
stand a p a r t and beckon h u m a n i t y to approach and enter the f o l d o f Ca-
t h o l i c i s m . It was t i m e n o w f o r both papacy and C h u r c h as an institution
to collaborate closely w i t h the efforts o f m a n k i n d t o b u i l d a better w o r l d
f o r everyone. T i m e for the papacy t o cease its reliance o n dogmatic a u -
t h o r i t y and its insistence o n absolute and exclusive claim to u l t i m a t e t r u t h .
O f course, such plans were n o t elaborated w i t h i n the isolated vacuum
o f in-house Vatican politics. B u t neither had the C a r d i n a l Secretary shared
these ideas merely f r o m afar. He and his l i k e - m i n d e d Vatican associates
 22 W I N D S W F . P T H O U S E

had entered i n t o a c o m p a c t w i t h their secular boosters. Together, by that

c o m p a c t , all had undertaken to d o their part in effecting at last the desired
and f u n d a m e n t a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n in C h u r c h and papacy.
N o w , w i t h the Pope's d e a t h , it was agreed t h a t this Conclave was w e l l
t i m e d t o effect the election of a complaisant successor to Peter's chair.
W i t h C a r d i n a l Vincennes r u n n i n g the s h o w , no one d o u b t e d that just the
type o f m a n required w o u l d emerge as victor—as P o p e — f r o m the C o n -
clave o f August 1978.
W i t h such a load r i d i n g o n his success, it was n o t surprising that His
Eminence had p u t e v e r y t h i n g else aside, i n c l u d i n g the personal documents
of the o l d Pope. T h e t h i c k envelope w i t h its papal emboss had rested
unattended in a special pigeonhole in the Cardinal's desk.
But the C a r d i n a l had made a gross miscalculation. Once shut in under
lock and key as is the practice for Conclaves, the C a r d i n a l Electors had
chosen a man for the papacy w h o was t o t a l l y unsuitable. A man utterly
uncongenial for those plans laid by the Cameriengo and his associates.
Few i n the Vatican w o u l d forget the day that new Pope had heen elected.
Vincennes had literally b o l t e d o u t of the Conclave the instant the heavily
locked doors were opened. I g n o r i n g the customary announcement o f "a
blessed C o n c l a v e , " he strode o f f t o w a r d his quarters like vengeance incar-
nate.
Just h o w serious his Conclave failure had been was borne in o n C a r d i -
nal Secretary o f State Vincennes d u r i n g the first weeks o f the new papacy.
Those had been weeks o f c o n t i n u a l frustration for h i m . Weeks o f c o n t i n -
ual a r g u m e n t w i t h the new Pope and o f fevered discussions w i t h his o w n
colleagues. T h e triage o f papal documents had been all b u t forgotten in
the sense o f danger that pervaded his days. H e simply had no way of
p r e d i c t i n g for his associates h o w this new occupant o f Peter's T h r o n e
w o u l d act a n d react. H i s Eminence had lost c o n t r o l .
Uncertainty and fear had exploded w h e n the t o t a l l y unexpected came to
pass. W i t h i n t h i r t y - t h r e e days o f his election, the new Pope died, and the
air in Rome and a b r o a d was full o f ugly r u m o r s .
W h e n the newly dead Pope's papers had been gathered in a second
embossed envelope, the C a r d i n a l had no choice but to place them o n his
desk w i t h the first. I n the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a second Conclave to be held in
O c t o b e r , all o f his efforts were trained on correcting the mistakes made in
August. H i s Eminence had been granted a reprieve. He had no d o u b t t h a t
his life depended o n his m a k i n g the most o f i t . T h i s time he must see to the
choice o f a suitably compllaisanr Pope.
T h e u n r h i n k a b l e had pursued h i m , however. For all o f his gargantuan
efforts, the O c t o b e r Conclave had turned o u t as disastrously for h i m as
the one in A u g u s t . S t u b b o r n l y , the Electors had again chosen a m a n w h o
was nor complaisant in any sense o f the w o r d . H a d circumstances permit-
ted, H i s Eminence w o u l d isurely have taken time to unravel the puzzle o f
w h a t had gone w r o n g d u r i n g the t w o elections. But time he d i d not have.
H I S I O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : I \ t) S I G N S 23

W i t h the t h i r d Pope o n the T h r o n e o f Peter in as many months, the

triage o f papers contained i n the t w o envelopes, each bearing the papal
emboss, had at last taken o n its o w n urgency. Even at the heel o f the h u n t ,
H i s Eminence w o u l d n o t a l l o w those t w o packets to slip f r o m his hands
w i t h o u t a careful screening.

The triage t o o k place one O c t o b e r day at an oval conference table in the

spacious office o f C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State Vincennes. Situated a few
yards f r o m the papal study o n the t h i r d f l o o r o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace, its
tall Palladian w i n d o w s forever surveying St. Peter's Square and the w i d e
w o r l d beyond like u n b l i n k i n g eyes, that office was b u t one of many o u t -
w a r d signs o f the C a r d i n a l Secretary's global power.
As custom r e q u i r e d , the C a r d i n a l had called t w o men as witnesses and
aides. The first, A r c h b i s h o p Silvio A u r e a t i n i — a relatively y o u n g man o f
some note and huge a m b i t i o n — w a s a w a t c h f u l , q u i c k - w i t t e d northern
Italian w h o looked o u t o n the w o r l d f r o m a face that seemed t o gather
t o w a r d the end o f his p r o m i n e n t nose the w a y a pencil gathers at the t i p .
The second m a n . Father A l d o Carnesecca, was a simple and insignifi-
cant priest w h o had lived t h r o u g h f o u r papacies and had twice assisted at
triages o f a Pope's papers. Father Carnesecca was treasured by his superi-
ors as 'a m a n o f c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y / * A gaunt, g r a y - h a i r e d , quiet-voiced man
L

whose age was hard to determine, he was exactly w h a t his facial appear-
ance, his unadorned black cassock and his impersonal manner indicated: a
professional subordinate.
Such men as A l d o Carnesecca may come to the Vatican w i t h great a m b i -
tions. But w i t h no stomach f o r partisan jealousy and hate—too conscious
of their o w n m o r t a l i t y to step over dead bodies o n the u p w a r d ladder, yet
too grateful to bite the hand that o r i g i n a l l y fed them—such men h o l d o n
to their basic, lifelong a m b i t i o n that b r o u g h t them here. T h e desire to be
Roman.
Rather than compromise t h e i r principles o n the one hand or cross the
threshold o f disillusionment and bitterness o n the other, the Carneseccas
of the Vatican make the mosr of their l o w l y state. They stay at their posts
t h r o u g h successive papal a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s . W i t h o u t n o u r i s h i n g any self-
interest or exerting any personal influence, they acquire a detailed k n o w l -
edge o f significant facts, friendships, incidents and decisions. They become
experts in the rise and fall o f the greats. They develop an instinct for the
w o o d as distinct f r o m the trees. It was n o t a surprising i r o n y , therefore,
that the m a n most fitted t o conduct the triage o f papal documents that
O c t o b e r day was n o t C a r d i n a l Vincennes or A r c h b i s h o p A u r e a t i n i , but
Father Carnesecca.

A t first, the triage proceeded s m o o t h l y . A f t e r a pontificate o f fifteen years,

it was o n l y to be expected t h a t the first envelope c o n t a i n i n g the o l d Pope's
documents was a fat one. But most o f its contents proved to be copies of
 24 W I N D S Wl. I'T H O U S t

m e m o r a n d a between the P o n t i f f and H i s Eminence, and were already fa-

m i l i a r to rhe C a r d i n a l . Vincennes d i d nor keep all o f his thoughts to h i m -
self as he tossed page after page over to his t w o c o m p a n i o n s . He peppered
them w i t h c o m m e n t a r y o n the men whose names inevitably cropped up.
T h a t Swiss archbishop w h o t h o u g h t he c o u l d c o w Rome. T h a t Brazilian
bishop w h o had refused t o go along w i t h the changes i n the Mass cere-
m o n y . Those t r a d i t i o n a l i s t Vatican Cardinals whose power he had b r o k e n .
Those t r a d i r i o n a l i s r European theologians w h o m he had retired into ob-
scurity.
F i n a l l y , there remained o n l y five of the o l d Pope's documents to deal
w i t h before t u r n i n g t o the triage o f the second P o n t i f f s papers. Each o f
the five was sealed i n its o w n envelope, and each was m a r k e d "Personalis-
simo e Confidenzialissimo." O f those envelopes, the f o u r m a r k e d for the
o l d Pope's b l o o d relatives were o f no special consequence beyond the fact
that the C a r d i n a l disliked n o t being able to read their contents. The last of
the five envelopes carried a n a d d i t i o n a l i n s c r i p t i o n . " F o r O u r Successor o n
the T h r o n e o f Peter." T h o s e w o r d s , w r i t t e n in the unmistakable hand o f
the o l d Pope, pur the contents o f this d o c u m e n t in the category o f papers
destined exclusively for the: eyes o f rhe n e w l y elected y o u n g Slavic Pope.
T h e date o f the papal i n s c r i p t i o n , July 3, 1975, registered in the Cardinal's
m i n d as a p a r t i c u l a r l y v o l a t i l e rime in his always strained relations w i t h
H i s Holiness.
W h a t suddenly transfixed H i s Eminence's a t t e n t i o n , however, was the
u n t h i n k a b l e b u t u n m i s t a k a b l e fact that the o r i g i n a l papal seal had been
b r o k e n . Unbelievably, the envelope had been slit at the t o p and opened.
O b v i o u s l y , therefore, its contents had been read. Just as o b v i o u s l y , the slit
had been mended w i t h a length o f thick filament tape. A new papal seal
a n d signature had been added by the o l d man's successor; by the Pope
w h o h a d died so suddenly and whose o w n papers still awaited triage.
But there was m o r e . A second i n s c r i p t i o n in the less f a m i l i a r hand o f the
second Pope: " C o n c e r n i n g the c o n d i t i o n o f H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h after
June 2 9 , 1 9 6 3 . "
For one unguarded m o m e n t , C a r d i n a l Vincennes was u n m i n d f u l o f the
other t w o men at the oval table. H i s w h o l e w o r l d suddenly shrank to the
t i n y dimensions o f the envelope i n his hands. In the h o r r o r and confusion
that paralyzed his m i n d at d i e sight o f t h a t date o n a papally sealed enve-
lope, i t t o o k a m o m e n t f o r t he date of the second papal inscription itself to
register: September 28, 1978. O n e day shy o f the death date o f t h a t second
Pope.
In his bafflement, the C a r d i n a l fingered the envelope as t h o u g h its t h i c k -
ness m i g h t tell h i m its contents, or as t h o u g h i t m i g h t whisper the secret o f
h o w i t had f o u n d its w a y f r o m his desk and then back again. A l l but
i g n o r i n g rhe presence o f Father Carnesecca—an easy t h i n g to d o — h e
shoved the envelope across the table to A u r e a t i n i .
W h e n the A r c h b i s h o p raised that pencil-nosed profile again, his eyes
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G l ' I-.: F N D S I G N S 25

were a m i r r o r o f rhe C a r d i n a l ' s o w n h o r r o r and c o n f u s i o n . I t was as if

those t w o men were n o t staring at one anorher, b u t at a c o m m o n memory
they had been certain was secrer. The m e m o r y o f victory's opening m o -
ment. T h e m e m o r y o f St. Paul's Chapel. The memory o f gathering w i t h so
many orhers o f the Phalanx to chant ancient invocations. The memory o f
that Prussian Delegate reading o u t the Bill o f Instructions; o f thumbs
pricked w i t h a golden p i n ; o f bloody prints pressed o n t o the Bill of A u -
thorization.
" B u t , Eminence . . . " A u r e a t i n i was the first t o find his voice, but the
second to find his w i t s . " H o w the devil d i d he . . . ?"
" E v e n the devil doesn't k n o w t h a t . " By sheer force o f w i l l , the Cardinal
was beginning to regain something of his mental composure. Perempto-
r i l y , he t o o k the envelope back and pounded it o n t o the table in f r o n t o f
h i m . He cared not one w h i t for the thoughts o f either o f his companions.
C o n f r o n t e d w i t h so many u n k n o w n s , he needed t o deal w i t h questions
that were d o u b l i n g back on themselves in his m i n d .
H o w had the t h i r r y - t h r e e - d a y Pope got his hands o n his predecessor's
papers? Treachery by one o f H i s Eminence's o w n Secretariat staff? The
t h o u g h t caused the C a r d i n a l to glance at Father Carnesecca. In his m i n d ,
that black-robed professional subordinate represenred the w h o l e Vatican
underclass of bureaucratic drones.
O f course, technically the Pope had a r i g h t to every document i n the
Secretariat; b u t he had s h o w n no curiosity in the matter to Vincennes. A n d
then again, just w h a t had the second Pope seen? H a d he gotten the w h o l e
dossier o f the o l d Pontiff's papers—read them all? O r o n l y t h a t envelope
w i t h the crucial June 29, 1963, date n o w w r i t t e n in his hand on its face? If
rhe latter were true, h o w d i d the envelope get back i n t o the old Pope's
documents? A n d either w a y , w h o had restored everything just as it had
been o n the C a r d i n a l Secretary's desk? W h e n c o u l d anybody have suc-
ceeded in d o i n g that w i r h o u i a t t r a c t i n g attention?
Vincennes fixed again on d i e final date w r i t t e n on the envelope i n the
second Pope's hand. September 28. A b r u p t l y , he rose f r o m his chair,
strode across the r o o m to his desk, reached for his diary and flipped its
pages back to that date. Yes, he had had the usual m o r n i n g briefing session
w i t h the H o l y Father; b u t his notes t o l d h i m n o t h i n g relevant. There had
been an a f t e r n o o n meeting w i t h the C a r d i n a l overseers o f the Vatican
Bank; n o t h i n g interesting there either. A n o t h e r note caught his eye, h o w -
ever. H e had attended a luncheon at the C u b a n Embassy for his friend and
colleague the o u t g o i n g Ambassador. A f t e r the l u n c h e o n , he had stayed o n
for a private conversation.
The C a r d i n a l reached for his intercom and asked his secretary to check
the roster. W h o had been o n duty t h a t day at rhe Secretariat's reception
desk? He had t o w a i t o n l y a m o m e n t for the answer; and w h e n it came, he
raised a pair o f d u l l eyes t o the oval table. In t h a t instant, Father A l d o
 26 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

Carnesecca became m u c h m o r e for H i s Eminence than a symbol o f the

Vatican's subordinate class.
In the time i t t o o k to replace the receiver in its cradle and rerurn to the
table, a certain cold light seeped i n t o the C a r d i n a l Secretary's m i n d . L i g h t
a b o u t the past; and about his f u t u r e . H i s large frame even relaxed a b i t as
he fitted all rhe pieces together. T h e t w o papal dossiers o n his desk a w a i t -
i n g triage. His o w n l o n g absence f r o m his office o n September 28.
Carnesecca o n d u t y alone d u r i n g rhe siesta h o u r . Vincennes saw i t a l l . H e
had been circumvented by w i l e , o u t w i t t e d by guileless-faced guile. H i s
entire personal gamble was over n o w . T h e best he c o u l d do was to make
sure the double-sealed papal envelope never reached the hand o f the Slavic
Pope.
" L e t us finish o u r w o r k ! " G l a n c i n g in t u r n at the srill ashen-faced
A u r e a t i n i a n d the i m p e r t u r b a b l e Carnesecca, the C a r d i n a l was clear i n his
m i n d and entirely focused. In the tone he always used w i t h subordinates,
he rattled our a series o f decisions t h a t ended the triage o f the o l d Pope's
papers. Carnesecca w o u l d see to the dispatch o f the f o u r private envelopes
addressed t o the P o n t i f f s relatives. A u r e a t i n i w o u l d take rhe other papers
to the Vatican A r c h i v i s t , w h o w o u l d see to it that they w o u l d gather dust
in some a p p r o p r i a t e l y obscure cranny. T h e C a r d i n a l himself w o u l d see to
the matter o f the double-sealed envelope.
Q u i c k l y , t h e n . His Eminence began the triage o f the relatively few pa-
pers the second Pope had accumulated i n so abbreviated a reign. Certain
that the most significant d o c u m e n t left by that Pope already lay before
h i m , he s k i m m e d rapidly t h r o u g h the contents o f the dossier. W i t h i n a
quarter o f an h o u r , he had passed t h e m t o A u r e a t i n i as destined for the
Archivist.

Vincennes stood alone at one o f those l o n g w i n d o w s in his office u n t i l he

saw Father Carnesecca step f r o m the Secretariat i n t o the C o u r t o f St.
Damasus b e l o w . He f o l l o w e d the progress o f that g a u n t figure all the w a y
across St. Peter's Square t o w a r d the H o l y Office, where t h a t priest spent a
g o o d p a r t o f his w o r k i n g life. For a g o o d ten minutes he contemplated
Carnesecca's u n h u r r i e d but: always sure and purposeful gait. If ever a man
deserved an early place in Potter's Field, he decided, surely i t was A l d o
Carnesecca. N o r w o u l d he have to make a note in his d i a r y to remember.
A t last, the C a r d i n a l Secretary t u r n e d back t o his desk. He still had to
deal w i t h t h a t i n f a m o u s double-sealed envelope.
I t was n o t u n k n o w n in papal history that, before final disposition o f a
dead Pope's papers, someone i n a position t o d o so m i g h t have had a
q u i c k l o o k even at documents m a r k e d "Personalissimo e Confidenzialis-
s / ' w o . " I n this case, h o w e v e r , the inscriptions of n o t one b u t t w o Popes
placed the contents beyond all b u t papal eyes. There were some barriers
t h a t w o u l d keep even Vincennes at bay. A n d i n any case, he was confident
he k n e w the substance o f the matter.
H I S T O R Y AS P R O L O G U E : E N D S I G N S 27

Nevertheless, H i s Eminence mused, it was possible to put more than

one interpretation on the biblical admonition: " L e t the dead bury the
d e a d . " Without humor or self-pity, but with his own fate certain in his
mind, he lifted his telephone with one hand and the envelope in the other.
When Archbishop Aureatini came on the line, he issued his final curt
instructions regarding the triage. " Y o u forgot one item for the Archivist,
Excellency. C o m e pick it up. I'll have a word with him myself. He will
k n o w what to d o . "

T h e untimely death of His Eminence C a r d i n a l Secretary of Stare Jean-

Claude de Vincennes occurred in an unfortunate automobile accident near
his birthplace of M a b l o n in the south of France on M a r c h 19, 1979. O f
the notices that told the world of such a tragedy, surely the driest was
contained in the Pontifical Yearbook for 1980. In that fat, utilitarian direc-
tory of Vatican C h u r c h personnel and other serviceable data, the C a r d i -
nal's name and no more appeared in alphabetical order in the list of re-
cently deceased Princes of the C h u r c h .
 P A R T O N E

Papal E v e n i n g
 I

I N T H E V A T I C A N of early May, no one was surprised rhar rhe Holy

Father would depart for yet another pastoral visit abroad. It was, after all,
just one more of many scores of visits he had made so far to some ninety-
five countries on all five continents since his election in 1978.
For more than ten years now, in fact, this Slavic Pope had seemed to
transform his whole pontificate into one long pilgrimage to the world. He
had been seen or heard, in the flesh or electronically, by over three billion
people. He had sat down with literally scores of government leaders. He
possessed an intelligence about the countries of those leaders and a com-
mand of their languages that was unrivaled. H e had impressed them all as
a man without any major prejudice against anyone. H e was accepted by
those leaders, and by men and women everywhere, as a leader himself. As
a man concerned about the helpless, the homeless, the jobless, the war-
torn. A man concerned about all who were denied even rhe right to live—
the aborted babies and the babies born only to die of hunger and disease.
A man concerned about the millions who were living just to die from
government-imposed famines in Somalia, Ethiopia, the Sudan. A man con-
cerned with the populations of Afghanistan, Cambodia and Kuwait,
whose lands were now wantonly sown with over 80 million land mines.
All in all, this Slavic Pope had become a crystal-clear mirror held up to
the gaze of the real world, reflecting the real miseries of its peoples.
By comparison to such superhuman efforts, the papal jaunt set to begin
this Saturday morning would be a short one. A pastoral visit to the cavern
shrine of Sainte-Baume, high in the Maritime French Alps. There the Pon-
tiff would lead the traditional devotions in honor of St. Mary Magdalene,
who, legend had it, had spent thirty years of her life in that cavern as a
penitent.
There had been a certain quietly derisive behind-the-scenes humor in the
corridors of the Secretariat of State about "another of His Holiness* pious
excursions." But in today's Vatican, that was only natural, given the extra
work—for so it was regarded—required for such incessant papal
meanderings into the world at large.
The Saturday of the Pope's departure for Baume dawned fresh and
bright. As Cardinal Secretary of State Cosimo Maestroianni emerged with
the Slavic Pope and his little retinue from one of the rear portals of the
Apostolic Palace and proceeded through the gardens toward the Vatican
 32 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

helipad, n o h u m o r , derisive or otherwise, was evidenr i n H i s Eminence's

demeanor. The Secretary was n o t k n o w n as a h u m o r o u s m a n . But he d i d
feel a certain happy relief. For, once he had seen the H o l y Father safely on
his w a y t o Sainte-Baume as d u t y and decorum required, he w o u l d have a
few days o f valuable time to himself.
There was no real crisis facing M a e s t r o i a n n i . But in a certain sense time
was at a p r e m i u m f o r h i m just n o w . T h o u g h the news had n o t yet been
made p u b l i c , by p r i o r agreement w i t h the Slavic Pope, the C a r d i n a l was
about to q u i t his post as Secretary o f State. Even after retirement, his
hands w o u l d n o t be far f r o m the highest levers o f Vatican p o w e r — h e and
his colleagues had seen to that. Maestroianni's successor, already chosen,
was a k n o w n q u a n t i t y ; n o t the ideal m a n , b u t manageable. Nevertheless,
some things were better accomplished w h i l e still standing visibly o n the
highest g r o u n d . Before ending his official tenure as head o f the Secretariat,
His Eminence had three particularly i m p o r t a n t tasks t o attend ro. Each
was sensitive in its o w n w a y . He had engineered all three to a certain
crucial p o i n t . Just a little more progress t o be made here, a few more steps
to be set i n m o t i o n there, and he c o u l d be confident t h a t his agenda w o u l d
be unstoppable.
T h e agenda was e v e r y t h i n g n o w . A n d time was r u n n i n g .
O n this early Saturday m o r n i n g , flanked by the ever present u n i f o r m e d
security guards, f o l l o w e d by his c o m p a n i o n s o n this t r i p and w i t h the
Pontiff's personal secretary, M o n s i g n o r e Daniel Sadowski, bringing up the
rear, the Slavic Pope and his C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State made their w a y
along the shaded p a t h w a y like t w o men y o k e d together o n a tightrope.
Scurrying along beside the H o l y Father, his short legs forced to take t w o
steps for every one of the Pope's, H i s Eminence recited a quick review of
rhe m a i n points o f the Pontiff's schedule at Sainte-Baume, then took his
leave: *'Ask the Saint t o shower us w i t h graces, H o l i n e s s . "

Retracing his steps i n blessed solitude t o w a r d the A p o s t o l i c Palace, C a r d i -

nal M a e s t r o i a n n i a l l o w e d himself a few extra m o m e n t s ' reflection w i d i i n
these lovely gardens. Reflections were o n l y n a t u r a l to a man accustomed
to Vatican and global p o w e r , and especially so o n the eve o f his departure
f r o m office. N o r was this a waste o f t i m e . For his were useful reflecrions.
Reflections a b o u t change. A n d about unity.
O n e way and another, it seemed t o His Eminence t h a t everything in his
lifetime, everything in the w o r l d , had always been a b o u t the process and
purpose o f change, a n d about the faces and the uses of u n i t y . I n f a c t —
hindsight being as acute as i t always i s — i t seemed to H i s Eminence t h a t
even back in the 1950s, when he had first entered the Vatican's d i p l o m a t i c
service as a y o u n g , a m b i t i o u s cleric, change had already entered the w o r l d
as its o n l y constant.
M a e s t r o i a n n i let his m i n d travel back to the last long conversation he
had had w i t h his l o n g t i m e m e n t o r . C a r d i n a l Jean-Claude de Vincennes. It
B I: S T - L A I D P L A N S 33

had been r i g h t here in these gardens one open day in the early w i n t e r o f
1979. Vincennes was immersed then in the plans f o r the n e w l y elected
Slavic Pope's very first excursion outside the Vatican, the t r i p t h a t w o u l d
take the new Pope back t o visit his native Poland after his unexpected
election t o Peter's T h r o n e .
M o s t o f the w o r l d had seen that t r i p , b o t h before and after its comple-
t i o n , as the nostalgic r e t u r n o f the Pope t o his homeland for the proper
and final farewell o f a victorious native son. N o t so Vincennes, however.
Vincennes' m o o d d u r i n g that conversation so m a n y years ago had struck
M a e s t r o i a n n i as c u r i o u s . As had been his w a y w h e n he had a p a r t i c u l a r l y
i m p o r t a n t p o i n t he w a n t e d to drive home t o his protege, Vincennes had
led w h a t seemed an almost leisurely conversation. H e had t a l k e d about his
day i n Vatican service, " D a y O n e , " Vincennes had called i t . T h e l o n g ,
tedious day o f die C o l d War. T h e peculiar t h i n g was that his tone had
seemed consciously prophetic; seemed t o foretell the end o f that D a y i n
m o r e ways t h a n one.
" F r a n k l y , " Vincennes had confided t o M a e s t r o i a n n i , " E u r o p e ' s role
d u r i n g this Day O n e has been t h a t o f a supreme b u t helpless p a w n in the
lethal game o f nations. T h e C o l d War game. The fear has always been t h a t
any m o m e n t m i g h t b r i n g a blaze o f nuclear f l a m e s . "
Even w i t h o u t the r h e t o r i c M a e s t r o i a n n i had understood all that. He had
always been an a v i d student o f h i s t o r y . A n d by early 1979, he had accu-
m u l a t e d hands-on experience in dealing w i t h the C o l d War governments
and p o w e r brokers o f the w o r l d . H e k n e w that the f o r e b o d i n g o f the C o l d
W a r dogged everyone, in and o u t o f g o v e r n m e n t . Even the six Western
European nations whose ministers had signed the treaties o f Rome in
1957, and by those treaties had so bravely banded together as the Euro-
pean C o m m u n i t y — e v e n their plans and their moves were hemmed in at
every t u r n by t h a t C o l d War f o r e b o d i n g .
As far as M a e s t r o i a n n i had seen in those early days o f 1979, n o t h i n g o f
t h a t geopolitical r e a l i t y — t h e reality o f w h a t Vincennes called Day O n e —
had changed. W h a t startled h i m first, therefore, was Vincennes' c o n v i c t i o n
t h a t Day One was a b o u t to end. M o r e s t a r t l i n g s t i l l , it d a w n e d o n
M a e s t r o i a n n i t h a t Vincennes actually expected this Slavic interloper i n t o
the papacy t o be w h a t he called " a n angel o f change."
" M a k e n o mistake a b o u t i t . " Vincennes had been emphatic o n the
p o i n t . " T h i s m a n m a y be seen by m a n y as a b u m b l i n g poet-philosopher
w h o w a n d e r e d i n t o the papacy by mistake. But he t h i n k s and eats and
sleeps and dreams geopolitics. I've seen the drafts o f some o f the speeches
he plans t o deliver i n Warsaw a n d K r a k o w . I've made it a p o i n t t o read
some o f his earlier speeches. Since 1976 he's been t a l k i n g a b o u t rhe inevi-
t a b i l i t y o f change. A b o u t the o n c o m i n g rush of nations i n t o a N e w W o r l d
Order."
In his surprise, M a e s t r o i a n n i had stopped i n his tracks beside V i n -
cennes.
 34 W I N D S W F . P T H O U S E

" Y e s / ' F r o m his t o w e r i n g height, Vincennes had peered d o w n at his

d i m i n u t i v e associate. "Yes. You heard right. H e , t o o , sees a new w o r l d
o r d e r c o m i n g . A n d if I ' m correct in m y reading o f his intent i n this r e t u r n
o f his t o his h o m e l a n d , he may be the herald o f the end o f Day One. N o w ,
if that is true, then Day T w o w i l l d a w n very q u i c k l y . W h e n i t does, unless I
miss my guess, this new Slavic Pope w i l l be up and r u n n i n g at the head o f
the pack. But y o u , m y f r i e n d , must r u n faster. You must r u n rings a r o u n d
this H o l y Father o f o u r s . "
M a e s t r o i a n n i had been struck d u m b by his double confusion. C o n f u -
sion first that Vincennes had seemed to be c o u n t i n g himself o u t o f D a y
T w o ; seemed to be g i v i n g instructions to M a e s t r o i a n n i as t o a successor.
A n d confusion that Vincennes should t h i n k t h a t this Slav, w h o seemed so
u n f i t f o r the papacy, m i g h t play a p i v o t a l role in rhe power politics o f the
world.
It was a far different M a e s t r o i a n n i w h o paused f o r a w h i l e longer today
before entering the rear p o r t a l o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace. Vincennes' voice
had been stilled f o r these past twelve years. But these very gardens, u n -
changed themselves, stood as witness to the precision o f his prophecy.
D a y T w o had begun so subtly that the leaders o f East and West realized
o n l y s l o w l y w h a t Vincennes had glimpsed in those early speeches o f this
Slav w h o was n o w Pope. S l o w l y , the brightest a m o n g M a m m o n ' s children
began t o see w h a t this P o n t i f f kept d r u m m i n g home to them in that u n -
r e c r i m i n a t i n g b u t insistent style o f his.
As he traveled t o his h o m e l a n d and successfully challenged the leaders
o f the East o n their o w n t u r f , this Pope had ignited the energies o f one o f
the profoundest geopolitical changes in history. Yet i t was d i f f i c u l t f o r
government leaders i n the West to f o l l o w where rhe Slavic Pope was p o i n t -
ing. They had been so certain that the earthly f u l c r u m o f change w o u l d be
their o w n tiny and a r t i f i c i a l l y misshapen little European delta. It was
hardly believable that the epicenter o f change s h o u l d lie i n the captive
lands between the O d e r River in Poland and the eastern borders o f
Ukraine.
If they were n o t convinced by w h a t the P o n t i f f said, however, those
leaders had finally to be convinced by events. A n d once they were con-
v i n c e d , there was no s t o p p i n g the rush t o j o i n the new march o f history.
By 1988, the once t i n y European C o m m u n i t y had swelled to a member-
ship o f twelve states and a t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n o f 324 m i l l i o n , stretching f r o m
D e n m a r k in the n o r t h t o Portugal i n the south and f r o m the Shetland
Islands in the west t o Crete i n the east. They c o u l d reasonably expect that
by 1994 their membership w o u l d increase by at least five more states and
another 130 m i l l i o n people.
Even then, however, Western Europe remained a s t u b b o r n beleaguered
little delta, fearful that their ancient c i v i l i z a t i o n m i g h t be incinerated in the
M o t h e r o f A l l Wars. The Enemy still occupied the horizons o f their vision
and stunted their a m b i t i o n .
B E S T - I. A I D P L A N S 35

Ac last, t h o u g h , w i t h the fall o f the Berlin W a l l in the early w i n t e r o f

1989, all rhe blinders were o f f . Western Europeans experienced the vis-
ceral sensation of great change. By the early nineties, thar sense had solidi-
fied inro a deep c o n v i c t i o n a b o u t themselves as Europeans. T h e Western
Europe i n t o w h i c h they had been b o r n had passed a w a y forever. ITieir
l o n g night o f fear was over. D a y T w o had d a w n e d .
Unexpected t h o u g h i t had been, the force of the new d y n a m i s m in m i d -
dle Europe swept everyone i n t o its o r b i t . It w o r r i e d Europe's Far Eastern
c o m p e t i t o r , Japan. A n d i t g r i p p e d borh superpowers. M u c h like the Mes-
senger in a classical Greek d r a m a w h o arrives onstage t o announce the
c o m i n g action to an unbelieving audience, M i k h a i l Gorbachev arrived on
the scene as Soviet President t o tell the w o r l d that his Soviet U n i o n had
" a l w a y s been an integral part o f E u r o p e . " H a l f a w o r l d a w a y , U.S. Presi-
dent Bush spoke o f his A m e r i c a as " a European p o w e r . "
D o w n in papal Rome, m e a n w h i l e , Day T w o had also d a w n e d . It was
largely unperceived a n d unemphasized in the h u r l y - b u r l y of change r u n -
n i n g like a h o t current a m o n g the society o f nations. Nevertheless, under
the clever hand o f M a e s t r o i a n n i a n d his many associates, a swifter and
still more p r o f o u n d current o f change g r i p p e d the c o n d i t i o n a n d earthly
fortunes of the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , and o f papal R o m e itself.
The Rome o f the o l d Pope w h o had weathered W o r l d W a r I I was gone
n o w . H i s papal Rome, a t i g h t l y k n i t hierarchical o r g a n i z a t i o n , was gone.
A l l those Cardinals, bishops and priests, those religious orders and insti-
tutes spread t h r o u g h dioceses and parishes w o r l d w i d e — a l l banded to-
gether in fidelity a n d obedience to a Supreme Ponriff, t o an i n d i v i d u a l
papal persona—all o f that was gone. Gone, t o o , was the pentecostally
excited Rome of " t h e g o o d Pope," w h o had opened w i n d o w s and doors of
his ancient i n s t i t u t i o n , a l l o w i n g the w i n d s of change to sweep t h r o u g h
every r o o m and c o r r i d o r . H i s papal Rome was gone, b l o w n away by the
very w i n d s he had i n v o k e d . N o t h i n g ot his dream remained, except a few
distorted memories and misshapen afterimages and the i n s p i r a t i o n he had
p r o v i d e d t o such men as M a e s t r o i a n n i .
Even the t u r b u l e n t papal Rome o f the u n f o r t u n a t e P o n t i f f w h o had
taken the name o f the Apostle was gone. N o trace remained even o f the
pathos of that H o l y Father's ineffectual protests against the gradual de-
C a t h o l i c i z i n g o f w h a t had once been regarded as the most sacred myster-
ies o f papal Rome. T h a n k s t o Vincennes, and to such able and dedicated
proteges as M a e s t r o i a n n i himself, a m o n g others, by the time that P o n t i f f
had obeyed the summons o f death after fifteen years in Peter's chair a new
Rome was already emerging. A new C a t h o l i c body was already being
fashioned.
In this m o r n i n g ' s still freshness. C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i raised
his eyes i n a purposeful glance at gardens and skies. H o w fitting, he
t h o u g h t — a harbinger, even—that no sign or sound remained of the heli-
copter that bore the Pope a w a y . For the new Rome had not merely set its
 36 W I N D S W E P T HOI'SF.

face against this Slavic Pope. This Rome was a n t i p a p a l . Indeed, this Rome
was n o t merely antipapal but dedicated t o developing an antipapal
Church.
A new C h u r c h in a N e w W o r l d O r d e r . T h a r was the goal in the new
Rome. In M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s Rome.
It was still a curious happenstance f o r M a e s t r o i a n n i that rhe only m a j o r
s t u m b l i n g block t o f u l l achievement o f that task had t u r n e d out to be this
Pope w h o was regarded by so many as no more than a " r e l i c o f times gone
b y . " T o o bad, M a e s t r o i a n n i mused, that i t s h o u l d have come t o this. Hor,
in the early days o f his pontificate, the C a r d i n a l had been encouraged by
the Pope's behavior. H e had made himself and p r o c l a i m e d himself as the
c h a m p i o n o f " t h e spirit of Vatican I P * — i n other w o r d s , as p a t r o n o f the
vast changes i n t r o d u c e d i n t o the C h u r c h in the name o f the Second Vati-
can C o u n c i l . H e had agreed t o the a p p o i n t m e n t o f M a e s t r o i a n n i himself
as his Secretary o f State, f o r example. A n d he had left C a r d i n a l N o a h
P a l o m b o in his p o w e r f u l p o s i t i o n . He consented to p r o m o t e still others
w h o a b h o r r e d this H o l y Father's religiousness. N o r d i d he d i s t u r b the
g o o d Masons w h o toiled in the Vatican Chancery. Those had seemed
hopeful signs at least o f papal compliance, if n o t o f c o m p l i c i t y . A n d the
general picture was p r o m i s i n g . N o t o n l y i n Rome b u t in all the dioceses of
C a t h o l i c i s m , a dedicated phalanx o f clerics was in charge. A n d already a
new C a t h o l i c i s m was rife.
O f course, R o m a n a u t h o r i t y was evoked t o propagate that new C a t h o l i -
cism. T h a t was the value o f Maestroianni's side o f the i l l u s i o n . A n d Canon
L a w , suitably revised, was brandished to enforce its precepts. T h a t was
the value o f genius o n Maestroianni's side o f the Vatican personnel roster.
But always the intent was to foster a C a t h o l i c i s m t h a t acknowledged n o
effective links w i t h the C a t h o l i c i s m that had gone before.
True enough, C a r d i n a l Secretary Vincennes had seen this process o f
change a certain distance a l o n g the w a y . W h a t remained to be done n o w
was t o t r a n s f o r m the papacy itself i n t o a complaisant, even a cooperative,
handmaiden in the service of a new creation. A new earthly habitat. A
t r u l y N e w W o r l d O r d e r . W h e n that t r a n s f o r m a t i o n was complete, Day
Three w o u l d d a w n o n an earthly paradise.
A c c o r d i n g l y , as any reasonable man w o u l d expect, this Pope w h o had
so deliberately tapped the hidden geopolitical forces that had precipitated
the o n c o m i n g rush o f nations i n t o a N e w W o r l d O r d e r , s h o u l d be the
m o s t suitable person t o complete the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the R o m a n C a t h o -
lic o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t o the apt handmaiden o f the N e w W o r l d O r d e r , to
b r i n g the c h u r c h l y i n s t i t u t i o n i n t o perfect alignment w i t h the globalization
o f all h u m a n culture. Yet, as the C a r d i n a l and his colleagues—wirhin the
C h u r c h and outside i t — h a d discovered, this Slavic Pope n o w stood i n t r a n -
s i g e n t ^ in rhe w a y o f the required progress.
For this Pope w o u l d n o t budge on certain basic issues—moral issues
and d o c t r i n a l issues. H e refused a d a m a n t l y t o consider the priestly o r d i n a -
B £ S T - 1. A I D P L A N S 37

t i o n of w o m e n and the relaxation o f the rule o f priestly celibacy. H e

opposed all e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n i n the field o f genetics w h i c h involved the use
o f h u m a n embryos. H e w o u l d n o t sanction any f o r m o f contraception,
and m u c h less a b o r t i o n under any circumstances. He maintained his
Church's r i g h t t o educate the y o u n g . A b o v e a l l , he m a i n t a i n e d the right of
his C h u r c h t o oppose any civil legislation he and his churchmen decided to
oppose f o r their m o r a l and d o c t r i n a l reasons. I n short, this Slavic Pope
w o u l d n o t renounce some o f the more i m p o r t a n t t r a d i t i o n a l claims o f the
R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h .
As l o n g , therefore, as he remained Pope, no real progress c o u l d be made
t o w a r d the magnificent goals o f the N e w W o r l d O r d e r . O r , at least, prog-
ress w o u l d be so slow that an i m p o r t a n t deadline w o u l d be missed i f
things progressed at the present rate. T h a t deadline had been represented
to the C a r d i n a l by his secular colleagues i n statecraft, finance and
macroeconomics as a w o r l d - i m p o r t a n t date by w h i c h the t o t a l conversion
o f the R o m a n Catholic institutional o r g a n i z a t i o n had to be an accom-
plished fact.
Inevitably, then, the Slavic Pope had become a p r i m a r y target o f change.
A c t u a l l y , the u l t i m a t e target.
M a e s t r o i a n n i t u r n e d at last f r o m his garden musings. There was w o r k
to be done. Before this day was finished, i f there were no i n t e r r u p t i o n s , he
expected t o make real headway i n each o f the three tasks t h a t were key to
rhe final phase o f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . He had carried the legacy left t o h i m by
Vincennes very w e l l indeed. A n d retirement or n o , he wasn't done w i t h i t
yet. N o t by half.
In every respect t h a t c o u n t e d , little C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i regarded h i m -
self as the g i a n t n o w .

ii
T H E S L A V I C POPE relaxed once he entered the helicopter and for the
m o m e n t f o u n d himself exclusively alone w i t h his private secretary, M o n s i -
gnore D a n i e l S a d o w s k i , w h o k n e w his almost impossible position as Pon-
t i f f . He was away f r o m the surveillance o f his w i l y Secretary o f State. As
the helicopter lifted o f f , neither the Pope n o r his secretary gave a back-
w a r d glance t o w a r d C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i , so o b v i o u s l y anxious t o head
for his office and his day's doings i n the A p o s t o l i c Palace. Whatever those
doings m i g h t be, b o t h men were certain they presaged n o t h i n g pleasant
for the H o l y Father.
W i t h i n one half h o u r , his helicopter a r r i v e d at F i u m i c i n o . There was the
usual ceremonial o n the g r o u n d — r e l i g i o u s and civic dignitaries, a small
 38 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

c h o i r o f schoolchildren singing a papal h y m n , a short speech by the Slavic

Pope, a f o r m a l address by the G o v e r n o r o f the province. T h e n the Pope
and his enrourage transferred t o the usual w h i t e A l i t a l i a D C - 1 0 and t o o k
their seats in the papal c a b i n . A small preselected g r o u p o f reporters and
cameramen were already aboard in the m a i n passenger lounge. Soon, the
plane t o o k o f f , and w i t h i n minutes it was over the Tyrrhenian Sea heading
i n a norrhwesterly direction to Marseilles.
" Y ' k n o w , " the Pope said to Sadowski, " w h e n we—myself and the Car-
d i n a l — c a m e d o w n t o Rome f o r the Conclave o f October 1978, we both
t h o u g h t we k n e w w h a t this j o b e n t a i l e d . " For the Slavic Pope, " t h e C a r d i -
nal" was and w o u l d always be the head o f the C h u r c h then in Poland,
Stefan W y s z y n s k i , nicknamed the Fox o f Europe, n o w deceased.
Fven before they had entered that second Conclave in as many m o n t h s ,
it had been clear t o b o t h Slavic Cardinals that papal leadership had been
f u n d a m e n t a l l y if not fatally c o m p r o m i s e d by w h a t had come by then t o be
called " t h e s p i r i t o f Vatican I I . " W h e n the final hours o f that Conclave had
come, and the y o u n g Polish c h u r c h m a n f o u n d himself facing the p r o b a b i l -
ity thar he w o u l d be invited to become Pope, the t w o men had a seques-
tered meeting.
" I f you accept t o be made P o p e / ' the senior C a r d i n a l had said that day,
"you w i l l be the last Pope o f these Catholic times. Like Simon Peter h i m -
self, you w i l l stand o n the line that divides one era that is ending f r o m
another that is beginning. You w i l l preside over a supreme papal endgame.
A n d you w i l l d o so at the very m o m e n t w h e n the antipapal factions w i t h i n
the C h u r c h itself have taken v i r t u a l c o n t r o l o f its i n s t i t u t i o n s — i n the name
o f the Vatican C o u n c i l itself.
Both Cardinals u n d e r s t o o d , therefore, that the y o u n g Slavic prelate was
being asked to carry o u t f a i t h f u l l y as Pope that m u c h vaunted spirit of
Vatican I I . But t o thus accept the papal election w o u l d be to agree to head
a C h u r c h already firmly, irretrievably and bureaucratically c o m m i t t e d to a
global sociopolitical agenda w h i c h w o u l d have been considered by the
vast m a j o r i t y of his papal predecessors as totally alien t o the Church's
divinely decided mission.
Even that was n o t the w h o l e o f i t , however. T he t w o Cardinals had
faced the f u r t h e r reality that by the year 1978 the ecclesiastical organiza-
t i o n a n d public life o f the R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h as it had persisted up
to the 1900s had been quenched forever. Both Cardinals realized i t c o u l d
n o t be restored. Even before he w a l k e d back i n t o Conclave to accept his
election t o the papacy, this soon-to-be Pope had determined that the
change already effected i n his churchly organization was irreversible. The
t r a d i t i o n a l structure o f the C h u r c h Universal as a visible i n s t i t u t i o n and a
w o r k i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n had been t r a n s f o r m e d . Flis senior brother C a r d i n a l ,
the Fox o f Europe, agreed fully w i t h t h a t analysis. But, then, the t w o
Cardinals f o u n d o u t that they differed as t o the best course o f action t o be
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 39
undertaken by the j u n i o r C a r d i n a l if, indeed, he was elected Pope in this
Conclave.
" I k n o w , Eminence," the older man said firmly, " t h a t the o n l y other
possible Pope c o m i n g o u t o f this Conclave is o u r brother C a r d i n a l o f
Genoa. A n d we b o t h k n o w w h a t his s o l u t i o n for the present engulfing
shambles o f o u r c h u r c h l y i n s t i t u t i o n w o u l d be. Eh?"
T h e younger C a r d i n a l smiled. "Batten d o w n the hatches. Recall the
recalcitrant. Expel the obdurate. Purify the r a n k s — "
" A n d , above a l l , Eminence," the older man broke i n , " t a k e each major
d o c u m e n t o f that Second Vatican C o u n c i l and interpret it strictly i n the
l i g h t o f the First Vatican C o u n c i l and the C o u n c i l o f Trent. A strong,
forceful return to basics backed up by all the t r a d i t i o n a l sanctions o f
M o t h e r C h u r c h , o f the H o l y , R o m a n , Catholic and A p o s t o l i c C h u r c h — "
T h e older man broke o f f as he noticed the younger C a r d i n a l w i n c i n g .
" A g r e e d , " the younger m a n said after a pause. " B u t the loss and d a m -
age t o souls and o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s w o u l d be incalculable. H o w could any
Pope shoulder that responsibility. Eminence?"
" H o w c o u l d he n o t ? " was the q u i c k rejoinder.
" B u t , Eminence," the younger man persisted, " w e b o t h agree: the o l d
and t r a d i t i o n a l C h u r c h i s — i s — w h a t shall I say—shot! B r o k e n ! A n d irrep-
arably so! Under such a papal p o l i c y , o u r beloved C h u r c h w o u l d l i m p i n t o
the t w e n t y - f i r s t century as a marginalized pauper. Wc w o u l d cross i n t o the
second m i l l e n n i u m as a skeletonized remnant of a once v i b r a n t religious
colossus n o w at odds w i t h the entire f a m i l y o f n a t i o n s . "
" I had the i m p r e s s i o n " — t h e Fox o f Europe had a teasing t w i n k l e in his
e y e s — " t h a t in any case we're supposed professionally ro be at odds w i t h
this w o r l d — c r u c i f i e d to the w o r l d , in fact. Sr. Paul said. But, seriously, tell
me: w h a t w o u l d be the core idea o f y o u r papal policy, i f t o m o r r o w o u r
b r o t h e r Cardinals chose y o u ? "
" T h e core policy y o u initiated and I f o l l o w e d t h r o u g h w i t h , when faced
w i t h the Polish Stalinists—"
"Namely?"
" D o n ' t retire. D o n ' t alienate. D o n ' t refuse to t a l k , t o negotiare. Involve
a n y b o d y and everybody i n a dialogue, whether they w a n t t o dialogue or
not. A l l the m a i n documents o f the Second Vatican C o u n c i l 1 had a hand
in d r a w i n g u p . f and the others f o r m u l a t e d them so as t o include every-
b o d y . " H e repeated that w o r d . " E v e r y b o d y , Eminence. For C h r i s t died for
a l l . A l l are de facto saved in one sense or another. I f I had m y way I w o u l d
travel the globe, visit n a t i o n after n a t i o n , be seen everywhere, heard every-
where i n as m a n y languages as possible." His eyes g l o w e d as he spoke.
' T h a t was o u r Slavic s o l u t i o n t o o u r d r e a d f u l c o n d i t i o n in Poland under
the Soviets. Talk a n d dialogue. Never be banished."
" T h e Slavic s o l u t i o n . H m m . . . " The elder C a r d i n a l looked a w a y , lost
in his reflections. " T h e Slavic s o l u t i o n . " H i s voice trailed off.
" I feel c e r t a i n , " the younger C a r d i n a l said in a meek b u t firm tone of
 40 W I N 1> S W I. P T H O D S F.

voice, his eyes o n his senior, " t h a t the papacy and rhe C h u r c h is called
n o w t o prepare for a vast harvest o f souls in the last decades o f this
m i l l e n n i u m . It's the o l d dream o f the good Pope J o h n . "
T h e elder C a r d i n a l stood u p , laughing q u i e t l y . " F r o m your m o u r h to
God's ear, E m i n e n c e . " Me glanced at his w a t c h . " T h e bell w i l l be ringing
for the n e x t session. Let's g o . We've had a g o o d discussion. A n d let us
have no fear. C h r i s t is w i t h his C h u r c h . "
In accordance w i t h rhis p r i n c i p l e as his core papal policy, the Slavic
Pope had declared in his first year on Peter's T h r o n e that " I w i l l f o l l o w in
the footsteps o f m y three predecessors. I w i l l make it my papal business to
i m p l e m e n t the spirir and the letter of the Second Vatican C o u n c i l . I w i l l
w o r k w i t h m y bishops, as any bishop w o r k s w i t h his colleagues, they in
their dioceses, I as Bishop o f Rome, all o f us collegially governing the
C h u r c h Universal t o g e t h e r . " H e had remained m o r d a n t l y f a i t h f u l to that
promise. For over a dozen years as Pope, and no matter h o w i n d o l e n t l y ,
h o w heretically, or in h o w u n h o l y a manner his bishops governed their
dioceses, he d i d n o t interfere.
W h e n bishops in their thousands proceeded to introduce n o n t r a d i t i o n a l
teachings in their seminaries, t o a l l o w the b l i g h t o f homosexuality to
flourish a m o n g their clergy, t o adapt R o m a n Catholic ceremonies to any
o f a half dozen " i n c u l t u r a t i o n s " — r o N e w Age rituals; t o a " H i n d u i z a -
t i o n " ; t o an " A m e r i c a n i z a t i o n " — t h e Slavic Pope d i d not go after the per-
petrators o f the implied o r actual heresies and i m m o r a l i t i e s . O n the con-
t r a r y . H e let rhem be.
D i d the bishops strain ro j o i n in b u i l d i n g rhe new secular structures to
govern their i n d i v i d u a l nations and rhe emerging society o f nations? The
Pope d i d so, t o o , w i t h all the preponderant weight o f the papacy. D i d his
bishops consort w i t h n o n - C a t h o l i c Christians as equal partners in rhe
evangelization o f the w o r l d ? The Pope d i d so, t o o , w i t h all Vatican p o m p
and ceremony. As the institutional organization o f his C h u r c h slid ever
further i n t o the shambles o f its o w n i m p l o s i o n ; as he presented himself to
the w o r l d as just one m o r e " s o n o f h u m a n i t y , " and to his bishops as just
one m o r e brother bishop in Rome—the Slavic Pope remained f a i t h f u l to
the Slavic s o l u t i o n .
He insisted t h a t he governed his C h u r c h w i t h his bishops and just as one
o f their n u m b e r . Even w h e n he was called u p o n t o exercise his w e l l - k n o w n
and well-established Petrine a u r h o r i t y in marrers o f d o c t r i n e , he addled his
friends, enraged the traditionalists and gladdened the hearts o f the pa-
pacy's enemies by stating b l a n d l y : " B y the a u t h o r i t y conferred u p o n Peter
and his successors a n d in c o m m u n i o n w i t h the bishops o f the Catholic
C h u r c h , I c o n f i r m t h a t " etc.—here m e n t i o n i n g the p o i n t o f doctrine at
issue.
He visited a l l a n d every k i n d o f temple, shrine, sacred grove, holy cave,
d r i n k i n g magic d r i n k s , eating mystical foods, accepting the sign o f pagan
deities o n his forehead, speaking o n an equal basis w i t h heretical pa-
IU-: S T - I. A I D P L A N S 41

rriarchs, schismatic bishops, doctrinally erring theologians, even admitting

them to St. Peter's Basilica and concelebrating a sacred liturgy with them.
But however outrageous his actions as Pope, he never explained himself.
He never apologized for not doing so. He rarely mentioned the sacred
name of Jesus Chrisr when talking with vast public audiences; he willingly
removed the Crucifix and even the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist
when his non-Catholic and non-Christian guests found these signs of Ro-
man Catholicism too unpleasant for them. In fact, he never referred to
himself as a Roman Carholic or ro his Church as rhe Roman Catholic
Church.
One major result of the Slavic Pope's permissiveness and "democratiza-
tion" of his papacy was an overall diminution of his papal authority over
the bishops. In one confidential report, for example, several bishops com-
plained bluntly if not publicly that " i f this Pope would stop talking about
abortion, srop emphasizing contraception as an evil and stop condemning
homosexuality, the Church could become a cheerful and successful part-
ner in the emergent society of nations." In the U.S.A., the stylish Bishop
Bruce Longbottham of Michigan intoned: " I f only this ham actor we have
as Pope would recognize rhe equal rights of women to be priests and
bishops—even to be Pope—the Church would enter its final glorious stage
of evangelization."
"Indeed," rhe senior American Cardinal had agreed: " I f only this Pope
would drop his pious nonsense about visitations of the Virgin Mary, and
get down to the business of giving real power to real women in the real
Church, all the world would become Christian."
One way or another—whether from the humble pleadings of men and
women of goodwill, or from those he knew wished ill and flat-out failure
for his papacy—all the objections and criticisms reached the Pope's ears;
and he commended them all continually in his prayers to the Holy Spirit.
"Tell me, Daniel." He turned to his secretary after about thirty minutes
of flight. " W h y do you think I am going on pilgrimage to Mary Magda-
lene's shrine at Baume—and now above all other times?" He cocked a
quizzical eye at Sadowski. " I mean the real reason."
"Holiness, I can only guess it is more out of personal devotion than for
overall ecclesial reasons."
"Correct!" The Pope glanced out the window. "Briefly I want to speak
to a Saint who went into exile because of the glory she had seen on
Christ's face the day of his Resurrection. I want to honor her in a special
way, in the hope that she will intercede with Christ and give me strength
to bear my own exile, which is just now beginning in earnest."
 42 W I N D S W F P T H O U S E

111
AS S E C R E T A R Y to the a l l - p o w e r f u l C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i , a disgruntled
M o n s i g n o r e Taco M a n u g u e r r a sat in his office g u a r d i n g H i s Eminence's
inner sanctum. Engulfed by rhe weekend silence that reigned over the
Secretariat floor o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace, the M o n s i g n o r e rattled his w a y
t h r o u g h the m o r n i n g newspapers, g r u m b l i n g t o himself that the Cardinal
had summoned h i m yet again for Saturday d u t y . This was to be a dies
wow, M a e s t r o i a n n i had t o l d h i m . A day o n w h i c h the C a r d i n a l was not in
the office f o r anyone, or f o r any telephone calls.
A t rhe Cardinal's a b r u p t entrance, the M o n s i g n o r e wisely f o r g o t his
mutterings, d r o p p e d his newspapers and j u m p e d f r o m his chair. W i t h an
a d m o n i t o r y at-ease gesture o f his hand as his only greeting, H i s Eminence
paused o n l y l o n g enough to ask a terse question. " C h i n ? " Father C h i n
Byonbang was the subject o f the Cardinal's interest. A Korean o f remark-
able abilities and H i s Eminence's special stenographer, C h i n had also been
tapped f o r this m o r n i n g ' s w o r k . M a n u g u e r r a nodded his reply. C h i n was
w a i t i n g in a nearby office f o r his summons. Satisfied, M a e s t r o i a n n i sailed
t h r o u g h the d o o r i n t o his private office.

Inside that office, the C a r d i n a l Secretary rubbed his hands vigorously in

a n t i c i p a t i o n o f the vital and complex w o r k he w o u l d get done this Satur-
day m o r n i n g . M a n n i n g this venerable office as Secretary o f State, he had
managed the r u m b l i n g tremors o f a w o r l d w i d e Catholic organization in
transit f r o m an effete w o r l d order to a N e w W o r l d O r d e r . Under his
d i r e c t i o n , in fact, matters were always progressing f r o m planned position
to planned p o s i t i o n . N o one c o u l d say that Cosimo M a e s t r o i a n n i was n o t
attached t o the survival o f the R o m a n C h u r c h as an i n s t i t u t i o n . O n the
c o n t r a r y , he k n e w that the universal character o f that organization, and
the c u l t u r a l stability that came w i t h i t , were destined to be invaluable
assets in man's new earthly habitat.
A t the same t i m e , that organization was n o w headed by a Pope w h o , f o r
all his helplessness and for all his public p o s t u r i n g , w o u l d not countenance
rhe most i m p o r t a n t cleansing o f a l l — t h e cleansing o f the papal office he
occupied. T h a t office had t o be cleansed and purged o f any personal au-
t h o r i t y , and its o c c u p a n t — t h e Pope—had t o be fitted i n t o the assemblage
o f bishops, w i e l d i n g the same a u t h o r i t y as all the bishops together and as
no more than one o f their n u m b e r .
In theory, the s o l u t i o n t o that problem was simple enough to stare: the
disappearance o f rhe present occupant o f the office f r o m the papal scene.
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 43

The r e m o v a l o f a l i v i n g Pope is n o t an easy t h i n g . L i k e the removal o f live

explosives, i t must be w o r k e d at patiently; always w i t h confidence; always
w i t h a delicate h a n d . Because this Pope i n particular had b u i l t such a solid
place for himself as a w o r l d leader, care must be taken that his removal
w o u l d n o t itself o v e r t u r n the accepted and essential e q u i l i b r i u m in the
affairs o f nations.
W i t h i n the structure o f the C h u r c h hierarchy itself, m e a n w h i l e , there
was rhe crucial matter o f u n i t y . Because the u n i t y o f Pope a n d bishops
ranked as an absolute necessity for the stability o f the C h u r c h as an insti-
t u t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n , care must be taken that u n i t y must n o t be undone
by the u n d o i n g o f the Slavic Pope. T h i s m o r n i n g ' s w o r k w o u l d be devoted
to the Cardinal's concern for u n i t y . W i t h Taco M a n u g u e r r a g u a r d i n g
against i n t e r r u p t i o n s , and w i t h C h i n Byonbang as stenographer. His Emi-
nence reckoned he w o u l d be finished here by a r o u n d m i d d a y .
W i t h i n moments of his a r r i v a l , the C a r d i n a l had laid o u t all the relevant
materials o n his desk. A l m o s t at once, and as i f o n cue, C h i n tapped lightly
o n the d o o r a n d , w i t h o u t the fuss o f greeting, t o o k his customary seat
across f r o m the C a r d i n a l , set up his steno machine and w a i t e d .
M a e s t r o i a n n i reviewed his p r e l i m i n a r y notes w i t h care. This was a tick-
lish letter he had to compose. The object was t o p o l l the d i p l o m a t i c repre-
sentatives of the H o l y See i n e i g h t y - t w o countries a r o u n d the w o r l d , to
determine h o w united the 4,000 bishops o f the C h u r c h Universal felt they
were w i t h the present H o l y Father. A c c o r d i n g to the Cardinal's theology,
the answers he received w o u l d be o f major importance. For that theology
held that u n i t y was a t w o - w a y p o w e r . The Pope must unite the bishops;
and the bishops must be able to accept h i m as " a Pope o f u n i t y . "
O f course, the C a r d i n a l Secretary intended his queries as no more than
an e x p l o r a t i o n o f i n f o r m a l opinions. As a step, one m i g h t say, in f o r m i n g
a more realistic dialogue between the H o l y See and the bishops. H e felt it
i m p o r t a n t , f o r example, t o explore just w h a t k i n d of unity was desirable.
To find o u t to w h a t degree the Slavic Pope enjoyed t h a t desired and neces-
sary u n i t y w i t h his Bishops—or, if unity was i n jeopardy, to determine
w h a t should be done t o achieve the desired and necessary u n i t y . T h e Car-
d i n a l w o u l d never use such a parliamentary expression as " a vote o f c o n f i -
d e n c e " t o describe the purpose of his little survey. H o w e v e r , s h o u l d it t u r n
o u t by some chance t h a t a m a j o r i t y o f bishops d i d n o t find H i s Holiness to
be a Pope o f u n i t y , then further steps c o u l d be taken t o forge a w o r k i n g
consensus concerning his needed departure f r o m the high office o f the
papacy.
The t r i c k n o w was to t u r n the situation t o good account f o r the new
C h u r c h , w i t h o u t i m p l y i n g even remotely that the present Pope was actu-
a l l y — o r even p o s s i b l y — n o t a Pope o f u n i t y . O f f i c i a l l y speaking, there
c o u l d be no expression o f a m b i g u i t y on that p o i n t . O f f i c i a l l y speaking,
Pope and bishops had never been more u n i t e d . A t the same t i m e , i t was
entirely possible, and even probable, rhat a fair number o f bishops w h o
 44 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

felt a certain ambivalence had never been given the o p p o r t u n i t y to speak

f r a n k l y o n rhe question o f u n i t y . T h e C a r d i n a l intended f o r rhe bishops to
do both.
Because no C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State i n his right senses w o u l d ap-
proach the bishops directly o n such an issue, M a e s t r o i a n n i had a k i n d of
p y r a m i d scheme i n m i n d . H i s letter this m o r n i n g w o u l d be sent to his
d i p l o m a t i c personnel, men whose policies were dictated by the Secretary—
N u n c i o s , Delegates, A p o s t o l i c Emissaries, a d hoc Vicars, Special Emissar-
ies. F o l l o w i n g the lines he w o u l d set d o w n in this letter, those diplomats
w o u l d i n t u r n w o r k t h r o u g h the various N a t i o n a l Bishops Conferences
t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d . For i t was standard procedure n o w rhat rhe bish-
ops, w h o had been ringed a r o u n d w i t h expert advisors in the Second
Vatican C o u n c i l , had come to rely o n such experts at home.
A l l in a l l , then, the letter the C a r d i n a l Sccrcrary w o u l d d r a f t this Satur-
day m o r n i n g t o his d i p l o m a t colleagues was o n l y one step along the w a y .
But t h a t step was a crucial and sensitive one. It required the s k i l l f u l use o f
decorous language to pose w h a t a m o u n t e d to b r u t a l questions.
As they w o r k e d together rhis m o r n i n g . Father Chin's r o c k l i k e tacitur-
nity was the perfect f o i l f o r Maestroianni's red-hot intensity. H i s phrasing
seemed p e r f e c t — a m b i v a l e n t , b u t n o t ambiguous—as the C a r d i n a l sug-
gested, w i t h o u t appearing to d o so, that u n i t y m i g h t be redefined in order
t o be renewed. Yet at rhe same time ro leave no d o u h t that the a i m o f H i s
Eminence was always t o preserve and f o m e n t that precious u n i t y .
A t precisely that m o m e n t o f concentration w h e n n o t h i n g in the w o r l d
existed for h i m except the w o r d s before his eyes, a knock o n the door
e x p l o d e d l i k e a thunderclap in the C a r d i n a l Secretary's car. Still hunched
over the sheaf o f notes in his h a n d , his face reddening, M a e s t r o i a n n i
glared o u t between his eyebrows and his spectacles. Taco M a n u g u e r r a ,
t o o frightened t o enter, craned his neck a w k w a r d l y a r o u n d the d o o r j a m b
and stammered the w o r d s he had been ordered n o t t o say that m o r n i n g .
" T h e telephone, Eminence."
" I t h o u g h t I made i t clear there were to be n o i n t e r r u p t i o n s . . . . "
" H i s Holiness, Eminence," Taco sputtered.
A n electric shock c o u l d not have straightened the Cardinal's spine more
q u i c k l y . " H i s H o l i n e s s ! " H e let the papers d r o p f r o m his h a n d . Anger and
exasperation shot his voice i n t o the falsetto range. " H e ' s supposed t o be
up i n the French m o u n t a i n s , p r a y i n g ! "
A l w a y s aware o f his place and m i n d f u l o f rhe value o f discretion. C h i n
was already o u t o f his chair a n d h a l f w a y t o the d o o r . But the C a r d i n a l
snapped his fingers and m o t i o n e d the stenographer back t o his seat. The
letter w o u l d c o n t i n u e ! O b e d i e n t l y , C h i n sat d o w n again, and by habit
focused his eyes o n the Cardinal's m o u t h .
M a e s t r o i a n n i paused f o r a few seconds, the better to regain his c o m p o -
sure, and then lifted the telephone receiver. " H o l i n e s s ! Your servant! . . .
B E S T - L A I D PLAN'S 45

N o , Holiness, not at a l l . Just catching u p o n a few odds and ends, . . .

Yes, Holiness. W h a t is i t ? "
C h i n watched the Cardinal's eyes open w i d e in astonishment. " 1 see,
Holiness. I see." M a e s t r o i a n n i reached f o r a pen and n o t e b o o k . "Bernini?
Let me w r i t e d o w n the name. Noli Me Tangere. . . . I see. . . . N o ,
Holiness, I c a n n o t say I have. J t h o u g h t Bernini executed m a i n l y large
w o r k s . C o l u m n s ; altars; that sort o f t h i n g . . . . W h e r e . Holiness? . . .
O h , yes. T h e A n g e l i c u m . . . . Your Holiness saw i t there? M a y I ask
when t h a t was, Holiness? . . . Yes. As early as 1948. . . . Yes. O f
course. A t r i u m p h o f artistic p o w e r . . . " T h e C a r d i n a l rolled his eyes
t o w a r d heaven as if to say: See, L o r d , w h a t I have to put up with?
" . . . Let me get o n i t r i g h t a w a y . . . I said right a w a y . Holiness. We
must have a flawed connection. . . . Say again. Holiness? . . . Yes, o f
course, i t must still be there. . . . To be sure, Holiness, Sainte-Baume is
also still there. I meant the Bernini statue. . . . Q u i t e r i g h t , Holiness.
Statues d o n ' t just w a l k a w a y . . . . What's t h a t , Holiness? D i d Your H o l i -
ness say t w o hours? , , . " M a e s t r o i a n n i glanced at his w a t c h . " P a r d o n ,
Holiness. H e l p f r o m w h o m ? . . . F r o m the hounds, d i d y o u say, H o l i -
ness? . . . O h , I see. The hounds o f the L o r d . Domini Canes. The
D o m i n i c a n s , i n charge o f the A n g e l i c u m . Your Holiness' sense o f h u m o r is
sharpened by rhe fresh m o u n t a i n airs. . . . " H i s Eminence managed an
u n c o n v i n c i n g laugh i n t o the receiver. But f r o m the stress lines a r o u n d his
m o u t h , C h i n c o u l d guess at the e f f o r t that laugh required.
"Yes, Holiness, we have the fax number . . . t w o hours. . . . Cer-
t a i n l y , Holiness. . . . We all a w a i t Your Holiness' r e t u r n . . . . T h a n k s ,
Holiness. . . . R e t u r n i n safety."
T h e C a r d i n a l replaced the receiver. H i s face frozen in deep anger and
f r u s t r a t i o n , he sat motionless f o r a time w o r k i n g o u t in his m i n d rhe
quickest a n d most practical way t o c o m p l y w i t h the Pontiff's instructions,
and then get back ro the truly i m p o r t a n t matter o f his letter o n u n i t y .
Suddenly, and perhaps a little g r u d g i n g l y , M a e s t r o i a n n i decided the Pope
was r i g h t . I f this statue, this—he glanced at the name scribbled o n his
n o t e p a d — t h i s Noli Me Tangere o f Bernini was in the A n g e l i c u m , and rhe
A n g e l i c u m belonged to the D o m i n i c a n s as their residence, w h y n o t pass
the w h o l e r i d i c u l o u s matter to them?
H i s Eminence pressed the i n t e r c o m . " M o n s i g n o r e . Find the Master-
General o f the D o m i n i c a n s . Get h i m o n the phone i m m e d i a t e l y . "
H i s anger somewhat appeased by his decision, M a e s t r o i a n n i t o o k up
the d r a f t o f his u n i t y letter and struggled to regain his c o n c e n t r a t i o n . But
just as the perfect w o r d s were ready o n the edge o f his m i n d , M a n u g u e r r a
buzzed t h r o u g h o n the i n t e r c o m again.
" T h e Master-General is o u t , Eminence."
" O u t where?"
" T h e y ' r e n o t exactly sure, Eminence. It's Saturday . . . "
"Yes, M o n s i g n o r e . " The Cardinal's tone was a n y t h i n g b u t long-suffer-
 46 \V I N D S W E P T H O U S E

ing. " I k n o w w h a t day i t i s . " M a e s t r o i a n n i was certain that whoever had

taken M a n u g u e r r a ' s call at the A n g e l i c u m k n e w exactly where rhe Master-
General was. I n fact, i n the frame of m i n d rhat was n o w his, he was ready
to believe that the w h o l e Religious O r d e r o f Dominicans knew where ro
find Master-General D a m i e n Slattery. T h a t everyone in the w o r l d except
the C a r d i n a l Secretary k n e w where t o find Slattery.
The C a r d i n a l calmed himself. The question was h o w t o r u n that w i l y
g i a n t o f an I r i s h m a n t o the g r o u n d w i t h o u t w a s t i n g t i m e o n porters and
s w i r c h b o a r d operators. Once he trained his m i n d o n the logistics o f the
p r o b l e m , the o b v i o u s answer to any s i t u a t i o n such as this dawned like
morning.
" G e t me Father A l d o Carnesecca. Over here. N o w . He's probably
across rhe way in the H o l y Office, even o n a Saturday m o r n i n g . T h e n
b o o k a car and d r i v e r in his name, to be at the m a i n d o o r below w i t h i n ten
minutes. N o w , M o n s i g n o r e ! N o w ! "
"Si, si Eminenzat Subitu!
t Subito!"
C h i n d o u b t e d the C a r d i n a l w o u l d a t t e m p t t o concentrate again on his
d i c t a t i o n u n t i l he had fully disposed o f this i n t e r r u p t i o n . He sat back in his
chair ro w a i t . I n his privileged position as special stenographer to the
Secrerary o f State, the K o r e a n understood that knives had l o n g since been
d r a w n between H i s Eminence and H i s Holiness. As he watched the agita-
t i o n still f l o o d i n g in o n H i s Eminence, he scored one small p o i n t f o r His
Holiness.

T H E T E M P T A T I O N S o f Father A l d o Carnesecca were p r o b a b l y n o t like

those o f other men.
For a l l o f the twelve years since he had been called u p o n by rhe Cardinal
Secretary o f State—Jean-Claude de Vincennes, back t h e n — f o r rhe double
triage o f papal documents, Carnesecca had understood that Vincennes had
more than likely fathomed the puzzle o f that double-sealed envelope
m a r k e d by t w o Popes as " M o s t Personal a n d M o s t C o n f i d e n t i a l . " Vati-
can-wise as Father Carnesecca was, he understood as well that for such
men as Vincennes and his successor, revenge may be a dish best eaten c o l d ;
but i t w o u l d finally be served.
Nevertheless, Carnesecca also k n e w rhat the singular knowledge and
experience he had cultivared over so many decades as a professional sub-
o r d i n a t e had their uses for such men as Vincennes and his successor, just
as they had their uses f o r the H o l y See. T r a i n e d and experienced s u b o r d i -
nates were rare. So the lines o f usefulness and o f the ultimate payback
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 47

c o u l d r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y f o r years, u n t i l the crucial m o m e n t a r r i v e d unher-

alded and sudden. U n t i l t h e n , he c o u l d move w i t h a certain cautious i m p u -
nity.
Father Carnesecca remained careful, all the same. But in his advancing
years—in his seventies n o w , b u t fit and reasonably spry—he was whar he
had always been. I n t e g r i t y intact, still valued by those w h o mattered ro
h i m as "a man o f c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y , " he remained a f a i t h f u l priest of Eternal
Rome. He was careful, therefore, n o t i n the manner of some w o r l d l y
intelligence operative. Rather, he was careful in the manner of a priest. H e
watched less for danger at his back t h a n f o r danger ro his i m m o r t a l soul,
A l l i n a l l , then, Carnesecca had responded to C a r d i n a l Secretary
Maestroianni's sudden call for h i m this Saturday m o r n i n g as he always
d i d — p r o m p t l y and w i r h o u t surprise o r a l a r m . The Cardinal's instructions
to h i m had been p e r e m p t o r y and terse: Carnesecca was t o find D o m i n i c a n
Master-General D a m i e n Slattery wherever he m i g h t be, and get the M a s -
ter-General on the phone t o the Secretariat immediately. Absent instruc-
tions any more explicit than that, Carnesecca's t e m p t a t i o n this m o r n i n g
was t o use the Cardinal's urgent mandate to justify a pleasant excursion.
To sit back i n unaccustomed ease i n the car the C a r d i n a l Secretary had
arranged for h i m , and tell the driver t o head for the official headquar-
ters—the head-house, as it is called i n R o m e — o f this and every D o m i n i -
can Master-General: Santa Sabina M o n a s t e r y o n the slopes o f the Aven-
tine H i l l in the southwestern section o f the city.
The o n l y d i f f i c u l t y w i t h such a t e m p t i n g idea was that Carnesecca k n e w
he w o u l d not find Father D a m i e n Slattery at Santa Sabina M o n a s t e r y . For,
in p o i n t o f fact, C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i had been absolurely cor-
rect i n his belief that the w h o l e Religious O r d e r o f Dominicans knew
where to find the Master-General. A n d so d i d A l d o Carnesecca. G i v e n the
urgency M a e s t r o i a n n i h a d conveyed to h i m therefore, and w i t h a little
sigh o f regret, Father Carnesecca gave his driver directions to a basement
eatery called Springy's near rhe Pantheon.

Springy's was not a place Carnesecca himself frequented. But i f y o u k n e w

D a m i e n Slattery as well as he d i d , y o u were b o u n d to k n o w Springy's.
A n d if y o u k n e w Rome as well as Carnesecca d i d , y o u were b o u n d to
k n o w H a r r y Springy. L i k e Master-General D a m i e n Slattery himself, H a r r y
Springy had become a local legend. A n A u s t r a l i a n , he had come t o Rome
in the seventies as a m a n w i t h a mission. " B l o k e s gotta have a decent
b r e k f u s , " H a r r y always said, W i t h t h a t m o t t o as his creed and his guide,
H a r r y t u r n e d o u t breakfast plarters heaped w i t h fried eggs, crisp bacon,
p o r k sausages, w h i t e a n d black p u d d i n g sausages, chicken kidneys and
livers, stacks of buttered toast and m a r m a l a d e , and rivers o f strong black
tea t o wash it a l l d o w n .
N a t u r a l l y , the blokes w h o had become regulars ar Springy's over rhe
years included rhe w h o l e English-speaking student and clerical p o p u l a t i o n
 48 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

o f Rome. A n d a m o n g those regulars, H a r r y ' s most favorite bloke was

Father D a m i e n D u n c a n Slattery. I f ever t w o men were more suitably des-
tined for l o n g and f r u i t f u l friendship than H a r r y Springy and Damien
Slattery, Father Carnesecca h a d n ' t met them.
Father D a m i e n was a man o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y appetite, and the d i m e n -
sions to go w i t h i t . O v e r seven feet tall and w e i g h i n g i n o n rhe far side o f
three h u n d r e d p o u n d s , the Master-General was one o f those grandiose
physical specimens o f m a n h o o d that every t a i l o r and haberdasher in his
native Ireland w o u l d have loved t o clothe i n Donegal tweeds. Fortunately,
however, at least f r o m Carnesecca's p o i n t o f view, D a m i e n Slattery had
opted for the cream-colored robes o f rhe D o m i n i c a n O r d e r . Decked o u t in
so many s w i r l i n g lines o f ample skirts, and w i t h his beamlike arms, his
spatular hands, his b r o a d expanse of stomach and chest, all topped by a
r u b i c u n d face and a c r o w n o f u n r u l y w h i t e hair, Slattery appeared like a
l u m b e r i n g archangel astray a m o n g m o r t a l s .
Over the years, however, Carnesecca had come t o k n o w Damien Slat-
tery as the gentlest o f men. A t his age—about fifty-five or so, Carnesecca
reckoned—Slattery w a l k e d and t a l k e d and w o r e his rank as D o m i n i c a n
Master-General w i t h grandiose d i g n i t y . H i s sheer physicaliry was passport
enough to a p p r o v a l and acceptability. H e d i d n ' t need to use force. H e was
force. He l o o k e d like a u t h o r i t y incarnate. L i k e a m o v i n g m o u n t a i n .
Father Slattery \s abilities as rugby f o r w a r d i n his school d a y s — " b o n e -
crusher," his benevolenr brorhers had called h i m — h a d added w o n d e r f u l
dimensions b o t h to his p o p u l a r i t y and to his legend. A n d he had f o u n d a
similar easy success in his studies as w e l l . W h e n his O r d e r had sent h i m for
f u r t h e r studies at O x f o r d , Slattery had taken all academic honors available
to h i m . He had acquired one more t h i n g : his first experience i n dealing
w i t h demonic possession. As he had p u t i t once to Carnesecca, he had
been " b r o k e n i n " as an exorcist i n those early days o f his priesthood. I n
fact, he had to his credit in those days the cleansing o f an entire household
o u t in the residential Woodstock area. "So y o u see. Father A l d o " — S l a t -
tery had laughed that deep baritone laugh o f his w h e n telling Carnesecca
a b o u t his p a s t — " I ' m more than just a pretty face!"
A f t e r O x f o r d , and after some fifteen years more back in Ireland as a
professor o f theology and local superior, Slattery had been appointed su-
perior o f the D o m i n i c a n University o f the A n g e l i c u m . In Father Slattery's
earliesr days i n Rome, i t was the Italians w h o had been most likely to
break i n t o giggles w h e n they firsr saw h i m . For, being Italians, their imagi-
narions had r u n r i o t concerning his dimensions. Very soon, t h o u g h , they
had taken h i m ro hearr w i t h p r o p r i e t a r y w o n d e r as "/'/ nostro colosso." So
it was t h a t , w h i l e n o t everyone was pleased, n o b o d y was surprised when
in 1987 D a m i e n Slattery's religious brothers elected h i m by unanimous
b a l l o t as Master-General o f his O r d e r . W h a r was surprising for many o f
those D o m i n i c a n brothers was t h a t Father Slattery had p u t a certain o d d
c o n d i t i o n t o them before he w o u l d accept his election. W h i l e he w o u l d
B E S T - I - A I D P L A N S 49

w o r k by day i n rhe Master-GeneraPs office i n the M o n a s t e r y of Santa

Sabina on the Aventine H i l l , he w o u l d n o t have his residence there as had
always been the c u s t o m . H e w o u l d m a i n t a i n his residence in the Rector's
quarters at the A n g e l i c u m .
By 1987, A l d o Carnesecca had already come i n t o some little contact
w i t h Father Slattery. Indeed, by that time the Slavic Pope himself had
come t o k n o w the I r i s h m a n , a n d had confided to h i m some sensitive and
onerous jobs. Father Carnesecca d i d n ' t k n o w all the details. But he d i d
k n o w that Slattery had become the P o n t i f f s private confessor and Theolo-
g i a n ; that was no secret. H e k n e w that the D o m i n i c a n traveled one or t w o
m o n d i s a year o n private papal missions; and he k n e w t h a t the most
unpleasant a n d dangerous duty Slattery had d r a w n f r o m the H o l y Father
came his w a y thanks t o his early success as an exorcist. I n fact, he was
a w a r e that Father Slattery had been called u p o n as exorcism counselor by
the C a r d i n a l Archbishops of T u r i n and M i l a n , the t w o cities i n Europe
most infested w i t h r i t u a l Satanism a n d demonic possession.
O v e r t i m e , as Carnesecca h a d w o r k e d n o w a n d again f o r this o r that
reason w i r h D a m i e n Slattery, he had got to k n o w t h a t there were certain
things that never changed i n the m a n . F i r s t — a n d most i m p o r t a n t f o r Fa-
ther Carnesecca—Damien Slattery remained absolute in his R o m a n C a t h -
olic faith in G o d , a n d in the p o w e r inherent i n the Godhead. Thar was
absolutely crucial t o his success i n his c o n t i n u i n g c o n f r o n t a t i o n s w i t h the
d e m o n i c . Few people ever k n e w , however, nor w o u l d they learn f r o m
Carnesecca, that Master-General Slattery's reason f o r keeping his resi-
dence i n the Rector's quarters o f die A n g e l i c u m was t o place himself as an
anridote against a f o r m e r demonic infestation o f those rooms.
T h e second unshakable constant a b o u t D a m i e n Slattery was that he
remained Irish to the core. H i s O x f o r d accent rarely broke d o w n ; but
w h e n it d i d , Slattery was likely ro p o u r o u t a stream o f Gaelic invective
w i t h a brogue straight o u t o f D o n e g a l . The t h i r d t h i n g that never changed
was his d e v o t i o n t o H a r r y Springy a n d his basement eatery. There he
c o u l d be f o u n d o n any Saturday m o r n i n g , seated at his permanent table
apart f r o m the other patrons, s u r r o u n d e d by platters a l l lovingly prepared
by H a r r y Springy himself f o r his favorite bloke.

" A h ! " Slattery raised his head. " I t ' s y o u , Father A l d o . " D a m i e n put d o w n
his k n i f e and f o r k i n a grandiose flourish o f f l o w i n g sleeves and calm
d i g n i t y , and m o t i o n e d the priest to take a chair opposite his massive f r o n t -
age, " C o m e t o j o i n me i n a little breakfast, have y o u ? "
M i n d f u l o f time passing, Carnesecca excused himself f r o m rhe i n v i t a -
t i o n . H e relayed the Cardinal's urgent message t h a t the Master-General
was to call H i s Eminence at the Secretariat. " I m m e d i a t e l y , Father-General.
A n urgent matter relative t o the H o l y Father. But that's all H i s Eminence
cared t o say."
T h a t was enough for the D o m i n i c a n . H e had the remainder o f his
 50 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

breakfast returned to the oven to be kept w a r m and fresh. T h e n he headed

f o r Springy's only telephone, located hard by the busy, clattery kitchen.
Father D a m i e n never l o o k e d f o r w a r d to any conversation w i t h Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i . The t w o men met ofren i n f o r m a l settings, and k n e w each
other as o c c u p y i n g opposite ends o f the present seesaw o f R o m a n power
politics. Bur even in this jungle o f factionalism, there was something much
deeper a n d m o r e personal t h a n political loyalties that separated these t w o .
D a m i e n k n e w i t . A n d the C a r d i n a l k n e w ir.
Father Slattery dialed t h r o u g h ro the C a r d i n a l Secretary's office. Taco
M a n u g u e r r a put h i m t h r o u g h to H i s Eminence at once. N e i t h e r Cardinal
n o r D o m i n i c a n indulged in more than the requisite social preliminaries.
But as always, each was true to his f o r m a l duties in the system.
" H i s Holiness is in Sainte-Baume, Father-General. A t the cavern shrine
of St. M a r y Magdalene. O f f i c i a t i n g at the celebrations there. H e has just
called me to say he needs us to fax h i m a p h o t o g r a p h o f a t e r r a i n Bernini
statue o f M a r y M a g d a l e n e . Noli Me Tangere, it's c a l l e d . "
"Yes, Your Eminence. H o w can w e be o f assistance to H i s Holiness?
Your Eminence k n o w s we are always ready . . . "
" B y gerting a p h o t o g r a p h o f the statue and f a x i n g said phorograph ro
the H o l y Father at Sainte-Baume, Father-General. W i t h i n the h o u r ,
please."
For Slattery, the sound o f exasperation edging into the Cardinal's voice
almost compensated f o r h a v i n g his breakfast i n t e r r u p t e d . Still, he had no
idea w h y the C a r d i n a l w o u l d direct such a request to h i m . " B u t of course,
we are w i l l i n g to act i m m e d i a t e l y , Eminence. Bur a p h o t o g r a p h o f . , . "
His Eminence seemed not t o understand the Master-General's p r o b l e m .
" Y o u w i l l have o u r official photographer at your disposal. M y secrerary
has already p u t h i m o n notice. But I insist, Father-General. H i s Holiness
insists. D o it n o w . "
" B u r o f course, Eminence. O f course. The only d i f f i c u l t y . . . "
" W h a t d i f f i c u l t y , Father-General? You d o n ' t need a vote o f the General
Chapter f o r t h i s / *
Slattery w r i n k l e d his nose ar rhe barb. As the m a i n governing body i n
the D o m i n i c a n O r d e r , the General Chapter was k n o w n to move w i t h the
speed o f an ailing t u r t l e . " W i l l i n g l y ! " Father D a m i e n raised his deep voice
over a sudden clatter o f dishes. " I m m e d i a t e l y ! But I have never seen thus—
w h a t is it? Noli . . . "
" B e r n i n i ' s Noli Me Tangere, Father-General. Remember the Gospel
scene? Christ a n d the Magdalene i n the garden? A f t e r the Resurrection?
Noli Me Tangere. ' D o n o t touch m e ' — C h r i s t ' s w o r d s . Remember? The
statue is i n the cortile o f the religious house o f w h i c h you are Superior,
Father-General. O r d o n ' t you frequent the cortile?"
There was no m i s t a k i n g the Cardinal's rising temper. Bur Slattery was
entirely mystified n o w . A l o n g w i t h many religious houses in Rome, the
A n g e l i c u m boasted a lovely inner c o u r t y a r d ; a restful garden w i t h a pleas-
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 51

ant f o u n t a i n at its center, where, in fact. Father D a m i e n often recited his

breviary. But never i n all his years at the A n g e l i c u m had he ever seen a
Bernini statue there. A n d he said as m u c h to M a e s t r o i a n n i .
" I m p o s s i b l e , Father-General," the Secretary insisted. " T h e H o l y Father
saw i t there h i m s e l f . "
In their shared c o n f u s i o n — o n e of rhe few sentiments they were ever
likely to share—Slattery and M a e s t r o i a n n i slipped our o f their f o r m a l
mode o f t a l k .
" T h e H o l y Father saw it there? W h e n ? "
" I n the late forties, he s a i d . "
" I n rhe lare f o r t i e s . "
" Y o u heard right. But statues d o n ' t w a l k . A Bernini statue doesn't melt
away."
*TI1 grant y o u t h a t . But it's n o t there n o w . "
A f t e r a m o m e n t ' s pause, the C a r d i n a l Secretary's voice softened a little.
" L o o k , Father-General. Between you and me and St. M a r y Magdalene,
y o u have no idea h o w this ridiculous requesr has devastated official busi-
ness this m o r n i n g . The sratue must be somewhere. Surely y o u can find i t . "
" D i d H i s Holiness say w h y he wants this p h o r o g r a p h so u r g e n t l y ? "
" F o r i n s p i r a t i o n , i t seems." A note o f sarcasm filtered i n t o the C a r d i -
nal's voice. " T h e H o l y Father values the expression o f pious devotion
Bernini sculpted i n t o the face o f M a r y Magdalene. It's a question o f inspi-
r a t i o n f o r his h o m i l y this evening at Sainte-Baume."
" I see." D a m i e n d i d see. A n d he paused i n his t u r n n o w , as he tried to
find some line o f attack o n the p r o b l e m .
"Someone must k n o w where the statue i s , " the C a r d i n a l p r o d d e d .
" C a n ' t y o u ask the older m o n k s living at the A n g e l i c u m ? "
" N o t o n a weekend. T h e faculty is gone. A l l the usual residents are
scattered—off to visit their relatives i n C a m p a n i a . Besides myself, there's
one b l i n d and aged m o n k asleep i n his bed; one visitor f r o m o u r T a h i t i a n
mission whose specialty appears t o be banana diets; a party o f Chinese
sisters rehearsing a M a n d a r i n play in o u r cortile; a n d one y o u n g A m e r i -
can . . .
" W a i t a m o m e n t , Eminence! That's i t . I t h i n k I may have o u r m a n . T h e
y o u n g A m e r i c a n priesr. Comes here each year for the second semester.
Teaches d o g m a t i c theology. Q u i e t type. Functions as house archivist. He's
always at home o n weekends; and o n l y yesterday he asked me for the
house records covering the years back to 1 9 4 5 . "
M a e s t r o i a n n i pounced o n the possibility. " T h a t ' s the key m a n . Put the
phone o n h o l d a n d call h i m . I ' l l w a i t . "
Slattery made a face at H a r r y Springy, just edging by h i m f r o m the
k i t c h e n . " A c t u a l l y , I ' m not calling f r o m the A n g e l i c u m . "
" A h . " T h e C a r d i n a l indulged his curiosity. " I w o n d e r e d at all the clatter
a n d noise I hear i n the b a c k g r o u n d . "
"Just a sudden i n f l u x o f parishioners, Eminence." Slattery erected the
 52 W I N D S W F P T I I O I! S L

barrier o f f o r m a l speech again. " I presume Father Carnesecca has all the
i n f o r m a t i o n ? T h e photographer's telephone n u m b e r , and the fax number
at Sainte-Baume?"
" H e has i t a l l , Father-General." In his obvious relief—and t a k i n g sue
cess for g r a n t e d , as he so often d i d — t h e C a r d i n a l Secretary spouted a
w h o l e series o f orders to Slattery. " W h e n y o u r m a n has located the statue,
have h i m call me. The way things are g o i n g this m o r n i n g , I expect Til still
be here. I ' l l tell M o n s i g n o r e M a n u g u e r r a to put h i m t h r o u g h . In fact,
w h e n he's faxed the p h o t o g r a p h to the Floly Father, tell h i m to b r i n g rhe
o r i g i n a l to me here. W h a t ' s y o u r man's n a m e ? "
" G l a d s t o n e , Eminence. l ather Chrisrian T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . "

The m o m e n t his car reached the A n g e l i c u m , Carnesecca climbed the w o r n

whire marble sreps o f the P r i o r y . Inside at the s w i t c h b o a r d , the d o o r m a n
was engaged o n the telephone, gossiping w i t h his g i r l f r i e n d , f r o m the
sound o f things. A f t e r some minutes o f excruciating delay and several
attempts t o manage the situation p o l i t e l y , the n o r m a l l y meek and uncom-
m a n d i n g Father Carnesecca r o o k a more direct approach. H e reached o u t
and deftly disconnected the y o u n g man's call.
" I a m here o n papal business. 1 have been sent by Master-General Slat-
tery; and by the C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State, the M o s r Reverend Cardinal
Cosimo M a e s t r o i a n n i . Here is m y identification. C a l l this number to ver-
i f y . Bur then expect to be o u r o f a job by day's e n d . "
The d o o r m a n was t o o stunned t o be angry at having his call cut off. ".Si,
Referenda. W h a t is i t ? "
" I a m here t o see Father C h r i s t i a n Gladstone. Where can I find h i m ? "
" I ' m s o r r y . F a t h e r . " The p o o r fellow was ashen-faced by n o w . " I can't
ring the Professor. He's o n the r o o f saying his prayers. There's no house
phone up there. I ' m sorry, Reverendo . . . "
" W h e r e ' s the elevator?"
L i g h t d a w n i n g o n his features, the y o u n g m a n leaped t o his feet. Bub-
b l i n g a stream o f "per favore'\ a n d "s'accomodi"^ he led Carnesecca to
the elevator. Once he reached the roof, Carnesecca immediately caught
sight o f a black-robed figure, t a l l and l a n k y , etched against the profile o f
the c i t y . Fie w a l k e d s l o w l y to and f r o , his lips m o v i n g soundlessly, his
head b o w e d over his prayer b o o k . The sight of a y o u n g priest reciting his
appointed prayers was rare nowadays. Carnesecca rcgrerted having t o i n -
trude.
The cleric stopped and t u r n e d a r o u n d ; he had sensed Carnesecca\s pres-
ence. Father A l d o f o u n d himself being scrutinized by a pair o f sready blue
eyes. The face was still y o u n g - l o o k i n g , but already m a r k e d by definite
lines a r o u n d rhe m o u t h . T h e A m e r i c a n must have satisfied some question
i n his o w n m i n d , t h o u g h ; for he closed his prayer book and strode for-
w a r d h a n d oursrretched. " I am Chrisrian Gladstone, Reverendo," he said
in passable I t a l i a n , a slight smile at the corners o f his m o u t h .
B L S T - L A I D P L A N S 53

"Carnesecca." T h e handshake between the t w o clerics was firm and

sincere. " A l d o Carnesecca, f r o m the Secretariat. I've just come f r o m the
Master-General at . . . "
A b r o a d smile spread across Gladstone's face. " A t Springy's! Welcome,
Father. A n y o n e w h o is b o t h friend enough and m a n enough ro interrupr
rhe Master-General o n a Saturday m o r n i n g at Springy's is t o be received
w i t h open a r m s ! "
T h o u g h unaccustomed t o such ease o f manner, Carnesecca responded
in k i n d as he began his brief e x p l a n a t i o n o f the mission entrusted t o h i m .
A g a i n , t h o u g h , the y o u n g A m e r i c a n was ahead o f his visitor. T h e Father-
General had filled h i m in by phone, he explained.
As they w a l k e d t o w a r d rhe r o o f d o o r , and then rode d o w n in the eleva-
t o r , Gladstone repeated for Carnesecca w h a r Father Slattery had relayed
to h i m a b o u t the missing B e r n i n i , and abour the Pontiff's o d d request t o
the C a r d i n a l Secretary f o r a p h o t o g r a p h o f the statue t o be faxed t o h i m at
Baume. I t was interesting f o r h i m , Gladstone c o n f i d e d , that the H o l y Fa-
ther w o u l d l o o k t o a Bernini statue—or ro any piece o f a r r — f o r inspira-
t i o n . " 1 t h o u g h t he was o f a more mystical bent o f m i n d , " he said. " B u t I
should have realized f r o m some o f his w r i t i n g s t h a t he has very deep
humanist perceptions."
Carnesecca t o o k in t h a t o p i n i o n about the Slavic Pope w i t h some inter-
est, b u t d i d n o t i n t e r r u p t Christian's briefing.
" A n y w a y , " the A m e r i c a n w e n t o n , " a f t e r Master-General Slattery t o l d
me w h a t the p r o b l e m was, I checked some house records I asked h i m for
o n l y yesterday. I t h i n k we can f u l f i l l the H o l y Father's request for a p h o t o
o f the Noli Me Tangere pretty easily. I f y o u ' l l call the Cardinal's photogra-
pher, we can be o n o u r way. Once w e fax the p h o t o t o H i s Holiness, i t
seems I ' m t o take the o r i g i n a l to the C a r d i n a l ar the Secretariat. I f y o u ask
me, t h o u g h , Father Carnesecca, that's the oddest t h i n g o f a l l . You w o u l d
seem the m a n f o r t h a t j o b , w o u l d n ' t y o u say? Being w i t h the Secretariat
and a l l ? "
The C a r d i n a l ' s interest in anyone even remotely associated w i t h D a m i e n
Slartery d i d n o t surprise Carnesecca. But this was not the t i m e , nor were
these the circumstances, t o enter i n t o such political waters w i t h his new
acquaintance. E v e r y t h i n g had its m o m e n t . W h e n the Bernini matter had
been attended t o , perhaps he w o u l d arrange such a m o m e n t w i t h this
interesting y o u n g m a n .
Once d o w n s t a i r s again, i n t e n t upon the passage o f time and the H o l y
Father's need, Carnesecca headed for the phone. " W h e r e shall I tell the
p h o t o g r a p h e r t o meet us?" H e turned back t o Gladstone. " W h e r e d i d y o u
find the Noli Me Tangere?"
" I f the records are accurate, it's hidden a w a y — c a n y o u imagine a Ber-
n i n i being hidden a w a y a n y w h e r e , Father?—in a basement chapel at the
head-house. Santa Sabina M o n a s t e r y o n the A v e n t i n e . "
 54 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

v
" G L A D S T O N E . Chrisrian T h o m a s . " C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i
read the title o f the file in f r o n t o f h i m . T h a n k s to his professional determi-
narion and his powers o f concenrration, H i s Eminence had salvaged his
busy Sarurday schedule after a l l .
H e disliked t a l k i n g ro Master-General D a m i e n Slattery. The D o m i n i -
can's use o f " w e " i n his conversations was always p a r t i c u l a r l y grating. A l l
the same, the sacrifice o f a conversation w i t h the head o f the Dominicans
had at least got the job done. This y o u n g protege o f his, this Father G l a d -
stone, had been as g o o d as the Master-General's w o r d . He had r u n g in
fairly q u i c k order to say that the Bernini srarue had been located, and that
he and Carnesecca were o n their way t o secure rhe p h o r o g r a p h and fax ir
o f f to Baume. B a r r i n g c o m p l i c a t i o n s , the C a r d i n a l expected Gladstone to
b r i n g the o r i g i n a l t o h i m here at the Secretariat w i t h i n the h o u r .
Success in t h a t matter secured, Maestroianni's resolve nor t o delay his
a l l - i m p o r t a n t letter concerning C h u r c h u n i t y had prevailed. T h e final draft
o f the letter lay safely by his hand for a last r u n - t h r o u g h . Once he had the
interview w i t h this y o u n g A m e r i c a n cleric behind h i m — i t need take no
m o r e t h a n a few minutes—he d i d have one phone call to make o n the
u n i t y matter. A t last t h e n , he c o u l d be o f f t o his residence.
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s interest i n C h r i s t i a n Gladstone was largely pro f o r m a ,
but n o t casual. T h e C a r d i n a l maintained a certain interesr i n rhe younger
aspirants w i t h i n the ecclesiastical structure. T h e y d i d the b u l k of rhe w o r k
after a l l ; and inevitably their names came up f o r possible preferment. As
part o f the Vatican bureaucracy himself f o r these past fifty years, rhe Car-
dinal Secretary k n e w h o w t o keep his eye o n the u p - a n d - c o m i n g c o n t i n -
gent, just as he k n e w h o w t o scrutinize b o t h his equals and his superiors
w i t h i n the system. T h a t being so, even w h i l e the C a r d i n a l finished his
w o r k w i t h C h i n , he had Taco M a n u g u e r r a secure the file on the American
priest-professor f r o m personnel.
" G l a d s t o n e . C h r i s t i a n T h o m a s , " the C a r d i n a l repeated the name to
himself as he opened the dossier. A n o t h e r anglosassone to deal w i t h , for
his sins. W i t h a s w i f t and practiced eye. H i s Eminence checked over rhe
papers that formed a profile o f the American's career as a cleric.
T h i r r y - n i n e years o l d . Twelve years i n t o his ecclesiastical career, if you
included his years o f study. Early university w o r k done in Europe. Studied
for the priesthood at the N a v a r r e Seminary in Spain. Degrees raken w i t h
honors in theology and p h i l o s o p h y . O r d a i n e d o n M a r c h 24, 1984. Ecclesi-
astically speaking, home base for Father Gladstone was the diocese o f
b e s t - l a i d p l a n s 55

N e w Orleans, under rhe j u r i s d i c t i o n o f C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p John Jay

O ' C l e a r y . D u r i n g the second half o f rhe academic year, he functioned
m a i n l y as tenured professor o f rheology at N e w Orleans' M a j o r Seminary.
Jusr as Slattery had said this m o r n i n g , he currently spent the other half
o f the year i n R o m e teaching at the A n g e l i c u m , w h i l e he w o r k e d o n his
doctorate in theology. T h o u g h he was n o t a D o m i n i c a n , it seemed Father-
General Slattery himself directed Gladstone's w o r k o n his d o c t o r a l thesis.
Small w o n d e r , M a e s r r o i a n n i rhoughr acidly as he read the n o t a t i o n i n d i -
cating t h a t Gladstone's professorship at the A n g e l i c u m was endowed w i t h
his f a m i l y ' s money. Slattery never missed a t r i c k .
A l l in a l l , the i n f o r m a t i o n i n Gladstone's f i l e — i n c l u d i n g a laudatory
letter o f r e c o m m e n d a t i o n f r o m C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y himself—added up to
an unblemished record as priest and theologian. A special papal rescript o f
the c u r r e n t P o n t i f f b r o u g h t a f r o w n to the Cardinal's b r o w , however.
Bearing the date o f C h r i s t i a n Gladstone's o r d i n a t i o n , M a r c h 2 4 , 1984, i t
a l l o w e d the priest t o say the age-old T r i d e n t i n e Mass. A note f r o m the
C a r d i n a l Prefect o f the Vatican Bank explained that Gladstone's privilege
in this matter had been insisted u p o n by his m o t h e r as a precondition ro
her investment o f some five m i l l i o n dollars t o rescue an a i l i n g French
company whose m a j o r equity holder was that same Vatican Bank.
There was n o t h i n g unusual in such an arrangement. M a e s t r o i a n n i h i m -
self c o u l d rattle o f f any number o f similar and even far richer Varican
trade-offs. Nevertheless, preference by any priesr for the o u t w o r n t r a d i -
t i o n a l f o r m a t o f the R o m a n Mass was troublesome for H i s Eminence. A t
the very least—and assuming p o l i t i c a l innocence—it was the sign of a
certain backwardness; a failure to grasp the negative and divisive charac-
ter o f the o l d R o m a n C h u r c h a n d irs elitist mannerisms. Given the i n n o c u -
ous profile t h a t emerged f r o m the documents i n his file, the C a r d i n a l sur-
mised t h a t Gladstone's preference f o r the o l d Mass was no more than a bit
o f personal baggage left over f r o m his days at the N a v a r r e Seminary.
"Sentplice," the C a r d i n a l observed to himself. " T h e m a n is an innocent.
N o t p o l i t i c a l . N o t complicated w i t h career-boosting. N o t r u n n i n g w i t h
any o f the factions i n Rome or A m e r i c a . A toiler. A d r o n e . "
Still, i t w o u l d n ' t h u r t t o spend a couple o f minutes more o n a quick r u n -
t h r o u g h o f the f e l l o w ' s f a m i l y data. Connections often tell more about a
man's usefulness t h a n his o w n record. The f a m i l y residence, it seemed,
was a place called W i n d s w e p t House in Galveston, Texas. A romantic
t o u c h , t h a t ; like something o u t o f one o f those English romances the
Americans loved so m u c h . Father: Deceased. M o t h e r : Signora Francesca
Gladstone. The data f o l l o w i n g the name was spare. But w h a t there w a s —
when coupled w i t h the five-million-dollar French rescue and the good
lady's f u l l e n d o w m e n t o f a professorship at the A n g e l i c u m — h a d the
strong smell o f fortunes. O l d money t h a t was still to the g o o d . One sister:
Patricia Gladstone. N o t h i n g o f importance there. U n m a r r i e d . A n artist o f
some note, apparently. L i v i n g at the f a m i l y home in Galveston.
 56 W I N D S W E P T I I O l ' S E

A b r o t h e r , Paul T h o m a s Gladstone, was m o r e interesting for Maestro-

i a n n i . H e had done some seminary w o r k as w e l l , bur apparently had
switched to H a r v a r d . Principal residence n o w in L o n d o n . Paul was reck-
oned as an expert i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l relations, and was currently employed
by the prestigious transnational l a w firm o f C r o w t h e r , Benthoek, Gish, Jen
&c Ekeus.
W h a t a happy coincidence. Cyrus Benrhoek's firm.
M a e s t r o i a n n i had f o r years counted Cyrus Benthoek as a particularly
valued associate i n his endeavors to b r i n g his C h u r c h i n t o rhe forefronr o f
rhe N e w W o r l d O r d e r . I n facr, as his w o r k this very a f t e r n o o n required a
call t o Benthoek, he w o u l d just make a note i n his diary t o ask about Paul
Thomas Gladstone. It was o n l y a d e t a i l , b u t i t w o u l d cost h i m n o t h i n g to
be t h o r o u g h . As C a r d i n a l Vincennes had so often said, details matter.
T u r n i n g back t o the dossier, M a e s t r o i a n n i scanned rapidly t h r o u g h the
few r e m a i n i n g documents. His thoroughness was rewarded by rhe mosr
interesring data o f a l l . The Gladstones, i t seemed, ranked in the Vatican as
"privilegiati di Stato." There was, i n other w o r d s , a permanenr " G l a d -
stone C a r d " in the Secretariat's o w n file o f Vatican I m p o r t a n t Persons;
and the Gladstone f a m i l y had a file all t o itself in the official Secrerariat
archives.
Understandably, few details were noted in C h r i s t i a n Gladstone's per-
sonnel file. But the practical meaning o f "privilegiati di Stato" was clear
enough t o one a.s deeply experienced as the C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State. In
b r o a d terms, Gladstone f a m i l y involvement in the finances o f the H o l y See
meant t h a t the H o l y See i n t u r n rendered wharever financial services it
c o u l d t o the Gladstones. The t i t u l a r head o f rhe Gladstone family, there-
fore, was no d o u b t a m o n g a restricred f e w — n o more than fifty or sixty in
a l l , p r o b a b l y — w h o were granted b a n k i n g facilities at the Vatican's i n -
house b a n k , established by the H o l y See in the 1940s. A n d they were
a m o n g the few w h o c o u l d , for special reasons, acquire a Vatican passport.
M a e s t r o i a n n i closed the dossier and rose f r o m his chair. Gazing our
over St. Peter's Square at n o t h i n g in p a r t i c u l a r , he spcculared about Chris-
tian Gladstone w i t h an interesr he had n o t anticipated. O r . t o be more
accurate, he speculated a b o u t the c o n t r a d i c t i o n o f circumstances sur-
r o u n d i n g C h r i s t i a n Gladstone. O n the one h a n d , there was a brother w h o
was associated—to w h a t degree, he w o u l d find o u t — w i t h the very f o r -
w a r d - l o o k i n g and even visionary Cyrus Benthoek. A n d o n the other h a n d ,
there was w h a t appeared ro be an o l d and well-established Catholic family
that boasted impeccable credentials w i t h the H o l y See.
Christian Gladstone himself d i d n ' t appear to he m u c h . Personally he
was p r o b a b l y heir to m i l l i o n s . As a priest, he seemed simple. Pious to the
p o i n t o f being retrograde, i n a l l l i k e l i h o o d . Still said the o l d Roman Mass,
but made no big splash a b o u t i t . Perhaps he w o u l d t u r n o u t to be an
interesting type after a l l . For C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i , " i n t e r e s t i n g " was a
synonym f o r " u s e f u l . " Such pious b u t p o w e r f u l l y connected drones as
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 57

t h i s — r a w and malleable and " i n n o c e n t " as rhey are—had m o r e rhan once

turned o u t to be g o o d stuff f r o m w h i c h to strengthen the bridges f r o m the
o l d effete order o f things to rhe progressive new.
N o , he decided; there w o u l d be no surprises in this bland y o u n g priest.
A t best, he w o u l d be the rype o f anglosassone w h o l o o k e d y o u straighr i n
rhe eye. H i s ceremonial gestures w o u l d be a w k w a r d acts o f R o m a n behav-
ior t o w h i c h Americans are n o t b o r n and to w h i c h they never become
accustomed. M e r c i f u l l y , he w o u l d make no l o n g speeches, o r lace his re-
mark.t w i t h d e v o t i o n a l references t o G o d or the C h u r c h or the Saints.

Taco M a n u g u e r r a ' s genrle t a p p i n g o n the d o o r ended any need for the

C a r d i n a l t o speculate f u r t h e r , " F a t h e r C h r i s t i a n Gladstone, Imminence."
M a e s t r o i a n n i scrutinized his v i s i t o r . O t h e r than the fact that his cassock
was cut f r o m g o o d c l o t h , it was as undistinguished as the C a r d i n a l had
expected. But w e a r i n g a cassock d i d seem as n a t u r a l to the A m e r i c a n as to
any R o m a n cleric. I n a m o v e m e n t t h a t was as automatic as it was a u t h o r i -
t a r i a n — p o i n r e d , b u t i n no w a y exaggerated—His Eminence extended the
hand that bore his bishop's r i n g .
" E m i n e n c e . " Gladstone d r o p p e d ro one knee and kissed the r i n g lightly.
T h e n , rising, " P a r d o n rhe delay. We gor rhese p r i n t s ready as fast as we
could."
S m i l i n g his best visitor smile, M a e s t r o i a n n i rook the envelope held o u t
to h i m by the A m e r i c a n . The y o u n g man's k a l i a n was tolerable. N o t h i n g
a w k w a r d in his ceremonial gestures, N o t h i n g confused or hesitant in his
use o f ecclesiastical titles. Gladstone rose a n o t c h or t w o above the C a r d i -
nal's expectations.
" W e cannot t h a n k you adequately, Keverendo." The C a r d i n a l Secretary
p r o f f e r e d a s l o w , deliberate handshake o n his visitor. Strong hands; nei-
ther cold fish nor l i m p spaghetti. N o wet palms. N o sign o f nerves.
M a e s t r o i a n n i bestowed another smile o n C h r i s t i a n and gestured to a
nearby chair. "Sir d o w n , Father. Please, sir d o w n f o r a m o m e n t . "
H i s Eminence t o o k his o w n seat behind his desk. H e removed the prinrs
f r o m rhe envelope Farher Gladstone had handed h i m a n d gave them a
cursory glance. There were three different shots o f the Noli Me Tangere.
H o w industrious o f the f e l l o w . A g o o d , reliable d r o n e . Does w h a t he's
t o l d and a bit m o r e .
" I presume rhese have gone o f f to Sainte-Baume, F a t h e r ? "
" H a l f an h o u r ago, Y o u r Eminence."
" I see. A l l ' s w e l l t h a t ends w e l l , eh?" The C a r d i n a l laid the photographs
aside. " I learned some time ago, Father Gladstone, t h a t y o u have a brorher
w h o w o r k s f o r an o l d friend o f mine, Cyrus B e n t h o e k . "
"Yes, E m i n e n c e . " Gladstone l o o k e d the C a r d i n a l Secretary straighr in
the eye in rhe A n g l o - S a x o n manner. " P a u l is very excired a b o u t his w o r k .
H e has promised ro come d o w n t o Rome for a visir w h i l e Pm still here."
" W h i l e y o u are still here. Father? D o y o u plan t o leave us, t h e n ? "
 58 W I N D S W E P T H O f

" N o t h i n g definite, Your Eminence. N o t h i n g immediate, that is. I still

have w o r k t o do to complete m y thesis. But I find I am nor by nature a
Roman."
"Yes. Q u i t e . " A n o t h e r expected t r a i t c o n f i r m e d . A n d yet, there was
something different about this particular anglosassone. Something that
finally d i d n ' t fit the m o l d . It wasn't w h a t Gladstone d i d or said so much as
w h a t he was. T r u e , there was no Mediterranean fire in h i m . T h a t w o u l d be
t o o m u c h t o expect. But the C a r d i n a l Secretary almost envied the quiet,
self-assured reserve o f this y o u n g m a n . He was not subservient; not out of
his depth. H i s manner w e n t beyond the " w h e n in R o m e " behavior of most
Anglo-Saxons. He was a surprisingly polished piece of goods.
" T e l l me. F a t h e r . " M a e s t r o i a n n i fingered the photographs again, but his
eyes never left Gladstone's face. " W h e r e did you find the Noli Me
Tangere?"
" I n a basement chapel, Eminence. A t the D o m i n i c a n head-house."
" W e l l " — t h e Secrerary rose f r o m his d e s k — " w e cannot thank y o u ade-
quately. W h e n y o u r brother does come d o w n to Rome, I w o u l d be very
happy t o make his acquaintance, Father."
F o l l o w i n g the Cardinal's lead, Gladstone stood. " T h a n k y o u , E m i -
nence."
" I n t e r e s t i n g , " the C a r d i n a l m u r m u r e d to himself as Christian Gladstone
closed the d o o r behind h i m . " A n interesting species." T h e man had no
passions of the heart, surely. N o t political enough t o deal w i t h Rome.
Listens benignly enough. It was h a r d to tell f r o m his conversation if he
was u n i m a g i n a t i v e or merely n o n c o m m i t t a l . M o r e polished than most of
the breed; even an unexpecred touch of sophistication, one m i g h t say. But
polish or n o t , like most Anglo-Saxons, he could be manipulated.
T h a t Gladstone remained interesting for Maestroianni at a l l , however,
was almost entirely due to the c o n t r a d i c t i o n evident in the priest's u n -
doubted and p o w e r f u l f a m i l y connections. He came f r o m stock that was
still mired i n the o l d papal C a t h o l i c i s m . W h a t ' s bred in the bone comes
o u t in the flesh, the English say. Yet Gladstone's brorher had been at-
tracted to Cyrus Benthoek's o p e r a t i o n , w h i c h had n o use for the H o l y See
that w o u l d be visible t o the unsuspecting eye. W h o c o u l d tell? It m i g h t
t u r n out that the P o n t i f f had done Maestroianni a small i f u n w i t t i n g favor
after a l l , w i t h his call for the Bernini photographs. T h e Cardinal reached
for rhe intercom on his desk and buzzed the long-suffering Taco
M a n u g u e r r a . " M o n s i g n o r e , p u t t h r o u g h a call ro the N e w Orleans d i o -
cese. I w a n t t o speak t o the C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p . "

As it t u r n e d o u t , H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l O'Cleary was unreachable. " O n

vacation in the west o f I r e l a n d , E m i n e n c e , " M a n u g u e r r a reported. W e l l ,
no matter. The C a r d i n a l Secretary had spent enough precious time o n the
matter for n o w . I n any case, i f rhere was a n y t h i n g of real interest to
pursue, he w o u l d doubtless learn more f r o m Cyrus Benrhoek than f r o m
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 59

C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y . Best ro finish up rhe final d r a f t o f his letter o n C h u r c h

unity.
H i s Eminence rurned t o his scrambler phone and dialed a number in
Belgium. A t the sound o f C a r d i n a l Pier Svensen's f a m i l i a r voice o n rhe
line, the Secretary brightened. Here at least was a k n o w n q u a n t i t y ; a man
o f u n d o u b t e d j u d g m e n t . C a r d i n a l Svensen was an o l d and trusted ac-
quaintance. Retired n o w f r o m his official post, just as M a e s t r o i a n n i h i m -
self soon w o u l d be, Svensen remained an u n d o u b t e d leader and expert o n
ecumenism and o n the charismatic movement. A n d , resident in Brussels as
he was, he boasted some impressive ties w i t h i n the higher echelons of rhe
European Economic C o m m u n i t y .
N o f r i e n d of the Slavic Pope, Svensen had been dead set against this
P o n t i f f s election. In private Conclave caucuses he had w a r n e d his fellow
C a r d i n a l Electors that such a man as this Slav could not solve the
Church's arduous problems. In Maestroianni's b o o k , therefore, no one
w o u l d understand better than the Belgian C a r d i n a l the urgenr need to
direct the bishops delicately b u t firmly to a m o r e f r u i t f u l understanding of
their episcopal u n i t y w i r h the H o l y Father.
"Bull's-eye, E m i n e n c e ! " Svensen boomed his a p p r o v a l after listening t o
Maestroianni's read-rhrough o f his drafr letter. " B u l l V e y c ! T r u l y a mas-
terpiece. A n d your sensirivity in p o l l i n g the bishops o n the u n i t y question
indirectly, through your diplomatic staff—through the Nuncios and
such—is genius. Guaranteed t o make the bishops conscious o f their o w n
e m p o w e r m e n t by the H o l y S p i r i t ! "
"Grazie, Eminenza." M a e s t r o i a n n i set the u n i t y letter d o w n on his
desk. " B u r o n l y the g o o d L o r d k n o w s w h a t I have been t h r o u g h this
m o r n i n g to get i t d o n e . " W i t h o n l y the barest p r o d d i n g f r o m the Belgian,
the C a r d i n a l Secretary launched i n t o a c o l o r f u l account o f the P o n t i f f s
urgent call t o locate the Bernini statue.
"Gottverdummelte!" T h a t Belgian expletive summed up Svensen's j u d g -
ment o f the w h o l e affair. I n his v i e w , it was typical of this Pope n o t only
that he should have caused such bother but that he should have chosen to
make a papal excursion t o Sainte-Baume at a l l . " T h a t shrine is n o t h i n g
but a pious h o a x , Eminence. I w o u l d love t o introduce o u r H o l y Father to
some close associates o f m i n e — e m i n e n t scholars, I m i g h t a d d — w h o are of
the i n f o r m e d o p i n i o n that M a r y Magdalene never set foot outside o f Pal-
estine. A n d we w o u l d a l l be better off, Eminence, if o u r P o n r i f f had never
set f o o t outside o f K r a k o w ! Pious meditations, even f r o m a Pope, w i l l nor
solve rhe Church's problems."
The C a r d i n a l Secrerary agreed f u l l y . " I n f a c t , " he confided, " t h e w h o l e
incident w i t h the P o n t i f f this m o r n i n g has o n l y reinforced my personal
c o n v i c t i o n t h a t we have o n l y t w o alternatives. Either the Pope changes his
m i n d and his policy concerning the sacrosanct p r i m a c y o f the papal office.
Or . . T h e C a r d i n a l d r e w i n a deep and theatrically audible breath.
 60 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

" O r we pursue the idea we have touched o n in past conversations. T h e

idea o f a change o f P o n t i f f s . "
There was no need f o r theatrics where Svensen was concerned. " A b s o -
lutely, Eminence. T h e more so because o u r friends i n Strasbourg and here
in Brussels are getting nervous. They feel strongly that the Pope's constant
r e m a r k s — h i s insistence t h a t there can be no Europe w i t h o u t faith as its
b e d r o c k — r u n counter t o their deep concern f o r the p r i m a c y o f economic
and financial strength as the basic u n d e r p i n n i n g o f the new Europe. I n
fact, as Pve been g i v i n g this w h o l e matter some serious t h o u g h t since last
we spoke a b o u t i t , I w o n d e r if I m i g h t make a little suggestion."
" F i r e ahead, E m i n e n c e . "
" T h e letter y o u were k i n d enough to share w i t h me just n o w is o n the
m a r k . G i v e n y o u r a r t i s t r y o f w o r d i n g , I have every hope rhat the outcome
w i l l be pleasing t o us. But even t h e n , h o w d o we capitalize o n the situa-
tion? Suppose the bishops are dissatisfied w i t h their presenr relationship
vis-a-vis the H o l y See—and 1 have no d o u b t t h a t Your Eminence's letter
w i l l make t h a t dissatisfaction clear. We w i l l still need t o forge that data
i n t o a concrete plan o f a c t i o n . T h e concept I have i n m i n d is simple. The
bishops themselves w i l l become the instrument we need to force the issue
w i t h the present Pontiff.
" A s P m sure y o u k n o w , local European bishops w a n t desperately to be
p a r t of the Economic C o m m u n i t y . They understand t h a t the EC can only
get bigger and l o o m more i m p o r t a n t l y than local n a t i o n a l politics w i t h the
passage o f every year. A n d , as the p o p u l a r new phrase has i t , they d o need
to be p o l i t i c a l l y correct and socially acceptable; or they t h i n k they d o — i t
comes to the same t h i n g . M o r e i m p o r t a n t is the fact t h a t the bishops w a n t
their piece o f the pie. They need mortgages, just as major corporations d o .
They need l o n g - t e r m , low-interesr loans. They need z o n i n g variances for
their b u i l d i n g projects. T h e i r schools and universities need public funds.
T h e y need advice a b o u t their p o r t f o l i o s . They need the authorities ro l o o k
the other way when clerics make their litrle mistakes,"
"So, Your Eminence?" M a e s t r o i a n n i glanced at his w a t c h . T h e Belgian
had been noted t h r o u g h o u t his l o n g career f o r a certain l o n g - w i n d e d t r i -
u m p h a l i s m i n p r o p o s i n g his o w n ideas.
"Bear w i t h me a m o m e n t longer. E m i n e n c e , " Svensen w e n t o n . " C o n -
sider the elements w e have w o r k i n g f o r us. O n the one h a n d , given a little
guidance, the bishops are b o u n d ro see the benefits for the C h u r c h of rheir
c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h the EC, as i t stands. As the c o m i n g force in Europe. A l l
those little favors and considerations the bishops require, after a l l , depend
on the p o l i t i c a l g o o d w i l l o f the EC countries. O n the other h a n d , we have
the P o n t i f f . H e is insistent and consistent o n three topics.
" F i r s t , he insists o n his undemocratic Petrine claims regarding the p r i -
macy o f papal a u t h o r i t y . Second, he insists o n the importance o f 'the bond
o f u n i o n , as he has called i t , between himself and his bishops. H e w i l l go
1

very far before he w i l l a l l o w o r a d m i t an open break w i t h t h e m . A n d t h i r d ,

B £ 5 1 - L A I D P L A N S 61

the new Europe is so precious i n this Pope's eyes that he hardly speaks one
paragraph nowadays w i t h o u t referring to i t .
" N o w , i f w e can carry Your Eminence's capital idea of p o l l i n g the bish-
ops one step f u r t h e r — i f we can get the European bishops actually to forge
a c o m m o n m e n t a l i t y a l o n g the lines of o u r t h i n k i n g about Europe; if we
can sharpen their understanding o f h o w they w i l l benefit f r o m a closer
u n i o n w i t h the EC and its a i m s — t h e n 1 can foresee the bishops themselves
f o r c i n g a change in the H o l y See's attitudes. Indeed—and this is the p o i n t ,
Eminence—should the H o l y See remain obdurate, I can see the bishops
themselves f o r c i n g — e r — w h a r e v e r change we deem advisable."
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s initial response was skeptical. "Yes, I see w h a t y o u
mean. But ' f o r g i n g a c o m m o n m i n d a m o n g rhe bishops,' as y o u p u t i t .
w o u l d be like getting cats and mice t o cohabit peacefully. A n d i t w o u l d be
a c o m p l e x o p e r a t i o n , Your Eminence. It w o u l d require a careful assess-
ment o f each bishop's needs, a n d where each bishop stands o n issues that
are a lot tougher t o get at than u n i t y . "
" A g r e e d . " Svensen k n e w the problems. " I n fact, i t w o u l d mean more
than assessing the situation o f each bishop. I t w o u l d mean finding a way
i n t o the EC at a level t h a t w o u l d , shall we say, dovetail w i t h the more
practical interests o f rhe bishops. A l i n k w o u l d be required between the
bishops and the EC that w o u l d guarantee a b i t o f civilized m u t u a l h a n d -
washing."
M a e s t r o i a n n i had to smile at the Belgian's sudden delicacy. "Practical
interesrs like rhose mortgages and low-interest loans and such that Your
Eminence mentioned earlier."
"Precisely. I g r a n t Your Eminence's p o i n t , t h o u g h . I t w o u l d be a com-
plex o p e r a t i o n . A n d we m i g h t n o t b r i n g i t o f f . In that case, however, I
s u b m i t that we w o u l d be i n n o worse a position than we are at this
m o m e n t . H o w e v e r , i f we were t o accomplish so great a miracle as t o forge
a desirable ' c o m m o n m i n d " a m o n g the bishops—we w o u l d have the i n -
s t r u m e n t we need. I n facr. Eminence, i f y o u r letter evokes an expression of
dissatisfaction a m o n g the bishops o n the general issue o f their unity w i t h
the presenr Pope, then the f o r m a t i o n of a ' c o m m o n m i n d ' a m o n g the
bishops w o u l d p u t immediate a n d very sharp teeth i n t o the matter. We
w o u l d be o n the firmesr possible g r o u n d , once and for a l l , to force the
issue w i t h the P o n t i f f . "
"Yes. I see." M a e s t r o i a n n i was c o m i n g a r o u n d to Svensen's p o i n t of
view. " I t m i g h t w o r k . Provided the Americans w o u l d dovetail w i t h Euro-
peans, of course. W i t h one h u n d r e d and eighty residential bishops alone,
not c o u n t i n g a u x i l i a r y bishops a n d all the rest, the Americans carry con-
siderable w e i g h t . A n d they account f o r a considerable parr o f the money
corning i n t o the Vatican. T h e p r o p o s i t i o n w o u l d be iffy w i t h o u t t h e m . "
" A g r e e d . Whatever w e i g h t o u r A m e r i c a n brorhers lack theologically
and i n culture and t r a d i t i o n is more t h a n adequately made up by their
financial c l o u t a n d , let's face i t , by the superpower status o f their United
 62 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

Stares. Diplomatically and geopolitically, they count in the general equa-

tion."
* i t could w o r k / ' the Cardinal Secretary of State conceded at last. But he
remained cautious all the same. " L e t me explore the idea further with
some of our colleagues. Perhaps we can talk further at the Robert Schu-
man Annual Memorial celebrations next monrh in Strasbourg. Do you
plan to be there. Eminence?"
"1 will look forward to it, my friend."

As Cardinal Maestroianni hung up the scrambler phone, no such phrase

as "inciting the bishops to wholesale mutiny" crossed his mind. The bish-
ops were running along rhar road anyway, albeit in their squabbly and
disunited fashion. O n the contrary, it seemed fitting that such a revolu-
tionary idea—a concrete plan to forge the bishops into an instrument to
further a seamless new world unity—would be discussed amid the annual
celebrations honoring the memory and accomplishments of the great Rob-
ert Schuman.
Schuman had been one of the first Europeans to conceive of a united
Western Europe. As far back as the forties, in fact, as France's Foreign
Minister, it was he who had started building the first bridges between
France and Germany as the keystone states of any future unity. His mem-
ory was understandably revered by many. In Maestroianni's mind, and in
the Roman phrase, Robert Schuman ranked as nothing less than " a found-
ing father."
Truly absorbed now in Svensen's powerful idea of fomenting a "com-
mon m i n d " among the bishops, the Cardinal began to gather up his pa-
pers, ready to head for the quiet of his apartments on the Via Aurelia.
There he would be free to think and work in peace. N o jangling T el
e -

phones. N o unanticipated interviews. N o more footling matters such as

papal piety and missing statues. For the last time that day, Maestroianni
called Monsignore Manuguerra in and settled the arrangements to have
his unity letter dispatched by diplomatic pouch. Then, as he rose to leave,
his eye fell on Christian Gladstone's personnel file. He had almost forgot-
ten.
He handed the dossier back to Manuguerra. " H a v e this returned to
personnel, Monsignore. And one more thing. Get the Gladstone family file
from the Secretariat archives. Have it on my desk first thing Monday
morning,"
B f S T - L A I D P L A N S 63

VI
C H R I S T I A N G L A D S T O N E was b o t h amused and baffled by his curious
interview w i t h C a r d i n a l Secretary of State M a e s t r o i a n n i . Shaking his head
in m o c k disbelief, he stepped t h r o u g h the doors of the Secretariat and i n t o
the strong m i d d a y light of Rome, streaming n o w over the C o u r t of St.
Damasus. Father Carnesecca was sranding beside the car w i t h the chauf-
feur.
"These R o m a n s ! " Gladstone settled i n t o the rear seat beside Carne-
secca. " I k n o w y o u w o r k at the Secretariat, Reverendo/' Chrisrian smiled
an apology at his c o m p a n i o n . " B u t I hope y o u w o n ' t take offense at m y
saying that after a handshake w i t h H i s Eminence, a m a n is tempted to
count his fingers to see i f they're all still in place."
" N o offense t a k e n , " Carnesecca responded evenly.
As their car wended a careful way t h r o u g h the Saturday c r o w d of visi-
tors in St. Peter's Square, a Mercedes-Benz inched by in the opposite direc-
t i o n , heading for the Secretariat. " A p p a r e n t l y , Reverendo, you were the
last bit o f business on the Secretary's calendar this m o r n i n g . T h a t ' s his car.
C o m i n g t o take h i m home, no d o u b t . H i s Eminence w i l l be unreachable,
except by Security, u n t i l seven A . M . on M o n d a y . "
Christian glanced at the limousine. " I expect I should be honored that
so great a Vatican personage held up his schedule for me. But if you w a n t
t o k n o w the t r u t h , the interview w i t h the C a r d i n a l Secretary gave me an
appetite. Instead of heading straight back to the A n g e l i c u m , I w o n d e r if
y o u ' d j o i n me for l u n c h ? "
Carnesecca, surprised by the almost boyish g r i n on Gladstone's face,
was delighted. A n d he k n e w just the place to suggest. "Casa M a g g i , it's
called. Milanese cuisine. It w i l l give y o u a little rest f r o m our R o m a n
oppression. A n d it's not a very l o n g w a l k f r o m there to the A n g e l i c u m . "
By the time the t w o clerics settled i n t o their chairs in the g r a t i f y i n g cool
of Casa M a g g i , they had left the formalities of official Rome behind t h e m ,
and they chatted a b o u t rhe day's adventure that had b r o u g h t them t o -
gether to assist the H o l y Father. The stilted Reverendo q u i c k l y gave way
to the far more f a m i l i a r Padre, and first names replaced f a m i l y names. I t
was A l d o and Christian n o w .
" O f h u m b l e means t h o u g h I a m , " Carnesecca poked a bit o f f u n at
himself, "perhaps y o u w i l l let me order for b o t h of us. I k n o w this menu
w e l l . " T h a t , it turned o u t , was an understatement. The gnocchi milanesi
and celeri remoulade he instructed their waiter to b r i n g were a m o n g the
best Christian had tasted, either i n R o m e or in M i l a n . A far cry f r o m
 64 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

Springy's p o r k and p u d d i n g sausages, the t w o agreed. N o r d i d either o f

them intend such a c o m m e n t as a barb against D a m i e n Slattery; for a m o n g
the things they q u i c k l y discovered they shared was a high regard for the
D o m i n i c a n Masrer-General, b o t h as a priest and as a m a n .
C h r i s t i a n was fascinated t o meet such a l i v i n g encyclopedia of Vatican
lore as Father A l d o , and was rewarded for his interest. Carnesecca turned
out t o be a master at recounting memories o f past Popes and politics. His
profiles o f some of the more illustrious visirors t o the Apostolic Palace
b r o u g h t f a m i l i a r names to life for C h r i s t i a n . A n d some o f his tales o f
excruciating clerical blunders at the Secretariat made the younger man
laugh t i l l the tears came.
O n his side, Farher A l d o was just as fascinared t o learn about the back-
g r o u n d of such a simpatico y o u n g priest. U n l i k e most Americans he had
met, C h r i s t i a n was steeped in his f a m i l y ' s history. It seemed that Chris-
tian's f a m i l y , like Carnesecca himself, had always been embroiled in
C h u r c h t u m u l t . O r at any rate, that was the part o f his family's story that
had always interested h i m the most.
T h e o r i g i n a l Gladsrones were Englishmen, C h r i s t i a n t o l d his compan-
i o n . O r , t o be more exact, they were N o r m a n - S a x o n s w h o had settled
d o w n by the 1300s as C o r n i s h m e n . They had i n t e r m a r r i e d over the centu-
ries w i t h Trevelyans, w i t h Pencanibers and w i t h Pollocks. But they never
f o r g o t they were themselves o f N o r m a n - S a x o n stock. A n d above a l l , they
never f o r g o t they were R o m a n Catholics. The Gladstone M a n o r House
had been at Launceston i n C o r n w a l l . They were hereditary owners o f
large f a r m l a n d s , fisheries and rin mines in C a m b o r n e . They were pre-
R e f o r m a t i o n Catholics whose religion was greatly colored by the Celtic
t r a d i t i o n f r o m Ireland.
W h e n the sixteenth century came a r o u n d , the Gladstones had predict-
ably refused t o accept K i n g H e n r y V I I I as s p i r i t u a l head o f the C h u r c h .
True ro their R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m — a n d to the Gladstone family m o t t o ,
" N o Q u a r t e r " — t h e y h u n g o n to their m a n o r house and lands at Launces-
ton and their t i n mines o f C a m b o r n e . Aided by the remoteness o f C o r n -
w a l l f r o m L o n d o n , and by the u n s w e r v i n g l o y a l t y of their family retainers,
their w o r k m e n and their tenants—all Catholics in very Catholic C o r n -
w a l l — t h e y had held o u t pretty m u c h intact u n t i l the latter half o f rhe
seventeenth century. Given the fierceness o f the Elizaberhan persecution o f
Catholics, survival had been n o mean accomplishment. Finally their alter-
natives grew g r i m . They c o u l d sir i n their m a n o r house as many other O l d
Catholics d i d , w r a p p e d in sullen nostalgia for their past, w a i t i n g to be
t r u n d l e d o f f in tumbrels t o L o n d o n ' s T y b u r n Tree, where they w o u l d be
hanged. O r they c o u l d flee.
" N o Q u a r t e r " meant they w o u l d n o t c o m p r o m i s e . Bur they d i d intend
t o live o n and fight another day. So they t o o k their money and their arms,
boarded one o f their o w n merchant ships and sailed f o r the N e w W o r l d o f
A m e r i c a . They made landfall in St. Augustine, F l o r i d a , in 1668. By the
B I - S r - L A I D P L A N S 65

early 1800s, the f a m i l y members had gone o f f i n various directions, A

small nucleus, headed by one Paul T h o m a s Gladstone, settled d o w n w i t h
the first wave o f A m e r i c a n colonists o n Galveston Island.
A t that t i m e , Galveston Island was little more than a sandbar lying
parallel t o the coast. A scant twenty-seven miles l o n g and varying f r o m
one t o three miles in w i d t h , i t protected the bay and the m a i n l a n d f r o m rhe
waters and the w i n d s o f the M e x i c a n G u l f . Galveston Bay itself was the
d r a w , however. T h e A m e r i c a n s — P a u l T h o m a s Gladstone n o t least a m o n g
t h e m — s a w vast possibilities there for c o m m e r c i a l s h i p p i n g . Seventeen
miles w i d e and t h i r t y miles l o n g , and fed by numerous bayous and t w o
m a j o r rivers, the bay presented the settlers w i t h a good d r a f t for oceango-
ing ships. It was protected by Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.
A n d , like N e w Orleans and M e x i c o ' s Veracruz, ir gave viable access to the
profitable s h i p p i n g trade o f Central and South A m e r i c a .
Paul T h o m a s Gladstone had already parlayed his p o r t i o n o f the family
inheritance i n t o appreciable if n o t princely p r o p o r t i o n s t h r o u g h his p u r -
chase o f p r o f i t a b l e tracts o f vineyards in the south o f France. Once settled
in Galveston, he proceeded to increase his f o r t u n e year by year t h r o u g h his
new venture o f w i n e i m p o r t a t i o n . But Christian's favorite a m o n g his fore-
bears was his g r a n d f a t h e r — a l s o named Paul Thomas- " O l d G l a d , every-
body called h i m , " Chrisrian told Father A l d o w i t h o b v i o u s relish. " I n fact,
they still d o . He's still a legend today i n Galveston. He kept a j o u r n a l , had
a real flair for i t . O n s t o r m y days when we were g r o w i n g u p at W i n d s w e p t
House, I used to spend hours in o u r l i b r a r y w i t h m y sister and my
brother—he's called Paul T h o m a s , t o o — a n d we w o u l d read those j o u r -
nals a l o u d to one a n o t h e r . "
" W i n d s w e p t H o u s e ? " Carnesecca was t h o r o u g h l y enjoying this relaxed
little t o u r t h r o u g h English-American h i s t o r y .
C h r i s t i a n laughed. " T h a t ' s the name o f the house O l d G l a d b u i l t . Ir's
more o f a castle than a house, I suppose. Built right smack at rhe heart o f
Galveston Island. It's really a g r a n d o l d pile. Six stories h i g h . Family por-
traits everywhere. There's even a replica o f the o r i g i n a l great hall o f L a u n -
ceston M a n o r , and a raftered d i n i n g h a l l . A n d there's a circular t o w e r
a t o p the w h o l e affair w i t h a w o n d e r f u l chapel where the Sacrament is
reserved. It's the new Gladstone M a n o r House, I suppose you m i g h t say.
Everybody says W i n d s w e p t House is a r o m a n t i c name. But i t w a s n ' t
meant t o be r o m a n t i c . It has a very different meaning that comes right o u t
o f a most u n r o m a n t i c t i m e i n papal R o m e . "
T h e journals o f his favorite ancestor t h a t had always fascinated Chris-
tian m o r e t h a n a l l the others covered the years f r o m 1870 o n w a r d . In that
year, O l d G l a d was thirty-seven years o l d , u n m a r r i e d , and had become a
m i l l i o n a i r e m a n y times over. In t h a t year, t o o , the man O l d G l a d referred
t o i n his entries as Christ's Vicar o n E a r t h , Pope Pius I X , was deprived o f
all his Italian properties and effectively shut up i n the A p o s t o l i c Palace in
the Vatican by the Italian nationalists led by G a r i b a l d i and C o u n t C a v o u r .
 66 W I N O S W E P I H O U S i-

T h a t s h o c k i n g news, and w o r d o f an i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y organized plea f o r

financial s u p p o r t for a suddenly isolated and impoverished papacy,
reached Galveston in 1 8 7 1 . I m m e d i a t e l y , Paul Gladstone t o o k o u t letters
o f credit a m o u n t i n g to one m i l l i o n U n i t e d States dollars, procured a per-
sonal lerter o f i n t r o d u c t i o n f r o m rhe A r c h b i s h o p o f N e w Orleans and set
o u t for Rome, where he a r r i v e d o n Easter Sunday o f 1872.
" I w i s h y o u c o u l d read O l d Glad's account o f t h a t t i m e . " Christian's
eyes shone w i t h rhe same excitement he must have had when he had first
read those j o u r n a l s himself as a b o y . " T h e y ' r e w o n d e r f u l ; b r i m m i n g w i t h
details and feisty e n t h u s i a s m . "
To say rhat O l d G l a d was welcomed at the Vatican o f Pius I X w o u l d be
a vast understatement. T h e Pope made his A m e r i c a n rescuer a K n i g h t o f
the H o l y Sepulcher, conferred o n h i m and his f a m i l y the perpetual right to
have a private Chapel o f Privilege in their h o m e w i t h the Blessed Sacra-
menr reserved there and gave h i m a first-class relic o f the True Cross for
the A l t a r Srone in his Chapel of Privilege. Pius also esrablished a perpetual
l i n k berween the papacy and the head o f the Gladstone f a m i l y , whoever
that m i g h t be i n future years. H e n c e f o r t h , there w o u l d always be a " G l a d -
stone C a r d " in the Secretariat's file o f Vatican I m p o r t a n t Persons. T h e
Gladstones w o u l d be described briefly and i n perpetuity as privilegiati di
Stato, freely rendering whatever financial services they c o u l d t o the H o l y
See and receiving such facilities as the H o l y See c o u l d render i n rerurn.
The Pope granted Paul T h o m a s t w o lengthy privare audiences, and gave
h i m a personally conducted t o u r that included one o f the Vatican's most
private a n d most curious r o o m s . T h e T o w e r o f the W i n d s , i t was called; o r
the R o o m o f the M e r i d i a n . It had been b u i l t b y a sixteenth-century Pope
in the m i d d l e o f the Vatican gardens as an astronomical observatory. By
the latter half o f the nineteenth century, the observatory had been trans-
ferred elsewhere. D u r i n g the disturbances in R o m e o f rhe 1870s, the Pon-
t i f f had reserved the Blessed Sacrament there f o r security reasons.
O l d Glad's account o f that place was a m o n g the most v i v i d entries in
his journals. H e described the frescoed w a l l s , the floor sundial, the w i n d -
measuring vane, rhe conical roof, the constant w h i s p e r i n g o f rhe Eight
W i n d s . T h e place seemed t o h i m to be s y m b o l o f t i m e and eternity; for
G o d was there in the Sacrament. But it also struck his i m a g i n a t i o n as a
reminder o f a fugitive time. For, just as the T o w e r was swept by its c o n -
stant, w h i s p e r i n g w i n d s , so was the C h u r c h swept in those days by the
r o u g h w i n d s o f persecution and e n m i t y .
T h e n and rhere w i t h the H o l y Father beside h i m , O l d G l a d decided to
t

b u i l d a replica o f rhat very T o w e r as rhe privileged chapel where the

Blessed Sacrament w o u l d be kept perperually. A n d he w o u l d build a
proper house, so that the chapel w o u l d be high u p ; so that all o f Galveston
c o u l d look to it and k n o w that G o d was w i t h t h e m . Flis chapel w o u l d be
Galveston's T o w e r o f the W i n d s . A n d his house w o u l d be W i n d s w e p t
House.
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 67

"So W i n d s w e p t House was always a l i n k for y o u . " Carnesecca f o l l o w e d

Christian's story w i t h deepening interest. " A l i n k w i t h Rome. W i t h the
Vatican. W i t h the p a p a c y . "
" W i t h all o f t h a t . " C h r i s t i a n n o d d e d . " A n d w i t h O l d G l a d , t o o . W h e n -
ever I go home to W i n d s w e p t House, I say Mass in that replica he built o f
the l o w e r o f the W i n d s . "
In his w i l l , Paul T h o m a s had directed that a red l a m p be kept b u r n i n g
day and n i g h t in the Chapel w i n d o w that faced n o r t h w e s t t o w a r d rhe
Texas m a i n l a n d . By n o w , that vigil light had been b u r n i n g for over a
h u n d r e d years, and Texans l i v i n g as far wesr as Vicroria and as far norrh
as Orange had always s w o r n rhat they c o u l d see i t w i n k i n g at them on
clear nights. " G l a d ' s Eye they called that l i g h t . " Christian raised his glass
o f s p a r k l i n g warer in a lighrsome gesture o f affection and t r i b u t e . " A n d
Glad's Eye it's called t o d a y . "
N o r was that the o n l y local t r a d i t i o n that had g r o w n up a r o u n d the
T o w e r Chapel at W i n d s w e p t House. O l d Glad had p u t a stained-glass
w i n d o w i m p o r t e d f r o m Italy i n t o the w a l l that faced seaward. Fully nine
feet t a l l , i t depicted Christ stilling the angry tides o f Lake Galilee, spread-
ing miraculous ripples o f cairn before h i m over rhe storm-swept waters as
he approached a boatload o f terrified disciples. F r o m the day O l d Glad
died, the fishermen o f Galveston t o l d h o w they sometimes saw the o l d
man's ghostly figure behind that w i n d o w — s t a i n e d glass t h o u g h it w a s —
g i v i n g them a needed bearing on stormy nights.
" A n d g i v i n g y o u r f a m i l y a needed bearing, t o o , I imagine, Father Chris-
t i a n . " It was a logical guess on Father Carnesecca's p a r t , and i t was accu-
rate.
Reared and educared as he had been in the R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h thar
had gone d o w n t o the dust d u r i n g the " g o o d Pope's" Second Vatican
C o u n c i l , Chrisrian reckoned rhat his advantage i n s u r v i v i n g as a R o m a n
C a t h o l i c had been secured m a i n l y by t w o c o n d i t i o n s , b o t h o f w h i c h he
a n d his f a m i l y o w e d t o O l d Glad's p r o v i d e n t i a l foresight: the Gladstone
fortune and Gladstone papal C a t h o l i c i s m .
T h e f a m i l y ' s financial sinews b u i l t u p by o l d Paul T h o m a s carried
strength o f such great p r o p o r t i o n s that there were few, in or o u t o f the
C h u r c h , w h o cared to ignore the Gladstones. T h e family fortune had con-
tinued to g r o w , the w a y o l d money g r o w s . C o n s t a n t l y .
Just as m u c h , however, Christian's advantage as a R o m a n Catholic had
been secured by the d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f his m o t h e r , Cessi. Francesca was her
given name, afrer O l d Glad's w i f e . But like her financial forrune, Cessi's
characrer came straight f r o m Paul T h o m a s himself. I n fact, so m u c h a
Gladstone was she t h a t , after she had been prematurely w i d o w e d , she had
taken her o w n f a m i l y name again for herself and her c h i l d r e n .
"She's a R o m a n C a t h o l i c believer f r o m head ro t o e . " Christian's affec-
t i o n for Cessi was obvious in the w a r m t h o f rone. " I t ' s her d o i n g that
 68 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

today I believe the same t r u t h s and practice the same religion as 1 learned
them from her."
As Cessi's three children were g r o w i n g u p , so was the C h u r c h in a l l the
dioceses o f the U n i t e d States being drenched i n w h a t she called " i n n o v a -
tive a d a p t a t i o n s . " Wholesale changes sprang u p like some h y b r i d c r o p
under the c u l t i v a t i n g hands of folks w h o were called " l i t u r g i c a l experts"
and "catcchesis teachers." In such circumsrances—and for as long as feasi-
ble i n rhe face o f rhe high-rech requirements o f latter-day e d u c a t i o n —
Cessi had home-schooled her c h i l d r e n . W h e n t h a t o p r i o n was no longer
practical, she had made sure that the Brothers in the school where she sent
her t w o boys, and the nuns in the school where she sent his sister, T r i c i a ,
all undersrood that to oppose the wishes or openly criticize Francesca
Gladsrone w o u l d be to jeopardize the hefty patronage they depended on
f r o m her.
W h e n it came t o religious practice and Training, it was much the same
story. Private religious t u t o r i n g t o o k the place o f the bowdlerized "cate-
chesis classes" given in the city's churches. As often as possible, the family
avoided the local churches, which Cessi saw as tainted w i t h un-Catholic
rites. Instead, they attended private Masses in O l d Glad's T o w e r o f the
Winds.
By a b o u t J 970, t h o u g h , t r a d i t i o n a l i s t priests—priests Cessi could rely
o n , as she had said so o f t e n , " f o r a valid and authentic R o m a n M a s s " —
were becoming ever more scarce and hard TO f i n d . She had been overjoyed,
t h e n , w h e n a g r o u p o f some sixry R o m a n C a t h o l i c families f r o m Galves-
ton and the m a i n l a n d approached her w i t h the idea o f f o r m i n g a new
congregation. W i t h Cessi's financial b a c k i n g and their o w n conrriburions,
and w i t h the perpetual Gladstone privileges in Rome, the idea was that
they c o u l d set themselves u p as economically and canonically independent
o f the local diocese. T h e matter was decided o n the spot. A n o l d chapel
was f o u n d in D a n b u r y and purchased f r o m its o r i g i n a l M e t h o d i s t owners.
It was called the Chapel o f St. M i c h a e l the Archangel. A n d because they
c o u l d n o t rely o n diocesan priests or rhe bishop t o offer a valid Mass, they
contacted A r c h b i s h o p M a r c e l Lefebvre o f Switzerland, and arranged f o r
their Chapel to be adopted by Lefebvre's Society o f Pius X . But even
Lefebvre's o r g a n i z a t i o n was n o t able ro supply a priesr regularly for the
Chapel.
T h a t p r o b l e m was overcome, however, w h e n rhe n e w l y organized D a n -
bury congregation f o u n d Father Angelo Gutmacher.
" F a t h e r A n g e l o . " C h r i s t i a n mused over rhe name, as a man w i l l muse
over a f o n d m e m o r y . " H e was a godsend f o r us a l l , a strange and w o n d e r -
ful m a n . H u m a n l y speaking, he's alone i n rhe w o r l d . As a boy in Leipzig,
he was rhe o n l y member o f his f a m i l y to survive the arson that enveloped
their home one night. He still bears the scars o f that a w f u l fire o n his face
and b o d y . H e escaped f r o m C o m m u n i s t East Germany and came into the
care o f relatives in West G e r m a n y . I n t i m e , he entered a seminary that was
B U S T - L A I D P L A N S 69

still t o the g o o d , and came o u t as the rarest of all breeds today—a priest
w h o is o r t h o d o x w i t h o u t being i n f l a m m a t o r y .
" B y the time he came t o St. Michael's Chapel in D a n b u r y , he had come
ro the notice o f Lefebvre's o r g a n i z a t i o n . H e has that w a y about h i m .
W i t h o u t ever i n t e n d i n g to do so, he comes to the notice o f people."
It h a d n ' t seemed to take Gutmacher l o n g at all t o gain the respect o f his
little congregation at D a n b u r y . A n d their love as w e l l . W i t h o u t ever c o m -
p r o m i s i n g his o r t h o d o x y , he turned o u t t o be wise enough t o stay above
all the controversies raging t h r o u g h o u t the C h u r c h . A n d he seemed k i n d
enough t o c a l m even the most extreme a m o n g the D a n b u r y congregation.
So, t o o , d i d he gain the respect and the love of all the Gladstones. He was
priest and confessor and f r i e n d ro all o f t h e m . H e often said Mass at the
Tower Chapel of W i n d s w e p t House. H e lent his sure and gentle hand ro
the f o r m a t i o n o f Cessi's three children. Tor Cessi herself he became a
deeply valued personal friend and advisor. A n d f o i Chrisrian he became a
special guide and mentor.
O f course, a m i d the r o u g h politics in the C h u r c h f o l l o w i n g the Second
Vatican C o u n c i l , such a blatantly o r t h o d o x setup as the Chapel of St.
Michael the Archangel was not likely to escape w i t h o u t its share of p r o b -
lems. The local Chancery considered it t o be "a diocesan s c a n d a l " that the
premier C a t h o l i c f a m i l y o f southwestern Texas in the person o f Francesca
Gladstone w o u l d openly s u p p o r t St. Michael's, and thus flaunt its distrust
o f the officially approved rites of the C h u r c h . I n fact, the local diocese
appealed to the C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p of N e w Orleans for help in the mat-
ter, for the Gladstone tie there had always remained a srrong one.
But w h e n it had come to w a r between the mistress o f W i n d s w e p t House
and the C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p of N e w Orleans, H i s Eminence had decided
rhat his wisest course w o u l d be to assign the matter t o his Vicar-General.
A n d rhe Vicar-General—faced as he was w i r h Cessi Gladstone's brilliant
and w e l l - f o u n d e d defense o f the value and legality of the t r a d i t i o n a l Ro-
man Mass, w i t h the financial supporr still p r o v i d e d t o H i s Eminence by
rhe Gladstones and w i r h rhe status the Gladstones enjoyed perpetually i n
the Vatican—decided that his wisest course w o u l d be t o retire f r o m this
particular field of battle w i t h as m u c h grace as he c o u l d salvage. Francesca
Gladsrone had w a l k e d away victorious, and not f o r a momenr i n t i m i d a t e d
by the fray.
" A s a resulr of all that, Father A l d o . " C h r i s t i a n m o t i o n e d t o the waiter
for the check. " A s a resulr of all of that, I confess that I approach a man
like His Eminence C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i w i t h h o o k s . "
As n a t u r a l l y as that—as naturally as everyrhing else between them had
become—the conversation between C h r i s t i a n Gladstone and A l d o
Carnesecca turned again to the Rome of the 1990s. To the Rome that was
at least as a n t i - C a t h o l i c and antipapal as the Rome O l d G l a d had w r i t t e n
about in his journals.
" F r a n k l y , " C h r i s t i a n confided as they finished their last cappuccino and
 70 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

set o f f ar an a m b l i n g pace for the A n g e l i c u m , " I can't make u p my m i n d

a b o u t c h u r c h m e n like H i s Eminence. A n d ro rell y o u the t r u t h , I d o n ' t
t h i n k I w a n t t o t r y . 1 saw n o r h i n g priestly i n h i m . N o t h i n g sincere, even.
H e has a w a y o f t a l k i n g w i t h o u t c o m m u n i c a t i n g a n y t h i n g . "
Despite the seriousness—and the accuracy—of the American's observa-
tions a b o u t a m a n so crucial to the C h u r c h , Carnesecca had to smile. " F o r
a man w h o can't make u p his m i n d , y o u sound more than definite to me,
Padre."
" I suppose you're r i g h t . " T h e A m e r i c a n nodded. " W h o d o I t h i n k Vm
k i d d i n g , w i t h m y o p e n - m i n d e d act? Fll grant you my little visit w i t h the
C a r d i n a l Secretary was brief. Bur the most sincere part o f i t was His
Eminence's open scrutiny o f m y every m o v e . "
Chrisrian recounted most o f his brief conversation w i t h M a e s t r o i a n n i .
H e had been struck by the Cardinal's disinterested glance at the Bernini
photos. A n d by his obvious interest in the l i n k , t h r o u g h Christian's
brother Paul, w i t h Cyrus Benthoek. Indeed, Gladstone's bet was that H i s
Eminence's pointed o p e n - d o o r i n v i t a t i o n t o h i m had more to do w i t h Paul
than w i t h Chrisrian himself. " I felt like a specimen under a microscope.
His Eminence seemed so interested i n the cut o f m y cassock, 1 almost gave
h i m the name o f m y t a i l o r . O r maybe I should have asked f o r the name o f
the Cardinal's r a i l o r ! "
Father A l d o , t o o , w a * interested to learn that Christian's brother
w o r k e d w i t h Cyrus Benthoek. A n y o n e closely connected w i t h the H o l y
See was b o u n d to k n o w Benthoek at least by r e p u t a t i o n . A n d anyone
closely connected w i t h the Secrerariat o f State knew Cyrus Benthoek by
sight as a frequent visitor t o C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's office.
A m e r i c a n by b i r t h , Benthoek had become a transnational m a n . H i s
strong connections a m o n g the highest reaches o f international M a s o n r y
were n o t s u r p r i s i n g , nor was his deep personal involvement in the w o r k -
ings o f the Fjjropean C o m m u n i t y , as w e l l as his lifelong dedication to its
exclusively secularist brand o f globalism.
In A l d o Carnesecca's m i n d , therefore, rhe interest M a e s t r o i a n n i had
s h o w n in Paul Gladstone was almost as neat as a mathematical equation
w a i t i n g to be p r o v e d . T h e C a r d i n a l was always w i d e n i n g his net; always
ready t o pull in little fish and n u r t u r e them along in his cause. If C h r i s -
tian's brother was o f any account t o Cyrus Benthoek, it was likely that
Christian himself w o u l d become o f more than o r d i n a r y interest for
C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i . Still, the Gladstone-Benthoek connection and its
interest for the C a r d i n a l Secretary was no more than speculation. A n d in
any case, unless he were t o breach h i g h l y confidential matters, i t was
n o t h i n g Carnesecca c o u l d yer find a w a y to discuss w i t h C h r i s t i a n .
If C h r i s t i a n sensed Father A l d o ' s reserve o n the p o i n t , it was a passing
t h i n g . T h e younger man seemed more interested i n his o w n g r o w i n g c o n -
v i c t i o n t h a t , like O l d G l a d in his day, it was t i m e for this Gladstone t o
U C S T - L A I D P L A N S 71

head h o m e w a r d for g o o d — a n idea he approached w i t h a w r y , puckery

sort o f smile o n his lips, like a man ready to d u m p a risky investment.
" I expect the C a r d i n a l pegged me f o r exactly w h a t 1 a m , Padre. As
another nordico. A straniero. A n o u t - o f place foreigner m rhe palace o f
R o m a n chamberlains. O h , I granr rhat the C h u r c h is i n no better shape in
the States than i t is here. But at least in America 1 understand w h a t ' s going
on."
Carnesecca heard the sadness in the voice o f this y o u n g priest. Impelled
by that sadness, and by his o w n c o n v i c t i o n that Father Christian was
precisely the caliber o f man needed in this Rome o f the 1990s, Father A l d o
countered h i m immediately.
" I t ' s t r u e , y o u have y o u r w h o l e life to lead yet. But you've come to the
stage in y o u r career where the choices you make as a priest w i l l set the
pattern f o r y o u as l o n g as y o u live. You talk about f o l l o w i n g O l d Glad's
footsteps back to A m e r i c a . But as nearly as this o l d priesr can see, when
O l d Glad w e n t home, he was c o m m i t t e d to fight o n one side o f a spiritual
w a r f a r e . N o w , unless I ' m badly mistaken, y o u ' r e every bit as c o m m i t t e d
to that same w a r f a r e . A n d unless I ' m badly mistaken again, w c both u n -
derstand that spirit is where the real v i c t o r y w i l l l i e — o r real defeat.
" I t h i n k I betray n o confidence in saying t h a t , in your little encounter
w i t h H i s Eminence this m o r n i n g , you met one o f the leaders o n w h a t 1
w o u l d call the darker side o f that w a r f a r e . A n d you've come up w i t h the
r i g h t conclusion. C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i is a maestro o f the b u -
reaucratic rat race i n R o m e . A n d rhat rat race has a b o u t as much to do
w i r h the salvation o f souls as M a m m o n has to d o w i t h the H o l y T r i n i t y .
" Y o u say things are jusr as bad for the C h u r c h in America. But the real
p o i n t is that things are just as bad in every parish a n d every diocese and
every monastery and every bishop's Chancery in the w o r l d . The same
battle is being waged in all o f t h e m . A n d the bureaucratic rat race y o u
happened u p o n this m o r n i n g is defining rhe w h o l e strategy and all of the
tactics in this g l o b a l w a r f a r e o f spirit. Nevertheless, my y o u n g friend,
make no mistake a b o u t this: the center o f the battle is i n Rome.
Carnesecca wenr as far as prudence a l l o w e d . He explained t h a t the
Slavic Pope had n o t chosen C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i as his Secretary o f State
because the t w o got o n well together, o r because they shared the same
policy aims. Rather, M a e s t r o i a n n i had been demanded by the veteran
Cardinals o f rhe Vatican i n 1978, and H i s Holiness had w a n t e d no new
battlefronts opened u p . H i s forces were already c o m m i t t e d on a w i d e r and
more urgent f r o n t at that critical m o m e n t .
Realistically, even w i t h Maestroianni's c o m i n g retirement, things
w o u l d n ' t i m p r o v e f r o m the H o l y Father's s t a n d p o i n t . T h e m a n already
named t o replace M a e s t r o i a n n i , H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l G i a c o m o G r a z i -
ani, was c o m m i t t e d more to the advancement o f his o w n career than to
the s u p p o r t o f any side in any fight. H e intended t o come up w i t h the
w i n n e r , whoever rhat m i g h t be. The choice o f h i m as Secrerary o f State
 72 W I N D S W r P l HOL'SE

signaled no v i c t o r y f o r the Pontiff. I t was, rather, a t e m p o r i z i n g c o m p r o -

mise.
Gladstone nodded his understanding. But at the same time he threw his
hands up in a gesture o f f r u s t r a t i o n . " Y o u make my p o i n t f o r me, Father
A l d o . It's H i s H o l i n e s s ' penchant for strategies like thar that have left his
w h o l e C h u r c h i n such a shambles."
Christian stopped in his tracks. " E x p l a i n t o me i f you can, Padre, w h y
the Slavic Pope deals in such strategies at a l l ! M a y b e His Holiness sees
himself fishing i n deeper waters. But f o r my money, there are no deeper
waters than the s p i r i t u a l life or death of m i l l i o n s . O r even the spiritual life
or death o f one c o u n t r y , or one city, or one i n d i v i d u a l . E x p l a i n ro me w h y
this H o l y Father does n o t simply dismiss f r o m o u r seminaries all rhe theo-
logians w h o openly teach heresy and m o r a l error. W h y he does n o t h i n g
a b o u t blasphemous Masses, about Reverend M o t h e r s w h o practice w i t c h -
c r a f t , a b o u t nuns w h o have abandoned any semblance o f religious life,
a b o u t bishops l i v i n g w i r h w o m e n , a b o u t homosexually active priests m i n -
istering to congregations o f actively homosexual men and w o m e n , about
Cardinals w h o indulge i n Satanist rites, a b o u t so-called marriage a n n u l -
ments that are really cover-ups f o r real divorces, about so-called Catholic
universities that e m p l o y atheist and a n t i - C a t h o l i c professors and teachers.
You can't deny that all rhat is true, Padre. A n d you can't be surprised by
my d i s c o m f o r t . "
" O f course it's t r u e . " Carnesecca blanched at Christian's challenge.
" A n d o f course I ' m n o t surprised at y o u r d i s c o m f o r t . But given rhe c o n d i -
tions y o u yourself see in the C h u r c h we're here to serve, d i s c o m f o r t is a
small price. It's hardly a m a r t y r d o m . You described yourself a few minutes
back as a foreigner i n Rome's palace o f chamberlains, I could co-sign that
statement, Father C h r i s t i a n . So c o u l d Master-General Damien Slattery.
A n d so c o u l d anyone in the V a t i c a n — o r anywhere else—who still belongs
to Peter the Apostle.
" B u t there's a larger p o i n t t o keep in m i n d . In the face o f open opposi-
t i o n , the H o l y Father himself is n o t merely a stranger, a> y o u feel yourself
t o be. M e n l i k e C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i and his associates have rendered
H i s Holiness a v i r t u a l prisoner i n the Vatican—just as m u c h a prisoner as
Pius I X was i n the days w h e n your beloved O l d G l a d was here. O n l y this
t i m e , the walls o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace are no defense; because this time
the siege is laid f r o m w i t h i n the Vatican structure itself."
Carnesecca stopped himself lest he go t o o far. But even that m u c h was
enough to b r i n g C h r i s t i a n up short. H e was stunned by the idea that,
despite his constant travels a r o u n d the w o r l d , this Slavic Pope was some-
h o w a prisoner i n his o w n Vatican.
Yet, even if Carnesecca was r i g h t , perhaps he had p u t his finger o n the
p r o b l e m t h a t t r o u b l e d Gladstone so deeply. " T h e H o l y Father's behav-
i o r — t h e k i n d o f p o l i c y decision y o u describe that a l l o w e d h i m to accept
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i as his Secretary o f State in the first place—that sorr
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 73

of t h i n g doesn't help m u c h . I f he is a prisoner i n the palace as you c l a i m ,

maybe it's because he has simply acquiesced all along. M a y b e it's because
he a l l o w s all the abuses of power and all the deviations f r o m aposrolic
d u t y in Rome and t h r o u g h all the provinces of the C h u r c h t o go o n . "
In the lengthening shadows of late a f t e r n o o n , C h r i s t i a n stopped and
looked back in the d i r e c t i o n o f Vatican H i l l . Carnesecca saw the tears rhar
glistened in Gladstone's eyes, and realized rhey must have been there for
some rime.
" D o n ' t get me w r o n g , Father A l d o . I belong to Peter the Apostle and to
his successor just as m u c h as you d o . Just as m u c h as Father Damien or
anyone else. It's just that there is something so radically unbalanced in all
this. . . . " Christian's sudden gesrure embraced all of Rome. ' 1 can'r
seem t o get m y bearings here. I d o n ' t k n o w w h o ' s w h o . A l l the pseudo-
polite, velvety tones and customs of romanita clog everything like a perni-
cious treacle. H a l f the t i m e I d o n ' t k n o w w h o is enemy or f r i e n d . But even
I can see t h a t everything in R o m e is so o u t o f k i l t e r , so o u t of balance, that
there is no vocabulary t o describe i t any l o n g e r . "
A t that m o m e n t , Carnesecca w o u l d have given a great deal f o r the
freedom to give C h r i s t i a n Gladstone some badly needed bearing. For he
was certain that was w h a t his y o u n g friend was asking, in his w a y . H e
wanted some solid reason t o stay in this c i t y . O r , like the Gladstones o f
C o r n w a l l , some solid reason ro leave it and make whatever stand he m i g h t
in another place for his fairh and his C h u r c h .
H a d he felt free t o d o so, Carnesecca w o u l d gladly have given Christian
plenty of reason t o stay. H e w o u l d have opened to view some of the
Vatican cauldrons b u b b l i n g w i t h their antipapal plots, and shared at least
something o f what he k n e w about the lines being tightened so steadily
against the Slavic Pope. M a n of confidentiality that he was, however,
Father Carnesecca k n e w he was not free to share a n y t h i n g furrher along
those lines w i t h C h r i s t i a n . So i t was in the silence o f their companionship
that the t w o priests s i m p l y resumed their slow w a l k t o w a r d the
A n g e l i c u m , each o f them deep in his o w n thoughts.
Filled n o w w i t h his o w n sadness, Father Carnesecca t h o u g h t o f Damien
Slartery's remark ro h i m once rhar " t h e h a l l m a r k o f evil is emptiness."
A n d he f o u n d himself t h i n k i n g h o w unacceptable i t was that Rome should
be emptied of such priests as Christian Gladstone. A t least in broad rerms,
he nor o n l y understood the bartle being waged; he had been bred to it by
his ancestry a n d reared ro ir by his personal f o r m a t i o n . I n rhat sense,
Father C h r i s t i a n was already more Roman than most o f those clerics w h o
claimed ro be Romans. There could be no d o u b t that f o r Gladsrone rhe
bartle was about f a i t h . N o r was there any d o u b t that the younger man had
seen just enough today to k n o w that, for such Vatican hands as Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i , the battle was about brute p o w e r .
If Carnesecca had learned a n y r h i n g d u r i n g his R o m a n career, it was
patience. But patience required time. A n d in the case of Chrisrian G l a d -
 74 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

stone, he c o u l d n ' t be sure h o w much time he m i g h t have before yet an-

other solid papist w o u l d be lost to the H o l y See. T i m e enough in all
l i k e l i h o o d , Father Carnesecca sighed ro himself, for C a r d i n a l Maestro-
i a n n i ro determine i f Paul Gladstone's connecrion w i r h Cyrus Benthoek
w o u l d w a r r a n t His Eminence's further inrerest i n Father C h r i s t i a n as w e l l .
In rhar case, Carnesecca figured t h a t Christian w o u l d find himself posred
to R o m e , like it or not.

VII
T H E K E Y that opened the impressive double doors t o C a r d i n a l Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s ample home away f r o m rhe Aposrolic Palace opened rhe
d o o r as w e l l onro rhe ample globalisr v i s i o n — t h e Process, as he and his
most i n t i m a t e associates called i t — t h a t had inspired his life and his w o r k
for most o f his fifty years o f Vatican service.
L i k e rhe wiser a m o n g the Pope's in-house Cardinals, Maesrroianni kepr
his privare residence at a c o m f o r r a b l e disrance f r o m Rome's center and
Vatican H i l l , b u t w i t h easy access ro the routes leading i n t o Vatican C i t y .
I n H i s Eminence's case, home was the penthouse perched above the C o l -
legio d i M i n d a n a o o u t o n the Via A u r e l i a . The highest o f twelve f l o o r s —
six of w h i c h served the d a i l y activities o f the clerical srudenrs w h o lived
and srudied ar rhe C o l l e g i o , w h i l e rhe r e m a i n i n g six served as faculry
r o o m s — m o s t o f the C a r d i n a l Secretary's rooms afforded h i m a panoramic
v i e w o f the H o l y C i t y , o f the A l b a n H i l l s a n d , o n a clear day, of gleams
and glistenings f r o m the waters o f the T y r r h e n i a n Sea a r o u n d Ostia. The
semicircular foyer t h a t gave entry i n t o H i s Eminence's apartment was
decorated d u t i f u l l y w i t h o i l paintings o f past Popes. But, in t r u t h , foyer
and p o r t r a i t s alike served as a little p o i n t o f t r a n s i t i o n f r o m rhe official
w o r l d o f papal Rome.
T h e w o r l d t h a t t r u l y enlivened the Cardinal's s p i r i t — t h e w i d e r w o r l d ;
the real w o r l d — w a s v i v i d l y encapsulated by an amazing series o f p h o t o -
graphs t h a t covered nearly every inch o f the l o n g , high walls of the c o r r i -
d o r t h a t lay immediately beyond the foyer and ran rhe entire w i d t h o f the
penthouse. The most s t u n n i n g o f these p h o t o s — f l o o r - r o - c e i l i n g cityscapes
o f H e l s i n k i , F i n l a n d — w e r e so large as to d w a r f H i s Eminence's tiny
frame. But so, t o o , d i d they enlarge his m i n d . Cleverly l i t f r o m above, they
made H e l s i n k i ' s w h i t e granite buildings seem like an aura, an immaculate
cloak e m b r a c i n g the w h o l e city. I t was no w o n d e r f o r C a r d i n a l Maestro-
ianni t h a t the Scandinavians called that place " t h e great w h i t e city o f the
N o r t h . " For h i m , the physical q u a l i t y o f the c i t y — t h a t immaculate light-
someness—had become its spiritual q u a l i t y as w e l l . Indeed, whenever he
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 75

w a l k e d t h r o u g h this c o r r i d o r , or visited H e l s i n k i , he was reminded o f a

medieval h y m n to the Heavenly Jerusalem. "Celestial C i t y o f Jerusalem,
blessed vision o f peace. . .
The occasion that had inspired such e n d u r i n g reverence in His E m i -
nence's soul had been the signing o f the H e l s i n k i Accords by thirty-five
nations o n August I , 1975. T h a t had been the b i r t h o f w h a t had come to
be k n o w n as the H e l s i n k i Process, or rhe Conference o n Security and
C o o p e r a t i o n i n Europe—the CSCE. It had been a c r o w n i n g event i n
Maestroianni's life; an event he h a d recorded in m i n u t e detail in w h a t
Cyrus benthoek had once aptly called his " H e l s i n k i c o r r i d o r . " For
grouped in a l l the spaces a r o u n d the enormous photographs o f Helsinki
were others o f somewhat more modest p r o p o r t i o n s that f o r m e d an indeli-
ble record o f the g r a n d historical event, and o f memories the C a r d i n a l
treasured as a m o n g the most m e a n i n g f u l o f his p r o d u c t i v e career.
T h e H e l s i n k i Accords, entitled officially as the Final A c t , had been the
result of a l o n g , laborious search that had started in the mid-fifties for a
new European strucrure. To find a new soul, as rhe C a r d i n a l thought of i t ,
t o embrace all the nations and cultures o f rhar landmass stretching f r o m
Ireland's Cialway o n the A t l a n t i c to V l a d i v o s t o k o n the Sea o f Japan. The
Greeks had given t h a t landmass its name. Europa. The Romans had
t h o u g h t they possessed it a l l . Caucasians had m a i n l y peopled it and gov-
erned i t . Several nations and empires had wished to d o m i n a t e i t . But, by
the t w e n t i e t h century, i t had split i n t o a p a t c h w o r k o f squabbling states.
In this great w h i t e city o f the N o r t h , ar rhe signing o f the Final A c t , the
ancienr d r e a m o f Europa had again been birthed by all the m a j o r nanons
in t h a t grear landmass. C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i had himself participated in
the act o f b i r t h . So, to this day, i t was always b o t h c o m f o r t i n g and inspir-
ing—a little like visiting a shrine, perhaps—for the C a r d i n a l ro pass
t h r o u g h this c o r r i d o r o n rhe w a y ro his srudy at the far end o f the pent-
house.
H e had been an A r c h b i s h o p back in 1975, serving as head o f rhe Second
Section o f the Secretariat under C a r d i n a l Secretary Jean Claude de V i n -
cennes. M o s t w i l l i n g l y , he had led the H o l y See's delegation to that his-
toric conference. The Final A c t itself bore his o w n signature in the name of
the Vatican city-state. W h o c o u l d blame M a e s t r o i a n n i , t h e n , i f even o n his
busiest days he m i g h t pause in this c o r r i d o r ; if he m i g h t linger f o r a m o -
ment or t w o over this treasured record o f a dream come true? The p h o t o -
graphs were sweet c o n f i r m a t i o n that all nations w o u l d be u n i t e d — o r ,
rather, r e u n i f i e d — i n t o m a n k i n d ' s o r i g i n a l oneness.
H o w c o u l d he n o t a l l o w his eye t o w a n d e r over some o f the p h o t o m o n -
tages that c o m m e m o r a t e d special moments d u r i n g those hectic days at the
H e l s i n k i Conference? M a e s t r o i a n n i w i r h Italy's President G i o v a n n i Leone
and Foreign M i n i s t e r M a r i a n o R u m o r feeding the pigeons o n Helsinki's
Esplanade. M a e s t r o i a n n i d u r i n g his special audience w i r h Finland's Presi-
dent U r h o Kaleva K e k k o n e n in the presidential palace. M a e s t r o i a n n i d u r -
 76 W I N D S W f c . P T H O U S E

ing his visir w i t h Prime M i n i s t e r K e i j o Liinemaa at the Eduskunta, F i n -

land's Parliament. O n e g r o u p shot in p a r t i c u l a r was a v i v i d s y m b o l o f
u n i t y . There he was, w i t h Chancellor H e l m u t Schmidt and Foreign M i n i s -
rer H a n s - D i e t r i c h Genscher o f Germany o n one side o f h i m , and President
Valery Giscard d'Estaing o f France o n rhe other. F i r t i n g l y , the four o f
t h e m were standing o n the bridge connecting the m a i n l a n d w i t h the rocky
island o f K a t a j a n o k k a .
There was a p a r t i c u l a r l y handsome shot o f Cyrus Benthoek s t r o l l i n g
beside M a e s t r o i a n n i along M a n n e r h e i m i n t i e Boulevard. A n d , i f memory
served, Benthoek himself had taken rhe p h o t o o f the A r c h b i s h o p p r a y i n g
alone i n the Grear C h u r c h o n Senate Square. So m a n y i m p o r t a n t memo-
ries. M a e s t r o i a n n i s m i l i n g w i r h H e n r y Kissinger a n d Portugal's President
F. da Costa Gomes. H i s i n t e r v i e w w i t h Unired Srates President Gerald R.
F o r d . T h e A r c h b i s h o p raising a banquet toast w i t h the Soviet Union's
A n d r e i G r o m y k o and Polish C o m m u n i s t Party chief E d w a r d Gierek, and
c o n f e r r i n g w i r h Belgium's Prime M i n i s t e r Leo Tindemans and H o l l a n d ' s
Prime M i n i s t e r J o o p M . den Uyle.
T h e p h o t o the C a r d i n a l had placed at the far end o f the c o r r i d o r , just by
the d o o r leading to his private study, showed h i m standing w i t h Cyrus
Benthoek in f r o n t o f V a i n o Aaltonen's famous bronze statue o f Finland's
c h a m p i o n r u n n e r , Paavo N u r m i , i n the grounds o f the O l y m p i c S t a d i u m .
In a m o m e n t o f lighthearted c l o w n i n g , b o t h men had posed as runners,
p a r r o t i n g the f o r w a r d thrust o f arms a n d legs and torso captured i n the
N u r m i bronze. Across the b o t t o m o f the p h o t o , Benthoek had penned a
trenchant i n s c r i p t i o n : "So that posterity may k n o w w e are r u n n i n g i n the
same race f o r the same goal. We M U S T w i n ! "
N o r m a l l y , n o matter h o w brief the time C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i a l l o w e d
himself here, i t was enough to refresh h i m . But n o t t o d a y . He f o u n d his
m i n d s t u b b o r n l y preoccupied w i t h the Slavic Pope and his pious excursion
to Sainte-Baume, W h a t a bleak contrasr i t was f o r h i m to t h i n k o f the
H e l s i n k i Accords o n the one h a n d and then to t h i n k o f h o w the P o n t i f f
had t u r n e d the Secretariat o n its head this m o r n i n g ro get some inspira-
t i o n a l photographs o f a Bernini statue f o r his h o m i l y .
T h i s m o r n i n g ' s events, triggered by the Slavic Pope's telephone call f r o m
Baume, h a d fixed the Cardinal's m i n d once more o n the unsuitabiliry o f
the present P o n t i f f t o lead the C h u r c h i n t o the c o m i n g N e w W o r l d O r d e r .
I n fact, the t r u t h was that rhe C a r d i n a l Secretary treasured the m e m o r y o f
another Pope. T h e g o o d Pope. W h a t the C h u r c h needed was another Pon-
t i f f w h o , like the good Pope, possessed n o t o n l y m a t u r i t y o f m i n d and
d i p l o m a t i c skill b u t an u n c o m m o n t h i s - w o r l d w i s d o m . W i s d o m . T h a t had
been the key to everything.
L i k e i t o r n o t , i t was the Slavic Pope M a e s t r o i a n n i had t o deal w i t h . A t
least f o r the m o m e n t . O h , he understood the m i n d o f this Pope well
enough. H e had been able at least ro anticipate the P o n t i f f s strategies, and
then mitigate their effect w i t h i n the C h u r c h hierarchy as few others m i g h t
B k S T - I. A I D P I. A N S 77

have been able to d o . M a e s t r o i a n n i understood above all that this Pontiff

was still loaded d o w n w i t h a l l the o l d R o m a n C a t h o l i c images o f Christ's
divine K i n g s h i p ; o f M a r i a n Queenship; of a fixed t r i a d — H e l l , Earth,
Heaven—as man's destiny. T h i s Pope still t h o u g h t o f the force behind the
forces o f history as the hand o f Christ as K i n g o f the h u m a n race as well as
Savior o f that race f r o m sin and Hell's punishment f o r sin.
C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i d i d not see himself as having aban-
doned or berrayed his R o m a n C a r h o l i c i s m . Rather, he saw that his o w n
original f a i t h , acquired in rhe n o w c r u m b l i n g bastions o f the o l d C h u r c h ,
had been purified and enlightened, because it had been humanized. It had
been made real w i t h i n the concrete circumstances o f the t w e n t i e t h century.
So m u c h o f w h a t he had once simply taken for granred had been over-
loaded w i r h elements that merely came f r o m the various c u l t u r a l periods
in the C h u r c h ' s h i s t o r y . Such baggage-laden concepts had n o t h i n g to do
w i t h present reality. N o r h i n g t o do w i t h rhe Process. N o w , however, he
had come t o understand history and the salvation o f m a n k i n d in a way he
k n e w the Slavic Pope w o u l d never grasp. N o w he understood rhat such
concepts as still guided the Slavic Pope should have n o influence—not
even the slightest m a n i f e s t a t i o n — i n the w o r k i n g s and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f
the C h u r c h .
Just suppose M a e s t r o i a n n i had gone t o the H e l s i n k i Conference i n
1975, for example, and preached t o Presidents and Foreign Ministers
about St. M a r y Magdalene a d o r i n g rhe risen C h r i s t , as the Slavic Pope
w o u l d do this evening at Sainte-Baume. W h y , he w o u l d have been carried
o f f i n a srraitjacket!
For rhe rrue role o f rhe C h u r c h , M a e s r r o i a n n i n o w understood, was as
one player in a vaster e v o l u t i o n — a vasrer Process—rhan rhe Slavic Pope
seemed able t o encompass. A vasr Process, a n d a very narural one, that
recognized rhe fact that all the woes o f the h u m a n f a m i l y were caused in
rhe first place n o t by some p r i m i t i v e n o t i o n called O r i g i n a l Sin, b u t by
poverty and w a n t a n d ineducation. A Process rhat w o u l d ar last clear
h u m a n i t y o f those troubles, and so w o u l d ultimately harmonize the spirit
o f m a n , G o d and the cosmos. W h e n the Process was fully accomplished in
the new p o l i t i c a l order o f m a n k i n d , then w o u l d the C h u r c h be one w i r h
the w o r l d . For o n l y rhen w o u l d rhe C h u r c h take its p r o u d and r i g h t f u l
place as p a n o f the h u m a n heritage. As a stabilizing factor i n the N e w
W o r l d O r d e r . As a true and b r i g h t m i r r o r o f the u n t r o u b l e d m i n d o f G o d .
The C a r d i n a l still regretted the passing o f that g o o d Pope so soon i n t o
w h a t he n o w t h o u g h t o f as " t h e c o l d silence o f e t e r n i t y . " Still more d i d
H i s Eminence regret that in this final decade o f the t w e n t i e r h century he
had to deal w i t h a b a c k w a r d - m i n d e d Pope w h o had no grasp o f the true
force behind the forces o f history.
O n the other h a n d , once M a e s t r o i a n n i had himself reached the m a x i -
m u m o f his p o w e r as Vatican Secrerary of Srate, he had used the entire
adminisrrative machinery o f the R o m a n Church's organization to forge its
 78 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

greater alignment w i t h the Process. N o t h i n g w e n t o u t f r o m the papal desk

that d i d n o t pass t h r o u g h the C a r d i n a l Secretary's office. His a u t h o r i t y
was felt t h r o u g h o u t all the other papal M i n i s t r i e s o f the Vatican. H i s w i l l
was recognized a n d accepted t h r o u g h o u t the N a t i o n a l and Regional C o n -
ferences o f Bishops a r o u n d the w o r l d . Indeed, many o f his clerical c o l -
leagues had made the same p r o f o u n d t r a n s i t i o n in their t h i n k i n g as
Maestroianni had.
T h a r very t h o u g h t , in fact, roused M a e s t r o i a n n i f r o m his d o u r thoughts.
It w o u l d be far more profitable to focus his m i n d o n the second task he
had set himself this Saturday—the revision o f a paper w h i c h Cyrus
Benthoek had arranged f o r the C a r d i n a l t o deliver at the f o r t h c o m i n g
meeting o f the A m e r i c a n Bar Association.

Like the letter he had composed this m o r n i n g , the subject o f the paper
a w a i t i n g the Cardinal's revisions and refinements was as delicate as it was
i m p o r t a n t : the Ethical Need f o r A b d i c a t i o n o f N a t i o n a l Sovereignty.
As Benthoek had pointed o u t , only such a t r u l y spiritual m a n as
M a e s t r o i a n n i c o u l d deal sensitively but incisively w i t h this touchy subject.
M a e s t r o i a n n i settled i n t o the w o r k o f revision. W i t h i n moments, he was
again in his element, pausing f r o m time to time in his labors o n l y t o
retrieve certain helpful materials f r o m the storehouse o f knowledge rhar
surrounded h i m here.
He w o r k e d w i t h one m o n o g r a p h in p a r t i c u l a r — " T h e Rule o f L a w and
the N e w W o r l d O r d e r , " ir was called—that he had left open at a key
q u o t a t i o n some days before. Taken f r o m a statement made earlier in the
year by D a v i d Rockefeller, the q u o t a t i o n was so apt that Maestroianni
had to smile in appreciation as he read it over: " N o w that this threat |of
Soviet aggression] has been removed other problems have emerged. . . .
There is an enormous incentive to w o r k cooperatively. But the forces of
n a t i o n a l i s m , p r o t e c t i o n i s m and religious conflict are g o i n g in the opposite
d i r e c t i o n . T h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r has t o develop a cooperative w o r l d and
find a new means o f suppressing these divisive forces."
As he w o r k e d the Rockefeller quote i n t o his o w n t e x t . H i s Eminence
underscored certain w o r d s and phrases for emphasis: "nationalism . . .
religious conflict . . . a cooperative spirit . . . suppressing these divisive
forces." The very p o i n t o f the Ethical Need for A b d i c a t i o n o f N a t i o n a l
Sovereignty was contained i n those few w o r d s . I f organized religion and
national spirit c o u l d be weaned f r o m their divisiveness, then a new and
f r u i t f u l cooperative spirit was sure to f o l l o w . As he k n e w , there are o n l y a
restricted n u m b e r o f people at any given m o m e n t o f history w h o fully
understand the nature o f the Process. Far fewer s t i l l — b a r e l y a dozen in a
given era, perhaps; t h a t was the Cardinal's o p i n i o n a n y w a y — w e r e p r i v i -
leged t o f u n c t i o n as master engineers o f the Process. Even he had never
attained that status, t h o u g h he d i d aspire to i t s t i l l . In his o w n m i n d , he
had become n o t h i n g less t h a n the Apostle o f the Process.
B F S T - L A I D P L A N S 79

j j j j

C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s d e v o t i o n to the Process had started w h e n he was a

fledgling d i p l o m a t . By seeming chance, he came to the notice o f t w o men.
O n e was a senior Vatican d i p l o m a t , A r c h b i s h o p R o n c a l l i . The other was
Cyrus Benthoek. Both men had been impressed by Maestroianni's acu-
m e n . They had gone o u t of their w a y to help h i m in his career and in his
c u l t i v a t i o n o f the Process. Both men had shared their p o w e r and their
wisdom with Maestroianni.
Roncalli created o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r the advancement and enhancement o f
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s ecclesiastical career. First in Paris, then as honored C a r d i -
nal Patriarch o f Venice and finally as Pope, he was able to ensure Maestro-
ianni's advanrage i n a rhousand small bur operatively efficienr ways. The
younger m a n was accorded firsr place and highest recommendation in any
list o f Secretariat employees proposed f o r p r o m o t i o n . H e was accorded
access t o classified i n f o r m a t i o n ; inclusion i n highly confidential discus-
sions; t i m e l y forewarnings o f near-furure happenings. A b o v e a l l , he was
accorded discreet guidelines in that precious Vatican asset, romanita.
Cyrus Benthoek, on the other h a n d , p r o v i d e d M a e s t r o i a n n i w i t h hands-
on i n s t r u c t i o n , f o r m u l a t i o n and e x p l o r a t i o n o f the Process. As a close and
trusted f r i e n d . Benthoek f o u n d endless o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o feed the d i p l o -
mat's e n d u r i n g curiosity concerning the Process.
As M o n s i g n o r e M a e s t r o i a n n i rose t h r o u g h the ranks o f the Vatican
Secretariat, Benthoek c o n t i n u a l l y arranged contacts and visirs rhat p r o -
vided his avid protege w i t h ever grearer and ever more f r u i t f u l access to
the t h i n k i n g o f privare associations. By means o f invitations to conven-
tions a n d i n t r o d u c t i o n s t o governmental circles beyond the younger man's
reach, he gave M a e s t r o i a n n i easy access to k i n d r e d spirits—some o f t h e m ,
indeed, master engineers—who were actively engaged i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n
w i t h the Process. In s u m , Benthoek supplied M a e s t r o i a n n i w i t h a vista
into a w o r l d n o r m a l l y inaccessible t o a Vatican d i p l o m a t .
Professionally at home in the Vatican, M a e s t r o i a n n i was w i t h i n t o u c h -
ing distance o f the s u m m i t o f his career as Secretary o f State. H e became a
m a j o r influence in rhe Vatican Chancery. O n the l i t u r g i c a l side o f things,
for example, the A r c h b i s h o p directed the r e f o r m o f rhe o l d Code of Canon
L a w , and in d o i n g so he b r o u g h t the Church's j u r i d i c a l srrucrure inro ever
greater alignment w i t h his revised t h i n k i n g a b o u t the need t o r e f o r m the
C a t h o l i c C h u r c h f r o m w i t h i n , i n the light o f the c o m i n g new order i n the
life o f the nations.
O n the p o l i t i c a l scene, m e a n w h i l e , A r c h b i s h o p M a e s t r o i a n n i showed
himself t o be a consummate global d i p l o m a t . He carefully supervised all
Vatican negotiations w i t h the Soviet U n i o n , and w i t h its Eastern European
satellite states. H i s u l t i m a t e goal i n those delicate affairs was the signing o f
a series o f p r o t o c o l arrangements between the H o l y See and the "sover-
eign democracies" o f the "socialist f r a t e r n i t y , " as those p o l i t i c a l entities
referred to themselves. Whether i n M o s c o w o r Sofia, Bucharest or Bel-
 80 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

grade, A r c h b i s h o p C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i became k n o w n as a reconciler o f

g o v e r n m e n t ; as a bridge builder between government establishments.
All the w h i l e , Cyrus Benthoek c o n t i n u e d to cultivate Maestroianni's
deeper penetration i n t o the Process. In those higher stages o f his education
o f the A r c h b i s h o p , Benthoek constantly i n v o k e d the m e m o r y o f F.lihu
R o o t as the p a t r o n saint o f the Process. Elihu R o o t had made his mark
p u b l i c l y in the early t w e n t i e t h century as a p r o m i n e n t Wall Street lawyer
w h o had served as Secretary o f War f o r Presidenr W i l l i a m M c K i n l e y and
President Theodore Roosevelt, and later as Roosevelt's Secretary o f State.
H e had been a w a r d e d the N o b e l Peace Prize i n 1912, and became the first
h o n o r a r y c h a i r m a n o f the prestigious C o u n c i l o n Foreign Relations.
E l i h u R o o t and l i k e - m i n d e d lawyers w o r k i n g in the field o f interna-
tional finance and relations were convinced that the inherent logic o f his-
t o r y — C y r u s Benthoek nearly always got that phrase i n — d i c t a t e d a global
role f o r the U n i t e d States. I n fact* Roor and the others initiated an Estab-
lishment mentality that had been passed d o w n intact t h r o u g h such revered
figures—"Wise M e n , " Benthoek called t h e m pointedly and consistently—
as Flenry Stimson, Robert A . Loverr, J o h n J. M c C I o y and H e n r y Kissinger.
It was o n one o f his visits to Benthoek in his N e w York offices that
M a e s t r o i a n n i finally received a defining enlightenment a b o u t rhe Process,
when he mentioned Root's name as the founder of twentieth-century
g l o b a l i s m and rhe o r i g i n a l conceptualizer o f the Process.
" N o , my f r i e n d . R o o t was no founder. But where he was unique was in
his appraisal o f the Process. For that appraisal b r o u g h t h i m to the conclu-
sion that the u l t i m a t e goal o f the force o f h i s t o r y — t h e goal o f the force
behind all rhe forces—was the goal o f a t r u l y o n e - w o r l d economic and
financial g o v e r n i n g sysrem. Root saw that there is no orher basis o n w h i c h
all narions can come together. The organized sharing o f the earth and its
riches—that is rhe basis o f all g o o d i n the w o r l d .
" T h e Process is the means by w h i c h the force does irs w o r k . For rhat
reason, the Process is a sacrosanct concept—a code w o r d , i f y o u l i k e — f o r
all of us w h o are true globalisrs. T h a t is the understanding Elihu Root left
to us. T h a t is the e n d u r i n g blessing and legacy and responsibility he left ro
all the 'Wise M e n ' w h o have since f o l l o w e d i n his footsteps. To all w h o are
dedicated t o the same i d e a l . "
A t that very moment* M a e s t r o i a n n i crossed the farther threshold to
w h i c h Benthoek had been g u i d i n g h i m w i t h such dedication and patience.
A smile spread across the Archbishop's face like the first rays o f sunlight
o n a new m o r n i n g . For suddenly the obvious dawned o n h i m . Suddenly he
understood that the Process is n o t a distant and impersonal t h i n g . Sud-
denly he understood—as Benthoek had intended h i m t o understand—that,
if the force stands behind the Process, so there are masrer engineers w h o
srand behind the force. A n d suddenly he understood that Elihu R o o t was
nor an i n v e n t o r , b u t an engineer. A master engineer, i n fact. One of a
g r o u p o f men w h o , at any stage in the Process, take u p t h a t special role o f
B E S T - I . A I D P L A N S 81
i n v e n t i o n and refinement and guidance and f a c i l i t a t i o n i n the steady,
o n g o i n g pattern o f the force.
T h a t , M a e s t r o i a n n i finally realized, was w h y Benthoek was always talk-
ing a b o u t those " W i s e M e n ' * o f his. Those were the master engineers.
It was a marvelous realization for C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i . I t made the
Process w o n d e r f u l l y h u m a n and accessible for h i m . In fact, as he confessed
t o Benthoek w i t h heartfelt e m o t i o n , i t even rang a d o c t r i n a l bell for h i m .
A n d the a i m of every one o f those master engineers o f the Process was
always the same: t o achieve the inherent destiny o f the society o f nations
as a family! A h u m a n family! A new and all-embracing h o l y f a m i l y . Was
that nor the very c h a r i t y , the caritas, the agape preached by the Apostle
Paul?
"Yes, m y c o l l e a g u e l " Benthoek k n e w cxacdy w h a t b u t t o n to push n o w .
" I t is d o c t r i n a l . I t is scriprural even. For w e are a f a m i l y ! A l l the nations
are a f a m i l y . T h a t is o u r desriny. A l l arc destined to be one again! W h o
k n o w s , m y f r i e n d ? " Benthoek raised his hands and opened his palms i n an
u p w a r d gesture. " W h o k n o w s whether y o u , in y o u r citadel o f the Vatican,
m i g h t be called u p o n t o f u n c t i o n as one o f those masters?" Maestroianni
saw t h a t gesture as one of s u p p l i c a t i o n , even as a reflection o f the classical
orans figures i n classical C h r i s t i a n iconography, as a l i t u r g i c a l gesture par
excellence.

M a e s t r o i a n n i had not become a master engineer. But i t was n o t for w a n t

o f yearning. As cleric, as priest, as A r c h b i s h o p , as career c h u r c h m a n and
d i p l o m a t , M a e s t r o i a n n i increasingly abandoned all the images and con-
cepts o f his o r i g i n a l faith that came t o rankle h i m so much i n the Slavic
Pope—all those images o f Christ's Kingship and o f M a r i a n Queenship and
o f the C h u r c h as the M y s t i c a l Body o f C h r i s t .
For A r c h b i s h o p M a e s t r o i a n n i , " t h e force behind the f o r c e s " o f history
ceased t o be the h a n d o f C h r i s t as rhe L o r d o f h u m a n history. For h i m as
for Benthoek, " t h e force behind the forces" retired as an image i n t o the
mysterious u n k n o w n . It became n o t h i n g more coherent t h a n the a l l -
i m p o r t a n t bur unidentifiable X f a c t o r i n h u m a n affairs. A l l o f the A r c h -
bishop's activity issued f r o m his deepening understanding o f the Process;
and f r o m his deepening reverence for that mysterious X f a c t o r — " t h e force
behind the forces." I t all hinged together very well for h i m . The only
logical w a y of serving the p r i m a l " f o r c e " was t h r o u g h the Process. The
idea was t o help the Process along t o w a r d the u l t i m a t e g o a l o f the force:
the c u l t u r a l , p o l i t i c a l , social and economic homogenization o f a l l rhe na-
rions o f the earth.
G i v e n thar ultimate goal, it srood t o reason that one of the prime " c u l -
t u r a l " takeover targets o f the Process had to be the R o m a n Catholic
C h u r c h , O r , to be precise about i t , the takeover target o f the Process had
t o be the systemic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f rhe R o m a n Carholic C h u r c h . W h a t was
n o t acceptable—what had to be cleansed f r o m the structural organiza-
 82 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

r i o n — w a s the t r a d i t i o n a l c l a i m o f R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m to have absolute

a u t h o r i t y in the affairs o f h u m a n k i n d . For in the m a i n , those claims could
n o t be meshed w i t h the demands o f the Process.
The f u r t h e r fact was rhar, i n irs a i m ro eliminate the R o m a n Catholic
C h u r c h ' s absolute claims o f m o r a l a u r h o r i r y , rhe Process had ro eliminare
the t r a d i t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y o f the papacy irself. For rhe C h u r c h makes irs
absolutist claims and issues its absolutist mandates by means o f — a n d
solely in v i r t u e o f — t h e unique and t r a d i t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y residing i n the
papacy. Inevitably, the Process entails the de-papalizing o f the R o m a n
Catholic Church.
W i t h that achieved, it w o u l d be a relatively s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d matter for
such realists as M a e s t r o i a n n i ro cleanse the C h u r c h — i t s global organiza-
t i o n a l structures, its professional personnel a n d its nearly one b i l l i o n ad-
herents a l i k e — o f an o u t l o o k and a method o f behavior that currently only
erected barriers and s t u m b l i n g blocks t o the h a r m o n y of t h o u g h t and
p o l i c y required i n the new society of nations.

C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i was one o f those fortunate people w h o seem to

have a clock in their heads that measure o u t for them the exact time
needed t o complete one matter at hand before t u r n i n g ro rhe next.
W h e n Mis Eminence finished the final perfect revision of rhe final per-
suasive sentence in his speech o n the Ethical Need for A b d i c a t i o n o f N a -
t i o n a l Sovereignty, he poked his head at last above the great barricade o f
books consulted in this day's labors. A quarter of an hour still remained
before he was ro place his call ro Cyrus Benthoek i n L o n d o n . T h a t call
w o u l d be the last and the most pleasurable o f the three i m p o r t a n t tasks
the C a r d i n a l had set for himself this Saturday. T h e clock in His E m i -
nence's head t o l d h i m rhat his chat w i t h Benthoek w o u l d likely take h i m
right u p to the six o'clock Vatican security check.
M a e s t r o i a n n i used the minutes remaining before rhe appoinred time for
his L o n d o n call t o dismantle the tower o f reference materials that covered
e v e r y t h i n g o n his desk, i n c l u d i n g his scrambler phone. As he distributed
the volumes a r o u n d his study according t o rhe system o n l y he could
f a t h o m , he reviewed the m a i n topics he wanted to discuss w i t h Benthoek.
There was his n e w l y revised Bar Association speech, o f course. H a v i n g
suggested it i n the first place, Benthoek w o u l d be the perfect firsr listener,
jusr as C a r d i n a l Svensen had been rhe perfect sounding board f o r
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s letter o n u n i t y between Pope and bishops.
As regards Svensen, Benrhoek w o u l d also be able to advise o n rhe Bel-
gian C a r d i n a l ' s suggestion f o r b u i l d i n g a strong link between the Euro-
pean bishops and the European C o m m u n i t y . A n d f o r using rhar l i n k — i f it
c o u l d be established—as a means o f f o r g i n g a " c o m m o n m i n d " a m o n g the
bishops that w o u l d favor the primacy o f EC principles over the primacy o f
papal a u t h o r i t y .
Finally, M a e s t r o i a n n i reminded himself as he dialed t h r o u g h t o L o n d o n ,
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 83

there was the matter of the confidential meeting Benthoek and His E m i -
nence intended t o convene as their personal c o n t r i b u t i o n to the legacy of
Robert Schuman d u r i n g the A n n u a l M e m o r i a l celebrations i n his m e m o r y
at Strasbourg the f o l l o w i n g m o n t h .
" E m i n e n c e ! " Cyrus Benthoek had been w a i t i n g f o r the call as arranged.
H i s b o o m i n g voice was so clear, he m i g h t have been standing in the C a r d i -
nal's study. " T e l l me, w h a t ' s y o u r news?"
M a e s t r o i a n n i c o u l d n ' r resisr regaling his o l d friend w i t h the adventure
of the Slavic Pope a n d the Bernini statue. In fact, w i t h a little more color
added at each t e l l i n g , that incident was fast t a k i n g o n legendary p r o p o r -
tions.
W h e n his laughter had subsided, H i s Eminence reviewed the major
changes he had made in his Bar Association speech. Like the C a r d i n a l
himself, the American was delighted w i t h the w a y the D a v i d Rockefeller
quote underlined the need to suppress the divisive forces at w o r k i n na-
t i o n a l i s m and r e l i g i o n . " C a p i t a l ! A t r u l y s p i r i t u a l address, just as I k n e w i t
would be."
" E m happy y o u ' r e pleased." M a e s t r o i a n n i was flush w i r h satisfaction.
Even after all their years o f c o l l a b o r a t i o n , such unrestrained praise f r o m
his m e n t o r was rare.
" S p e a k i n g o f divisive forces at w o r k in r e l i g i o n . " The clock in Maestro-
ianni's head impelled h i m t o move f o r w a r d in his agenda. " I had an inter-
esting conversation this m o r n i n g w i r h an o l d friend of mine. C a r d i n a l
Svensen of B e l g i u m . " C o n s u l t i n g the notes he had made in his d i a r y . His
Eminence o u t l i n e d for Benthoek in some detail the Belgian's argument for
f o r m i n g a well-tended link between the European bishops and the EC.
Benthoek was taken w i t h the possibilities. H e saw at once h o w a sys-
tematic arrangement m i g h t be set up f o r the flow of " t e m p o r a l f a v o r s , " as
he called t h e m — l o w - i n t e r e s t loans and tax exemptions and the l i k e — t o
the bishops. A n d he had no d o u b t that such an arrangement w o u l d attract
the bishops like bees t o honey. M i g h t , indeed, wean the bishops even
f u r t h e r f r o m rhe Slavic Pope's insistence o n f a i t h as the bedrock of a new
Europe.
As C a r d i n a l Svensen had said this m o r n i n g , however, Benthoek also
saw that there was a serious piece missing i n the proposal. " W e would
need the perfect l i n k , Eminence. We w o u l d need a setup at y o u r end of
things i n the Vatican. A m a n , or a team of m e n , w h o w o u l d c o m m a n d the
trust of the bishops—find o u t w h a t they need; where their weaknesses lie.
T h a t sorr o f t h i n g . A n d then persuade them that their future lies w i t h the
EC."
" T h a t ' s o n l y half of w h a t we need! We need a m a n at y o u r end of things
as w e l l . Someone w h o c o u l d c o m m a n d equal trust a m o n g the Ministers of
all twelve EC countries. Someone w i t h sufficient c r e d i b i l i t y to persuade
t h e m t o grant those ' t e m p o r a l favors' to the bishops on a reliable basis,
 84 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

w i t h o n l y a handshake as a guarantee o f any r e t u r n o n their investment.

As 1 t o l d Svensen, i t may be t o o complicated to p u l l o f f . "
" C o m p l i c a t e d , yes," Benthoek agreed. " B u t interesting. Too interesting
to reject w i t h o u t a serious r u n at i t . "
"Svensen w i l l be at the Schuman D a y celebrations in Surasbourg next
m o n t h . I suggest w e include h i m i n o u r private little g a t h e r i n g . "
The A m e r i c a n was hesitant. " D o y o u trust h i m to r h a t degree, E m i -
nence?"
M a e s t r o i a n n i was as confident as Benthoek was reluctant. i trust h i m 4

to be discreet. A n d I trust his animus against the papacy as it presently

stands, and against the Slavic Pope in particular.
" I grant y o u , Svensen k n o w s little or n o t h i n g about the Process. Bur
neirher d o any o f the others we've invited to the meeting. In fact, as 1 see
i t , the meeting is based o n one o f the first principles 1 learned f r o m you.
N o r everyone has to understand the Process i n order t o serve its a i m s . "
T h a t was a s t r o n g recommendation o n Svensen's behalf. Benthoek was
almost convinced. " L e t ' s talk a b o u t it again before we decide whether to
include y o u r Belgian colleague in rhe actual meeting, shall we? But at the
very leasr, I ' d like ro meet h i m when we're i n Strasbourg. Agreed?"
" A g r e e d , my f r i e n d . " The C a r d i n a l undersrood. Benthoek wanted to
check Svensen o u t independently.
The A m e r i c a n t u r n e d to another matter that was at the f o r e f r o n t o f his
m i n d . H e w a n t e d some renewed assurance concerning Maestroianni's
c o m i n g retirement. " O f course, I k n o w these things happen, Eminence.
But I hope I ' m correct that y o u r departure as C a r d i n a l Secrerary o f State
w i l l make n o fundamental difference in our undertakings? I trust Your
Eminence is still confident o n that score?"
" I r w o n ' t make a w h i t o f difference. T h e i n f o r m a t i o n is n o t yet public.
As I've said before, G i a c o m o Graziani may not be our ideal Secretary o f
State. But I assure y o u , his selection was n o t a v i c t o r y for the Pontiff. H e ' l l
be happy t o r u n and fetch f o r us. A n d 1 remind y o u , my o l d friend. I
myself am n o t exactly g o i n g o u t to pasture." M a e s t r o i a n n i paused for a
m i n u t e . N a t u r a l l y , i t was d i f f i c u l t for h i m to vacate the prestigious office
o f Secretary o f State. But this conversation w i r h Cyrus was irself p r o o f
rhat he wasn'r done yer. The u n i t y lerter he had senr our this m o r n i n g was
o n l y one o f rhe cauldrons he had b u b b l i n g under Peter's T h r o n e .
" I n a w a y , " he continued o n , " I ' m actually l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to my
farewell i n t e r v i e w w i t h the Pontiff. I k n o w the p a r t i n g note I want to
sound w i t h h i m . "
" T h e p o o r H o l y Father! W h e n w i l l rhat official p a r t i n g take place?"
"Just before o u r Schuman Day meeting at Strasbourg." T h o u g h he
k n e w rhe date w e l l , it was a matter of habit for the C a r d i n a l to reach for
his d i a r y . As he f l i p p e d f o r w a r d r h r o u g h irs pages, his eye fell on the note
he had scribbled to himself that m o r n i n g after his inrerview w i t h the
y o u n g A m e r i c a n priesr. " I almost f o r g o t , C y r u s . This m o r n i n g ' s incident
BK S I - L A I D P L A N S 85

over the Bernini statue turned up a y o u n g cleric d o w n here in Rome whose

b r o t h e r w o r k s w i t h y o u r firm. Does the name Paul T h o m a s Gladstone
r i n g a bell w i t h y o u by any chance?"
" A very p r o m i s i n g bell! We consider Paul Gladstone to be a y o u n g man
o f great p o t e n t i a l . " He paused. " I w o n d e r i f Paul's b r o t h e r — w h a t is his
name?"
" C h r i s t i a n . " M a e s t r o i a n n i double-checked the note in his d i a r y . " C h r i s -
tian T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . "
" R i g h t . C h r i s t i a n . I w o n d e r i f he's o f the same caliber as o u r L o n d o n
Gladstone? I f he is, then maybe w e have the basic material in these t w o
brothers to forge the link we were speculating a b o u t earlier. I t should be
possible f o r us to find the right spot w i t h i n the EC machinery f o r a man as
talented as Paul Gladstone. A p o s i t i o n o f trust that w i l l give h i m access to
all twelve Foreign M i n i s t e r s .
" N o w , w h a t a b o u t y o u r man? W o u l d y o u r Father Gladstone measure
up as o u r connection t o the bishops? C o u l d he get their confidence ro the
degree such an operation w o u l d require?"
M a e s t r o i a n n i was surprised at the idea at first. But Benthoek made i t all
sound so plausible, so apt to h i m , t h a t in the end he was almost embar-
rassed t h a t he h a d n ' t t h o u g h t o f i t himself. In fact, the n o t i o n of pairing
one o f Benthoek's more talented staffers w i t h a Vatican man as the l i n k
between the EC and the bishops was appealing in itself. I f t w o such men
t u r n e d our ro be brorhers, so m u c h rhe better f o r symbiosis.
T h e matter seemed most p r o m i s i n g t o Benthoek. The Svensen proposal
was already t a k i n g flesh in his m i n d . " K e e p me posted, then, Eminence,
a b o u t y o u r assessment of Father C h r i s t i a n Gladstone. Let's give the matter
p r i o r i t y trearment. M e a n w h i l e , w e ' l l poke a r o u n d a bit in the EC m a c h i n -
ery f o r a post suitable to Paul Gladstone's talents. I n fact, the post o f
Secretary-General t o the EC M i n i s t e r s w i l l fall vacant this summer. T h a t
w o u l d do the t r i c k . Can y o u handle such a quick rime frame at your end?"
By n o w , M a e s t r o i a n n i had caught Benthoek's enthusiasm like a fever.
" P m already checking i n t o Father Gladstone's b a c k g r o u n d ; he looks
clean. He's presently posted to Rome for o n l y half the year. But i f he turns
out t o be r i g h t for us, Pm sure w e can convince his bishop in the Stares to
release h i m f o r , shall we say, f u l l - t i m e service ro rhe H o l y See."
" N i c e l y p u t , Eminence. Pm sure we can move f o r w a r d w i t h d i s p a t c h . "

U N B R I G H T S P R I N G M O R N I N G S , the light of Rome streams in

t h r o u g h the w i n d o w s of the papal study o n the t h i r d f l o o r o f rhe Apostolic
 86 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

Palace. It rushes over the carpeting, s t r i k i n g its colors as o n a mosaic

pavemenr. It flashes o f f o f parquer floors. I t gilds walls and high ceilings
w i t h reckless generosity.
T h i s F r i d a y , the tenth o f M a y , was just such a day. E a r l y - m o r n i n g sun
played impish shadow games w i t h the P o n t i f f s pen as he w o r k e d at his
desk. It w a r m e d the H o l y Father's face. It made plain the signs o f prema-
ture age that many i n his entourage had remarked in recent m o n t h s . Gone
f r o m the Slavic Pope was that lightness o f muscle and skin and t h a t c o m -
pact cast o f c o m p l e x i o n . Some physical w a s t i n g had set i n , everyone said.
It d i d n o t spoil or d e f o r m his countenance. But f o r rhose w h o cared, it
bespoke a fragility in the H o l y Father, like a visible sign o f some inner
ache o f spirit.
H i s Holiness' concentration was broken by a r a p p i n g on rhe study d o o r .
Flis pen hovered in mid-sentence over rhe papers i n f r o n t of h i m . H e
glanced at the clock on the study m a n t e l , and stiffened a little. Seven f o r t y -
five already! This w o u l d be C a r d i n a l C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i , then. I n good
t i m e , as he had been f o r the past twelve years, for the ritual m o r n i n g
briefing berween P o n t i f f and Secretary of State.
"Avantt!" The Pope laid d o w n his pen, sat back in his chair as if for
support and watched M a e s t r o i a n n i bustle t h r o u g h the study d o o r , the
folders in his hands b r i s t l i n g w i t h papers as usual, for his official farewell
briefing as Secretary of Srate.
There were no formalities berween these t w o . The Pontiff d i d n ' t rise
f r o m his desk. H i s Eminence d i d n ' t b o w or bend a knee or kiss the Fisher-
man's r i n g o n the Pope's h a n d . Thanks to the influence o f Maestroianni's
predecessor, by 1978 all such undemocratic behavior had already been
done a w a y w i t h i n such w o r k a d a y meetings as this.
T h o u g h older than the Pope by some five years, the C a r d i n a l appeared
the younger of the t w o as he t o o k his usual place i n the chair on the far
side o f the papal desk. T h e sunlight was k i n d e r to h i m ; seemed to empha-
size a certain s o l i d i t y .
H i s Holiness listened to M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s terse and u n i n f o r m a t i v e m o n o -
logue rhis m o r n i n g w i r h his accusromed serenity. I n fact, t h a t constant
patience displayed by the P o n t i f f was always a little u n n e r v i n g for rhe
C a r d i n a l . T h e Secretary had rhe sense thar i f the Pope asked so few ques-
tions d u r i n g rhese sessions, it w a s n ' t because he was ready t o leave things
in Maestroianni's hands. Rarher, he guessed that the Pope t h o u g h t he
already k n e w the answers.

In large p a r t , M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s guess was correct. The P o n t i f f had under-

stood f r o m the beginning t h a t his Secretary of State was no colleague, but
an adversary of the most dangerous k i n d . A phone call to certain i n d i v i d u -
als i n any o f scores o f dries i n as many countries on all six continents
w o u l d tell the H o l y Father more abour current and i m p e n d i n g events
a r o u n d the w o r l d than a n y t h i n g M a e s t r o i a n n i w o u l d cover in his r u n -
B E S 1 - L A I D P L A N S 87

d o w n of Second Section affairs. A n d a report f r o m C o m m a n d e r G i u s t i n o

L u c a d a m o , the chief o f papal security and a man of inexhaustible re-
sources and l o y a l t y , w o u l d often tell H i s Holiness even more than he
m i g h t w a n t to k n o w .
L u c a d a m o had been recruited f o l l o w i n g the 1981 attempt o n the Pope's
life t o take a l l measures necessary to protect the H o l y Father's physical
safety. He had s w o r n a sacred oarh o n the Blessed Sacrament t o d o so. O n
permanent leave f r o m Italy's Special Forces, intelligence section, he was
w i d e l y k n o w n f o r his q u i c k m i n d and his tempered-steel nerves. H e was
backed up by Italian State Security a n d by the friendly services of three
foreign governments. In a d d i t i o n , he had surrounded himself w i t h hand-
picked aides as dedicated as himself. A t any given m o m e n t , Lucadamo
c o u l d tell y o u w h i c h b u l l e t p r o o f vest H i s Holiness was w e a r i n g , w h o the
f o o d tasters were at that h o u r and a n y t h i n g y o u m i g h t need to k n o w
a b o u t anyone w i t h the slightest contact w i t h the papal household. I n s u m ,
G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o was one o f those men G o d had supplied i n the strait-
ened circumstances of the Slavic Pope in this Rome of the 1990s.
Just this m o r n i n g , after Mass i n his private chapel, L u c a d a m o , together
w i t h D a m i e n Slartery, had joined the H o l y Father f o r breakfast in his
apartments on the f o u r t h f l o o r of rhe A p o s r o l i c Palace. The conversation
had revolved a r o u n d t w o matters of obvious concern f r o m a security
srandpoint.
First, there was the necessary review of the arrangemenrs f o r H i s H o l i -
ness' p r o t e c t i o n d u r i n g the devotions he w o u l d lead at Fatima in Portugal
three days hence. The celebrations, w h i c h w o u l d include a y o u t h rally to
be broadcast a r o u n d the w o r l d , w o u l d take place on M o n d a y , the t h i r -
teenth. L u c a d a m o had every m o m e n t covered, f r o m srarr t o finish. The
H o l y Father w o u l d be back in rhe Varican, safe and sound at his desk, on
the f o u r t e e n t h .
The second matter had to d o w i t h certain details about a strange sort of
private meeting C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i had arranged for the
same d a t e — M a y 1 3 — i n Strasbourg, just after the closing of the A n n u a l
Robert Schuman M e m o r i a l celebrations. As i t happened, Damien Slattery
had caught w i n d o f the same affair. " A gathering o f wolves and jackals,"
he had called that private gathering. " T h e y ' r e t r o t t i n g in f r o m all the
obvious q u a r t e r s . "
The Pope had listened to the list of men Slattery and Lucadamo recired
as a m o n g M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s probable guests. A r c h b i s h o p G i a c o m o G r a z i -
a n i — s o o n t o be C a r d i n a l G r a z i a n i , w h e n he stepped i n t o the post of Sec-
rerary of Stare. C a r d i n a l Leo Pensabene, leader of the biggest group of
Cardinals. C a r d i n a l Silvio A u r e a t i n i , one o f Maestroianni's most dedi-
cated Vatican supporters. C a r d i n a l N o a h P a l o m b o , the n o w aging b u t still
reigning expert in charge of R o m a n C a t h o l i c r i t u a l . The Father-General o f
the Jesuits. The Franciscan Father-General.
" M o r e p l o t t i n g . " The P o n t i f f had been wearied to hear the same names
 88 W I N D S W E P I H O U S E

c o m i n g u p yet again. One w a y or another, i n fact, i n this or that antipapal

context, the same men always figured as p r o m i n e n t . " M o t e n e t w o r k i n g .
M o r e ralk. D o n ' r rhey ever get t i r e d ? "
" T h e fire never says, I t is enough,' H o l i n e s s . " Damien quoted Scrip-
t u r e . But he and L u c a d a m o b o t h expressed concern t h a t thete was a nota-
ble difference in this gathering, at least o n the Vatican side o f The Schuman
Day roster. " T h e w i l l o f each o f those men separately is as strong as
d e a t h , " Slattery had underlined his w o r r y . " T h e y w o r k at i t t w e n t y - f o u r
hours a day. But n o r m a l l y you w o n ' t find the likes o f those self-sryled
servants o f G o d in the same r o o m at the same t i m e . "
" W e w o r k at it t w e n t y - f o u r hours a day, t o o , Father, W e ' l l be right o n
their t a i l s . " T h o u g h his assurance was addressed to Slartery, his concern
for the Pope's sudden weariness had been obvious o n Lucadamo's face.

The P o n t i f f made sure t h a t n o such weariness showed t h r o u g h n o w . as he

listened t o M a e s t r o i a n n i w o r k his methodical w a y t h r o u g h his briefing
papers. Fie showed o n l y serenity and patience—essential elements of his
d w i n d l i n g arsenal i n the defense o f his papacy. The Slavic Pope leaned his
head back against his chair. H e srudied Maesrroianni's face; listened care-
f u l l y ro every w o r d rhe C a r d i n a l said; watched every gesrure. Bur all the
w h i l e , he prepared himself f o r w h a r he k n e w had to come. Maestroianni
w o u l d not let this final official meeting end w i t h o u t d r a w i n g his knife one
m o r e time as Secretary.
A c t u a l l y , the C a r d i n a l Secretary's briefing was m e r c i f u l l y short, consid-
ering rhe q u a n t i t y o f materials he had carried i n t o the papal study. M i g h t
His Holiness have been wrong? Perhaps there w o u l d be no knife on dis-
play d u r i n g the Cardinal's farewell briefing after a l l .
" A s y o u k n o w . H o l y Father, 1 w i l l be leading the official Vatican delega-
t i o n to the A n n u a l Schuman Day M e m o r i a l celebrations at Strasbourg."
"Yes, Eminence. I r e c a l l . " Poker-faced, the Pope leaned f o r w a r d t o
glance at his calendar. " Y o u are leaving f o r Strasbourg later today, n o ? "
" B u t yes, Holiness.'' The C a r d i n a l extracted one sheet f r o m the folders
o n his l a p . " I have a lisr o f those w h o are included in o u r delegation."
Protocol required t h a t the Pontiff be i n f o r m e d o f rhe delegation members.
Even i n w a r f a r e , Vatican p r o r o c o l reigned.
W i t h o u t any change o f expression, the Slavic Pope took the list f r o m the
Secretary and ran his eye d o w n the c o l u m n o f names. I t was a perfect
d u p l i c a t i o n o f the list Damien Slattery and G i u s t i n o Lucadamo had re-
hearsed f o r h i m at their breakfast meeting. " T h e y all have my blessing for
this u n d e r t a k i n g , Eminence. It w i l l be a practical i n t r o d u c t i o n for A r c h -
bishop G r a z i a n i as he prepares t o take up his duties as Secretary o f State."
" T h a t ' s w h a t I had in m i n d . H o l i n e s s . "
N o t for the first time i n their protracted w a r f a r e , Maestroianni was
forced to a d m i r e the Pontiff's mastery o f romanita. There was no bitter-
ness in the Pope's tone or any s h o w o f i r o n y . Yet b o t h k n e w that Grazi-
B L S r - L A l D P L A N S 89

ani—as o n e o f M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s m e n , i f n o t one o f his closest c o n f i d a n t s —

had been schooled well enough t o regard the Slavic papacy as u n f o r t u n a t e
and t r a n s i t o r y . W i t h a p p r o v a l o f his delegation assured, the C a r d i n a l Sec-
retary expected the Slavic Pope t o hand the paper back across the desk.
Instead, however, H i s Holiness laid the list casually o n the desk under his
hand.
M a e s t r o i a n n i eyed the P o n t i f f s move w i t h some puzzlement. " I w i s h , o f
course, t o convey a verbal expression o f Your Holiness' blessing t o m y
hosts at Robert Schuman H o u s e . "
"Please d o so, Eminence," the Pope agreed. " G r e e t a l l in the name c f
the H o l y See. They are engaged i n a m o m e n t o u s task. T h e Europe they are
b u i l d i n g is rhe hope o f the future f o r many m i l l i o n s . " T h e Slavic Pope
returned rhe sheet o f paper ro the C a r d i n a l at last. In the same m o t i o n , he
reached f o r a nearby folder o n his desk. C a r e f u l n o t t o d i s t u r b rhe confi-
dential note he h a d received c o m m e n d i n g one Father Chrisrian T h o m a s
Gladstone ro his a t t e n t i o n , the P o n t i f f t o o k f r o m the folder one o f the n o w
f a m i l i a r photos o f Bernini's Noli Me Tangere.
" I almost f o r g o t t o tell y o u . Eminence. A t Sainte-Baume last Saturday I
offered the entire pilgrimage ro G o d as a w a y o f asking H i m for special
graces f o r all m y bishops. T h e photos y o u had y o u r man f a x t o me were a
great i n s p i r a t i o n . Y o u w i l l doubtless be meeting some o f the French bish-
ops a t Strasbourg. Please convey m y blessings ro rhem as w e l l . "
T h e C a r d i n a l mer the full-eyed, innocent gaze o f the Pope as best he
c o u l d . T h e Bernini p h o t o was like a red flag f o r h i m , b u t the situation d i d
not p e r m i t h i m either t o gasp o r t o laugh. In fact, he f o u n d himself tense at
the Pope's m e n t i o n o f the French bishops. H e certainly w o u l d be meeting
w i t h some o f them at S t r a s b o u r g — w i r h some he already considered ro be
close allies, a n d a few more w h o seemed w o r r h y o f being broughr i n t o
closer a l i g n m e n t . H i s c o n f u s i o n n o w stemmed f r o m the fact t h a t i t was
always so h a r d t o assess just h o w m u c h this Pope m i g h t k n o w . "Yes,
Flolincss." H i s Eminence managed a steadiness in his reply. " I myself pray
that they make the proper choice—er—the choice that most benefits the
Church Universal."
As long as they were o n rhe subject, the Slavic Pope had another sugges-
t i o n t o offer. "Be sure, Eminence, t o ask o u r French bishops t o accompany
me w i t h their prayers as w e l l . As y o u k n o w , w h i l e y o u are i n Strasbourg, I
w i l l be o n pilgrimage at Fatima f o r the Blessed M o t h e r ' s M a y 13 feast
day."
If the request was meant r o p r o v o k e the C a r d i n a l , i t h a d its effect. I t
w a s n ' t o n l y t h a t the P o n t i f f h a d again emphasized his o w n regrettable
penchant f o r pierisric Travels. Rather, the mere m e n t i o n o f Fatima aroused
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s deepest professional antipathies. Fie h a d often clashed
w i t h this Pope o n the issue o f F a t i m a , successfully b l o c k i n g many major
papal initiatives in favor o f Fatima a n d o f the other alleged visions o f the
Blessed V i r g i n p o p p i n g u p like m u s h r o o m s all over rhe C h u r c h .
 90 W I N D S W E P T H O U S F

Lucia dos Santos, the o n l y one o f the three c h i l d seers of Fatima to have
survived i n t o a d u l d i o o d , was i n her eighties n o w . As Sister Lucia, a nun
cloistered in a Carmelite convent, she claimed still t o have c o n t i n u i n g
visits f r o m the V i r g i n M a r y , and had remained in contact w i t h the Pope by
letter and emissary ever since the 1981 attempt o n his life had p r o m p t e d
his o w n inquiries i n t o the Fatima events.
T h e C a r d i n a l Secretary k n e w little o r n o t h i n g about the correspondence
between Pope a n d n u n . W h a t he k n e w he dismissed as irrelevant, u n -
seemly and dangerous. In Maestroianni's v i e w , no proper pontificate
c o u l d a f f o r d ro be regulated in this day and age by reports o f visions
c o m i n g f r o m overzealous, overimaginarive, overaged nuns.
" H o l i n e s s . " There was a resty edge to the Cardinal's voice n o w . " I d o
n o t t h i n k i t a g o o d idea to ask y o u r bishops in France for this close
c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n Y o u r Floliness' visit to Fatima. N o b o d y , least o f all these
bishops, w i l l object to Y o u r Holiness' private devotions. But because y o u
are p r i m a r i l y Pope o f all Christians, whatever y o u d o , even as a private
person, must necessarily have an incidence o n y o u r papal persona. Your
Holiness w i l l therefore understand t h a t i t w o u l d be unwise o f me to t r o u -
ble the bishops o f France in this m a t t e r . "
The Slavic Pope was less surprised at the sentiment expressed by
M a e s t r o i a n n i than by the fact that the Secretary should have spoken his
m i n d so d i r e c t l y . H e was almost tempted to leave i t at that. Still, the issue
touched at the c r u x o f the hostilities between t h e m . T h a r m u c h , at least,
was w o r t h p o i n t i n g o u t . " W o u l d the consequences be as dire as Your
Eminence suggests i f y o u d i d m e n t i o n my request f o r prayers by the bish-
ops?" There was no a c r i m o n y or consternation in the H o l y Father's ques-
t i o n . F r o m the tone o f his voice, he m i g h t have been asking advice f r o m
any member o f his staff.
M a e s t r o i a n n i d i d n o t pause f o r one instant before r e p l y i n g t a r t l y ,
" Q u i t e f r a n k l y , Holiness, such a requesr—added t o all rhe other f a c t o r s —
m i g h t push several minds over the edge o f tolerance."
The Slavic Pope straightened i n his chair. The Bernini photos were still
in his h a n d , bur his eyes met the C a r d i n a l ' s straighr and f u l l . "Yes, E m i -
nence. Please go o n . "
" H o l i n e s s , o u t o f duty's call and for ar leasr five years, 1 have kept o n
saying t h a t the most precious element o f Christ's C h u r c h r o d a y — t h e ele-
ment o f u n i t y between Pope and bishops—is in jeopardy. A t least t w o -
thirds o f the bishops feel that this pontificate does n o t p r o v i d e them w i t h
the caliber o f papal leadership rhey need. A l l o f this is so acutely serious in
m y m i n d , Holiness, t h a t 1 t h i n k we may have to consider in the near future
w h e t h e r — f o r the sake o f t h a t precious u n i t y — t h i s pontificate . . , "
T h e C a r d i n a l Secretary was suddenly aware t h a t he was perspiring
heavily, and that puzzled h i m . H e k n e w he had the advantage. W h a t was
i t , then, that was so i r r e d u c i b l y alien or so unattainable in this Pope as t o
reduce the C a r d i n a l t o a nervous sweat? M o r e t o reassure himself than
B £ S T - I A I D P L A N S 91

t o convey a n y t h i n g t o the Pontiff, M a e s t r o i a n n i attempted a smile.

" . . . W e l l , h o w can we phrase i t , Holiness? For the sake of u n i t y , this
pontificate w i l l have t o be reassessed by Your Holiness a n d by the bishops.
For I am sure Your Holiness desires t o see that precious u n i t y preserved
intact."
" Y o u r Eminence." The H o l y Father stood u p f r o m his chair. H i s face
was pale. Silent alarms w e n t o f f in Maestroianni's g u t . Protocol left h i m
n o choice but t o stand u p i n t u r n . H a d he said t o o m u c h too soon?
" E m i n e n c e , " H i s Holiness said a second t i m e . " W e must discuss this
subject of u n i t y , w h i c h y o u have so loyally b r o u g h t to my notice. I rely o n
Y o u r Eminence's g o o d j u d g m e n t in regard ro the bishops o f France. Go in
peace."
" H o l i n e s s . " Ready o r n o t , the Cardinal's farewell briefing was ended.
H e t u r n e d to make his w a y across the study and o u t the d o o r , t i d y i n g the
papers in his folders as he w e n t .
In p a r t , M a e s t r o i a n n i felt helpless and disappointed. H e had sounded
the p a r t i n g note in his final briefing o f the Pope prerty m u c h as he had
intended. But t o w h a t avail? he w o n d e r e d . Finally and s i m p l y , there was
n o w a y of c o m m u n i c a t i n g w i t h this Slav!
By the time he bustled past M o n s i g n o r e Taco M a n u g u e r r a and i n t o his
o w n office, however, all such e m o t i o n s — i f emotions they were—had a l -
ready subsided i n the C a r d i n a l . H e was a survivor precisely because he
was i m m u n e to any deep agony o f soul, just as he was incapable of high
ecstasy. H e never departed f r o m c o n t r o l l a b l e facts. I n the rough-and-
t u m b l e o f statecraft he had always landed safely w i t h i n sight of f a m i l i a r
h o r i z o n s . O n l y if events were t o leapfrog over those horizons w o u l d H i s
Eminence find himself shortchanged by destiny.
Events had not leapfrogged over those horizons today.

T h e P o n t i f f r u b b e d his b r o w as if ro clear away the p a l l i d veil o f joyless-

ness that shrouded his m i n d . H e began t o pace the study, forcing himself
to review the substance o f the farewell briefing by the o u t g o i n g C a r d i n a l
Secretary.
I n essence, there had been n o t h i n g new in this m o r n i n g ' s barbed ex-
changes berween himself and M a e s r r o i a n n i . Even Today's little s k i r m i s h
over the Cardinal's list o f Vatican delegates t o the Schuman Day M e m o r i a l
had been o f a piece w i t h the overall pattern o f warfare between Pontiff
a n d Sccrerary.
The H o l y Father ceased his pacing and returned unsatisfied to his desk.
A t h o u g h t began t o whisper at the edges of his m i n d , as it had several
times in recent weeks. The pressure was so endless, the whisper told h i m .
There was so m u c h g o i n g w r o n g , and he seemed so helpless t o do any-
t h i n g a b o u t most o f i t . Perhaps in a w a y M a e s r r o i a n n i h a d a p o i n t . Per-
haps the time had come t o consider an alternative to his pontificate.
T h e Pope let his eye rest once m o r e o n the p h o t o g r a p h o f the Bernini
 92 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

statue. H e studied the expression o n St. M a r y Magdalene's face. A n ex-

pression rhat was all a b o u t transcendence. " I f there is no t r a n s c e n d e n t " —
the P o n t i f f recalled a line f r o m Friedrich N i e t z s c h e — " w e must abolish
reason, forget s a n i t y . "
T h a t , he reflected, was the sum and substance o f the warfare between
himself and C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . L i f e was either t o t a l l y penetrated by
God's p r o v i d e n c e — t o be perceived by divine f a i t h , accepted by human
reason and chosen by the w i l l — o r i t w a s n ' t . If the latter was rhe case, then
everything was due to b l i n d chance. Life was an ugly h u m i l i a t i o n , a de-
grading cosmic joke o n anyone f o o l i s h enough t o possess hope. The Pope
had chosen t o believe in God's divine providence a long time ago. M o r e
than once, he believed, t h a t providence had snatched h i m clear of disaster.
Like that day i n K r a k o w d u r i n g W o r l d War I I w h e n , o n his way home
f r o m w o r k , he had stopped to brush away rhe a u t u m n leaves that had
almost b u r i e d a wayside shrine of the Blessed V i r g i n . Friends had come
upon h i m there and w a r n e d h i m that the N a z i police were w a i t i n g outside
his h o m e . H e had gone safely i n t o h i d i n g .
O r like t h a t day in St. Peter's Square, w h e n the picture o f rhe Blessed
V i r g i n at Fatima t h a t had been pinned t o the blouse o f a c h i l d , a carpen-
ter's daughter, had made h i m bend d o w n t o bless the c h i l d , and ultimately
caused the bullets f r o m A l i Agca's B r o w n i n g a u t o m a t i c t o miss his skull.
Were he n o t t o see the hand o f G o d in such f o r t u i t o u s events, he w o u l d
have t o cease believing. T h e H o l y Father d r e w his breath i n sharply at the
t h o u g h t , as any man m i g h t in reaction to sudden p a i n .
A l l at once the Pope sat b o l t u p r i g h t in his chair. H a d n ' t that been
Maestroianni's w h o l e p o i n t in this m o r n i n g ' s briefing? D u r i n g so many
encounters between these t w o enemies w h o k n e w each other so w e l l , as
rhe Cardinal's knife s w u n g nearer each rime, the idea was to tempt the
Pope t o free himself f r o m this papal indenture. But there had been some-
t h i n g new this r i m e , after a l l . Something kept nagging at the Pope. H e
reached f o r the i n t e r c o m and buzzed t h r o u g h to his secretary i n an a d j o i n -
ing office.
" M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l . I presume y o u made a tape of m y meeting w i t h
the C a r d i n a l Secretary?" W h a t the Pope was l o o k i n g f o r , he t o l d his secre-
t a r y , was a playback of rhe last t w o or three minutes o f the briefing ses-
sion.
" N o p r o b l e m , H o l i n e s s . " M o n s i g n o r e Daniel r e w o u n d the last p o r t i o n
o f the tape and piped it t h r o u g h .
T h e P o n t i f f recalled the beads o f perspiration t h a t had appeared o n
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s face, as i f rhe man had been h i t w i t h a sudden fever. H e
listened carefully again to the sound o f the Cardinal's voice. " . . . Well,
h o w can w e phrase i t , Holiness? For the sake o f u n i t y , this pontificate w i l l
have to be reassessed by Y o u r Holiness a n d by the bishops. . . . "
M o n s i g n o r e Daniel had come i n t o the papal study w h i l e the tape was
still p l a y i n g . D r a w i n g near, he w a i t e d in deference t o rhe Pope's studied
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 93

concentration on the C a r d i n a l Secretary's w o r d s . The tape clicked to a

halt.
" M o n s i g n o r e . " H i s Holiness looked u p at Sadowski. The secretary held
his breath at the sight of the ashen l o o k of weariness o n the Pontiff's face.
' M o n s i g n o r e , we have just received an early copy o f this pontificate's
death w a r r a n t . I have even been asked t o sign i t . "

T H E P E R S O N A L BASE of operations the C a r d i n a l had selected for this

stage o f his escalating campaign against the Slavic Pope was Strasbourg's
oldest and finest hotel. The Palais d'Alsace, w h i c h had opened its doors
f o r the likes o f the G e r m a n Kaiser and Queen V i c t o r i a on N e w Year's Day
in 1900, was a magnificent anachronism by 1 9 9 1 . Its l o b b y was graced
w i t h fine, wide-spreading crystal chandeliers that glittered like satellite
moons in the private firmament of this still privileged w o r l d , spilling light
over high s t u c c o w o r k ceilings, Italianate cornices and grandiose archi-
traves.
" I d i d n ' t realize t h a t Y o u r Eminence was so fin de siecle!" Cyrus
Benthoek teased the C a r d i n a l w h e n the t w o met for dinner on Friday
evening.
M a e s t r o i a n n i was up t o the barb. " T h e o n l y fin de Steele o u t l o o k you
w i l l find i n me is m y m i l l e n n i u m m e n t a l i t y ! " T h o u g h lightly said, the
Cardinal's w o r d s were clear and most acceptable t o Benthoek. H i s E m i -
nence was all business. H i s a t t e n t i o n — h i s m i l l e n n i u m m e n t a l i t y — w a s fo-
cused on the private meeting he and this A m e r i c a n b r o k e r of transnational
p o w e r w o u l d convene three evenings hence, immediately u p o n the closing
o f the official Robert Schuman Day M e m o r i a l celebrations.
Given the volatile m i x of personalities i n v o l v e d , the t r i c k at this little
get-together w o u l d be t o persuade the members o f b o t h Maestroianni's
and Benthoek's delegations to lay aside their personal a m b i t i o n s and en-
m i t y f o r one another and to forge a c o m m o n m i n d and a f u l l consensus of
action w i t h p o w e r f u l figures outside the immediate f o l d of Catholicism
and C h r i s t i a n i t y itself. T h e C a r d i n a l Secretary rehearsed once more for
Benthoek the b a c k g r o u n d , the characteristics and the value o f each o f the
seven Vatican wise men w h o w o u l d anchor his side o f the new alliance.
T h e C a r d i n a l began his survey w i t h a quick sketch of Cardinal Silvio
Aureatini.
As Maestroianni's special creature in the Secretariat, A u r e a t i n i was one
m a n w i t h sure global influence. T h r o u g h his supervision o f the innovative
Vatican p r o g r a m k n o w n as the C h r i s t i a n A d u l t Renewal Rite (the C A R R )
 94 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i had long since influenced each diocese and parish

a r o u n d the w o r l d . In fact, M a e s t r o i a n n i assured Benthoek, under Aurea-
rini's leadership, the C h r i s t i a n A d u l t Renewal Rite had changed the very
focus or C a t h o l i c r i t u a l , so that i t was n o w more acceptable to the general
n o n - C a t h o l i c Christian p o p u l a t i o n than ever before.
" A n d thar is not his o n l y accomplishment. A u r e a t i n i is also deeply i n -
volved i n the delicate and o n g o i n g business of r e f o r m i n g C a n o n L a w , and
to m i n i m i z e papal privilege and maximize the office o f bishop in the a p p l i -
cation of that l a w t h r o u g h o u t every level o f C h u r c h l i f e . "
T h e subject o f C a n o n L a w b r o u g h t C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i t o the next
man o f his delegation. The acid-faced and always d o u r C a r d i n a l N o a h
P a l o m b o remained w h a t he had been for decades—Rome's reigning expert
on L i t u r g y . P a l o m b o was the man o f f i c i a l l y charged w i t h the global m a n -
agement o f the Vatican's I C C L , the International C o u n c i l f o r Christian
L i r u r g y . As its name indicated, the I C C L operated o n the level of approved
Catholic prayer a n d d e v o t i o n . As A u r e a t i n i ' s C A R R d i d among the laity,
so a m o n g priests a n d religious d i d Palombo p r o m o t e a leveling of rhe
d i s t i n c t i o n between priest and l a y m a n , between Catholic and n o n - C a t h o -
lic.
T h e t h i r d entry o n Maestroianni's list. H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l Leo Pen-
sabene, was a one-man powerhouse. Pensabene had spent over rwenry
years in d i p l o m a t i c posts in N o r t h and South A m e r i c a . Brought back t o
Rome and elevated t o the rank o f C a r d i n a l , he had r a p i d l y attained f r o n t -
line status as leader of the most p o w e r f u l g r o u p in the College of C a r d i -
nals—the Cardinals w h o w o u l d have the largest say in p i c k i n g the Slavic
Pope's successor i n the next Conclave.
Further, as an expert in all o f the Justice and Peace Commissions in
Rome and t h r o u g h o u t the C h u r c h Universal, C a r d i n a l Pensabene was up
t o his red hat in rhe sociopolitical activities o f C h u r c h and Srare. T h r o u g h
the bishops of the w o r l d , Leo Pensabene had steadily refocused and
remolded rhe social and p o l i t i c a l agenda o f the C h u r c h t o reflect a vision
of a Thoroughly managed, t h i s - w o r l d l y k i n g d o m of selective uniry, peace
and plenty.
" A n d y o u r successor as Secrerary of Srate, Eminence?" Benthoek turned
his a t t e n t i o n to A r c h b i s h o p G i a c o m o G r a z i a n i . " H o w d o y o u see his role
i n the m e e t i n g ? "
" Q u i e t and untroublesome, Cyrus. As the Slavic Pope himself so aptly
said to me, this meeting w i l l be a practical i n t r o d u c t i o n for Archbishop
Graziani as he prepares t o take up his duties as Secrerary o f State."
T h a t left just three more men on M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s list o f delegates: M i -
chael C o u t i n h o , Father-General of the Jesuit O r d e r ; Father-General V i c t o r
Venable, head o f rhe Franciscans; a n d , lasr, the o l d and seasoned Cardinal
Svensen o f B e l g i u m , w h o had iniriared the lovely idea o f w e l c o m i n g the
bishops o f Europe's heartland more closely i n t o the lucrative f o l d — a n d
the p o l i t i c a l m o l d — o f the European C o m m u n i t y .
B F S I - L A I D P L A N S 95

As Father-General o f the Jesuits, for instance, M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o was

counted in the Vatican us the t r a d i t i o n a l dean o f the Superiors o f the
m a j o r Religious O r d e r s . Flis influence o n all rhe other Orders and Reli-
gious Congregations was huge. F u r t h e r , i f anyone m i g h t d o u b t the i n f l u -
ence o f [esuits a m o n g rhe o r d i n a r y f o l k o f the w o r l d , a look at the T h i r d
W o r l d countries w o u l d be c o n v i n c i n g e n o u g h . T h r o u g h their involvemenr
in l i b e r a t i o n theology i n p a r t i c u l a r , Jesuits had played a leading role in
w e a n i n g L a t i n A m e r i c a n and Philippine C a t h o l i c i s m f r o m its complaisant
acceptance of t r a d i t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y and i n t o a c o n t e n t i o n o f armed guer-
rilla movements and p o l i t i c a l activism o f the most m i l i t a n t varieties. A n -
tipapahsm was n o w a Jesuit characteristic.
V i c t o r Venable, as Father-General o f the Franciscans, was an equally
impressive one. W h i l e the Jesuits had weaned m i l l i o n s o f Catholics f r o m a
theology o f transcendent f a i t h , in favor o f a theology o f h u m a n i s m in the
West and a theology o f t h i s - w o r l d l y s o c i o p o l i t i c a l r e v o l u t i o n in rhe T h i r d
W o r l d , rhe Franciscans had weaned at least as many m i l l i o n s away f r o m
the personal devotions once so characteristic o f R o m a n Catholics the
w o r l d over.
Through their f o m e n t i n g o f the charismatic movement, Franciscans had
come t o embrace instead the n o w revised and impersonalized concepts o f
a " n e w h e a v e n " and a " n e w e a r t h , " and the attainable goal o f peace
a m o n g all men. T h e influence o f Franciscans w i t h i n the N e w Age move-
ments, and their a d d i t i o n a l w i d e appeal a m o n g Protestants, had already
b u i l t ecumenical bridges impossible t o construct in a n y other w a y .
F i r m i n their t h i n k i n g t h a t C o u t i n h o the Jesuit and Venable the Francis-
can were just the sort o f bridge builders w h o had to be b r o u g h t i n t o the
new alliance, M a e s t r o i a n n i and Benthoek t u r n e d their a t t e n t i o n to the
retired but still energetic Belgian, C a r d i n a l Piet Svensen.
As M a e s t r o i a n n i had assumed he w o u l d , Benthoek had checked Svensen
out t h o r o u g h l y . A p p a r e n t l y Svensen had passed Benthoek's investigation.
A n d w i t h g o o d reason. I n his younger days, the Belgian had been the
p r i n c i p a l architect and master engineer o f the ruthless p a r l i a m e n t a r y tac-
tics by w h i c h the g o o d Pope's Vatican C o u n c i l had been diverted f r o m its
o r i g i n a l purpose. Clever, d a r i n g , always self-assured* i n t i m a t e l y in his soul
a n t i - R o m a n , deficient in his basic theology but almost messianic in his
concept o f his historic r o l e , Svensen was w e l l connected and w e l l liked in
the higher reaches o f the l u i r o p e a n C o m m u n i t y .
" l ie's a b i t Pentecostalist in his d e v o t i o n s . " Benthoek laughed. " T h e y
say he has a habit o f u t t e r i n g l o n g yelps o f apparent gibberish i n c h u r c h —
a personal g i f t o f 'speaking i n tongues.' he claims. But y o u r assessment o f
the Belgian was o n target, Eminence. H e is k n o w n t o be as brutally f r a n k
and r a t i o n a l as any g o o d Fleming. By all means, we must c o u n t h i m in o u r
alliance. A n d before we leave Strasbourg, w e need to f i r m up o u r plans f o r
b u i l d i n g Svensen's bridge between the European bishops and the E C . "
j j j j
 96 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

O n Sunday, the t w e l f t h of M a y , w i t h a f u l l day r e m a i n i n g before their

t i m e w o u l d be claimed by the official panoply o f the Schuman Day cele-
brations, a hired car a n d chauffeur b r o u g h t the pair o u t to the Sandgau
region f o r another w o r k i n g session. As they traveled the Fried C a r p Road
and sank a t o o t h i n t o the delectable fish that had made i t famous, their
discussions centered m a i n l y on Cyrus Benthoek's guests at the meeting t o
f o l l o w the official celebrations. O f the five characters Benthoek had assem-
bled a r o u n d h i m f o r this occasion, f o u r were laymen.
Nicholas Clatterbuck was a man rhe C a r d i n a l Secretary had met on
several occasions. Fie was C E O o f rhe L o n d o n headquarters o f Cyrus'
transnational l a w firm o f C r o w t h e r , Benrhoek, Gish, Jen fic Ekeus. As
Benthoek's n g h r - h a n d man in his home office, he w o u l d naturally be i n -
cluded in such an i m p o r r a n r venture as this.
Also included were t w o members o f Benthoek's i n t e r n a t i o n a l board o f
consultants. Serozha G a f i n , a Muscovite. A n d O t t o Sekuler o f Germany.
C y r u s ' remarks a b o u t this pair were brief. "Between t h e m , they k n o w
everybody w h o is a n y b o d y in rhe new f r a m e w o r k o f the U.S.S.R. that is
abour to be f o r m e d ; and rhat w i l l be so in every c o u n t r y o f Eastern Europe
to boor."
The f o u r t h layman was a lasr-minute a d d i t i o n . " G i b s o n Appleyard is
his name. Eminence. H i s credentials are inreresting. U.S. N a v y Intelli-
gence, o n loan ro the American State D e p a r t m e n t . He's always away on
fishing trips i n f u n n y places. H e w o n ' t be one o f the v o t i n g members of the
g r o u p , o f course. I mean, he w o n ' t be representing any a r m o f his govern-
ment. But he happened t o call me f r o m W a s h i n g t o n , and it seemed—well,
shall I say appropriate that he j o i n us in an u n o f f i c i a l capaciry, i f you take
my m e a n i n g . "
M a e s r r o i a n n i d i d take his friend's meaning. A n d he agreed w i t h Cyrus
Benrhoek's obvious hope t h a t , even as an unofficial representative of the
governmenr o f the U n i t e d Srares, A p p l e y a r d w o u l d at least take some
useful impressions away f r o m the cloistered Strasbourg meeting. For one
rhing, A p p l e y a r d w o u l d have every o p p o r t u n i t y ro see that the present
Pope's stand was against the N e w W o r l d O r d e r . A n d he w o u l d also learn
t h a t everything Benthoek and M a e s t r o i a n n i himself proposed was very
much in line w i t h current United States p o l i c y .
The o n l y clergyman a m o n g Benthoek's Strasbourg guests was a man
C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i was eager t o cultivate. The Reverend Herbert Tart-
ley was a member o f the C h u r c h of England, w h o presently served as
special advisor to the T h r o n e o f England, and special consultor to the
A r c h b i s h o p o f C a n t e r b u r y . I t was certain t h a t , i n t i m e , Tartley w o u l d be
rewarded w i t h the See o f C a n t e r b u r y .
M a e s t r o i a n n i k n e w there w o u l d always be speculation a b o u t rhe assets
o f the English T h r o n e . But the C a r d i n a l Secretary was sure he recognized
in the English T h r o n e the lineaments o f a corporate p o w e r endowed w i t h
the highest q u a l i t y o f intelligence a b o u t o n g o i n g h u m a n affairs. A power
B t S T - L A I D PLANS 97

resting o n f o u n d a t i o n s d u g so deep i n Western c i v i l i z a t i o n that i t w o u l d

persist f o r as long as rhar c i v i l i z a t i o n . M a e s r r o i a n n i k n e w , t o o , that the
corporate power w i t h i n w h i c h the English T h r o n e was embedded had
n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h a Transcendent G o d o r w i t h any professed allegiance to
Jesus C h r i s t o f N a z a r e t h and Calvary as the central figure o f history; that
Reverend H e r b e r t Tartley was a rising star in the C h u r c h o f England; that
the C h u r c h o f England was a historical appendage o f the T h r o n e ; and that
all three made up a k i n d o f collective passport t o the exclusively h u m a n
future in rhe c o m i n g new order o f rhe h u m a n story.
By the t i m e he returned to his suite at the Palais d'Alsace o n Sunday
evening, C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i was immensely satisfied w i r h
the weekend's w o r k . H i s Eminence always slept well w h e n he felt pre-
pared f o r the m o r r o w .

There is no Fried C a r p Road in the Vatican. A n d there were n o leisurely

excursions o n the Slavic Pope's agenda f o r Sunday, the t w e l f t h o f M a y .
T h i s was the day o f his departure f o r the Fatima celebrations that had so
upset the C a r d i n a l Secretary.
A r 3:30 P.M., the Pope and his secrerary, M o n s i g n o r e Daniel Sadowski,
together w i t h a few others o f H i s Holiness' personal staff, made their way
b r i s k l y to the w a i t i n g A l i t a l i a helicopter. T h e i r rakeoff f o r F i u m i c i n o was
exactly o n schedule, as was their departure f r o m F i u m i c i n o to Portugal.
By 8:30 t h a t evening. H i s Holiness was safely i n his t e m p o r a r y quarters at
Fatima.
A f t e r a late-evening meal, the Pope and Sadowski met w i t h the Bishop
o f Fatima-Leiria and the local team o f organizers t o r u n t h r o u g h the order
o f events set f o r t o m o r r o w ' s seventy-fourth anniversary celebrations o f rhe
firsr Fatima appearance by the V i r g i n M a r y t o the three shepherd children.
The Pontifical H i g h Mass w o u l d take place i n the m o r n i n g . The private
audiences to f o l l o w were so numerous that they w o u l d stretch well i n t o
the a f t e r n o o n hours. The y o u t h r a l l y — a l w a y s an i m p o r t a n t element for
this P o p e — w o u l d be held i n the early evening. Finally, after dusk, the
h i g h l i g h t o f the public side of the papal visit w o u l d be the candlelight
service and procession.
" A l l in all* H o l i n e s s , " the Bishop p o i n t e d o u t w i t h o b v i o u s satisfaction,
"there may be a m i l l i o n and a half people here t o m o r r o w . A t the y o u t h
rally alone, we expect a m i l l i o n . A t rhe candlelight service, maybe a quar-
ter m i l l i o n to three h u n d r e d thousand. A n d there w i l l be f u l l radio and
television Transmission ro European and foreign s t a t i o n s . "
" S o m e t h i n g i m p o r t a n t . Excellency." I t was rhe Pope w h o p u t a question
ro the Bishop. " I see n o m e n t i o n here o f m y meeting w i t h Sister Lucia.
Surely an oversight. Excellency, W h e n is it t o take place?"
" I t h o u g h t Your Holiness was aware . . . " The Bishop stumbled for
words.
A t such a display o f c o n f u s i o n , the P o n t i f f was filled w i t h concern.
 98 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

Lucia lived in die minds of hundreds o f m i l l i o n s o f people a r o u n d the

w o r l d as the o n l y s u r v i v o r of the three o r i g i n a l lirtle c h i l d seers o f the
Fatima v i s i o n . But she was an aging w o m a n n o w , w e l l i n t o her eighties.
Understandably, t h e n , I lis Holiness' first t h o u g h t was for the nun's health.
" A w a r e ? " H i s Holiness picked up o n the last w o r d . " A w a r e of w h a t ,
Excellency? Where is Sister? Is she i l l ? "
"Sister Lucia is fine, Holiness. It's n o t h i n g like t h a t . " The Bishop
b l i n k e d . "She is at her convent at C o i m b r a , some kilometers n o r t h o f
here."
" W h a t is it t h e n , Excellency? M o r e t o the p o i n t , w h e n w i l l Sister Lucia
arrive at F a t i m a ? "
H i s composure all b u t undone, the Bishop f u m b l e d for his briefcase. " I
t h o u g h t Y o u r Holiness w o u l d k n o w o f the cable . . . I have i t here . . .
somewhere in these papers. . . . Here i t is. T h e cable f r o m the C a r d i n a l
Secretary o f State reiterating the ban. . . . "
There was no need t o explain f u r t h e r . As the Pope t o o k the cable and
read i t , he understood everything. Four years before, His Eminence C a r d i -
nal M a e s t r o i a n n i had taken it u p o n himself t o f o r b i d Sisrer Lucia any
access t o the outside w o r l d . Under pain o f e x c o m m u n i c a t i o n , Lucia was ro
receive no visitors. She was to make no public or private statements about
the Fatima message o r any subject related t o i t . A b o v e a l l , she was f o r b i d -
den to leave her convent o r set f o o t in Fatima w i t h o u t the Cardinal's
express permission. H i s face g r i m , the P o n t i f f passed the cable t o M o n s i -
gnore D a n i e l .

M o n s i g n o r e Daniel dialed t h r o u g h t o Master-General D a m i e n Slattery at

the A n g e l i c u m in R o m e , and then passed the telephone t o the Pope.
W i t h i n a few seconds m o r e , Slattery understood the s i t u a t i o n . H e asked
H i s Holiness t o read o u t the date and the c o d i n g number o f the State
D e p a r t m e n t cable.
" T i l be c a l l i n g Y o u r Holiness w i t h i n the h o u r . O n the off-channel, o f
course."
Slattery ordered his car t o be b r o u g h t a r o u n d at once. T h e n he made a
call to M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s secretary, M o n s i g n o r e Taco M a n u g u e r r a , t o locate
the man H i s Eminence had left o n d u t y as Substitute Secretary in the
Cardinal's absence.
M a n u g u e r r a b u m b l e d his way i n t o the conversation. " H i s Eminence is
a w a y u n t i l Tuesday, Master-General . . . "
"Yes, M o n s i g n o r e . I k n o w t h a t . " Slattery made his temper plain in the
tone o f his voice. " A r c h b i s h o p Buttafuoco is sranding in as Substitute
Secretary. F i n d h i m , and have h i m meet me in his office at the Secretariat
in t w e n t y m i n u t e s . "
" A t this late h o u r , Master-General? H o w am I ro explain . . . ?"
" T w e n t y minutes, M o n s i g n o r e ! "
j j j j
B E S T - I . A I D P L A N S 99

W h e n rhe w h i t e - r o b e d giant of a D o m i n i c a n loomed like an irare ghosr

i n t o C a n i z i o Buttafuoco's office o n rhe deserted t h i r d floor of the A p o s -
tolic Palace, the A r c h b i s h o p was pacing rhe carper to w o r k o f f his nerves.
Like Taco M a n u g u e r r a and everyone else in rhe Vatican, he k n e w Damien
Slattery's privileged p o s i t i o n in the papal household. Slattery wenr straight
to the p o i n t . "Please read me cable number 2 0 7 - S L . "
Buttafuoco c o m p l i e d .
" O n whose order was this cable sent?"
" O n the C a r d i n a l Secretary's order, Father."
" V e r y w e l l , Excellency. As Substitute Secretary, you w i l l k i n d l y accom-
pany me t o the c o d i n g r o o m , where you w i l l send another cable t o c o u n -
t e r m a n d this o n e . "
A r c h b i s h o p Buttafuoco began t o sweat. " I cannot d o that w i t h o u t firsr
consulting Flis Eminence."
Slartery was already at the d o o r . " L e t me make things p l a i n ro y o u ,
Excellency. This is the H o l y Father's c o m m a n d . If you refuse, you w i l l
serve o u t y o u r days baptizing babies i n Bangladesh. A n d i f blame comes
d o w n o n anyone's head, i t w i l l be mine. In fact, if you're n o t careful, y o u
may even t u r n our to be a h e r o — i n spite o f y o u r s e l f . "

W i t h i n forry-five minures of rhe call f r o m the H o l y Farher, it was a pleased

Master-General w h o was able to r e p o r t back by Telephone t o Flis Holiness
that a cable had gone o f f ro the M o t h e r Superior at Sister Lucia's convent
in C o i m b r a . I n short o r d e r , rhe M o t h e r Superior had telephoned the Sub-
stitute Secretary to verify that the cable was f r o m the Secretariat and was
official.
The Pontiff's voice brightened. "Sister Lucia w i l l be in Fatima in time
for die H i g h Mass Tomorrow m o r n i n g , then, Master-General?"
"She w i l l , H o l y Father. She'll be there f o r H i g h Mass in the m o r n i n g .
A n d she w i l l remain f o r her private audience w i t h Your H o l i n e s s . "

In the small hours o f the m o r n i n g at the Palais d'Alsace i n Strasbourg,

C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i was awakened f r o m his dreamless sleep
by a call f r o m the hotel desk.
"Excuse me, E m i n e n c e , " the night manager apologized. " B u t an urgent
cable has arrived f o r y o u f r o m R o m e . "
The C a r d i n a l reached f o r his robe. "Send it u p i m m e d i a t e l y . "
T h e message was f r o m A r c h b i s h o p C a n i z i o B u t t a f u o c o . I t consisted
m a i n l y of the text o f a cable he had dispatched t o Sister Lucia's convent at
C o i m b r a , o r d e r i n g that the nun be present at Fatima o n the f o l l o w i n g
m o r n i n g , M a y 13. Buttafuoco had added o n l y : " M a s t e r - G e n e r a l . "
"Slattery a g a i n , " M a e s t r o i a n n i shook his head and laid the cable aside.
Realist that he was, he clambered back i n t o his bed and closed his eyes.
One m i n o r s k i r m i s h w o u l d nor decide rhe b i g barrle. As f o r Slattery, he
c o u l d be dealt w i t h . In t i m e , he t o o c o u l d be dealt w i t h .
 100 W I N D S W E P T H O U S F

x
S O M E T H I N G o f Robert Schuman's spirit pervaded every momenr
t h r o u g h o u t rhe official Schuman M e m o r i a l Day celebrations o n M o n d a y ,
M a y 13, t h o u g h t C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . F r o m his place somewhere in
God's ercrniry, surely rhat quiet-spoken, patient m a n must have looked
d o w n t h r o u g h his h o r n - r i m m e d spectacles and smiled.
T h e first o f the official celebrations—a congress o f a l l the delegates—
assembled in the huge Palais dc PEurope, o n rhe banks o f Strasbourg's III
River. So great was rhe atmosphere o f c o r d i a l i t y — e v e n o f a m i t y — t h a t
even the usual and p e r m i t t e d i n t e r n a t i o n c h a u v i n i s m was absent. T h e
French spoke moderarely. T h e Germans spoke permissively in a live-and-
let-live manner. The Italians praised Robert Schuman w i t h o u t reference to
any Italian c o n r r i b u r i o n s t o his c u l t u r e . The British spoke as i f they were
as European as a n y b o d y else, and as i f Schuman were as precious t o rhem
as W i n s r o n C h u r c h i l l .
In his o w n short speech, C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State M a e s t r o i a n n i c o n -
veyed the H o l y Father's blessings almost w o r d f o r w o r d as the Pontiff had
spoken t h e m o n l y three days before. "Everyone in this congress"—the
C a r d i n a l smiled u p o n a l l — " i s engaged in a momentous task. T h e Europe
we are b u i l d i n g is the hope o f the future for m a n y m i l l i o n s . "
T h e g o o d feelings o f the congress were carried like the seeds o f a new
springtime i n t o the luncheon t h a t f o l l o w e d . The a f t e r n o o n hours were
occupied w i t h relaxed but meticulously organized tours o f Strasbourg,
after w h i c h there was quite enough time for all to rest and dress for the
black-tic d i n n e r , set f o r six o'clock sharp at M a i s o n Robert Schuman.
Like all else a b o u t this festive day, the dinner itself was everything the
C a r d i n a l c o u l d have w i s h e d . Ir was hosted by the European C o m m i s s i o n -
ers seated g r a n d l y at the dais. T h e tastiest Strasbourg dishes were served,
along w i t h p l e n t i f u l supplies o f foie gras and the best wines o f the region.
Just rhe r i g h t sort o f Nachtmttsik graced the chatter o f i m p o r t a n t people.
N o speeches were scheduled, and none were needed. Everyone seemed
buoyed by a t h r i l l o f mental pleasure that all here had lived to see the
dreams o f the great French d i p l o m a t materialize beneath their gaze.
A t 7:15 P.M., the d a y l o n g official t r i b u t e was capped by a final toast to
R o b e r t Schuman, n o t e w o r t h y mainly f o r its brevity. Punctually at 7:30
P.M., in a rare display o f complete u n a n i m i t y , the European C o m m i s s i o n -
ers rose f r o m their chairs at the dais, i n v i t e d the guests t o applaud this
year's M e m o r i a l celebrations and wished each and all a most pleasant
j o u r n e y home.
BEST-LAID PLANS 101

J J J -I
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i f o u n d Cyrus Benthoek easily i n the t h i n n i n g after-
dinner c r o w d . The t w o w a l k e d together in a leisurely fashion t h r o u g h the
gardens, easy in each other's company as o n l y o l d friends are, and buoyed
by rhe prospects o f their privare meeting, about to begin at last.
" L i s t e n , Eminence." Benthoek raised b o t h hands in that f a m i l i a r orans
gesture, as if i n supplication to invisible presences in the air a r o u n d h i m .
"Just listen t o the silence!"
As they d r e w near to the site the pair had selected f o r their o w n seques-
tered gathering, H i s Eminence responded m o r e t o the m o o d o f his c o m -
panion than to his w o r d s . " I t h i n k there is a special blessing o n us all these
days."
T h e i r meeting place was n o t d i f f i c u l t to find. Ser w i t h i n the confines o f
Citadel Park n o t far f r o m Robert Schuman House, i t had been modeled o n
the o r i g i n a l T r i a n o n , b u i l t at Versailles for rhe Comresse D u Barry ar rhe
behest o f her r o y a l lover, Louis X V . Sheltered by evergreens and bathed in
the graceful silence that often envelops true gems o f architecture, the litrle
T r i a n o n was a splendid island o f light in the gathering darkness. The
i l l u m i n a t i o n s o n the r o o f balustrade and o n the colonnaded steps in front
o f this neoclassical m o n u m e n t w i n k e d o u t t h r o u g h the gardens as if in
welcome.
Just inside the m a i n d o o r , the grandfatherly C E O o f Benthoek's home
office, N i c h o l a s C l a t t e r b u c k , greeted the t w o hosts on their a r r i v a l .
Decked o u t in a fine ser o f rweeds as usual, he had been appointed to see
to s e c u r i t y — t i g h t but unobtrusive-, then to welcome all the guests together
w i r h their various advisors and aides, and direcr them all to rhe main hall
where the meeting w o u l d commence ar eight o'clock. Benthoek had pre-
pared h i m w e l l . H e carried n o notes and consulted no name list, but he
knew the faces and the titles o f all the principals w h o had been invited,
and his fluency in G e r m a n , Italian and Russian a l l o w e d h i m to make
everyone feel c o m f o r r a b l e , as grandfathers generally d o .
" M o s t o f the guests have already a r r i v e d . " Clatterbuck w a l k e d a few
steps along the way to the m a i n hall beside Cyrus and M a e s t r o i a n n i .
" W e re w a i t i n g f o r rhe Reverend Tartley and a few m o r e . "
" F i n e . " Benthoek glanced at his w a t c h . " Y o u ' l l j o i n us w h e n everyone
has a r r i v e d , "
Inside the m a i n h a l l , everything had been put i n perfect order under
Nicholas Clatterbuck's h a n d . Before each chair at a large conference table
had been placed a folder c o n t a i n i n g a general bio sheet f o r each of the
main players. T h o u g h everyone knew w h y he was here, Clatterbuck had
included a brief, p r o f o r m a recap o f the meeting's general agenda in the
folders. Aides to some o f the delegates were already t h u m b i n g through the
i n f o r m a t i o n as a sort o f final r u n before rhe m a i n evenr. Soon rhey w o u l d
take up their posts i n the chairs set apart, a l o n g the walls, f o r backup
 102 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

personnel. A l o n g the far w a l l , l o n g tables had been spread generously w i r h

Strasbourger delicacies and a variety o f wines and waters.
" M o r e pdte Cyrus? ' M a e s t r o i a n n i d i d n ' t k n o w whether t o groan or
y
1

l a u g h , so stuffed was he after the dinner.

A m o n g the several groups already in the hall, M a e s t r o i a n n i saw his
rhree R o m a n Cardinals and A r c h b i s h o p G r a z i a n i , all of t h e m smiling up
at Belgian C a r d i n a l Piet Svensen. W i t h his massive head and frame, and
huge, p r o t r u d i n g eyes set in an u n s m i l i n g face, Svensen was obviously in
his element as he regaled the Vatican g r o u p w i t h c o l o r f u l memories. Car-
d i n a l Silvio A u r e a t i n i — i m m a c u l a t e l y got o u t in the fine ecclesiastical garb
a p p r o p r i a t e t o his rank as the newest a m o n g the Cardinals of the Vati-
can—was lisrening w i t h obvious relish. A u r e a t i n i was becoming a bit
chubby-cheeked n o w .
Even the n o r m a l l y acid-faced expert o n Liturgy and C a n o n L a w . C a r d i -
nal N o a h Palombo, relaxed his features i n t o w h a t passed f o r a smile, as he
listened to Svensen's stories side by side w i t h the cadaverous and bony-
faced Pensabene. Also in the g r o u p , A r c h b i s h o p G i a c o m o Graziani, the
next-in-line C a r d i n a l Secretary of State, remained seriously and sincerely
pleasant. Businesslike, impressive i n height and comely in appearance, he
was already behaving w i r h the g r a v i t y o f his near-future office as second
m a n to the Slavic Pope.
M a e s t r o i a n n i and Benthoek were about to join that g r o u p when Cyrus
heard his name called. The t w o turned to see a short, heavy-featured,
broad-shouldered fellow s t r i d i n g t o w a r d them f r o m rhe refreshment table,
c a r r y i n g a glass of w i n e .
" M e e t Serozha G a f i n , Eminence." Benthoek clapped his international
board's Russian consultant affably o n rhe shoulder. " H e can c h a r m y o u r
heart as a concert pianist. A n d he can bewitch y o u r m i n d w i t h details
pertinent to his beloved Russia and all things Slavic."
Gafin was t o o corpulent for a man so y o u n g . He opened his full-lipped
m o u t h in a happy smile and examined M a e s t r o i a n n i t h r o u g h very large,
very blue almond-shaped eyes.
Benthoek's second inrernarional consultant joined the threesome. W i t h -
out w a i t i n g for Cyrus t o introduce h i m , he b o w e d stiffly: " M o s t Reverend
Eminence, I a m O t t o Sekuler." The voice of the German was unforgetta-
bly sharp and challenging. T h e r a m r o d - s t r a i g h t rorso and squared shoul-
ders, the b u l l neck, the steel-rimmed spectacles and bald pate that both
reflected light like m i r r o r s all put H i s Eminence in m i n d of every Nazi
official he had ever heard about i n his l o n g career. Still s m i l i n g , the C a r d i -
nal Secretary glanced away f r o m H c r r Sekuler t o give Cyrus a quesrioning
l o o k . Lynx-eyed as always concerning the Cardinal's reactions, Benthoek
simply b o w e d his head benignly as i f to say, " W a i t and see."
T h i s f a s t - g r o w i n g k n o t of men centered o n the Roman C a r d i n a l and the
A m e r i c a n rransnarionalist was swelled by the arrival of yer another o f
Benrhoek's guests. Even before he was inrroduced, M a e s t r o i a n n i recog-
B E s T - L A I D PLANS 103

nized all the classic signs o f the anglosassone. Gibson A p p l e y a r d was the
quintessential A m e r i c a n — m u s c u l a r b u i l d , fair s k i n , sandy-colored hair
speckled w i t h gray, direct eye contact.
"Pleased to meet Your Eminence," A p p l e y a r d responded ro C y r u s ' i n -
t r o d u c t i o n w i t h a standard, no-nonsense handshake. A man in his m i d -
fifties, he struck rhe C a r d i n a l as an ideal inrelligence officer. Aside f r o m his
exceptional heighr, there was n o r h i n g o u t s t a n d i n g a b o u t h i m . L i k e most
Anglo-Saxons—Cyrus Benthoek was the e x c e p t i o n — A p p l e y a r d was f o r -
gettable.
" W e l l , this is a historic m o m e n r , g e n t l e m e n . " W i t h his h a b i t u a l , quasi-
liturgical gesture, Benrhoek blessed rhe o d d l y mismarched g r o u p o f aliens
and rhe clerics w h o belonged to the innards o f R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m . " I t
w i l l be g o o d . Very g o o d . "
As i f o n cue, Nicholas Clatterbuck enrered the hall accompanied by rhe
C h u r c h o f England's t a r d y and most apologetic Reverend H e r b e r t Tartley,
all spruced and s m i l i n g i n his r o u n d collar, black clericals and gaiters.
Outside the hall and a r o u n d the perimeter o f rhe little T r i a n o n , Clat-
terbuck's m i n i a r u r e a r m y o f guards, unobrrusive until n o w , rook up rhe
securiry posrs assigned ro rhem.

T h e searing arrangemenr was simple and s r r a i g h t f o r w a r d . O n one side o f

rhe rable, C a r d i n a l Maesrroianni rook his sear ar rhe m i d p o i n t , the place
o f h o n o r . T h e seven members o f his delegation ranged o n eirher side o f
h i m presented a c o l o r f u l p h a l a n x in their bejeweled pectoral crosses, their
red-buttoned cassocks, their sashes and skullcaps. Seated and silent along
the w a l l behind the Vatican contingent, the t w o or three aides and consul-
tants each man had broughr along sat silent, like a r o w o f h u m a n o i d
porred plants.
Directly across f r o m M a e s r r o i a n n i sar Cyrus Benrhoek. H e had pur rhe
Reverend Tartley on his immediate r i g h t , as h o n o r e d guest. As an observer
rarher rhan a delegate, Gibson A p p l e y a r d ignored rhe searing plan and
chose a place somewhat apart f r o m rhe resr.
Given rhe antipapal purpose of rhe meeting, ir had seemed besr ro the
t w o organizers that C y r u s Benthoek be the one to act as c h a i r m a n . H e
stood up to begin the proceedings, l o o k i n g ar each o f the assembled dele-
gates i n t u r n . W h a r he faced was in reality a m i x of people as much at war
w i r h each orher as w i r h the papacy. The m o o d o f reserve—of c o r d i a l
disrrusr—was thick to the p o i n t o f heaviness. Nevertheless, each man pres-
enr felr rhe c o m m a n d in rhe stare o f the American's blue eyes. " W h e n I call
our y o u r names, my dear f r i e n d s , " Benrhoek began ro break rhe ice in his
clear, l o u d voice, "please stand up so that we can all see y o u . Those w h o
have b r o u g h t aides and advisors w i l l do us a favor i f you w i l l identify
them."
W i t h i n ten minutes, all the guests had been identified and greeted.
Benthoek was able t o underline each man's abilities and the importance o f
 104 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

his associations. Each felt he was k n o w n , and his talents f u l l y appreciated.

A c c o r d i n g l y , w h e n the i n t r o d u c t i o n s were complete, the heavy m o o d had
lightened. T h a t m u c h accomplished, Benthoek entered more or less breez-
ily i n t o the subject o f their interest. H e used the tones o f someone w h o had
organized a city t o u r f o r visiting dignitaries.
" M y friends, o u r purpose in getting together in this i n f o r m a l way is,
firsr o f a l l , rhar we ger ro k n o w each other. T h a t w e become aware of the
resources and strengths w e can b r i n g to any w o r t h y enterprise. O u r sec-
o n d purpose is ro see if—perhaps w i r h o u r realising ir f u l l y — w c all have
o u r m i n d s made u p , as i n d i v i d u a l s and as groups, concerning one i m p o r -
tant enterprise in p a r t i c u l a r . Friends." Benthoek's voice t o o k o n a note of
i n t i m a c y n o w , but it was no less c o m m a n d i n g for t h a t . " F r i e n d s , we can
p e r m i t ourselves utter frankness t o n i g h t . W i t h o u t exception, all here are
inrerested in rhe w e l l - b e i n g o f the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . " There was a
slight stir as C a r d i n a l Palombo rearranged himself in his chair.
" W e all value rhar C h u r c h " — B e n t h o e k bestowed a brotherly smile on
N o a h P a l o m b o — " n o t merely as a venerable and m i l l e n n i a r i n s t i t u t i o n .
For the m a j o r i t y o f our distinguished visitors t o n i g h t , the C h u r c h o f Rome
is the C h u r c h o f their c h o i c e . " A blue-eyed survey t o o k in all the sashes
and buttons o n M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s side o f rhe rable, and rhen widened ro
embrace the entire gathering. " B u t more rhan rhat, this R o m a n Catholic
C h u r c h has an inestimable value for all o f us. A supremely i m p o r r a n r
value as a stabilizing factor—socially, p o l i t i c a l l y , e t h i c a l l y . " Benthoek
paused for effecr. " A b o v e a l l , that C h u r c h is a sine qua n o n for the advent
o f a N e w W o r l d O r d e r in h u m a n a f f a i r s . "
There was no lightness i n the American's voice n o w as he drove home
his firsr capital p o i n t . " I n d e e d , m y g o o d friends. T h o u g h I am nor a Ro-
man C a t h o l i c myself, I venture to say t h a t if by some a w f u l happenstance
this C h u r c h were t o d r o p o u t o f existence, i t w o u l d leave a great and
y a w n i n g gap w i t h i n the society o f nations. A l l o f o u r h u m a n institutions
w o u l d be sucked i n t o t h a t gap, as i n t o a black hole o f nothingness. N o t h -
i n g — n o t even a h u m a n l a n d s c a p e — w o u l d be left. I accept this as a h a r d ,
undeniable fact o f life, whether one likes i t or n o t . So please, my friends.
Celebrare w i r h me o u r satisfaction ar h a v i n g here w i r h us the key people
o f this valuable a n d venerable i n s t i t u t i o n . "
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i began to keep a mental checklist of the points
Benthoek was m a k i n g . Point One: For rhe practical purposes o f rhis a l l i -
ance, rhe R o m a n Carholic C h u r c h remained essential as an i n s t i t u t i o n a l
o r g a n i z a t i o n . As an i n s t i t u t i o n , the C h u r c h was n o t a targer. Check. Point
T w o : T h e C a r d i n a l and his delegation were here as potential collaborators
in m o v i n g the focus of t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n t o w a r d the goals o f w h a t
Benthoek had termed " a N e w W o r l d O r d e r i n h u m a n a f f a i r s . " Check,
Point Three: T h e firsr order o f business was ro pur aside rhe hisrorical
divisions separating those o n Benthoek's side o f the table f r o m rhose w h o
sat across f r o m t h e m . Check.
BKST-LAID P I ANS 105
H i s Eminence was recalled f r o m his mental scorecard w h e n the focus of
the r o o m t u r n e d all at once t o w a r d the Jesuit Father-General, M i c h a e l
C o u t i n h o . C o u t i n h o h a d his hand in the air t o signal t h a t he had a w o r d
or t w o to say before things proceeded f u r t h e r .
"Yes, F a t h e r - G e n e r a l . "
M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o cut a stark figure. L i k e every orher Jesuir, he w o r e no
adornments or badges o f rank o n his black clerical garb. U n l i k e any other
Jesuit, however, every Father-General o f rhe Society o f Jesus—Coutinho
very much i n c l u d e d — w a s k n o w n in the Vatican and a r o u n d the w o r l d as
" t h e Black P o p e . " For centuries, that description had always been an ac-
curate t r i b u r c to the tremendous global p o w e r and prestige of the Jesuit
O r d e r in irs s w o r n defense o f papacy and Popes alike. Larrerly, however, i t
had become an equally accurate description o f corporate Jesuit opposition
to the H o l y See. As black is opposite to w h i t e , so was the Black Pope n o w
in o p p o s i t i o n t o the W h i t e Pope.
The Jesuit made his impatience clear. " W e have so little t i m e , M r .
Benthoek. I t h i n k we should get straight to the p o i n t at issue. Let's be
f r a n k . A m o n g the various groups represented h e r e " — C o u t i n h o ' s glance
missed no one o n either side o f the conference t a b l e — " I d o n ' t t h i n k there
are even t w o that have the same idea about h o w the policies o f the H o l y
See—and the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of the C h u r c h — s h o u l d proceed. In fact, I
expect each of us w o u l d o p t for a different mode of organizing the
Church."
Apparenrly even disagrccmenr was n o t easily agreed u p o n , for w h i l e
several a r o u n d the table nodded their heads i n assent, others remained
impassive and expressionless. Benthoek a n d M a e s t r o i a n n i made mental
registers o f each reaction.
" A t the same t i m e , " C o u t i n h o continued in his l i l t i n g A n g l o - I n d i a n
English, " o u r valuable M r . Benthoek has understood that, for all our
differences, we are agreed on one essential: We are all agreed that a radical
change is required. A radical change at the t o p m o s t l e v e l . " A g a i n , the
same several nods o f assent. " W h a r we need t o d o n o w , therefore, is
simply stated. We need to agree o n rhat one essential p o i n t : the need for
radical change i n C h u r c h leadership. I f we can d o that m u c h this evening,
then as a consequence we should be able to f o r m u l a t e directives about the
specific measures to achieve thar change and abour the scope of those
measures."
C a p i t a l ! M a e s t r o i a n n i t h o u g h t that Cyrus himself c o u l d n ' r have p u t the
objectives of this meeting better or more clearly. Agree o n the mission
t o n i g h t , a n d f o r m a mechanism t o refine and carry o u t the action t o f o l -
l o w . Bur w h y w a s n ' t the Jesuir sitting d o w n ?
" H a v i n g said that m u c h , " the Black Pope c o n t i n u e d , " t h e r e is one
prime c a u r i o n , w h i c h I am better qualified t o e x p l a i n than is anyone listen-
i n g to me. If we make one false step—either in o u r bedrock decisions this
evening or i n any o f the measures we hope to agree u p o n in the days to
 106 WINDSWEPT MOUSE

come—then we can expect supreme p o w e r t o be i n v o k e d , a n d t o hammer

us into t h e g r o u n d w i t h o u t mercy. Believe m e ! We i n the Society o f Jesus
k n o w a l l a b o u t that hammer. A n d a b o u t that absence o f m e r c y . "
G o u t i n h o ' s eyes flashed behind his spectacles like black obsidian under
glass. C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i tightened his hands o n the arms o f his chair.
The Jesuit was g o i n g t o o far n o w ; steering t o o close t o the limits o f deli-
cacy. There w a s n o question f o r the C a r d i n a l a b o u t the Jesuit's focus at
this m o m e n t . H i s Eminence himself, i n fact, had been forced t o act as the
merciless hammer i n the a w f u l incident C o u t i n h o had i n m i n d . I t had been
all rhe w a y back i n 19S1. But because h i g h e m o t i o n gives flesh t o memory,
the central evenr o f rhat day remained an unwelcome c o m p a n i o n ro
M a e s r r o i a n n i , as obviously ir d i d f o r the Father-General.
In rhe escalating strife between rhe Sociery o f Jesus and rhe H o l y See, by
1981 the policies o f rhe O r d e r had come ro be so openly ar odds w i t h
papal policy that the Slavic Pope had decided o n the extreme srep o f
cashiering rhe m a n , Pedro A r r u p e , w h o was then rhe Society's Father-
General. Listening t o C o u t i n h o n o w , the C a r d i n a l Secretary recalled h o w ,
o n rhe P o n t i f f s stern a n d unrelenting orders, he h a d presented himself at
the d o o r o f the Jesuit head-house i n Rome that day, H o w M i c h a e l C o u -
tinho had accompanied h i m u p the stairs t o the s i c k r o o m o f the Father-
General. I t h a d a l l been so needless. T h e w h o l e w o r l d k n e w that the man
had suffered a massive s t r o k e — h a d collapsed right o n the a i r p o r t tarmac
as he rerurned f r o m a t r i p a b r o a d . Bur the P o n t i f f had been firm. Srroke or
n o , rhe papal edict was t o be delivered in rhe rime-honored w a y of such
things.
M a e s t r o i a n n i h a d been sickened as he stood at the bedside o f that once
vibranr Jesuir leader. Sickened at rhe sight o f this s k i l l f u l w a r r i o r w i r h
w o r d s w h o was n o w unable ro urrer a s o u n d . Sickened at the sight o f
those hands a n d arms rhat h a d wielded such p o w e r — b u r that n o w lay
withered a n d motionless a t o p the coverlet. F r o m rhe prison inside himself,
the Jesuit Father-General had stared u p at M a e s t r o i a n n i t h r o u g h large,
blank eyes, unable t o respond or t o defend h i m s e l f — o r even t o a c k n o w l -
edge that he heard the w o r d s o f the papal d o c u m e n t Maesrroianni read
over h i m as he lay o n his bed. Words t h a t s u m m a r i l y dismissed h i m f r o m
his post as Father-General o f his p r o u d a n d prestigious O r d e r .
W h e n he had read the last w o r d a n d had turned away f r o m the inert
f o r m o n the b e d , M a e s t r o i a n n i h a d f o u n d himself l o o k i n g inro rhose o b -
sidian-black eyes o f y o u n g Father M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o . " W e w i l l n o t forger
this needless h u m i l i a t i o n ! " T h a t was the message those eyes had flashed.
C o u t i n h o ' s e n m i t y h a d n o t been f o r M a e s t r o i a n n i . H i s wordles> rage was
entirely focused o n the H o l y Father.
Maestroianni's p a i n f u l reliving o f that day came t o an e n d . Every man
present was fixed by rhe passion i n M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o ' s eyes as he made
p l a i n rhe presenr position his global O r d e r had adopred. " W e i n o u r Soci-
ery are completely at peace i n o u r consciences. We are b o u n d by o u r vows
BEST-LAID PLANS 107

to C h r i s t . A n d w e are b o u n d t o serve the Vicar o f Peter, the Bishop o f

Rome. Insofar as we can see he c o n f o r m s to the manifest w i l l o f Chrisr, as
rhar w i l l is s h o w n ro us in rhe h u m a n events o f o u r day, we are b o u n d ro
serve h i m . T h a r is all 1 have to say."
For Cyrus Benrhoek, ir was more rhan enough. L i k e M a e s r r o i a n n i , rhe
Jesuir had changed his allegiance. H e served rhe Pope n o w not as the Vicar
o f Chrisr, rhe Creator; but as the Vicar o f Peter, the creature. T h e regula-
tor for his policies was nor some transcendent goal f o r m u l a t e d in the
sixteenth century by a long-dead St. Ignatius o f L o y o l a , b u t the clear
lineaments o f political and social e v o l u t i o n at the end o f the twentieth
century.
Coolheaded as always, Benthoek was a b o u t to rise a n d take the meeting
in hand again, w h e n the acid-faced N o a h Palombo stood u p . Cardinal
Palombo was a man accustomed to c u t - a n d - d r i e d procedure. H e was nor
one for l o n g - w i n d e d discussions o f pros and cons. A n d he was nor ro be
pur o f f by the dangers the Jesuit Father-General had ourlined.
T h e C a r d i n a l had a simple recommendarion ro offer. " O n e o f our n u m -
b e r , " he suggesred, " s h o u l d formulare for us rhe essential p o i n t , w h i c h
Father-General C o u t i n h o recommended t o us at the beginning o f his re-
marks: rhe need f o r radical change ar rhe uppermost level o f the Church's
hierarchical structure. I f no one can p u t t h a t p o i n t o n the table in a way
that is clear and acceptable—and w o r k a b l e , practical—then we are wast-
ing our rime. I f someone a m o n g us is up to t h a t task, however, and if we
can achieve consensus o n t h a t p o i n t — t h e n I w i l l have a f u r t h e r recom-
mendation ro m a k e . "
riven before Palombo had regained his sear, and almost as if o n cue—or
so i t seemed to M a e s t r o i a n n i — C a r d i n a l Leo Pensabene lifted his t a l l , bony
frame w i t h the confident bearing o f a m a n w h o presumes everyone w i l l
agree w i t h all he says. To Maestroianni's relief, Leo Pensabene remained
more paternalistic than c o m b a t i v e . " W i t h o u t blushing t o o m u c h at my
o w n w o r d s , " he began, " I t h i n k I am in an excellent position to take a
shot at f o r m u l a t i n g the p o i n t , as requested by the Father-General and by
my venerable brorher C a r d i n a l . " A lirrle b o w ro C o u t i n h o , and another ro
Palombo.
" I n d e e d , I have had a w o r d w i t h my colleagues i n the College. They,
too, feel I m i g h t best f o r m u l a r e o u r a t t i t u d e . " Given C a r d i n a l Pensabene's
status as leader o f the m a j o r faction i n the College o f Cardinals, that last
seemingly casual bit o f i n f o r m a t i o n was a heartening i n d i c a t i o n o f support
in quarters o f the Vatican where m i g h t a n d p o w e r reside. " I f i t is to be
w o r k a b l e and p r a c t i c a l , o u r consensus must rest o n facts. O n the facts o f
the concrete s i t u a t i o n . For o n w h a t other basis can w e build?
" T h e p r i m a r y fact is this: Because o f the a p p l i c a t i o n o f the principles of
the Second Vatican C o u n c i l , since 1965 the life and development o f the
People o f G o d — o f all R o m a n Catholics—have been largely determined by
three new structures operating in rhe i n s t i t u t i o n a l organization of the
 108 WINDSWEPT MOUSE

C h u r c h . Firsr"—Pensabene held up one bony finger of his righr h a n d —

" w e have rhe I n r e r n a t i o n a l C o u n c i l for C h r i s t i a n L i r u r g y . " A second b o w
to P a l o m b o , n o w , as head o f rhat structure. " T h e I C C L n o w legislates f o r
all Catholics o n matters o f w o r s h i p and l i r u r g y . So when we speak or the
I C C L , w c t o u c h at the heart o f the i n d i v i d u a l m o r a l i t y o f Catholics.
" S e c o n d " — u p popped a second bony finger o n his righr h a n d — " t h e r e
is the C h r i s t i a n A d u l t Renewal Rite, supervised by the newest C a r d i n a l
a m o n g us. T h e f u n c t i o n o f C A R R , " he w e n t q u i c k l y o n , " i s to introduce
the new f o r m u l a t i o n s o f o u r f a i t h ; and to make sure rhey are employed
n o t o n l y in the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the Sacramenrs bur i n all teaching o f the
faith t o children and adults alike. So, when we speak o f C A R R , we touch
deeply o n social m o r a l i t y w i t h i n the fabric o f C a t h o l i c life.
" A n d , t h i r d . " Pensabene had three fingers in the air n o w . " T h i r d , we
musr take accounr o f rhe Justice and Peace Commissions t h r o u g h o u t the
w o r l d , including Rome.
"Because o f my o w n inrimare association w i t h J A P E C , I can assure you
that its precise f u n c t i o n and purpose has been a grear success. Ir ensures
rhat the new principles o f democracy embodied in the C h u r c h ' s current
p h i l o s o p h y and p o l i t i c a l activism are u n d e r s t o o d . Further, it ensures that
those principles are propagared Throughout the C h u r c h Universal. Espe-
cially i n rhe poverry-srricken counrries o f the T h i r d W o r l d , JAPEC has
made great progress. Ir w i l l be o b v i o u s , t h e n , rhat when we speak o f
J A P E C , w e are speaking o f rhe political m o r a l i t y o f rhe Catholic f a i t h f u l
a r o u n d rhe w o r l d . "
Pensabene turned his head ro peer at each m a n present. " W e have rhree
capiral srructures up and r u n n i n g a r o u n d the w o r l d , r h e n — I C C L , C A R R
and J A P E C . A n d we have three capiral m o r a l spheres ro go w i t h r h e m —
personal, social and p o l i t i c a l . So, t o o , d o we have three capital conse-
quences t h a t bear directly on o u r purpose here this evening. A l l three o f
these i n n o v a t i v e strucrures are based in the H o l y See. Likewise, all three
structures, and rheir activities, are acceptable t o a vast m a j o r i t y o f our
bishops t h r o u g h o u t the C h u r c h . A n d t h r o u g h I C C L . C A R R and JAPEC,
rhis same m a j o r i r y o f bishops n o w speaks increasingly i n rhe name o f the
H o l y See! M o r e and m o r e , in fact—legislatively and by w a y o f c o u n s e l —
these bishops n o w speak in place of the H o l y See!"
Few men had seen Pensabene more enthusiastic. " T h u s , these same
bishops already decide basic questions o f m o r a l i t y for all Catholics. For
the People o f G o d . Decisions a b o u t the most basic questions o f i n d i v i d u a l ,
social and p o l i t i c a l m o r a l i t y have been assumed de facto by the bishops.
O r , ro pur i t the other w a y a r o u n d : For all practical purposes, the bishops
have raken over rhe sublime teaching a u t h o r i t y o f the C h u r c h — t h e magis-
r e r i u m , as it was called in past times. De facto, the bishops are the nor-
m a l l y accepted voice of G o d .
" W h a t I a m describing for you—as I am sure all o f y o u have understood
by n o w — i s an e v o l u t i o n a r y state of affairs simply w a i t i n g ro be insriru-
BEST-LAID PLANS 109

tionalized. For i f rhe bishops a n d rhe People o f G o d indicate a n y t h i n g to

us. they arc i n d i c a t i n g clearly thar we no longer need the o l d basis f o r
a u r h o r i t y and developmenr in the C h u r c h . The day o f that o l d basis is past
and gone. As soon as possible, we need t o have a papacy t h a t conforms to
the new reality. A papacy that c o n f o r m s to the concrete, de facto situa-
t i o n . In fact, a papacy that accepts that situation as de j u r e / '
F l a v i n g ended as he had begun, w i t h b o t h feet i n the concrete situation,
and confident that he had been practical, persuasive and eloquent, C a r d i -
nal Pensabene sat d o w n s l o w l y , even majestically. If Pensabene's resolu-
tion c a r r i e d — a n d i f rhe Srrasbourg alliance were successful—rhe Slavic
Pope w o u l d c o n f o r m t o de facto conditions as the C a r d i n a l had laid them
o u t ; o r the Slavic Pope w o u l d be Pope no m o r e .
W i r h rhe Pensabene p r o p o s i t i o n clearly o n the table, logic dictated t h a t
a first vote should be taken. But because things had developed a little more
r a p i d l y rhan Benrhoek had expected, rhere had been no chance ro rake a
m e a n i n g f u l s o u n d i n g a m o n g the g r o u p . T r u e , some had nodded agreement
f r o m time to t i m e — b u t even that had not been u n a n i m o u s .
A w a r e that an unsuccessful vote w o u l d lead t o prorracred debare—and
in all l i k e l i h o o d ro an early and u n t i d y end t o the hoped-for Strasbourg
alliance—Benrhoek l o o k e d across the rable at C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . The
barest movement of M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s head signaled c a u t i o n . T h a t was suffi-
cient for Benrhoek. O b v i o u s l y some judicious canvassing was in order
before a vore was taken.
" M y f r i e n d s . " Cyrus pushed his chair back and invired everyone to do
likewise. " I suggest we take a little time o u t . I ' m sure some o f y o u w o u l d
like t o compare nores a n d conclusions w i t h each other and w i r h your
advisors. Fifteen o r t w e n t y minutes s h o u l d suffice."

XI
" T W E N T Y M I N U T E S may n o t be l o n g e n o u g h , H o l y Father."
As he rode beside the P o n t i f f i n rhe papal limousine, M o n s i g n o r e Dauiel
Sadowski's m i n d was no longer occupied w i r h rhe massive Fatima y o u t h
r a l l y , where H i s Holiness had just moments before delivered his evening
h o m i l y . Instead, his preoccupation was f o r this short break before the
candlelight procession rhar w o u l d rake place later that evening. Brief as it
was, a period o f t w e n t y minutes had been sandwiched i n t o H i s Holiness'
hectic schedule to a l l o w f o r his n o w reinstated private audience w i t h Sister
Lucia.
The Pope had already been visibly buoyed at Lucia's presence at the
H i g h Mass i n the m o r n i n g . She had retired then to the Casa Regina Pacis
 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

o n the Rua do A n j o , where she w o u l d a w a i t her meeting w i t h the H o l y

Father, and where she and her w a r c h d o g Reverend M o t h e r w o u l d then
pass the n i g h t .
" T r u e enough, M o n s i g n o r e . " The Pope turned f r o m the c r o w d s l i n i n g
the street just l o n g enough to reassure his secrerary. " T w e n t y minutes is
n o t l o n g . B u t perhaps it w i l l be sufficient. We shall see soon e n o u g h . "
T h e n , w i t h a surprising t w i n k l e i n his eyes, and a personal f a m i l i a r i t y that
was a reminder o f their K r a k o w days, " D o n ' t w o r r y , D a n i e l . Things are
n o t yer so bad rhat they w i l l begin the candlelight procession w i t h o u t u s . "
Sadowski responded w i r h a litrle l a u g h . H e was happy to see the Pontiff
regain some o f his o l d buoyancy and h u m o r . Bur rhe fact was rhat there
was roo little t i m e f o r the Pontiff's meeting w i t h Lucia. Too little time for a
meering rhe M o n s i g n o r e k n e w ro be o f such importance. In facr, rhere was
no m a n in the papal household w h o k n e w that importance more i n t i -
mately or cared more deeply a b o u t w h a t was precisely o n the m i n d of the
Slavic Pope. I t was a l l , at one and the same t i m e , so very simple and so
frustratingly c o m p l i c a t e d .
For the Slavic Pope, his c h u r c h l y o r g a n i z a t i o n had fallen beneath a
mandate o f decay and death. But so had the society o f nations—nations
i n d i v i d u a l l y taken and the nations as a society. Both the churchly o r g a n i -
zation and that society o f nations were heading srraight i n t o a period o f
severe punishmenr at the hands o f n a t u r e — u l t i m a t e l y at the hands o f G o d ,
whose u n d o u b t e d love for all his creation was balanced w i t h his justice.
For there is n o love possible w i t h o u t justice. C h u r c h prelares and the
nations had been s u m m a r i l y u n f a i t h f u l to the demands o f God's love.
Therefore his justice was poised to intervene i n h u m a n affairs and correcr
that unfaithfulness.
Cerrain i n his o w n m i n d that this terrible i n t e r v e n t i o n by G o d in human
affairs w o u l d take place in the decade o f the nineties, the Slavic Pope had
very few indications as t o w h e n precisely. Because o f rhe t h i r d letter o f
Fatima, he knew this punishment w o u l d have Russia as its focus. I le also
k n e w that part o f this divine timerable involved his o w n papal visit t o
Russia. A l s o , he k n e w that the t i m i n g of that Russia journey was tied to
the fortunes o f M i k h a i l Gorbachev. A n d , deliberately, he had nourished a
correspondence w i t h the Russian. But beyond these summary points, there
were o n l y ambiguities and vaguenesses. T h e Slavic Pope needed enlighren-
ment. Sister Lucia m i g h r be able to shed some light o n the ambiguities,
and dispel those fatal vaguenesses t h a t left the P o n t i f f uncertain o f the
future, unsure o f any m a j o r decisions.
A l l o f that being so, M o n s i g n o r e Daniel had n o t been surprised that
C a r d i n a l Secretary M a e s t r o i a n n i had done w h a t he c o u l d to scrub rhis
evening's privare meeting between the Pope and the o n l y s u r v i v i n g Fatima
seer. M a e s t r o i a n n i k n e w , as many d i d , that d u r i n g the seventy-four years
since rhe i n i t i a l Fatima events, rhe V i r g i n M a r y had continued her visits
and her messages to Sister L u c i a . A n d the C a r d i n a l Secretary k n e w , as
BUS! - LAID PLANS 111

many d i d , diar t w o Popes—including the Slavic Pope—had themselves

been favored w i d i visits f r o m the Blessed V i r g i n . He k n e w furrher that
each such visit had been u n m i s t a k a b l y connected w i t h Fatima.
The core o f the Slavic Pope's papal p o l i c y , as M o n s i g n o r e Daniel real-
ized, was ar issue in his o w n m i n d . By the end o f the eighties, he had
realized that he had u n w i t t i n g l y a l l o w e d the entry o f a certain darkness
i n t o the m i n d s o f those w h o w o u l d n o r m a l l y be reckoned as o r t h o d o x
prelates, o r t h o d o x priests, o r t h o d o x l a y f o l k . H e had a l l o w e d the ambigu-
ous tenets o f the Second Vatican C o u n c i l t o be w i d e l y interpreted in a n o n -
Catholic manner. H e had a l l o w e d w h o l e hierarchies o f bishops in various
regions ro w a l l o w in clerical bureaucracy and neglect the basics o f Roman
Catholic life.
In fact, his governance o f his churchly i n s t i t u t i o n had o n l y increased rhe
absolute need for the only element that c o u l d save his i n s t i t u t i o n f r o m
f o u n d e r i n g complerely and disappearing f r o m rhe sociery o f man as an
effective force: rhe i n t e r v e n t i o n o f the Blessed V i r g i n forerold ar Fatima,
w h i c h w o u l d be accompanied by severe chastisements. Hence his desire ro
o b t a i n f r o m Sister Lucia some more precise idea o f the divine timetable
As they approached rhe Casa Regina Pacis, where Lucia w a i t e d , M o n s i -
gnore D a n i e l shivered i n v o l u n r a r i l y .
" I t ' s nor c o l d , M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l , " the P o n t i f f teased h i m as rhey ap-
proached their destination, " w h y the shivering? Surely you're n o t afraid t o
meet a l i v i n g saint, o u r Sister L u c i a ? "
" N o , H o l y Father. Somebody was just w a l k i n g over my g r a v e . " Daniel
used the o l d p r o v e r b ro pass o f f rhe occasion, b u t — t r u t h t o tell—he d i d
n o t k n o w w h y he had shivered.

H i s Holiness was welcomed t o the Casa Regina Pacis by its M o t h e r Supe-

r i o r , whose face was as happy and cherubic as thar o f any angel. She
presenred her nuns ro H i s Holiness w i t h devout and cheerful w a r m t h , and
the P o n t i f f had a few quiet w o r d s o f encouragement t o say to each one in
t u r n . W i t h i n a few m o m e n t s , the M o t h e r Superior was leading the Pope
and his secrerary along a high-ceilinged c o r r i d o r rhat ran rhe length o f the
house. She explained to Flis Holiness and M o n s i g n o r e Daniel that the
sacrisry ar rhe far end o f the c o r r i d o r , beside rhe house chapel, had been
chosen f o r the audience. As it was a large r o o m . M o t h e r was certain the
photographer c o u l d w o r k f r o m the c o r r i d o r w i t h o u t d i s t u r b i n g rhe papal
audience.
The cherubic face rurned ro M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l . " T h e photographer has
already a r r i v e d , M o n s i g n o r e , and w o u l d be happy to have y o u r instruc-
tions." Daniel thanked the n u n a n d , w h i l e the Superior accompanied the
Pope i n t o the vestry, remained just outside the d o o r w i t h the photogra-
pher to tell h i m the shots required f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n to the news media
a r o u n d the w o r l d .
The sacrisry was nor ornate. There were no chandeliers; but the light-
 112 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

ncss of feeling was infectious and i n v i t i n g . T h e adornments o f this r o o m ,

as o f rhe Casa itself, consisted mainly o f the souls w i t h i n its walls. A r the
farthest distance f r o m the d o o r w a y , over near the b o w w i n d o w s that gave
o n t o the Casa's gardens, three chairs had been p u t i n place for the papal
audience. T h e largest chair in the center was o b v i o u s l y meant for rhe
Pontiff. Those o n either side were ro serve for Sister Lucia and for her
Superior and g u a r d i a n ar C o i m b r a w h o had accompanied Lucia to Fa-
tima.
"Reverend M o t h e r . " T h e Ponriff rurned ro the cheerful-faced n u n .
" T w o chairs w i l l be sufficient. I w i l l speak alone w i t h Sister L u c i a . "
" Q u i t e so, H o l i n e s s . "
W i t h a smile in her eyes, Reverend M o t h e r herself removed rhe chair ar
the left o f the g r o u p i n g , and rhen excused herself f r o m rhe papal presence
to see w h a t m i g h t be delaying her guests. T h e H o l y Father sat d o w n ro
w a i t , quite at his ease f o r a change. He c o u l d hear M o n s i g n o r e Daniel
t a l k i n g to the photographer our in the c o r r i d o r .
Sister Lucia was at last ushered in f r o m rhe c o r r i d o r by her somber
C o i m h r a Superior. T h e P o n r i f f rose f r o m his chair w i t h both arms ex-
tended in a w o n d e r f u l gesture o f w a r m t h a n d welcome. "Sister L u c i a , " the
Floly Father spoke to the Fatima seer i n her native Portuguese. " I salute
you in the name of O u r L o r d and His Blessed M o t h e r . "
T h e elderly lirrle n u n seemed n o r in the least oppressed by the strictures
that had come d o w n u p o n her so harshly f r o m the Secretariat in Rome.
Indeed, she remained very m u c h as the Pontiff remembered her f r o m rheir
lasr meeting. She was a little thinner, perhaps; but her face was still f u l l ,
her expression srill v i b r a n t , her step still quick and purposeful f o r a
w o m a n o f such advanced age. H e r d a r k , bespectacled eyes shining w i t h
great and u n i n h i b i t e d j o y , Lucia came f o r w a r d i n response to the H o l y
Father's welcome. She k n e l t o n the floor and kissed the Pontiff's ring.
H a d she been a l l o w e d , Lucia w o u l d doubtless have remained u p o n her
knees in the o l d Carmelite w a y f o r the entire audience. Obedient t o the
Pope's wishes, however, and i n response t o the gentle guidance o f his
h a n d , she rose to her feet and a l l o w e d herself to be seated beside the papal
chair. Lucia had n o t lost the simplicity o f expression and guileless look
t h a t adorned her face as a y o u n g girl in the early years o f the century. Age
had left her body w e a k , her movements slower. But the m o m e n t her eyes
were raised t o l o o k i n t o the Slavic Pope's eyes, a radiance suffused her
w h o l e being. T h e P o n t i f f himself felr h u m b l e d by her almost palpable
holiness.
F i n d i n g no t h i r d chair f o r herself, a n d w i r h no welcome f r o m rhe Pope
beyond t h a t required by his o w n c o r d i a l i t y , the M o t h e r Superior f r o m
C o i m b r a d u t i f u l l y brushed her lips somewhere near rhe papal r i n g , gath-
ered her d i g n i t y and w i t h d r e w ro the c o r r i d o r .
Lucia sar straight in her chair, her rosary e n t w i n e d i n her hands clasped
on her lap. W h e n he was n o t himself speaking. H i s Holiness leaned for-
B H S T - t. A I n PLANS 113

w a r d , elbows resting o n his knees, head b o w e d and cupped in his hands,

his concentration intense as he listened to the Fatima seer. D u r i n g all the
time that passed, t h o u g h aware o f the h o u r and of the benign presence of
his secretary, the P o n t i f f l o o k e d up at Daniel o n l y once. W i t h that glance,
Daniel understood t h a t the candlelight procession w o u l d get o f f to a late
start.
It was nearly an h o u r before H i s Holiness and Sister Lucia rose f r o m
their chairs by the w i n d o w . As the n u n knelt again to kiss the Fisherman's
r i n g , the photographer took his final picture and M o n s i g n o r e Daniel
stepped f o r w a r d to escort Lucia to the sacristy d o o r and i n t o the charge
again o f her u n s m i l i n g M o t h e r Superior f r o m C o i m b r a . For Daniel rhe
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n in the H o l y Father's face was electrifying. T h e Pope's eyes
shone w i t h t h a t keen, quickened light that had once and for so long been
h a b i t u a l to h i m . T h e Pontiff was enlivened, i n v i g o r a t e d . The smile that
suffused his features was less o f rhe lips than o f rhe s p i r i t . The Pontiff
m o t i o n e d for the secretary to sir d o w n beside h i m for a m o m e n t .
" Y o u were r i g h t , M o n s i g n o r e . " The Pope laughed. " T w e n t y minutes
can be very s h o r t . " There was n o time n o w t o recap the substance of his
talk w i t h Lucia for M o n s i g n o r e Daniel's benefit. T h a t w o u l d have t o come
later. He and the holy Sister had covered all the points o f his m a i n queries.
As was usual, he had f o u n d the reassurances he needed, b u t still had t o
proceed in faith and trusr. " O n e urgent matter, t h o u g h . W h e n d i d the last
letter f r o m Signor Gorbachev a r r i v e ? "
" L a s t week. H o l i n e s s . "
" I r is i m p o r t a n r thar 1 answer i t rhe m o m e n t we get back t o Rome. T h a t
p o o r little m a n has been an u n w i t t i n g instrument o f the V i r g i n , but we
m u s t n ' t a l l o w his impatience and desperation t o r u i n t h i n g s . " T h e n , as i f
in a m p l i f i c a t i o n , " W e have made no bad mistakes, M o n s i g n o r e . But the
time is foreshortened. We have far less t h a n 1 had t h o u g h t . Sister w i l l see
the beginning of the end. We w i l l see it t h r o u g h — G o d w i l l i n g . "
" G o d w i l l i n g , H o l y F a t h e r . " Daniel's response was quick in c o m i n g .
"God willing."

B E C A U S E J A W B O N I N G is w h a t men at exalted levels o f p o w e r d o for a

l i v i n g , t w e n t y minutes was a b o u t right for Cyrus Benthoek and Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i t o take their strategic soundings. They passed separately and
easily f r o m g r o u p to g r o u p , asking a question here, soliciting reactions
rhere. Each was geared to rhe pulse o f things; always listening, w a t c h i n g ;
always h e l p f u l . Benthoek spent a b i t of extra rime w i t h his guest of h o n o r ,
 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the C h u r c h o f England's Reverend H e r b e r t Tartley. Then he joined his

Russian associate, Scrozha G a f i n , w h o was deep i n conversation w i t h the
A m e r i c a n , G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d . Because O t t o Sekuler had been silent i n the
discussions, a short conversation was in order there, t o o .
M a e s t r o i a n n i covered his contingent efficiently, g i v i n g special attention
to some w h o had n o t spoken up so far. H e d i d n ' t have t o w o r r y about
C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i , o f course; or about Svensen o f Belgium. But the p o l i t i -
cally careful A r c h b i s h o p G i a c o m o Graziani m i g h t need his spine stiffened,
A n d i t w o u l d be unwise t o neglect the sometimes q u i x o t i c Father-General
o f the Franciscans, V i c t o r Venable.
A t last, Benthoek a n d M a e s t r o i a n n i strolled together t o the refreshment
table for a w o r d w i t h C a r d i n a l N o a h Palombo. I t had been Palombo's first
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , afrer a l l , that had led to C a r d i n a l Pensabene's i n f o r m a -
tive s u m m a r y o f rhe " d e facto s i t u a t i o n " in the C h u r c h . But Cardinal
Palombo's second recommendation still remained to be heard.
Cyrus Benthoek and the C a r d i n a l Secretary concluded that a c o m m o n
o p i n i o n was n o w w i t h i n reach. N o matter h o w radically the various dele-
gates m i g h t d i f f e r o n a thousand different subjects, an alliance a m o n g
them f o r this one goal—a change in the f o r m and f u n c t i o n o f the p a p a c y —
was the egg w a i t i n g ro be hatched. Like a pair o f m o t h e r hens, therefore,
the t w o organizers reassembled their guests at the conference table.
Benthoek t u r n e d to the h o n o r e d delegate f r o m the C h u r c h of England,
seated o n his right. Surely, Cyrus said w i t h a k i n d l y smile u p o n the gather-
i n g , a w o r d or so f r o m the Reverend Tartley, as " a d v i s o r t o the T h r o n e
and special consultor for C a n t e r b u r y , " w o u l d have special significance.
Tartley rose o b l i g i n g l y f r o m his chair. He was the least challenging o f
figures. A b i g , b l u f f m a n w i t h t h i c k bifocals, a pug nose, a r u b i c u n d face
and very little hair, he gave the impression o f somerhing between the
t r a d i t i o n a l figure of John Bull and the o l d music-hall caricature o f the
English parson. In the nasal t w a n g o f his Cockney English, he offered his
greetings as " t h e ' u m b l e pastor o f IsIip-on-Thames," and apologized for
the absence this evening o f M r s . Tarrlcy, " m e better ' a l f . " Immediately,
however, he tweaked the nose o f modesry w i t h an o f f h a n d reminder o f the
p o w e r he e m b o d i e d . O n l y a m o n t h ago, he recalled, her Majesty the
Queen had p o i n t e d o u t to h i m the need o f " a universal teacher" in o u r
present w o r l d . Someone w h o w o u l d be described as universal because he
w o u l d be accepted by all as having the w i s d o m " t o cater ro everyone's
needs, but nor ro move exclusively."
T h e n , h a v i n g made i t plain that he was speaking as a k i n d of unofficial
pleniporentiary n o t o n l y f o r the C h u r c h o f England but also f o r the
T h r o n e , he m o v e d q u i c k l y o n to the p o i n t at issue. There c o u l d , he ex-
plained by example, be no real c o l l a b o r a t i o n between " t h e 'oly See and
the vast m a j o r i t y o f C h r i s t i a n s " u n t i l Rome abandoned its obstinate views
o n such basic questions as d i v o r c e , a b o r t i o n , c o n t r a c e p t i o n , homosexual-
i t y , rhe o r d i n a t i o n o f w o m e n , marriage f o r priests, and fetal engineering.
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 115

Such a step w o u l d only come about t h r o u g h a "change in papal

h a d m i n i s r r a t i o n . " A t the same t i m e , however, the f a i r - m i n d e d Reverend
w o u l d himself " 'ave a look at changing minds in 'igh places." W i t h a
b r o t h e r l y glance at Benthoek's secular guests—at Gafin a n d Sekuler; ar
Nicholas, Clatterbuck and G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d — T a r t l e y a l l o w e d that his C U

of E " m i g h t be considered s m a l l , i f one relied only on a head counr o f its

members. But he t o o k such statistical data to be insignificant beside the
fact t h a t , f r o m Her Majesty on d o w n , that church was l i n k e d in w h a t he
called " t h e b r o t h e r ' o o d o f m a n k i n d — w h e t h e r y o u speak o f East or West;
o f capitalism or socialism.
" N o r do 1 m i n d telling you t h a t — p r i o r to this meeting, and also d u r i n g
o u r break a few moments ago—these g o o d gentlemen and I 'ave 'ad o u r
c o n s u l t a t i o n s . " H e trained his t h i c k bifocals on the laymen again. " W e are
in agreement w i t h the specific goal that 'as b r o u g h t us together for this
'istoric evening. A n d we are ready to collaborate w i r h wharever plans can
be d r a w n up to achieve that w o r t h y goal. Let's all p u l l o u r w e i g h t ! G o d
bless y o u a l l . " Somehow, his speech was a reminder of the H o l y See's o w n
m i l l e n n i a r c l a i m t o perpetuity and to a divinely guaranteed i m m u n i t y f r o m
destruction. Somehow his w o r d s prefigured the success thar awaited the
new alliance.
Cyrus Benthoek c o u l d feel the m o o d o f the Cardinals as Tartley took his
chair again. A p p r o v a l was apparent i n rhe eyes o f every listener. Benthoek
l o o k e d across at C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . T h i s t i m e , there was no caution-
ary signal. Eminently pleased at his o w n stratagem, Cyrus stood and all
but blessed the English clergyman w i t h his signature oram gesture. " M y
friends, I sense the feeling of all here present that o u r consensus has been
poured like freshly matured w i n e i n t o a new vessel. Before w e go o n , then,
may w e have a vote on the 'essential point'? O n o u r w o r t h y goal of a
change at the t o p m o s t reaches o f rhe R o m a n C h u r c h , for rhe g o o d of all
m a n k i n d as it is presenrly e v o l v i n g ? "
Maestroianni's was the first band raised o n his side of the table. His
f o u r brother Cardinals f o l l o w e d suit. Palombo was the quickest. Pen-
sabene's bony hand shot u p . T h e n Aureatini's h a n d , and Svensen's. A r one
end o f the R o m a n phalanx, the very quiet Father-General V i c t o r Venable
of the Franciscans voted aye. A t the opposite end o f the table the Black
Pope, Father-General M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o , counted himself a n d his Jesuits
i n . Across f r o m the C a r d i n a l Secretary, every hand was h i g h , i n c l u d i n g
Benthoek's. G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d was the sole exception. But then, as an
unofficial observer, the A m e r i c a n was not expected to participate to that
degree. The last t o fall i n t o line was M a e s t r o i a n n f s soon-to-be successor
as Secretary o f State, A r c h b i s h o p G i a c o m o G r a z i a n i . A f t e r a few pensive
b l i n k s , t h o u g h , Graziani t h r e w i n his l o t w i t h the rest.
" I t is u n a n i m o u s , t h e n . " Benthoek stated the obvious for the record.
Satisfied, Cyrus rurned his eyes like blue lighrs on C a r d i n a l N o a h
 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

P a l o m b o . " Y o u r Eminence had a second recommendation to make. M a y

we have the benefit o f Your Eminence's counsel again?"
C a r d i n a l Palombo rose s l o w l y to his feet, his face set i n its usual sever-
i t y , like u n y i e l d i n g granite. " The situation is clear," P a l o m b o began. " A n d
my second r e c o m m e n d a t i o n is accordingly very simple. T h e basic reason
for the consensus that has just been demonstrated a m o n g us is the pres-
sure—the f o r c e — o f h u m a n events. Events outside the operational scope o f
the c h u r c h m e n here t o n i g h t . I speak o f the rush o f men and w o m e n the
w o r l d over t o w a r d a new u n i t y . T o w a r d a new arrangement a m o n g rhe
nations, and a m o n g all people o f o u r m o d e r n society.
" W e are impelled n o t t o step aside f r o m such events. Prom such a posi-
tive force. We are impelled to identify w i t h i t . To embrace it wholeheart-
edly. A l r e a d y t h a t force has v i t a l l y — w e should say, m o r t a l l y — a f f e c r c d the
ancient C h u r c h f o r m u l a . T h o u g h they have not spoken t o n i g h t , t w o of
our n u m b e r — R e v e r e n d Father-General o f the Franciscans, V i c t o r Ven-
able; and H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l Svensen—know h o w that force, as em-
bodied i n the charismatic m o v e m e n t , has ushered many millions o f Catho-
lics away f r o m the f o r m u l a o f pseudo-personal d e v o t i o n to the historical
Christ. A w a y f r o m the w h o l e gaggle o f devotions oriented t o w a r d angels
and saints and M a r i o l o g y . Those m i l l i o n s o f Catholics are n o w i n direct
and personal contact w i t h the S p i r i t . " As if he himself embodied the Spirit,
Palombo made direct personal contact w i t h the eyes o f the Franciscan and
the Belgian C a r d i n a l . Each o f them smiled i n beatific agreement.
C a r d i n a l Palombo turned his attention next to M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o . "So
t o o can the Father-General o f the Society o f Jesus tell us o f the success the
Jesuits have had in L a t i n America w i t h a theology o f l i b e r a t i o n . A g a i n , we
can speak o f many millions—masses o f C a t h o l i c s — w h o refuse any longer
to be castrated by a saccharine Christ figure or by a weeping and pieiistic
Madonna.
" I n those T h i r d W o r l d countries, successive generations o f imperialist-
m i n d e d clerics once preached a pacific and milquetoast devotional theol-
ogy. But n o w , those millions o f men and w o m e n have rejected such i m p o -
tence. T h e y have opted for their o w n long-overdue financial, economic
and p o l i t i c a l l i b e r a t i o n . Those millions battle n o w , n o t w i t h rosaries and
novenas, b u t w i t h the strength o f their o w n arms. A n d w i r h the strength of
their ballots. R e a l l y — a n d above a l l — t h e y battle w i t h rhe force o f the
Spirit i n t h e m . "
T h e Black Pope's eyes flashed his agreement.
Acid-faced and intent, Palombo turned n o w t o w a r d each o f his fellow
Cardinals. " W e have heard t o n i g h t f r o m m y venerable brorher C a r d i n a l
Pensabene, f o r example, t h a t the Catholic m i n d has n o w been disaffected
f r o m its recent slavery ro the papalist m o t i v e . T h a t m i n d has also been
disaffected f r o m the w h o l e confused mixtum-gatherum o f mental habits
that once c o n f o r m e d Catholics t o a m o d e l of h u m a n behavior d i a t is
refused and rejected by the vast m a j o r i t y o f men and w o m e n today.
B i; S T - L A I D PLANS 117

1 hanks t o rhe use o f advanced psychological techniques employed by

M a r r i a g e Enjoinder, O r i g i n s and R E N E W — r o name just a few o f the
processes f o r m u l a t e d to further o u r agenda—even the vast m a j o r i t y o f
Catholics today reject those o l d models of behavior,
" M o r e ro the p o i n t , those very processes have moved Catholics t h e m -
selves—again, 1 speak o f men and w o m e n in their m i l l i o n s — t o the accep-
tance o f everything we in this r o o m envision for the N e w W o r l d Order.
N o longer do Carholics suffer under the c o n v i c t i o n that they belong t o
some special g r o u p . O r t h a t they have exclusive possession o f the m o r a l
and religious values by w h i c h men and w o m e n must live in order r o — r o
be . . . " Just this once, N o a h Palombo stumbled over his w o r d s . " T o
be—as they used t o say—to be saved."
Ir was o n l y a microsecond before he regained his composure. "Right
n o w , t h r o u g h the Roman center—through every diocese and parish;
t h r o u g h every seminary and universiry and school that is called C a t h o l i c —
rhere runs a new a n d different current. T h r o u g h o u t the C h u r c h , there is
b o r n a new type of C a t h o l i c . N o w , Catholics are disposed and ripe to be
assimilated to the general type o f men and w o m e n . N o w , Catholics desire
w h a t we ourselves desire. N o w , Catholics are ready to i n h a b i t and give life
to the N e w W o r l d O r d e r that w e , here in this r o o m , inrend to make a
reality."
Every man was transfixed by Palombo's w o r d s and ready f o r his finale.
" M y second r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , therefore, is as urgent as i t is practical. As
C a t h o l i c c h u r c h m e n , m y colleagues and I have come very far o n o u r o w n .
The one t h i n g lacking t o us n o w is the final bridge ro the w i d e r w o r l d . The
bridge over w h i c h vasr m i l l i o n s o f Catholics can h u r r y to j o i n the rest of
h u m a n i t y . T o j o i n the new arrangement o f nations as an acrive, coopera-
tive force i n our new and m o d e r n w o r l d . "
N o a h Palombo looked directly at Cyrus Benthoek n o w , and at each o f
his delegation in t u r n , i n c l u d i n g the standoffish Gibson A p p l e y a r d . " T h e
one t h i n g we cannot do alone is construct that bridge. Y o u , Signor
Benthoek. A n d y o u , Signor C l a t t e r b u c k . A n d y o u , Signor G a f i n . A n d y o u ,
Signor Sekuler." The C a r d i n a l looked at Gibson A p p l e y a r d again, but
refrained f r o m p u t t i n g his name o n the record. " A l l of y o u have the means
t o help us construct that bridge. H e l p us remove the s t u m b l i n g block t o
o u r u n i o n . H e l p us construct o u r bridge t o the w o r l d . H e l p us cross i t . "

In his extensive and lustrous career, rarely had things w o r k e d o u t so well

for Cyrus Benthoek. A l o n e n o w w i t h C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i i n the little
T r i a n o n , he eased back in his chair and stretched o u t his long legs.
Benthoek and C a t d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i had one m o r e little piece o f business
t o set i n m o t i o n . N e i t h e r of them had forgotten C a r d i n a l Svensen's p r o -
posal, made by phone t o M a e s t r o i a n n i i n R o m e some ten days p r i o r , to
create a strong flesh-and-blood l i n k between the Catholic bishops of Eu-
 118 WINDSWEPT HOUSf

rope's heartland a n d the p o w e r f u l Commissioners o f the European C o m -

munity.
The A m e r i c a n t o l d M a e s t r o i a n n i about progress made so far o n his side
o f the Vatican-EC l i n k . As p r o m i s e d , Benthoek's l a w firm had looked into
the matter o f placing their talented y o u n g internationalist, Paul Thomas
Gladstone, i n t o the post o f Secretary-General t o the C o u n c i l o f Ministers,
w h o f o r m e d the central g o v e r n i n g body o f the European C o m m u n i t y .
Thar post w o u l d fall vacant i n June. " I t w i l l take a little a r r a n g i n g , " Cyrus
confided t o the C a r d i n a l Secretary. " B u t the task o f securing the j o b f o r
o u r m a n is w e l l w i r h i n o u r scope. N o w , whar about Christian Gladstone,
Eminence? There's n o t h i n g like a little nepotism t o firm u p a plan such as
this."
M a e s t r o i a n n i h a d done his h o m e w o r k , t o o . Mis further investigations
had reaffirmed his i n i t i a l estimates o f Father C h r i s t i a n Gladstone as a
pliable, n o n p o l i t i c a l innocent. T h e fellow's y o u t h was offset nicely by his
personal polish a n d his f a m i l y connections. Such qualities were sure to
impress the bishops and gain their confidence—especially w h e n backed by
the muscle o f the Vatican's Secretariat. Under the s k i n , meanwhile, Chris-
tian Gladstone checked o u t as the perfect m a n f o r the j o b . H i s record
showed h i m t o be an intelligent b u t obedient cleric w h o w o u l d find a w a y
t o d o as he was t o l d , i f i t were p u t t o h i m i n the r i g h t w a y .
" I t ' s just a matter o f his a v a i l a b i l i t y . Technically, he's still under the
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f the Bishop o f N e w Orleans. A C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p by the
name o f J o h n Jay O ' C l e a r y . B u t as you say, Cyrus, the task is well w i t h i n
o u r scope."
The t w o o l d friends left the T r i a n o n at last. T h e C a r d i n a l t o o k one last
l o o k at Roberr Schuman House, deserred n o w , abandoned ro silence and
m o o n g l o w . " I r w i l l be g o o d . " H i s Eminence echoed rhe prophecy
Benrhoek h a d made earlier. " I t w i l l be very g o o d . "

In contrast t o the barren, silent darkness that settled i n o n the Schuman

House, Fatima had become a darksome a n d velver sea r h r o u g h w h i c h a
w i n d i n g stream o f riny flames moved t o the rising a n d f a l l i n g cadences o f
the Ave M a r i a voiced by the thousands o f p i l g r i m s , each c a r r y i n g a lighted
candle, w h o t o o k part i n the procession a r o u n d the Basilica. I t was a
contrast between the dusty memories o f long-dead men silenced forever i n
Strasbourg a n d the l i v i n g , breathing soul o f a believing c o m m u n i t y re-
n e w i n g its quickened hopes a n d lively faith i n the i m m o r t a l i r y guaranreed
o n l y by the a l l - p o w e r f u l Son o f the living G o d a n d delivered t o m a n k i n d
by the fiat o f a village maiden n o w become the Queen o f Heaven a n d the
M o t h e r o f a l l h u m a n beings.
Something special was enacted by that procession, M o n s i g n o r e Daniel
reflected as he w a l k e d s l o w l y behind the Slavic Pope; something symbolic
of m a n k i n d ' s c o n d i t i o n . Christians were never promised w o r l d w i d e vic-
t o r y . By biblical d e f i n i t i o n , they w o u l d never be more than a remnant, a
B E S T - L A I D P L A N S 119

stump of a once great tree, pruned and cut d o w n to size by the hand of
G o d rewarding love but maintaining the justice of his law.
Here tonight, all those who followed rhe lead of the Holy Father were
walking the only sure path to salvation. For Monsignore Daniel, for all
following rhe R o m a n Pope, for this R o m a n Pope himself, those precious
minutes of singing veneration for the Blessed Lady of Fatima provided a
sweet respite for all—the tired souls, the frightened souls, the wavering
souls, the perfervid souls. For the dark around them was light enough for
their comfort; and the light around them was dark enough to allow the
steel of rheir faith to pierce the human skies and reach rhe throne of the
Father in Heaven.
 Friends
of Friends
 XIII
N I C H O L A S C L A T T E R B U C K never changed. Whether directing Vatican
and other guests into the once-in-an-age meeting in Strasbourg or di-
recting the far-flung everyday operations as C E O of Benthoek's London
headquarters, he was always the same. Always grandfatherly, yet with a
peculiar presumption of authoriry.
Even the late-afternoon rush-hour traffic on New York City's Upper
West Side seemed unable to ruffle him. N o doubt D r . Ralph Channing and
the others would be waiting for him at Channing's Cliffview House. But
not even Clatterbuck—not even the devil himself—could do anything
about the sanitation truck grinding its way along the upper reaches of
Riverside Drive, or about rhe volume of traffic that crept behind it, horns
blowing, all the way north from Ninety-sixth Street.
" H e r e , driver." In his usual kindly voice, Clatterbuck directed his driver
roward a row of limousines already double-parked in front of his destina-
tion. "Pull up here."
Cliffview. The name was etched on the brass doorplare, but the English-
man barely glanced at it as he entered the thirteen-story mansion. He
knew rhis turn-of-the-century landmark as well as he knew its proprietor.
In fact, almost anyone familiar with New York's Upper West Side knew
Cliffview—if not by its name, at least by its distinctive eaves capped by
that easy-to-spot glass dome overlooking rhe Hudson River.
" A h , Clatterbuck. My dear m a n . "
The gravelly voice that greeted Nicholas as he joined the others already
gathered in the penthouse studio was as unmistakable as everything that
went with it: the utterly bald head; the high, straight forehead; the piercing
blue eyes; the goatee beard; the force of authority and sureness that nei-
ther Clatterbuck nor any man here had ever gainsaid. All of that belonged
to D r . Ralph S. Channing.
"Sorry ro be behind time, Professor. Traffic."
" Y o u r timing is perfect. We were just T
a l
k i
n g about you, in fact. I was

filling everyone in abour your triumph with Benthoek at last week's Stras-
bourg meeting. But I seem to have set off some sparks. O u r French col-
league here finds the whole Roman proposal to be distasteful in the ex-
treme." Channing set his wineglass firmly down on the marble side table
by his chair and looked at his full complement of eleven colleagues, each
in turn, until he let his laser eyes fix on Jacques Deneuve as the subject of
 124 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

his p a t r o n i z i n g indulgence. " D e n e u v e t h i n k s Rome is a cesspool, Clat-

t e r b u c k . W h a t d o y o u have to say a b o u t t h a t ? "
C l a t t e r b u c k t o o k his rime before answering. A general glance at the ten
men already seated at their ease a r o u n d the studio w i t h D r . C h a n n i n g
sufficed as greeting. H e poured himself a glass of w i n e f r o m one of the
decanters o n rhe credenza.
" W h y , o f course it's a cesspool." H e t u r n e d his k i n d eyes o n Deneuve.
" N o one here likes Rome, Jacques. T h e w h o l e papal o u t f i r is the w o r s t
cesspool o f a n t i h u m a n plots and plans and i n h u m a n machinations ever
devised by g r u b b y litrie men w i t h g r u b b y little ideas. We all k n o w that.
But that's n o t the p o i n t w e need t o focus o n . O p p o r t u n i t y has not merely
k n o c k e d o n o u r d o o r . I t has p r o v i d e d us w i t h a Vatican passport."
H i s p o i n t conceded at least i n essence, Deneuve was satisfied. His pride
was intact. C h a n n i n g c o u l d always c o u n t o n Clatterbuck t o calm injured
feelings. Glass in h a n d , the Englishman made his way i n t o the circle o f
men and settled his tweeds i n t o a solidly upholstered w i n g chair. Berween
h i m a n d C h a n n i n g , a thirteenth chair remained empty—except for a red
leather folder resting on its seat. T h a t place always remained e m p t y , as if
f o r an invisible presence a m o n g rhem rhat added force to the combined
presence of rhe g r o u p itself; a presence that made the g r o u p more than the
sum o f its twelve animated bodies and lively m i n d s . This was always such
a c o m f o r t a b l e place for C l a t t e r b u c k . A deliciously tasteful r e t r e a t — " p i p e y
and b o o k y and m a l e , " as V i r g i n i a W o o l f once characterized the privare
srudy of one o f her admirers. F r o m where he sat, he c o u l d enjoy the view
of the evening darkness and a thousand lights across the H u d s o n .
Q u i c k l y caught up i n the discussion o f w o r l d events that always pre-
ceded whatever business m i g h t b r i n g these twelve colleagues to C l i f f v i e w
f r o m rime to t i m e , C l a t t e r b u c k needed no briefing f r o m Cyrus Benthoek.
as he had at Strasbourg, ro k n o w about the members o f this g r o u p . In fact,
r h o u g h Benrhoek had met C h a n n i n g and some o f the others here i n the
n o r m a l course o f his affairs, even he m i g h r be surprised ro k n o w all that
C l a t t e r b u c k k n e w about t h e m .

O n the surface, R a l p h Channing's guests at C l i f f v i e w made up a W h o ' s

W h o of p o w e r and success. Jacques Deneuve, f o r example, whose feathers
had been ruffled by the R o m a n proposal o u t of Strasbourg, was Europe's
a l l - i m p o r t a n t banker. G y n n e t h Blashford was Britain's most p o w e r f u l
newspaper magnare. Brad Gersrein-Snell cur rhe d o m i n a n t figure in inrer-
n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . Sir J i m m i e B l a c k b u r n ranked as South Africa's
sole ruler o f the d i a m o n d marker. K y u n Kia M o i was master o f all Far
Eastern charter s h i p p i n g .
Those five alone were rhe kingmakers o f the N e w W o r l d O r d e r w h o
daily play w i t h scores o f b i l l i o n s that slosh a r o u n d the international
money markets in T o k y o , L o n d o n , N e w Y o r k , Singapore, Paris and H o n g
K o n g , rhe d o m i n a n r figures regulating the flow o f capiral and capital
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 125
goods. U l t i m a t e l y , therefore, they were the arbiters i n the life and death o f
i n d i v i d u a l governments and the welfare o f nations.
In such a g r o u p as this, D r . Ralph C h a n n i n g mighr have been consid-
ered the o d d m a n o u t . Instead, however, he was clearly something more
t h a n a peer. B o r n i n t o a long-established H u g u e n o t f a m i l y in M a i n e ,
C h a n n i n g had done his studies at Yale i n comparative religion and theol-
ogy. R e n o w n e d for his encyclopedic grasp o f the records of rhe Knights
T e m p l a r , o f the H o l y G r a i l r r a d i t i o n and o f Freemasonry—in particular,
the O r d o T e m p l i O r i e n t i s , or O T O ; the Eastern Temple—he had become a
noted archivist f o r diverse groups o f humanist scholars. As a tenured pro-
fessor at a t o p A m e r i c a n university, his influence extended a r o u n d the
w o r l d t h r o u g h a well-received litany o f books, pamphlets, articles, lectures
and seminars.
Increasingly valued i n certain circles for his correct historical i n f o r m a -
t i o n and his a b i l i t y t o appraise organized religion as a sociocultural and
political factor in the w o r l d , he had been b o r r o w e d f r o m his university by
one W a s h i n g t o n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and had successfully managed the p l a n -
ning o f the Deparrmenr of Education. Somehow he also f o u n d time to
spend a couple o f m o n t h s abroad each year as consultant f o r various
h u m a n i s t organizations i n Europe and rhe Far East.
Never m i n d , then, t h a t Ralph C h a n n i n g wasn't a banker or master o f
s h i p p i n g inreresrs. There wasn'r a man in rhis distinguished g r o u p w h o
w o u l d — o r could—challenge his credentials as leader.
In reality, w h a t b o u n d these twelve men together wasn't entirely a mat-
ter o f b a n k i n g or s h i p p i n g o r d i a m o n d s . H a v i n g d r u n k deeply f r o m the
precious w i n e o f success, each m a n present had searched for another goal.
A n d each had f o u n d rhat service to the Prince of This W o r l d was the o n l y
goal that satisfied. Each had passed t h r o u g h the tests of Fire, Pain and
Death. Each had received the Seal o f the Final Utterance o n his soul. A l l
here were bespoken men. T h a t was the u n i f y i n g force ar C l i f f v i e w House.
Still, w h i l e d e v o t i o n t o the Prince was the distinguishing t r a i t of Ralph
Channing's little gathering at C l i f f v i e w , such devotion had n o t h i n g t o do
w i t h a goatlike figure s p r o u t i n g p o i n t y ears and cloven hooves and smell-
ing like a polecar o n h o l i d a y i n a garbage d u m p . Each of these men had
long since learned that rcaliry was far differenr. W h a t everyone here had
discovered and c o m m i t t e d himself to was an intelligence each had f o u n d
to be supreme a m o n g h u m a n beings as such. T h e i r increasingly intimate
involvemenr i n the Process had taken o n a special cast; had enabled these
men—against all odds, and o u t of all men in the w o r l d — r o recognize the
lineaments o f t h a t supreme intelligence at w o r k i n the Process, to b o w to
that intelligence in every practical w a y and thus to f o l l o w the f o o t p r i n t s o f
history.
N o one present at C l i f f v i e w w o u l d be reckoned as an evil person as that
w o r d is understood nowadays. A handshake f r o m anyone here was as
good as a contract. In matters o f politics, they were correct; w h i c h is ro
 126 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

say, they were never extremist. I n social matters, they were acceptable;
w h i c h is to say they had s h o w n their h u m a n i t a r i a n concern and their
p h i l a n t h r o p i c generosiry. I n marters o f mariral fidelity, a l l adhered t o the
currenrly accepred n o r m of respecrabiliry.
N o r c o u l d anyone daub this g r o u p w i r h rhe i n s u l t i n g label of conspira-
tors. Rather, they were men w h o happened t o feel the same w a y about
h u m a n affairs. I n this—as any one o f them c o u l d attest, f o r they sat as
directors o n c o r p o r a t e boards a r o u n d rhe w o r l d — t h e y were not much
different t h a n , say, the trustees o f H a r v a r d or rhe board of direcrors of
The Times of L o n d o n . N o r m u c h differenr rhan rhe Commissioners of rhe
European C o m m u n i t y , i f ir came t o t h a t .
Like those and many other groups, these twelve men operated w i t h i n
the recognized bounds of democratic freedom ro see their cherished ideals
implemenred. A d m i r t e d l y , this g r o u p enjoyed certain advantages that few
c o u l d equal. T h e supreme success of each m a n enabled rhe g r o u p as a
w h o l e to engage i n social engineering and political m o l d i n g on a vast
scale. But p o w e r and success were not w h a t provided them w i t h their
greatest leverage.
T h e i r true advanrage, as any one of them w o u l d attest, stemmed f r o m
one t h i n g o n l y : the dedication o f each t o Spirit as such. T o that personage
rhey all described as the Prince. The advanrages afforded by that abiding
interest seemed infinite to t h e m . T h e simple fact that their interest d i d not
c o n f o r m to the interest asserted by the major religions meant they were
able to t h i n k i n a m o r e universal w a y rhan rhey w o u l d have as Jews or
Chrisrians or M u s l i m s . They were rherefore more rolerant. M o r e h u m a n .
A second advanrage lay in their a b i l i t y to understand the Process. Their
special qualifications ranked them as master engineers. They knew rhem-
selves ro be a m o n g rhe few ever privileged to understand the superhuman
q u a l i t y and progress at w o r k i n rhe Process. T h e i r vantage p o i n t a l l o w e d
t h e m t o understand that the Process is not a matter of one generation or of
one century. A n d t h o u g h they themselves had risen so high above its day-
t o - d a y , year-ro-year w o r k i n g s as to recognize the very face o f the intelli-
gence behind i t , they accepted rhe reality that for most o f rhe h u m a n
p o p u l a t i o n — e v e n for most adherents and propagarors w h o functioned at
inferior levels—the Process is o n l y k n o w n i n its w o r k i n g s .
T h e poinr for t h e m as master engineers was that those w o r k i n g s them-
selves must always change. T h e Process must always g r o w r o w a r d its
u l t i m a t e g o a l . I n theory, ir was somerhing like a chain reaction, w i t h soci-
ety as the reactor.
Ir was capital for the Process rhar change had n o w become the d o m i -
nant rrait of h u m a n society. M i n d s were being changed. L i v i n g language
itself was being m o l d e d by changing minds. The vocabulary of politics and
geopolitics was the vocabulary o f change. * i n r e r n a t i o n a l i s m " had made
w a y for " m u l t i n a r i o n a l i s m , " for example. T h e n " r r a n s n a r i o n a l i s m " rook
center srage. Very soon, ir w o u l d be " g l o b a l i s m " Ar every level of life,
F R 1 I- M D S OF FRIENDS 127

minds and society itself were being m o l d e d and remolded by the never-
ending chain reaction o f change. Society had come t o the b r i n k of recast-
ing its basic structure, shedding irs cocoons o f separatism. Universalism
w o u l d soon b r i n g all men and w o m e n i n t o one f a m i l y . O n e embrace.
W h e n change becomes the slogan and the w a t c h w o r d o f society at
large, rhe e v o l u t i o n t h a t is the Process becomes ever more acceptable. Ever
more respectable. Ever more inevitable.

" A l l r i g h t , g e n t l e m e n . " Like a gavel s o u n d i n g a board meeting to order,

R a l p h Channing's rough-edged voice ended rhe chitchat. " L e t ' s get d o w n
to the c r u x o f t h i n g s . " As everyone k n e w , the c r u x o f things was to be the
reading o f the Categoric Report. As everyone expected f r o m experience,
however, C h a n n i n g had a few remarks t o offer first.
" A s some o f y o u have surmised, the u l t i m a t e directives contained i n the
Categoric Report itself are based o n the significant meeting earlier this
m o n t h ar Srrasbourg. O u r o w n Nicholas C l a t t e r b u c k , in fact, prepared the
s u m m a r y o f that meeting f o r Cyrus Benthoek. M y hope, gentlemen, is that
an undersranding o f the significance o f the alliance proposed at Strasbourg
w i l l make your minds the more receptive to o u r proposals.
" S o m e o f the Vatican personnel at Strasbourg m i g h t not have under-
stood h o w far afield the bridges they proposed m i g h t reach. W h o w o u l d
have dreamed t h a t the e v o l u t i o n o f the Prince's rule w o u l d require whar
the Categoric Report calls 'a religion phase' in rhe e v o l u t i o n a r y engineer-
ing o f the society o f nations? T h e organized religions cannot simply be
condemned and bypassed in favor of occulr practices. A l l , o f course, are
parr o f rhe Process. We n o w realize that religion is a manifestation o f
Spirit,"
There was a little s t i r r i n g at that, but as a world-class experr o n the
w o r l d ' s religions, C h a n n i n g was n o t to be challenged. "Yes, I g r a n t i t is a
misguided and d e f o r m i n g manifestation. Yet, I insist, t r u l y a manifesta-
t i o n . Progressive Spirit i n man means progress i n r e l i g i o n — a n d progress,
as w e k n o w , always leads f r o m rhe particular and the local to the univer-
sal. L o g i c a l l y , i n other w o r d s — a n d simply because religions do e x i s t —
there must be a r e l i g i o n phase i n the e v o l u t i o n a r y Process of m a n k i n d .
" W h a t we must understand is that w e are faced today w i t h a new stage
in rhat e v o l u t i o n a r y Process. The final stage! The creation o f a o n e - w o r l d
r e l i g i o n . Absent a l l nationalisms, all particularisms and all culturalisms o f
the past. N o w , i n its final stages, this e v o l u t i o n a r y Process necessarily
implies a mechanism by w h i c h the religion phase w i l l be refashioned to
suit the g l o b a l i s m — r h e u n i v e r s a l i t y — o f rhat N e w O r d e r ,
" I n a i d i n g the Process a l o n g , our task is to come to the aid o f each
major r e l i g i o n in such a w a y as to enable t h e m all to come i n t o one
universal embrace. I n t o one universal r e l i g i o n , i n w h i c h no religion w i l l be
distinguishable f r o m any other. T h e perfect h a n d m a i d e n f o r the N e w O r -
 128 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

der o f the Ages! W o u l d n ' t y o u agree, gentlemen?" C h a n n i n g smiled at the

smiling faces a r o u n d h i m .
" T h a t m u c h u n d e r s t o o d — a n d even g r a n t i n g Jacques Deneuve's convic-
t i o n that R o m e is a cesspool—one further t h i n g must be clear. If we are to
b r i n g the r e l i g i o n phase o f m a n to the s u m m i t o f its e v o l u t i o n — i n t o the
f u l l embrace o f the Process—then we must consider the role o f R o m a n
C a t h o l i c i s m . N o . " W i t h a glance at the red folder l y i n g o n the thirreenth
chair, C h a n n i n g corrected himself at once. " R a t h e r , we must consider the
role o f papal C a t h o l i c i s m i n general and of rhe papal office i n particular.
" A n d that p o i n t , I am happy to say, brings us directly to the reading o f
the Categoric R e p o r t . " C h a n n i n g leaned t o w a r d rhe empry chair beside
h i m t o rerrieve the leather f o l d e r , and handed it to Nicholas Clatterbuck.
Clatterbuck read i n a soft, k i n d l y voice.
" T h e f o l l o w i n g is the Categoric Report d r a w n up by Capstone on the
absolutely necessary measures ro be taken by C o n c i l i u m 13 i n view o f the
i m m i n e n t Ascent o f the Prince of This W o r l d . "
As if a s w i t c h had been t h r o w n , the reading o f rhat opening sentence
shifted the m o o d i n D r . Channing's studio f r o m affable ro surreal. Even on
Clatterbuck's tongue, Capstone's w o r d s were d a r k velver, a mantle woven
of past achievement and present hope. Lips curled in smiles nor pleasur-
able to see; smiles of death imposed and enjoyed and w a i t i n g for a repeat
performance.
"Because o f the ritual Enthronement o f the Prince effecred by the i n -
house Phalanx o f servirors w i t h i n the Citadel o f the E n e m y — y o u have
always k n o w n that ir is y o u r privilege to serve in the Availing T i m e , to
facilitate the u l t i m a t e t r i u m p h o f the Prince o f T h i s W o r l d . The moment
has arrived w h e n we must face the o b l i g a t i o n t o engage the forces o f rhe
Enemy in rheir o w n s r r o n g h o l d .
" I n saying this is an o p p o r t u n i t y , we r e m i n d you that w e have a period
of between five and seven years remaining to us before the advantages
secured ro us in the Enthronement w i l l be n u l l i f i e d . T h a t is o u r Categoric
Persuasion." A t such a w a r n i n g as t h a t , even the C o n c i l i u m members—
even C l a t t e r b u c k — s t o l e a l o o k at D r . C h a n n i n g . Such was the Professor's
c o m m a n d , thar a gesture o f the hand was sufficient to subdue a l a r m . The
reading was resumed.
" H a v i n g clarified rhe urgency o f o u r o b l i g a t i o n , we hasten t o say that
the time frame made k n o w n to us—five to seven y e a r s — w i l l be sufficient,
on a double c o n d i t i o n . First, w e must be realistic in o u r assessmenr o f the
major obstacle r e m a i n i n g i n the path o f o u r success. Second, we musr be
equally realistic i n rhe means we engage to remove that obstacle.
" F i r s t things firsr, then: T h e most ancient and the most recalcitranr
obstacle to the Ascent—indeed, the o n l y obstacle to be p r o f o u n d l y re-
spected and guarded against—has been and up to this day still is the
R o m a n Carholic p a p a c y . " Clarrerbuck was back o n familiar g r o u n d n o w .
His voice was level again, pleasing to the ear and dispassionare in tone.
m i E N D S OF FRIENDS 129

" L e t us be clear as w e l l that we do not h o l d a u t h o r i t y in itself t o be

objectionable. O n rhe c o n t r a r y , rhere must be a u t h o r i t y . Hut let us be
equally clear abour a u t h o r i t y so complete as personal i n f a l l i b i l i t y and per-
sonal representation o f the Nameless O n e . T h i s personalized a u t h o r i t y is
alien to us—and finally i n i m i c a l ro o u r interests—because it is inimical to
the Ascent. We r e m a i n dedicated t o the Ascent.
"Some accoutrements o f the papal office can be readily adapted as a
facilitating instrument f o r the Ascent. H o w e v e r , in the papacy itself, we
face an obstacle that we must regard as something to be feared. I t is
lethally fearful because in this papacy we are dealing w i t h a dangerous
reality. A reality o f Spirit. A l u m p o f Otherness that is unique; that is
irreconcilable w i t h the progress o f the N e w W o r l d O r d e r we envision; and
that is u l t i m a t e l y irreconcilable w i t h the Ascent whose heralds we are.
" I t is well t o be reminded o f just h o w resilient that papal office has been
Throughout its history. The office itself can be rainted w i t h c o r r u p t i o n o f
every k i n d . Its holders can be isolated and insulated f r o m the rest o f the
h u m a n race. T h e y can be terminated—gently or v i o l e n t l y ; i n secret or
before the eyes o f m i l l i o n s . But n o b o d y has ever succeeded i n l i q u i d a t i n g
t h a t office. N o b o d y and n o t h i n g .
" F o r a l u m p o f Otherness to be so effective and p e r d u r i n g , its force and
strengrh a n d recuperative p o w e r must issue f r o m w h a t is t o t a l l y alien to
us. T h e y must issue f r o m w h a t is t o t a l l y alien to Capstone and to the
Ascent. They must issue f r o m the Nameless O n e . A t this critical m o m e n t
i n o u r w a r f a r e , w e w h o are o f the Spirit must stress that we are up against
the reality o f Spirit. C o n r r a r y S p i r i t — b u t Spirit all the same.
" I n this last g l o r i o u s stage o f the Ascent, our most concerted action n o w
must be direcred r e w a r d rhe p r i m e locus o f resistance ro o u r aims. Conse-
q u e n t l y , o u r Categoric R e p o r t itself is centered o n one question: W h a t is
to be done a b o u t the personalized papacy, w i t h a l l o f its s t u b b o r n resil-
iency?
" O u r response dictates a t u r n a b o u r i n o u r strategies. O r , berter, an
escalation o f o u r strategies t o a level that even you of the C o n c i l i u m may
n o t have considered possible. We have said that the papal office is to be
respected, feared and guarded against. N o w , however, w e have deter-
mined that we can no longer be defensive. Rather rhan guard against the
power o f that office, we w i l l make i t o u r o w n .
" O u r Caregoric Decision—and rhe objecr o f o u r agenda over the five to
seven advantageous years remaining to us—must be this: To secure the
papal office, w i t h all o f its resiliency, to ourselves. A n d to do that by
ensuring rhat the holder o f that office be a m a n on w h o m we can rely to be
adaptable to o u r needs. We w i l l review f o r y o u n o w the l i m i t e d options by
w h i c h w e m i g h t achieve this goal. Those o p t i o n s are basically three i n
n u m b e r : Persuasion. L i q u i d a t i o n . Resignation.
" C o n s i d e r , firsr, persuasion. The possibility that the presenr holder of
the papal office himself mighr be induced or persuaded to such a c o m p l a -
 130 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

cency and acceptance as o u r s w o r n purpose requires. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , we

must report that in the u l t i m a t e j u d g m e n t o f o u r expert cognoscenti—
i n c l u d i n g in-house members o f the Phalanx w h o reside in close p r o x i m i r y
to the office—the presenr holder w i l l never see the w i s d o m o f o u r agenda.
" N o r do we have the l u x u r y of rime ro w a i r h i m our. O n rhe basis o f
actuarial and personal health data, w e may be l o o k i n g at f o u r t o seven
years m o r e o f active physical existence f o r rhe present holder. Given o u r
Categoric Persuasion t h a t w e are w o r k i n g i n rhe constricted and currently
r u n n i n g rime span of n o t more than seven years, we must proceed to the
next t w o o p t i o n s : the l i q u i d a t i o n o r the resignation o f the presenr holder
of rhe papal office.
" I n practical terms, either o p t i o n w i l l yield the result we desire and
leave us free ro install a new, complaisant holder. As is often the w a y in
i m p o r t a n t matters, rhe step that m i g h t appear ro be rhe mosr d i f f i c u l t — t h e
installation o f a friendly occupant—is the easier p a r t o f o u r task. We need
not r e m i n d anyone i n the C o n c i l i u m t h a t w e are n o w e n j o y i n g the marvel-
ous facility a f f o r d e d us by the g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f our regular Phalanx o f
in-house supporters. A n d beyond t h a t , a n u m b e r o f personnel w h o actu¬
ally assisted at the E n t h r o n e m e n t ceremony in 1963 are themselves still i n
place, and have ascended to such high posts w i t h i n the Citadel as to assure
our success. T h u s w e w i l l n o t merely be f o r c i n g C o n t r a r y Spirit to vacate
one friendly house o f its h a b i t a t i o n , o n l y t o enter i n t o another, equally
friendly house. T h e r e w o u l d be no p o i n t f o r us i n rhat.
" N o , the candidate t o replace the present holder o f the office w i l l be
someone acquainted w i t h o u r aims, acquiescent i n them at the very least
and even f u l l y disposed to collaborate in achieving those aims.
" T h e task o f r e m o v a l , Therefore, must be the focus o f our urgent and
u n r e m i t t i n g a t t e n t i o n . T h e firsr o f the t w o alternatives by w h i c h to achieve
removal w o u l d be rhe most satisfying. O n the surface it m i g h t even seem
the easiest, and therefore the most t e m p t i n g . We speak o f personal l i q u i d a -
tion.
" W e r e C o n c i l i u m 13 ro undertake such a procedure, it w o u l d be meticu-
lously planned and i m m a c u l a t e l y executed. I n y o u r hands, we w o u l d not
be faced w i r h a n y r h i n g resembling rhe srupid i n i t i a t i v e o f 1981. Yer, even
were we ro succeed in an open move againsr the person of rhe presenr
holder o f rhe office, the results c o u l d still be disastrous for us. We w o u l d
not be able to hide behind such cover as 'rhe nasty Bulgars' or ' K G B death
technology' o r 'segregated files* or ' C I A m a n i p u l a t i o n . ' N o n e o f the ex-
travaganzas o f p o p u l a r c o m m e n t a r y rhat served as camouflage for the
1981 i n i t i a t i v e are any longer available.
" S t i l l , i f s w i f t and openly executed l i q u i d a t i o n is likely to be self-defeat-
ing by its nature, one m i g h t ask if there are m o d i f i e d but nevertheless
effective means of l i q u i d a t i o n . We k n o w o f concrete proposals along rhe
lines o f such a g r a d u a l and modified l i q u i d a t i o n . A l l o f t h e m , however,
have been complicated by the security means adopted at the papal office
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 131
since 1 9 8 1 ; means so extensive and detailed t h a t they include security even
for all ingesrion.
" F u r t h e r m o r e , the mere fact t h a t we k n o w o f such proposals underlines
another p r i m e reason w h y w e should n o t ourselves succumb to any temp-
t a t i o n along these lines. There is no such t h i n g as a secret. In the final
analysis, all is berrayed; all is revealed; a l l is k n o w n . Remember that we
are dealing w i t h S p i r i t — v o l a t i l e , unpredictable, w i l d i n its ways, b l o w i n g
and sweeping where ir w i l l s .
" I t is o u r Categoric Judgment rhar those w h o hand us any p r o p o s i t i o n
for such a s o l u t i o n are in reality handing us a live grenade, i n v i t i n g us to
pull the p i n and explode i n t o the fragments o f our o w n s e l f - l i q u i d a t i o n .
" T h e r e remains, t h e n , the Chosen A l t e r n a t i v e . The Categoric Choice by
w h i c h we w i l l achieve o u r goal is resignation. Briefly stated, the presenr
holder o f the office w i l l be induced ro resign f r o m rhar office—and w i t h o u t
prejudice.
" A v o l u n t a r y papal resignation, at this c r u x o f divisiveness and disunity
a m o n g the o r d i n a r y R C laity and berween churchmen rhemselves, w o u l d
be a p o w e r f u l signal; n o r h i n g less rhan an admission o f defear for i m p o r -
tanr elements w h o stand against us. I t w o u l d be a declaration to the re-
m a i n i n g defenders o f the o l d order of things that the past is irretrievable.
Indeed, the climate is such that there is already a certain sympathy among
the o l d order f o r o u r Chosen A l t e r n a t i v e . A n openly expressed sympathy,
we m i g h t a d d , i n straregic quarters w i t h i n the target ranks.
" W h e n we speak o f i n d u c i n g rhe holder t o resign, inducement must be
understood in its subtlest f o r m . We speak o f effecting all the means at your
disposal i n the w o r l d . For the most p o w e r f u l inducemenr w i l l be rhe pres-
sure o f irreversible events and the emergence o f irresistible power lines.
Events and p o w e r lines must be devised t o constrict the actions of the
holder. T h e o n l y one course left to h i m w i l l be resignation o f the papal
office.
" I n rhe r e p o r t r e c o u n t i n g f o r us the evenrs o f rhe recent meeting at
Strasbourg hosted by M r . Cyrus Benthoek, o u r Nicholas Clatterbuck
clearly indicates t h a t we have potential allies n o t previously identified as
secure. I n d i v i d u a l s w h o are h i g h l y influential w i r h i n rhe Ciradcl and w h o
have in effect joined hands w i t h those in-house Phalanx members w h o
were also presenr at Strasbourg. They have said they are eager for a radi-
cal change at the t o p m o s t level o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . A n d i n their eagerness,
they open to us their o w n p o w e r f u l lines o f global persuasion.
" M o r e o v e r , there is an ancillary and even more i m p o r r a n t iniriarive
under w a y in w h i c h we have also in effect been invited to cooperate, again
t h r o u g h Cyrus Benrhoek. A n initiative that involves the f o r m a t i o n o f a
close and systematic alliance between v i r r u a l l y every r a n k i n g churchman
of Europe's hearrland and the European C o m m u n i r y . T h a t initiative is t o
be facilitated.
" A l l in a l l , the way has been opened for us, i n srricr c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the
 132 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

Canon Law of the Citadel, for the peaceful departure of the present holder
of the papal office. Your charge is to seize upon these rwo significanr
advanrages that have been handed to us. Your charge is ro take in hand
the Strasbourg proposal, and the intended alliance between the Citadel
and the E C . Your charge is to use those rwo advanrages to create the
irreversible events and to evoke the irresistible power lines that will render
the papal office useless to the Nameless Other and deliver ir into the hands
of the scrvirors of rhe Prince."

It remained only for Clatterbuck to fill his associates in on the plans de-
signed to link the bishops of Europe ro the interesrs of the European
Community. One of the firm's talented younger men, Clatterbuck ex-
plained—Paul Thomas Gladstone—was to be installed in the powerful
post of Secretary-General to the Commissioners of the E C . Gladstone's
brother, Father Chrisrian Thomas Gladstone, would serve as the Vatican
link. Under close direction from Rome, and with his brother as his inti-
mate tie to the Commissioners, Father Gladstone would lead the bishops
into professional cooperation with the policies and aims of the E C .
Nicholas Clatterbuck concluded his briefing by emphasizing one final
point. Borh rhe E C initiative and the Strasbourg alliance depended for the
moment on the reliability of Flis Eminence Cardinal Cosimo Maestro-
ianni. Father Chrisrian Gladstone was to be his creature. And, while it was
true that the soon-to-be-rerired Secrerary of State had been cultivated by
Cyrus Benthoek as a special friend, it was also true that Benthoek was not
a member of the Concilium. Since Benthoek was not privy to such a high
level of intelligence, it followed that his judgment of the Cardinal's probity
and reliability was not ro be trusred as final. Even ordinary prudence
dictated, therefore, that one of their number should check the Cardinal
out personally.
That much agreed by all. Dr. Ralph Channing selected himself as the
man to meet with Maestroianni. "To cement this relationship," as he ex-
pressed it, "and get things moving in high gear."
If the Cardinal passed muster—if his consent was unquestionable and
the contracr with him as working ally could be regarded as firm and
reliable—then matters could proceed swiftly. Gynneth Blashford sug-
gesred rhat Clatterbuck could easily arrange for Cyrus Benthoek to join
the Professor in paying a visit to their new Roman friend. "Friends of
friends always ease the way, don't you think?"
It was settled, then. If all went well, those in Rome who had reached out
for help in securing radical change at the topmost level of power would
get more than most of them had bargained for.
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 133

XIV
I N T H E S C H E M E OF T H I N G S — a t that exalted level of power where
w a r r i o r s set o u t to conquer the minds o f others and fashion their straregies
of g l o b a l w a r f a r e — D r . R a l p h S. C h a n n i n g reckoned himself ro be more
t h a n a match for C a r d i n a l C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i .
T h e p r i m a r y concern for C h a n n i n g i n "assuring the stability of R o m e "
t u r n e d less on questions of the Cardinal's capabilities or his grasp on
p o w e r in the Citadel t h a n o n whether H i s Eminence m i g h t be no more
rhan a h i g h - r a n k i n g rurncoar as likely ro cross one master as he had an-
other. Before he lefr N e w Y o r k , Therefore, the Professor made ir his busi-
ness to k n o w the C a r d i n a l Secrerary's record of accomplishments i n office.
O n the w a y to Rome via L o n d o n , he p l u m b e d Cyrus Benthoek for whar
became a lively, c o n v i n c i n g a n d even affectionate personal skerch based
on l o n g association w i t h the R o m a n c h u r c h m a n . Finally, w i r h Benthoek as
his ticket of entree, Channing's i n t r o d u c t i o n to Maestroianni's penrhouse
a p a r t m e n t capped the promise of c o m i n g c o l l a b o r a t i o n .
The valet w h o opened the d o o r to C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's private d o -
m a i n was an exceedingly small man w h o m Benthoek addressed w i r h the
grearesr respecr as Signor M a r i o . D i g n i r y was his as a personal possession.
There was n o r h i n g spontaneous about h i m . Every step he took seemed
measured. Flvery smile was f o r m a l .
Signor M a r i o declared himself pleased to see Signor Benthoek again; ir
had been t o o l o n g . H e b o w e d a superior b o w to D r . C h a n n i n g .
As they f o l l o w e d the litrle valet w i r h unquestioning obedience t h r o u g h
rhe spacious hallway leading to Maestroianni's private study, the f l o o r - t o -
ceiling cityscapes engulfed the pair w i r h rheir almost mystic aura, just as
they always engulfed M a e s t r o i a n n i . Indeed, rhat c o r r i d o r alone served for
C h a n n i n g as an accurate marker of p r o f o u n d dedication to the achieve-
ment of m a n k i n d ' s o r i g i n a l oneness, for no one c o u l d d o u b t thar oneness
was rhe aim of rhe Conference on Security and C o o p e r a t i o n in Europe.
As i f he k n e w just h o w m u c h t i m e to a l l o w for the H e l s i n k i c o r r i d o r to
have its effect, Signor M a r i o measured his pace t o w a r d the farthest doors
and i n t o H i s Eminence's private srudy. " D o feel at h o m e . " T h e valer made
it seem m o r e a c o m m a n d rhan an i n v i r a t i o n . " H i s Eminence w i l l be w i t h
y o u presenrly."
A l o n e for rhe m o m e n t w i t h Benthoek, C h a n n i n g surveyed his s u r r o u n d -
ings w i t h undisguised interest. As a first-class scholar himself, he knew a
firsr-class library w h e n he saw one. A well-used library t h a t captured rhe
very essence of rhe passion w i t h w h i c h H i s Eminence obviously f o l l o w e d
 134 WINDSWFPT HOUSE

history's e v o l v i n g record. " A superb c o l l e c t i o n , " C h a n n i n g cooed his ap-

p r o v a l to Benthoek as he spied several of his o w n monographs piled on
rhe near side o f the center table.
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i himself bustled theatrically t h r o u g h the d o o r
f r o m an a d j o i n i n g r o o m . " A s y o u can see. D r . C h a n n i n g , you really arc no
stranger a m o n g us in rhese parrs. I've just been reading your m o n o g r a p h
on rhe geopolirics o f d e m o g r a p h y . M a r v e l o u s w o r k . I ' m indebted to Cyrus
for b r i n g i n g us together like r h i s . "
Channing's sensuous m o u t h curled u p w a r d behind his goaree as he
clasped rhe Cardinal's ourstrerched h a n d . H e hadn'r expecred such a tiny
m a n . Small men w h o wielded great p o w e r made the Professor nervous.
" T h e pleasure is all mine, E m i n e n c e ! "
C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i led his guests to a t r i o o f c o m f o r t a b l e chairs
garhered a r o u n d a rea table laden w i t h ice and s p a r k l i n g water. A pleasanr
breeze played t h r o u g h the open w i n d o w s . W i t h his R o m a n instinct as his
guide, M a e s t r o i a n n i contented himself w i t h small talk for some moments;
t h o u g h he k n e w C h a n n i n g , personal impressions and assessment were
w h a r counted in the end.
It was Cyrus Benrhoek w h o first lost patience w i t h the small talk. " I
decided to call o n y o u , Eminence," he plunged i n , "because we all have a
c o m m o n objective. D r . C h a n n i n g has made it clear to me that he n o t o n l y
shares rhe objective we fixed up ar Strasbourg b u t can engineer v i r t u a l l y
all o f rhe bridges r e q u i r e d . "
M a e s t r o i a n n i n o d d e d , but remained u n h e l p f u l . H e w o u l d nor make an
early move.
Cyrus was derermined t o p r i m e the p u m p . " I ' v e taken the liberty ot
detailing the substance o f o u r Strasbourg meeting for D r . C h a n n i n g . A n d I
must tell y o u , Eminence, it was a pleasant task. It was almost as i f the
g o o d Professor k n e w beforehand all a b o u t the w o r k ot C a r d i n a l Aurea-
tini's C h r i s t i a n A d u l t Renewal Rite. A n d a b o u t C a r d i n a l Palombo's Inter-
n a t i o n a l C o u n c i l f o r C h r i s t i a n L i t u r g y . Very reassuring. Eminence. Very
promising."
" I see." M a e s t r o i a n n i had taken that m u c h f o r granted. H e shifted his
a t t e n t i o n pointedly t o w a r d C h a n n i n g . H e wanred a direct statement f r o m
this outsider.
C h a n n i n g u n d e r s t o o d . H i s voice was as categoric as his choice o f
w o r d s . " Y o u r Eminence k n o w s h o w far the Process has come in b r i n g i n g
the nations o f the West a l o n g the road o f economic, financial and c u l t u r a l
h o m o g e n i z a t i o n . We are already t a l k i n g a b o u t more t h a n twoscore na-
tions and a p o p u l a t i o n o f somewhere near a b i l l i o n .
" I f all goes according t o p l a n , w i t h i n t w o to f o u r years, the member
countries o f the European C o m m u n i t y w i l l be t r a n s f o r m e d . Every c o u n t r y
w i l l lose c o n t r o l over most areas o f its economic life and policy. Foreign
and defense policies are already being determined at least i n part by supra-
r R IE N DS Of FRIENDS
135

national needs and pressures. The sovereign nation-stare w i l l soon be a

t h i n g o f the p a s t . "
M a e s r r o i a n n i nodded in patient agreement. H e needed no lectures on
the accomplishments and virrues of rhe Process.
C h a n n i n g realized he had better move t o the more personal accomplish-
ments o f rhe C a r d i n a l Secretary. " N o w , d u r i n g Your Eminence's tenure as
Secretary of State, the foreign policy o f the H o l y See has been faithful in its
alignment w i r h this trend of the Process. To use one of your o w n con-
secrated Catholic phrases, for the past t w e n t y - f i v e years, your C h u r c h has
been determined ro ' j o i n m a n k i n d in b u i l d i n g m a n k i n d ' s earthly habirat.'
Why, even y o u r basic acr o f religious w o r s h i p — t h e Mass i t s e l f — n o w
bears the stamp of o u r most cherished goal. T h e Novus Ordo* you call i t .
The N e w O r d e r ! "
C h a n n i n g made the p o i n t w i t h such style that even M a e s t r o i a n n i had ro
soften his reserve.
" I d o n ' t mean to b r i n g coals t o Newcastle, Eminence, w h e n I p o i n t o u t
that such policies emanating f r o m y o u r office have created a deep fissure
in y o u r Carholic hierarchy. As nearly as my colleagues and I can see, a
g o o d m a j o r i t y o f y o u r bishops—especially in the West—are enthusiastic
for this new o r i e n t a t i o n o f the C h u r c h . They are practical men, after a l l .
A n d rhey d o nor enjoy the l u x u r y of l i v i n g i n this sovereign city-stare of
rhe V a t i c a n . " D r . C h a n n i n g a l l o w e d himself an expansive gesture r o w a r d
the v i e w f r o m rhe Cardinal's penthouse. " T h e y are subject already to the
pressures of the EC and the CSCE and the Free Trade Agreements of
Europe, N o r t h A m e r i c a a n d Asia.
" L i k e everyone else, your RC bishops surely realize that either rhey w i l l
become active participants i n the b u i l d i n g of this global N e w Order or
they w i l l be s w a l l o w e d up in rhe daily lives o f their compatriors. W h a t sort
of a C h u r c h w o u l d rhat be, Eminence? A C h u r c h of rhe new caracombs!
As i n f l u e n t i a l as T i b e t a n astrologers at N A S A ! "
M a e s t r o i a n n i had to laugh. H e d i d n ' t m u c h care for D r . C h a n n i n g h a m -
m e r i n g away ar w h a r he called " y o u r b i s h o p s . " But the Professor could
t u r n an amusing phrase.
" H e r e ' s rhe p r o b l e m , t h o u g h . " C h a n n i n g leaned f o r w a r d i n his chair.
" T h e current occupant o f rhe T h r o n e o f Peter bends his energies i n a
totally different d i r e c t i o n . M y colleagues and I see h i m as heir t o rhe
unacceprable persuasion rhat his C h u r c h embodies an absolute a u t h o r i t y
c a r r y i n g over i n t o d o c r r i n a l mandates that f o r b i d Catholics to come i n t o
step w i r h rheir f e l l o w citizens o f the w o r l d .
"Now the urgent p o i n t f o r many is this: The presenr occupant o f the
papal office w o u l d appear t o have more than a few years o f active life,
while the useful time for y o u r C h u r c h to get i n o n the g r o u n d floor of the
new w o r l d structure is nor five or ren years hence." H a v i n g all bur come
our in so many w o r d s w i r h the motive for rhis m e e t i n g — f o r the purpose of
 136 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the removal of the present Pope f r o m o f f i c e — D r . C h a n n i n g leaned back in

pensive silence.
A c c o r d i n g to C l a t t e r b u c k , M a e s t r o i a n n i and his colleagues at Stras-
b o u r g had themselves decided t h a t a change in the papal structure o f their
C h u r c h was essential; and they had been the ones t o ask f o r exactly the
sort o f outside help C h a n n i n g c o u l d c o m m a n d . Yet, aside f r o m a few lirtle
nods o f assenr n o w and rhen, and an appreciative chuckle or t w o , the
C a r d i n a l Secretary remained t r a n q u i l l y n o n c o m m i t t a l . H o w m u c h more
w o u l d i t take t o move this prerenrious little prelare? H o w m u c h furrher
should C h a n n i n g himself go in the effort t o get things moving?
O n e step f u r r h e r , perhaps. Professor C h a n n i n g leaned f o r w a r d again.
" T i m i n g , Eminence. T h a t is w h a t brings the three o f us together. Pm well
aware o f where I a m this a f t e r n o o n . A n d I hope nor ro exceed the limits o f
prudence. But I feel I must speak as truly a m o n g brothers n o w . " C h a n n i n g
included Benthoek in his figurative embrace.
" W i t h o u t m y going i n t o privileged details, you w i l l understand thai on
o u r side o f rhings w e also are w o r k i n g w i t h i n a constricted time span. We
expect a grear event to take place in this w o r l d o f nations. We estimate
that we have as few as five years. Seven at most. O f course, that event is
i n t i m a t e l y l i n k e d w i t h the emergence o f rhe N e w O r d e r a m o n g nations.
But i t is n o t , p r o p e r l y speaking, a merely economic or social or political
h a p p e n i n g . Let me say o n l y this m u c h : I t is in the nature o f a humanistic
realization o f rhe most spiritual k i n d . " D r . C h a n n i n g left his companions
ro dangle on rhat slim thread o f i n f o r m a t i o n .
M a e s r r o i a n n i looked quizzically at Benthoek. But there was no answer
f r o m t h a t quarter. C y r u s , i t seemed, was as m u c h in rhe dark a b o u t C h a n -
ning's expected "grear e v e n t " as rhe C a r d i n a l himself. " I n rhat case, Doc-
r o r " — r h e C a r d i n a l Secrerary heaved a grear s i g h — " l e t us march your
urgency w i t h o u r o w n . "
A l o o k of satisfaction f r o m C h a n n i n g .
M a e s r r o i a n n i q u i c k l y conceded every p o i n t his guest had made. Sover-
eignty, he agreed—wherher nationalistic o r religious—was n o t merely be-
ing rendered useless as a srrategic necessity f o r survival bur was itself a
positive threat t o survival and an enemy o f progress i n m a n k i n d ' s new and
h a r m o n i o u s habitat.
" Y o u see, D r . C h a n n i n g , ir is one t h i n g to say that many o f o u r bishops
appear ro be enrhusiastic for the innovations that we have introduced i n t o
the C h u r c h . But still t o d a y , t h a t papal a u t h o r i t y is effective for many
m i l l i o n s o f Catholics and is deeply influential far beyond the Catholic f o l d .
The papal office still remains the exclusive locus o f authorirative p o w e r
over the minds and w i l l s o f believers. A u t h o r i r a t i v e p o w e r t o decide w h a t
believers believe; and ro decree rhe exacr rules o f their behavior i n rheir
privare lives and in the public square."
C h a n n i n g f r o w n e d . H i s Eminence seemed t o be p u t t i n g a very hard face
o n marrers. But surely he must have a s o l u t i o n .
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 137

M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s smile was almost smug. " O u r concept is fairly simple. A

bureaucratic s o l u t i o n , as Cyrus m i g h t say, t o a complex bureaucratic
p r o b l e m . Clearly, i f we are t o eliminate religious as w e l l as p o l i t i c a l sover-
eignty as a pernicious force in rhe affairs o f m a n k i n d , we must devise
persuasive and legally acceptable machinery t h a t w i l l sarisfy t w o purposes:
it must deal w i r h the doctrine and the centuries-long t r a d i t i o n in this
C h u r c h , a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h p o w e r and a u t h o r i t y are centered in the Pe-
trine office; and t h a t same machinery must ensure t h a t u n i t y berween Pope
and bishops is nor shartered. W i t h o u t u n i t y , there w o u l d be no such t h i n g
as rhe C h u r c h Universal. Its usefulness as a g l o b a l partner w o u l d be lost.
" T h a t being so, o u r proposal is f o r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a p r o g r a m t h a t
w i l l shift the locus o f a u t h o r i t a t i v e p o w e r away f r o m the office o f Pope. A
p r o g r a m , moreover, rhat w i l l t r a n s f o r m u n i t y itself i n t o a p r i m e operative
factor in o u r favor as w e progress.
" T h e bishops in Vatican II made i t clear t h a t , as successors ro rhe twelve
Apostles, rhev share g o v e r n i n g a u r h o r i r y over the C h u r c h U n i v e r s a l — w i r h
the Bishop o f Rome. The bishops returned home f r o m rhe C o u n c i l and
f o r m e d their o w n N a t i o n a l Conferences," M a e s t r o i a n n i pursued his re-
view o f s h i f t i n g p o w e r . " A n d in specific regions o f the w o r l d , those N a -
t i o n a l Bishops Conferences f o r m e d themselves i n t o Regional Bishops C o n -
ferences. T w e n t y - f i v e years later, the result is a new C h u r c h structure.
Instead o f a unique, o n e - w a y , exclusivisr power line r u n n i n g d o w n w a r d
f r o m rhe Pope and extending t h r o u g h the entire C h u r c h Universal, we
now have m u l t i p l e layers o f crisscrossing p o w e r lines. As many power
lines as there are N a t i o n a l and Regional Conferences.
" I n a w o r d , rhe C h u r c h Universal is n o w a g r i d , a n e t w o r k formed o f
these Bishops Conferences. By their nature and their mandate, they are
disposed t o constant action and reaction w i t h the Vatican Chancery and
w i t h the papacy. A n d , w h i l e each Conference is headed by a local bishop,
all o f the bishops have come to rely on periti, as they are called. O n expert
advisors. 1 presume y o u are aware o f the influence o f the periti o n the
bishops in Vatican I I ? "
Channing nodded.
" T h e result is that many o f o u r bishops n o w find themselves at odds
w i t h the policies o f the present pontificate. A n d they are already l i m i t i n g
the extent and the influence o f the once unique p o w e r line o f rhe papacy.
We have judged the time to be righr to b r i n g their dissatisfaction w i t h
Rome i n t o a sharper focus.
C h a n n i n g t h o u g h t he was keeping pace w i t h M a e s t r o i a n n i . " Y o u r goal
being the removal o f the present holder o f the papal o f f i c e . "
"No, Professor. We see the v o l u n t a r y resignation o f the present P o n t i f f
as essential, o f course. O u r ultimate a i m is far more a m b i t i o u s . We w i l l
elicit f r o m rhe bishops rhemselves—and I speak o f an o v e r w h e l m i n g ma-
j o r i t y o f the f o u r thousand bishops a r o u n d the w o r l d — a f o r m a l instru-
 138 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

merit of canonical v a l i d i t y that we have a p t l y called the ' C o m m o n M i n d o f

the Bishops.*
" I f we are successful, i t w i l l no longer be the Pope w h o commands
u n i t y . Rather, i t w i l l be the bishops themselves w h o require a Pope o f
u n i t y . A Pope w i r h w h o m they can feel themselves c o m f o r t a b l y united as
an episcopal b o d y . T h a t is t o say, the C o m m o n M i n d o f the Bishops must
logically be to regard rhe Pope n o t as the Vicar o f Chrisr, b u t as the Vicar
o f Peter, the firsr Bishop o f Rome. Furrher, rhe C o m m o n M i n d of rhe
Bishops must logically be to regard all bishops—equally and together—as
the collective V i c a r o f C h r i s t . "
R a l p h C h a n n i n g was impressed. Were H i s Eminence's r h i n k i n g ro be
adopred as o f f i c i a l C h u r c h teaching, the governing structure o f rhe C h u r c h
w o u l d be p r o f o u n d l y alrered. The cenrralizing role o f rhe Vatican w o u l d
disappear. In religious matters, the Pope w o u l d no longer be supreme
pasror. In p o l i t i c a l matters, he w o u l d n o longer be sovereign. N o change
w o u l d have ro be c o n f i r m e d by rhe Ponriff in order t o become v a l i d .
"So, Y o u r Eminence. N o w that you have clarified your goal, may we
discuss the steps by w h i c h y o u intend t o reach ir? For 1 presume rhat is
where y o u w a n t o u r assistance?"
"Precisely." H a v i n g come this far, ir was easy for M a e s t r o i a n n i to lay
out the three stages by w h i c h to proceed. "Step one w i l l be the most
arduous. W o r k i n g t h r o u g h the vehicle o f their Conferences, we w i l l intro¬
duce the bishops ro the many practical advantages and perks o f the N e w
W o r l d O r d e r . O u r srraregy must be ro key in first on rhe Conferences
headed by rhe mosr influential b i s h o p s . " I n Maestroianni's unassailable
j u d g m e n t , the key Conferences were those o f Western Europe.
" W h y ? " The Cardinal's question was obviously rherorical. " S i m p l y be-
cause the bishops in those countries have rhe longest and richesr o f Tradi-
tions. Because all o f those bishops reside in areas whose populations are
presenrly being homogenized and unired i n rhe c o m i n g Grearer Europe.
A n d because rhose bishops w i l l understand that their inclusion in rhe new
p u b l i c consensus w i l l be vital t o all the issues that make their organiza-
tions viable.
" O f course, we must be able to offer advanrages that are vital to their
needs. B a n k i n g facilities, for example. A n d social facilitation for their
evangelization efforts. A n d legislation favorable to their civil rights; to
their p o s i t i o n in the educational establishment; to their privileged rax
status; t o the w i n k - w i n k h a n d l i n g o f legal cases b r o u g h r against their
misbehaving clerics.
" A s that consensus progresses, the bishops w i l l find themselves increas-
ingly ar odds w i r h papal policies. W i t h rhe aid o f those multilayered Bish-
ops Conferences, another level o f consensus w i l l be elicited. A solidly
f o r m e d , f o r m a l l y voted and openly expressed consensus: the C o m m o n
M i n d o f the Bishops. T h a t instrument itself w i l l be stated in such categoric
terms as T h e presenr H o l y Father is n o t a Pope o f u n i t y . The M i n d o f the
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 139

Bishops is t h a t we seek a Pope of u n i t y . The M i n d o f the Bishops is that he

offer his resignation f r o m office, as every orher bishop is n o w required ro
do, at the age o f s e v e n t y - f i v e . ' "
M a e s t r o i a n n i smiled conspirarorially ar C h a n n i n g . " T h e r e is no d o u b t
that this Pope is a s t u b b o r n m a n . Nonetheless, i t is impossible t o imagine
that even he w i l l be able to w i t h s t a n d the e x t r a o r d i n a r y pressures exerted
upon h i m by this f o r m a l instrument o f his C h u r c h . T h i s C o m m o n M i n d o f
the Bishops, expressed o f f i c i a l l y t h r o u g h the Bishops Conferences, by
w h i c h every quarter o f the episcopate demands his resignation. A l l in all I
personally have no d o u b t that w i t h i n a span o f r w o t o three years we w i l l
receive the rcsignarion o f rhe currenr H o l y Father."
C h a n n i n g seemed almost transfixed. " I ' m w i t h y o u , Eminence."
"Step t w o , t h e n . " C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i moved q u i c k l y o n . " W h e n
any orher bishop resigns, the Pontiff receives his resignation, and either
confirms or rejects i t . H o w e v e r , since we cannot expect this man to receive
and c o n f i r m his o w n resignation, we must have another means—a body o f
bishops, equally acceptable c o n s r i r u t i o n a l l y — t o receive the papal resigna-
t i o n and t o c o n f i r m ir. O n l y rarely d o rhe bishops exercise their episcopal
j u r i s d i c t i o n in unison and act as one body. But we d o have such a body o f
bishops. T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Synod o f Bishops, w h i c h meets every so often
in R o m e . Because it acts hierarchically in the name o f the entire episco-
pate, and in solicitude for the C h u r c h Universal, the Synod is the obvious
candidate to receive and t o c o n f i r m the papal resignation.
"And t h a t , gentlemen, brings us ro step three, the easiest step o f a l l . A
papal conclave w i l l be organized in the t i m e - h o n o r e d fashion to elect a
new P o p e . "
Cyrus Benthoek realized f o r the firsr time just h o w complete and de-
tailed a plan had actually been devised. H e was p r o f o u n d l y impressed.
" W e l l , then, Eminence! I believe we are ar srep one i n y o u r process? A n d 1
believe we are t o concentrate first o n the bishops o f Europe?"
" A n d " — C h a n n i n g was equally e n t h u s i a s t i c — " I believe that is where
my colleagues and I come i n ? "
" C o r r e c t . " M a e s t r o i a n n i responded ro b o t h men w i t h a single answer.
" T h e proposed C o m m o n M i n d of rhe Bishops w i l l come ro n o t h i n g unless
we can assure t h a t the bishops themselves are b r o u g h t i n t o early, active
and profitable alignment w i t h the unified structure o f the Grearer Europe.
To that end, D r . C h a n n i n g , circumstances have presenred us w i t h t w o cogs
for o u r machinery o f persuasion. T w o brothers, no less.
" O n e o f t h e m , Father C h r i s t i a n Gladstone, is—or soon can be—in the
service o f the Vatican. Paul Gladstone, m e a n w h i l e , has earned his stripes
as an inrernarionalist o f considerable a b i l i t y w i t h i n C y r u s ' o w n opera-
tions. We w i l l rake care t o promore o u r clerical brorher t o a position o f
directive a u t h o r i t y i n the Synod of Bishops. Under o u r close d i r e c t i o n , he
w i l l travel as a k i n d o f r o v i n g Vatican ambassador i n order ro make close
 140 WINDSWEPT HOI'SE

assessments o f the needs o f each target bishop f o r a l l o f the practical

facilities 1 mentioned earlier.
" N o w , in order f o r us t o be able to deliver o n such promises ro the
bishops as Father C h r i s r i a n Gladstone deems necessary under o u r direc-
t i o n — a n d since the post o f Secrerary-General ro rhe C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s
o f the European C o m r n u n i r y is h a p p i l y f a l l i n g v a c a n r — i t is o u r proposal
that Paul Gladstone be selected i n preference to all other candidares n o w
under consideration t o fill that post.
"So, D r . C h a n n i n g , we are n o w d o w n to pracrical matters o f implemen-
t a t i o n . To the heart o f the matter. For n o w we can reduce everything in
this discussion to t w o simple questions: Can y o u secure the post o f Secre-
tary-General to the EC C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s f o r M r , Paul Gladstone? A n d
if y o u can d o i t , w i l l y o u d o i t ? "

Silence fell f o r a time over the t r i o i n C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's study. It

was as t h o u g h each m a n had given leave to his fellows to retire f o r consul-
rarion behind the cloak o f his o w n t h o u g h t s .
M a e s t r o i a n n i d i d nor look ro Cyrus Benrhoek for support or a p p r o v a l
as was his c u s t o m . I t was Benrhoek w h o f o u n d himself unsettled for a
change. T h e lengthening silence was most i r r i t a t i n g for h i m . Benrhoek d i d
nor prerend ro understand things ar the Professor's level; he c o u l d nor
presume ro read the m i n d o f such a master engineer. But neither c o u l d he
f a r h o m w h a r m i g h t be h o l d i n g such a b r i g h t f e l l o w as C h a n n i n g back
f r o m immediate agreement.
In t r u t h , there w a s n ' t m u c h t o h o l d C h a n n i n g back. A n y doubts t h a t
m i g h t have lingered a b o u t C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i himself seemed fully
satisfied. T h e C a r d i n a l ' s proposed p r o g r a m itself, m e a n w h i l e , appeared ro
be a suitable b l u e p r i n t for a r r i v i n g at the Chosen Alternative set o u r by
C o n c i l i u m 13 i n the Categoric Reporr.
Nevertheless, w a s n ' t Maestroianni's assessment o f rhe bishops too pat?
H a d the bishops t r u l y become stranded i n such a desert? Was rheir con-
sciousness o f rheir d u r y ro their Pope so d i m i n i s h e d as to p e r m i t a m a j o r i t y
t o be swayed so easily i n t o a preference for their o w n i n d i v i d u a l interests?

Benthoek finally c o u l d stand the silence no m o r e . Flo ping rhe sound w o u l d

be like Niagara crashing o n boulders, he rattled fresh ice cubes i n t o his
glass and splashed s p a r k l i n g warer noisily up ro its b r i m .
Srartled, C h a n n i n g t o o k the p o i n t . " R i g h t e n o u g h , t h e n . " T h e Professor
t o o k up as t h o u g h there had been no pause at a l l . " Y o u have reduced
matters cogently to r w o questions. Eminence. A n d 1 answer borh o f them
unequivocally in the a f f i r m a t i v e . We can secure the EC post f o r Paul G l a d -
stone. A n d we s h a l l . " O f course, there were still a few details. . . .
" N o t h i n g serious," C h a n n i n g assured his c o m p a n i o n s .
"Such as?" M a e s t r o i a n n i was still nor entirely easy w i t h this alien in his
world.
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 141

" S u c h as a f u l l dossier o n each o f the Gladstone b r o t h e r s / ' C h a n n i n g

began w i t h the o b v i o u s .
M a e s t r o i a n n i had to smile at that. " A n y t h i n g m o r e . D r . C h a n n i n g ? "
" T h e r e is one more t h i n g , n o w that y o u ask, Eminence." H e was sure
the C a r d i n a l w o u l d be the first to realize that he was calling o n the vast
resources o f the f r a t e r n i t y ; and f o r a protracted period o f time. Some
tangible record o f H i s Eminence's request f o r c o l l a b o r a t i o n w o u l d be
helpful in " o p e n i n g up all o f the required connections at rhe Level o f the
Thirteen."
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i rose f r o m his chair so a b r u p t l y that Benthoek
w o n d e r e d in a l a r m i f he had taken offense at Channing's request. H e
watched M a e s t r o i a n n i head f o r his desk, where he opened one o f the
drawers and appeared t o fiddle w i t h switches o f some k i n d . I n short order,
Channing's o w n voice was c o m i n g back over a sound system. " . . . all o f
the required connections at the Level o f T h i r t e e n . " The C a r d i n a l r e w o u n d
the tape he had just sampled, removed the spool and held i t up between
t w o fingers. " I presume a voice record w i l l satisfy y o u r requirements?" Ir
was a p r e s u m p t i o n that d i d n o t require an answer. M a e s t r o i a n n i slipped
the spool inro an u n m a r k e d envelope and held i t i n his hands like a carror
to entice a d o n k e y .
" I have one final r e c o m m e n d a t i o n t o make before we are finished here."
For the m o m e n t , the C a r d i n a l Secretary made no move to rejoin his c o m -
panions. " I have cautioned y o u already that o u r present P o n t i f f is stub-
b o r n . S t u b b o r n ; and dedicated t o rhe defense o f the papal office. I have
mentioned also that he has a certain measure o f s u p p o r t . A n d in rhe past
he has been b o t h w i l y and determined enough t o b r i n g d o w n govern-
ments."
C h a n n i n g glared at h i m . " A r e you having second thoughts so soon,
Eminence?"
M a e s t r o i a n n i was less i n t i m i d a t e d than annoyed by such undisguised
menace.
"Not at a l l , " M a e s t r o i a n n i retorted s m o o t h l y . " I have little d o u b t that
in the near future w e w i l l be able ro congratulate ourselves o n o u r support
by a sizable m a j o r i t y o f bishops. Bur given the stiff-necked nature of this
H o l y Father, and ro be o n the safe side, we should anticipate the need f o r
a little extra b i t o f pressure. One s k i l l f u l t u r n o f the screw t o set the
machinery o f papal resignation i n t o final and irrevocable m o r i o n .
" Y o u have said, D r . C h a n n i n g , rhat we speak here as members of a
frarerniry embarked o n great undertakings. I n rhat vein., I call u p o n you
n o w t o undersrand that i n a t e r m i n a l siruarion such as we e n v i s i o n — i n the
most delicate and sensitive p a r t o f o u r o p e r a t i o n — w e w i l l very likely re-
quire some added fraternal cooperation that cannot be o u t l i n e d n o w , and
t h a t w i l l n o t be a part o f this recording.'"
C h a n n i n g was relieved. If it was a matter o f " t e r m i n a l siruarions" and
 142 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" a s k i l l f u l t u r n o f the s c r e w / 1
the C a r d i n a l Secretary was t a l k i n g t o the
righr m a n . " Y o u w i l l n o t find us w a n t i n g , Eminence."
M a e s r r o i a n n i rurned t o w a r d his o l d colleague. Benrhoek, r o o , w o u l d be
very m u c h a part o f rhe o p e r a t i o n . " A g r e e d , C y r u s ? "
"Agreed, my friend."

S I N C E T H A T srrange Saturday m o r n i n g i n early M a y w h e n the H o l y

Father's urgent requesr f o r the p h o t o g r a p h s o f Bernini's Noli Me Tangere
statue had b r o u g h t h i m face to face w i t h C a r d i n a l Secrerary Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i — a n d despire Father A l d o Carnesecca's arguments to- the
c o n t r a r y f r o m that day t o t h i s — C h r i s t i a n Gladstone's sense that he was
an out-of-place foreigner in this Rome o f the Popes had only intensified.
As the summer heat began t o m o u n t , Father A l d o and Chrisrian had
taken to w a l k i n g together o n Saturday afternoons, usually a l o n g the Via
A p p i a . There, the r w o friends f o u n d calm a n d solitude a m o n g the t o m b -
stones, the shrines and rhe olive groves. Because he f o u n d Carnesecca ro
be a man o f h o n o r , Gladsrone c o u l d air his m i n d abour anyrhing w i r h
h i m , and f o u n d himself consranrly challenging Father A l d o f o r his reading
o f the policies o f the present Pope.
Gladstone w a n t e d to k n o w w h y the Pope d i d n ' t just get r i d o f all rhe
schismatics and the lewd priesrs? W h y the recent a p p o i n t m e n t o f an o b v i -
ously heretical bishop as head o f one o f the m a j o r papal Congregations?
W h y , instead o f g o i n g after rhe heretics, the Pope had singled o u t A r c h -
bishop Lefebvre for p u n i s h m e n t , w h e n Lefebvre tried t o defend the
Church? W h y was this Pope so d i s a p p r o v i n g of rhe U.S.A.'s Desert Storm?
Carnesecca kept h a r p i n g o n rhe key issue at stake in the governance of
the H o l y See of the 1990s: the v i r t u a l t y i n g o f the Pope's hands by b o t h
bishops and in-house Vatican officials. " H e ' s i n a straitjacket, C h r i s . He
has very little real c o n t r o l . "
" I r doesn'r w a s h , A l d o . T h e m a n is Pope."
These w a l k s and talks w i t h Carnesecca had done little to soften Chris-
tian's a t t i t u d e t o w a r d a possible R o m a n career. O v e r the hectic weeks o f
M a y and June, in fact, his impatience to get a w a y f r o m Rome became
difficulr ro disguise. As had been the case since 1984, w h e n he had firsr
begun spending his second semesrer o f rhe academic year at rhe
A n g e l i c u m , the end o f June w o u l d see Gladstone's a r r i v a l i n the northeast-
ern French city of C o l m a r . There, he had l o n g ago come upon rhe grear
treasure o f the U n t e r l i n d e n Klosrer M u s e u m — t h e unrivaled masrerpiece
F R 1 I Nl) S OF FRIENDS 143

of the sixteenth-century painter Mathias G r i i n e w a l d ; rhe enormous

Isenheim alrarpiece depicting rhe sufferings and death of C h r i s t .
It had taken G r i i n e w a l d the best p a r t o f ten years to complete his great
altarpiece. Given Christian's dual teaching stint in Rome and N e w O r -
leans, i t was t a k i n g h i m just as l o n g to complete his thesis inspired by
G r i i n e w a l d ' s m a s t e r w o r k . Each year, he relished rhe few uninterrupted
weeks d u r i n g w h i c h he was able ro immerse himself in that endeavor—in
that labor o f love. Come the t h i r d week o f August, no matter how en-
grossed he m i g h t be, he w o u l d set o f f f o r W i n d s w e p t House in Galveston,
a t i m e o f reunion w i t h his m o t h e r and w i r h his younger sister, Tricia. If he
was l u c k y , maybe his brother Paul w o u l d even make ir home this t i m e ,
along w i t h his w i f e , Yusai, and their lirrle son, Declan.
Ir w o u l d be a time, r o o , to prepare for t h a t part o f each academic year
he spent as professor o f d o g m a t i c theology at the M a j o r Seminary i n his
home diocese o f N e w Orleans. He w o u l d make i t a p o i n t to spend some
hours again w i t h Father Angelo G u t m a c h c r , t h a t friend and mosr intimate
confessor o f his younger years. Christian hoped t o sort o u t at least some
o f his confusions a b o u t Rome w i t h such a g o o d priest and such a level
head. In a n t i c i p a t i o n , C h r i s t i a n had already w r i t t e n t o Gutmacher t o share
something o f his debates w i t h Father A l d o . H e had remarked on Car-
nesecca's curious idea rhar the H o l y Father m i g h t be as m u c h a stranger in
Rome as C h r i s t i a n himself.
Before his time in C o l m a r or his r e t u r n ro W i n d s w e p t House, however,
Christian had t o face the same year-end frenzy rhat g r i p p e d everyone in
Rome. D u r i n g the early weeks o f June, his n o r m a l l y heavy load o f daily
lectures and seminars gave w a y to the pressures o f p r e p a r i n g , administer-
ing and then evaluating the resulrs of year-end o r a l and wrirren examina-
tions for some sixry studenrs o f vastly d i f f e r i n g b a c k g r o u n d and ofren
deficient p r e p a r a t i o n f o r higher srudies. In a d d i t i o n , rhere w o u l d be long
meetings w i t h all the other members of the A n g e l i c u m faculty for a c o m -
plete review o f the academic year. It was undersrandable, rhen, rhat all
academic activities had ceased and the various universities were nearly
emptied o f their student p o p u l a t i o n s , before Farher Christian was able t o
give serious t h o u g h t to his o w n o b l i g a t o r y year-end inrerview w i t h his
superior at the A n g e l i c u m , Master-General Damien Duncan Slattery.
" A h , there y o u are, l a d ! " Despire rhe lareness o f the h o u r , Farher
Damien opened rhe d o o r o f his srudy and invired Christian w i t h a g r a n d
sweep o f one enormous a r m ro rest his bones in the big chair beside his big
desk. Farher D a m i e n settled himself i n t o his o w n chair, his shock of w h i t e
hair g l o w i n g in rhe l a m p l i g h t like an u n r u l y halo.
Despite the easy tone o f the Master-General's greeting, it wasn't long
before Gladstone began to have the sense t h a t something was t r o u b l i n g
h i m . The y o u n g A m e r i c a n wasn't subtle enough t o figure o u t w h a t the
d i f f i c u l t y m i g h t be, bur i t w a s n ' t for a l o w - r a n k i n g priest to question his
 144 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

superior. A certain u n w r i t t e n p r o t o c o l left such a positive initiative to

one's religious superior.
For some quarter o f an h o u r or so, Slattery lisrened w i r h an almost too
sober a t t e n t i o n t o Gladsrone's s u m m a r y o f the academic year ar the
A n g e l i c u m . Me i n t e r r u p r e d f r o m time to time w i t h questions about several
o f rhe more p r o m i s i n g priests w h o w o u l d be r e t u r n i n g for further studies.
H e discussed w i t h C h r i s t i a n w h a t had gone w r o n g for the priests w h o
h a d n ' t measured u p . G i v e n t h a t C h r i s t i a n w o u l d spend the f o l l o w i n g se-
mester, f r o m September to January, teaching at N e w Orleans, rhe A m e r i -
can t u r n e d his artention ro the archival records o f the A n g e l i c u m .
" T h e y ' r e u p t o the m i n u t e , Father Master. U p ro the m i n u t e , that is,
except f o r the house i n v e n t o r y 1 began i n early M a y . There's still some
w o r k t o be done t h e r e . "
T h e D o m i n i c a n t o o k the materials Gladsrone t u r n e d over t o h i m i n t o
one huge hand and set them o n his desk f o r rhe m o m e n t " W e ' l l t r y to
keep things i n order w h i l e you're gone f r o m us, Padre."
There ir was again; rhat feeling in Christian's g u t that Slattery had
something o n his m i n d .
" Y o u ' r e o f f t o C o l m a r , t h e n , Father Christian?''
The question shifted the conversation t o the younger man's c o m i n g
w o r k o n rhe Isenheim alrarpiece. C h r i s t i a n k n e w he d i d n ' t have t o review
the w o r k he had already complered on his thesis. W h a t he d i d w a n t to d o ,
t h o u g h , was to ask the Master-General's views o n certain aspects o f his
t h i n k i n g , and lay o u t his w o r k plan for the c o m i n g weeks in C o l m a t .
A g a i n , Slattery posed one or t w o acute questions by w a y o f light-
handed guidance. T h a t was Father Damien's way as rhesis director.
" W h e n y o u ' r e finished ar C o l m a r , y o u ' l l head straighr back to the States,
Father C h r i s t i a n ? "
"Yes, Master-General. I f I d i d n ' t r e t u r n home by August end, m y
m o t h e r w o u l d have m y h e a d ! "
N o r m a l l y , the h u m o r in Christian's voice w o u l d have sparked a reac-
t i o n in k i n d f r o m Slattery. Bur n o w , instead o f responding t o Gladstone ar
a l l , the D o m i n i c a n Rector veered to an apparently unrelated t h o u g h t .
" T e l l me. Padre. I n all y o u r time i n Rome, have y o u ever had a one-on-one
meeting w i t h the H o l y Father?"
Christian's c o n f u s i o n was as obvious as his answer was short. " N o ,
Father M a s t e r . " T h e n , t a k i n g the unwelcome i m p l i c a t i o n behind the ques-
t i o n , he added w i t h m i s g i v i n g , " N o r yet, a n y w a y . . .
The tone o f the y o u n g American's voice said i t all for Slattery. G l a d -
stone w o u l d d o whatever priestly obedience required o f h i m . But a meet-
ing w i t h H i s Holiness, m u c h less a close association in the specifically
papal w o r k o f the H o l y See, w o u l d clearly n o t be to his l i k i n g . Father
D a m i e n hesitated for a second or t w o , and rhen seemed ro come to some
sort o f decision. " W e l l , F a t h e r . " He rose f r o m his chair. "Perhaps w e ' l l
t h i n k and talk a b o u t t h a t another d a y . "
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 145
C h r i s t i a n g o t t o his feet as p r o t o c o l n o w r e q u i r e d , and t o o k his leave.
He was h a l f w a y o u t the d o o r when Father Damien's hearty barirone p u r -
sued h i m w i t h an o l d Irish farewell.
" M a y y o u come back ro us on the sweet w i n d s o f Heaven, Father Chris-
tian!"
D a m i e n Slattery was u n c o m f o r t a b l e w i r h himself over his hesitation
a b o u t whether t o alert C h r i s t i a n Gladstone to the changes t h a t were likely
in store f o r h i m i n the near furure. Immediately after the Bernini statue
affair had b r o u g h t h i m to the notice o f C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i , an uncom-
m o n interest in the A m e r i c a n had surfaced in the Secretariat o f State. I t
w a s n ' t M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s habit to waste t i m e o n men for w h o m he had no
practical use. Whatever plans Flis Eminence had in m i n d , D a m i e n reck-
oned rhat rhey w o u l d land rhe A m e r i c a n , unprepared and unsuspecting,
smack in rhe m i d s t o f all rhe c o n f u s i o n . Sooner rarher rhan later rhe m o -
ment w o u l d come w h e n , s o m e h o w , Gladstone's m i n d and spirit w o u l d
have ro be prepared f o r whar lay ahead. H a d Slattery been w r o n g n o t to
starr rhat p r e p a r a t i o n ronight?
H e perused some o f the records Chrisrian had lefr w i r h h i m . Large-
minded perception and generous care were evident in all rhe enrries rhar
centered o n the priestly f o r m a t i o n o f his student. Even the most b o r i n g
aspects o f his duties as archivisr had been rended ro w i r h unusual grace.
Slattery snapped the books closed. It was a safe enough bet that he
w o u l d be h a n d i n g these records back ro Gladsrone well before January.
G o d w i l l i n g , it w o u l d be time enough then to w o r r y about the r e a l - w o r l d
educarion of Farher C h r i s t i a n T h o m a s Gladstone.

N o matter h o w many rimes Gladstone entered the U n t e r l i n d e n Kloster o f

C o l m a r and l o o k e d o n rhe Isenheim alrarpiece, he always underwent the
same waves o f w o n d e r and h u m b l i n g a d m i r a t i o n . The firsr time he had
stepped in f r o n t o f the altarpiece, he was stunned and stood stock-still.
W i t h o u r any w a r n i n g , his hearr and his m i n d and his soul filled ro over-
f l o w i n g . W h a r C h r i s t i a n saw thar day was a depicrion o f rhe sufferings
and dearh o f Chrisr thar was so a p p a l l i n g — s o ravishing i n its beauty and
so cruel in irs realism—rhar it was some moments before he could catch
his breath.
Carved i n w o o d and p a i n t e d , the altarpiece consisred o f t w o fixed
panels and f o u r movable w i n g s . G r i i n e w a l d had sreeped every scene o f rhe
events, f r o m Gerhsemane ro G o l g o r h a , w i r h c o l o r rhar seemed ro emanate
f r o m l i g h t itself. A n d light in t u r n seemed to transfigure the shocking and
to transcend the b e a u t i f u l . It was as t h o u g h the Isenheim rotable wasn't
painted w o o d at a l l , b u t a transparent veil t h r o u g h w h i c h the most over-
w h e l m i n g ugliness and degradation o f evil in rhe w o r l d c o u l d be glimpsed
w i r h the eye—the supernal ecstasy—of d i v i n i t y .
A l l o f t h a t simply t o o k shape o u t o f l i g h t . G r e w our of light. Illumined
Chrisnan's soul w i r h light. There was no way he c o u l d grasp ir, so over-
 146 WINDSWM'T HOUSE

w h e l m i n g was rhe v i s i o n . H e had t r i e d , t h o u g h . T h a t very afrernoon, he

had ro t r y . Little by l i t t l e , he had f o u n d himself suffused by l i g h t . By color.
By rhe very essence o f the suffering depicted. U n t i l finally—suffering itself
was t r a n s f o r m e d i n rhe face o f rhe Crucified C h r i s t .
Christian Gladstone had f o u n d his miracle.
T h i s June, after a good night's sleep, Gladsrone was ar his post early rhe
f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g , photographs o f G r u n e w a l d ' s masterpiece in his hand.
H i s first inrenrion was ro compare the photographs w i t h the o r i g i n a l as ro
accuracy; rhose phorographs were destined t o appear in Gladstone's ac-
t u a l d o c r o r a l rhesis. Bur suddenly, a new rhoughr peeked i n t o his m i n d like
a guest a r r i v i n g uninvired and uncertain o f welcome. H e suddenly saw an
entirely different scene open our.
I t was early M a y again, and he was sranding beside Father A l d o
Carnesecca in rhe basemenr chapel o f rhe D o m i n i c a n head-house. H e was
w o r k i n g again w i t h the Vatican photographer t o get the best possible
shots o f Bernini's Noli Me Tangere. He was f a x i n g rhe finest o f the lor o f f
to the H o l y Father in Baume. " O f c o u r s e ! " Gladsrone whispered rhe
w o r d s a l o u d as he remembered rhe expression Bernini had captured in rhe
face o f rhe Magdalene.
O f course. It had to be. The H o l y Father, r o o , had been reaching our for
i n s p i r a t i o n . For a miracle, even. M a y b e for rhe same k i n d o f miracle
Chrisrian had stumbled across so unexpectedly all those years ago in rhe
cavern o f rhe U n t e r l i n d e n Kloster M u s e u m . Except, there was a difference.
Chrisrian had been l o o k i n g for a miracle w i t h o u t even k n o w i n g i t . But, if
his u n i n v i t e d t h o u g h t was o n targer, rhe Slavic Pope must have k n o w n he
w a n t e d a miracle.
H i s sudden realization was h u m b l i n g for C h r i s r i a n . Flow arrogant he
seemed to himself n o w , in rhe u n c o m p r o m i s i n g l y srern judgments he had
aired t o Carnesecca abour rhe policies of the I loly See, and a b o u t rhe
Pope's seeming acquiescence in so m u c h o f the skulduggery g o i n g on in
the C h u r c h . Perhaps Carnesecca was right after a l l . Perhaps rhere was
m u c h more to be seen in all thar was g o i n g on than Gladsrone had so far
been w i l l i n g ro a d m i t . Chris r e m i n d e d himself h o w his brorher Paul often
said that arrogance was a Gladsrone r r a i t . He supposed Paul was righr.
Arrogance was almosr ro be expecred o f a f a m i l y whose m o t t o was " N o
Q u a r t e r . " A n d ir was certainly to be expecred o f any son o f Cessi G l a d -
srone. S t i l l , no Gladsrone had ever been arroganr ro the p o i n t of d o w n -
r i g h t injustice. H e w a s n ' t nearly ready ro say he was w r o n g in his judg-
ments. But at least he was ready ro a d m i r rhar he mighr have made up his
m i n d a b o u t rhe Pope t o o definitively. A n d t o o soon.
"I w o n d e r . " Chrisrian began ro carry on a silenr conversation with
himself for rhe remainder o f his stay ar C o l m a r . " I w o n d e r i f rhe H o l y
Farher f o u n d his miracle. I w o n d e r w h a r he f o u n d i n rhe face o f M a r y
Magdalene."
I RtENDS OF FRIENDS 147

XVI
T H E R E WAS n o t a d o u b t that by summer's end the post o f Secretary-
General to the EC C o u n c i l of Ministers w o u l d belong to Paul Gladstone.
M a e s t r o i a n n i directed his most immediate a t t e n t i o n , therefore, and the
a t t e n t i o n o f key associates, to the delicate matter of f u l f i l l i n g the Roman
end o f the Gladstone e q u a t i o n .
T h e C a r d i n a l Secretary's investigations had proved the Reverend Chris-
rian Gladsrone to be w h a t he had appeared f r o m the beginning: a political
s i m p l e t o n and a cipher in the scales o f power. Nonetheless, i t was pro
f o r m a that i n snagging even such a p y g m y as Gladstone f o r a full-rime
R o m a n career, all rhe legal formalities w o u l d be observed. Canon L a w
irself was involved in a r r a n g i n g Farher Gladsrone's transfer to Rome. A n d
it specified t h a t the permanenr Transfer o f a priesr our o f his home diocese
depended complerely o n rhe consenr o f his bishop.
In rhis case, rhe bishop in question was the venerable John Jay
O ' C l e a r y , C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p of N e w Orleans. A m o n g the Vatican prel-
ates w h o k n e w h i m best, O ' C l e a r y figured as a man w h o c o u l d call upon
plenry of money; so his asking price for releasing a good man like Chris-
tian Gladstone f r o m his j u r i s d i c t i o n w o u l d n o t be framed i n monetary
terms. In O'CIeary's case i t appeared rhat a m b i t i o n and status w o u l d be
more likely hooks than cash.
I t seemed that rhe C a r d i n a l o f N e w Orleans yearned to be enrrusred
w i r h a R o m a n d i p l o m a t i c career. So m u c h so that, o n his o w n i n i t i a t i v e ,
he had undertaken some forays i n t o the t h o r n y rhicket o f Vatican-Israeli
relations. T h o u g h his efforts had only complicated an already complex
s i t u a t i o n , the man still a m b i t i o n e d ro " d r i n k R o m a n w a r e r , " as rhe phrase
had i t ; and that was p r o b a b l y rhe rrade-off he w o u l d l o o k f o r .
Yer even leaving aside his d i p l o m a r i c i n e p t i t u d e , there were other trairs
rhat made C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y unacceprable to the Vatican Secretariat.
Trairs such as his d o c r r i n a l o r r h o d o x y and his supporr f o r rhis H o l y Fa-
rher. Plainly t h e n , i f the American Cardinal's asking price for releasing
Farher Gladsrone permanently to R o m e involved b r i n g i n g H i s Eminence
to Rome as w e l l , i t was a price rhar w o u l d be roo h i g h . A price rhat w o u l d
have to be finessed.
Given rhe basic elemenrs of rhe p r o b l e m , ir was inevitable that Cardinal
M a e s t r o i a n n i should t u r n for his s o l u r i o n to H i s brand-new Eminence,
C a r d i n a l Silvio A u r e a t i n i . By temperament and by experience—and by the
happy fact t h a t b o t h he and C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y were k n o w n ro summer in
rhe norrhern k a l i a n t o w n o f Stresa—no m a n seemed better suited than
 148 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

A u r e a t i n i to b r i n g O ' C l e a r y to a close appreciation o f the service he could

render ro the H o l y See by releasing Christian Gladsrone ro Rome.
Given the most r u d i m e n t a r y elements o f R o m a n politics, meanwhile, i t
was equally inevitable that more than one o f Maestroianni's collaborators
felt the need t o be present at the meeting at w h i c h rheir Venerable Brother
Silvio w o u l d be tasked w i t h his summerrime mission.

C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s phone call t o H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i in

the dead o f n i g h t a b o u t a top-secret e a r l y - m o r n i n g meeting o f Cardinals to
be held in A u r e a t i n i ' s home had caught A u r e a t i n i ar a bad m o m e n t . He
had been l o o k i n g f o r w a r d ro rhis m o r n i n g ' s departure for the land o f
flowers and gentle r a i n f a l l where he had been reared. N o r m a l l y , the names
the C a r d i n a l Secrerary had ticked o f f o n the telephone w o u l d have been an
irresistible d r a w f o r A u r e a r i n i . In any orher circumstances, he w o u l d have
rushed ro meer at one and the same m o m e n t w i t h the likes o f such high-
r a n k i n g Cardinals as Pensabene and M o r a d i a n , K a r m e l and Boff, Aviola
and Srurz and Leonardine. A t just this m o m e n t , however, and no matter
w h a t the d r a w , he d i d n o t relish the idea o f receiving M a e s t r o i a n n i and his
Venerable Brorhers.
The men whose a r r i v a l C a r d i n a l A u r e a r i n i awaired w i t h some irrirarion
this m o r n i n g were parr and parcel o f t h a t ancient t r a d i t i o n centered i n the
Rome o f Popes. In Aurearini's eyes, t h a t t r a d i t i o n was one o f p o w e r . But
then, Maestroianni's close c o l l a b o r a r o r , A u r e a r i n i himself had been reck-
oned f r o m the starr as a man o f no small means. He had a hand in every-
t h i n g . K n o w n as a man w h o was benign w i t h allies and w h o dealt rurh-
lessly w i t h enemies, he had no real friends, and preferred it t h a t w a y . His
m i n d was a mental filing system f r o m w h i c h he c o u l d exrracr facts, figures,
names and dates w i r h uncanny accuracy. 1 le never forgor a face or a voice.
He came ro be regarded as dangerous—a qualiry considered enviable in
his w o r l d .
As t i m e progressed, M a e s t r o i a n n i had entrusted h i m w i t h the gravest
matters o f foreign policy and relarions w i t h other sovereign stares. A
clever hand w h o appeared tireless i n his s u p p o r t o f the Secretary's policies
to b r i n g C h u r c h a n d papacy alike i n t o step w i t h the new w o r l d , A u r e a t i n i
had become a chief c o l l a b o r a t o r in the i m p o r t a n t w o r k o f d r a w i n g up a
new Code o f C a n o n L a w for rhe C h u r c h Universal, an assignmenr rhat
entailed n o t h i n g less than revising all the rules by w h i c h the Church de-
fines irself, rheologically and ideologically.
They had gor away w i r h the insinuation that Rome was just one diocese
a m o n g m a n y , and w i t h describing Peter as no more than "head o f the
College o f Bishops." Yet, t r y as they m i g h t , A u r e a t i n i and his co-revision-
ists had failed t o eliminate rhe most objectionable clement o f papal juris-
d i c t i o n . The Pope still rerained "supreme, f u l l , immediate and universal
o r d i n a r y p o w e r in rhe C h u r c h , w h i c h he can always exercise."
O n the other h a n d , his standing in the Vatican's Christian A d u l t Re-
FHIFNDS OF FRIENDS 149

newal Rite gave A u r e a r i n i rhe means ro achieve i n facr m u c h o f w h a r he

had failed ro accomplish in rhe Code o f C a n o n L a w . For one t h i n g , i t gave
h i m a cerrain useful inrimacy w i r h m a n y bishops. A l l in a l l , Aurearini
k n e w he had established himself as a more rhan b r i l l i a n t straregist a m o n g
the new breed o f Vatican managers. Perhaps becoming a C a r d i n a l d i d n o t
a u t o m a t i c a l l y open all doors and w i n d o w s t o h i m . But he had earned a
r i g h t f u l place w i t h i n the p o w e r process. Silvio A u r e a t i n i belonged.

" S h a l o m on this holy house, m y Venerable B r o t h e r ! " France's Joseph

K a r m e l , C a r d i n a l o f L i l l e , boomed his f u l l - t h r o a t e d greeting to the w e l -
c o m i n g Silvio A u r e a r i n i . T h e n , leaning o n his cane, he breezed inro the
l i v i n g r o o m and settled himself i n t o the nearest armchair w i r h a satisfied
sigh. F o l l o w i n g h i m , briefcase in h a n d , C o s i m o M a e s r r o i a n n i echoed the
meaning i f n o t the poetry o f Karmel's i n v o c a t i o n . " G o d bless the inventor
o f air c o n d i t i o n i n g ! " Four more Cardinals rrooped w i t h o u t a glance past
rhe recently signed papal portrair rhar n o w graced Aurearini's entry hall.
" H a v e y o u got a glass o f w i n e for a thirsty C a r d i n a l ? " Thar mosr practi-
cal greeting o f all came f r o m rhe last m a n in the d o o r . T h e cadaverous and
g a w k y Leo Pensabene figured a m o n g orher rhings as f r o n t - l i n e political
leader i n rhe College o f Cardinals, and as one o f Aurearini's more valued
acquainrances since more y o u t h f u l days, w h e n they had come together in
St. Paul's Chapel in 1963. T a k i n g his cue f r o m Pensabene—always a wise
t h i n g to d o — A u r e a r i n i offered w i n e all a r o u n d . A n d , t a k i n g a differenr
cue f r o m rhe names M a e s t r o i a n n i had rartled o f f on rhe phone rhe nighr
before, he inquired after C a r d i n a l Leonardine o f rhe Unired Srares and
Germany's C a r d i n a l Sturz.
" T h e y w o n ' t be able t o make i t after a l l . " M a e s r r o i a n n i grimaced.
" T h e y were called for an early joinr audience ar the Palace. You k n o w
h o w o u r P o n t i f f loves to t a l k . " T h e n , just to make sure: " W e are alone,
Silvio?"
A u r e a t i n i n o d d e d . T h a n k s t o this hastily called meeting, even his valet
had got o u t o f Rome ahead o f h i m . As his guests made themselves c o m -
forrable, A u r e a t i n i t h o u g h t betrer r h a n ro show any serious sign o f i m p a -
tience. H e k n e w thar rhese six men were far more accomplished rhan he in
rhe w o r l d o f the greats to w h i c h he aspired.
In t h a t w o r l d , where there were t w o m a i n classes o f people—superiors
and inferiors—these men smelled o u t p o w e r and independence in others as
easily as hounds catch the scent o f foxes. T h e i r sense f o r such qualities
was b o r n o f harsh experience, and had been honed by the t r a d i t i o n a l
R o m a n ethos. Each o f A u r e a t i n i ' s self-invited guests was k n o w n by name
and by face at levels unreachable by orhers o f lesser professional breed.
They discussed rhe most sensitive issues w i t h o u t ever purring an insensitive
t o o t h i n the marter, and regularly conveyed rhe most u n c o m f o r t a b l e
meanings i n most unexceptional terms. W h e n it came to extremes, they
were able t o clothe i m m o r a l and repulsive enormities as w e l l as h o r r i b l e
 150 WINDSWEPT HOI'St:

alternatives in w o r d s rhar o n l y fellow cognoscenti o f rheir w o r l d w o u l d

grasp. They were a m o n g those w h o w o u l d never lack f o r funds or friends.
By reason o f office, they c o u l d reach anyone they wanted merely by l i f t i n g
the telephone receiver. They had creditors and debtors in high and unex-
pected places. They c o u l d call o n advice, o n capiral, on intervention f o r
their o w n sakes and for rheir inreresrs. T r u e , A u r e a t i n i k n e w rhese prelates
shared many h u m a n foibles w i t h the remainder o f m a n k i n d . I n fact, he
had managed their weakness and l i m i t a t i o n s and defects t o his o w n ends
now and again. But he w o u l d never make the mistake o f the arriviste or
rhe star-shooter. Never w o u l d he ever underestimate the power o f rhese
men.
T h e j u n i o r C a r d i n a l tried nor t o fidger as conversation rurned for a time
on the breaking scandal s u r r o u n d i n g rhe Bank o f C r e d i t and Commerce
I n t e r n a t i o n a l . Everyone i n the g r o u p , i t seemed, had some t i d b i t o f i n f o r -
m a t i o n a b o u t the Vatican Bank's connection w i t h rhe B C C I and irs i n -
volvemenr w i r h Saddam Hussein and his middlemen in rhe transfer o f
some o f Saddam's b i l l i o n s . To Aurearini's dismay, rhat subject gave w a y t o
a discussion o f the c o m i n g M i d d l e East Conference. M a e s t r o i a n n i an-
nounced some new appoinrmcnts in the o f f i n g . A r long last, and as though
r e m i n d i n g himself by the way rhar the fledgling C a r d i n a l was present in
his o w n aparrmenr, M a e s r r o i a n n i rurned t o A u r e a r i n i .
"You are o n y o u r way ro Srresa, Venerable Brorher, if I a m not mis-
taken?"
" I n less than an h o u r , I hope, Eminence." N o sooner were the w o r d s
out o f his m o u t h t h a n A u r e a t i n i knew he had made a mistake.
" D o n ' t w o r r y . " M a e s t r o i a n n i turned f r i g i d l y polite. " W e w i l l be fin-
ished here s h o r r l y , and Your Eminence w i l l be free to depart in peace."
T h e n , addressing a l l , he t u r n e d t o business. In terms o f crude facts, all
presenr had l o n g been c o m m i t t e d to the campaign against any long-term
continuance o f the currenr papacy. A l l knew o f rhe decision taken ar rhe
Srrasbourg meeting the p r i o r m o n t h . A n d Vlaestroianni had been at some
pains to brief his closest colleagues on the p i v o t a l cooperation he had
secured f r o m D r . C h a n n i n g jusr days before.
Nevertheless, M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s factual update d i d serve ro sharpen the
s w o r d o f c o m m i t m e n t . These men were o n new terrain for w h i c h rhere
existed no m a p to guide t h e m . Every step f o r w a r d broughr them furrher
inro uncharred g r o u n d . In a sense, rhey were feeling rheir w a y . In such a
s i t u a t i o n , a n d a m o n g men w h o really trusted no one, lace-to-tace briefings
stiffened spines and c o n f i r m e d all as witnesses and participants alike.
Careful a t t e n t i o n was fixed o n M a e s t r o i a n n i as he moved smoorhly
f r o m poinr to p o i n r . To save rime, and ro make rhe record clear for a l l , he
had prepared a folder o f p o s i t i o n papers f o r each of his colleagues. A n d he
i n t r o d u c e d a new term i n t o rhe lexicon o f conspiracy. "Chosen A l t e r n a -
t i v e " had seemed such a precise description o f the scenario rhey had in
FRIENDS OF F R I L N DS 151

m i n d f o r the Slavic Pope t h a t the m o m e n t i t had first rolled o f f D r . Chan-

ning's tongue, C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i had made i t his o w n .
" O u r Chosen Alternative depends o n securing t w o y o u n g Americans as
the pillars of o u r bridge ro rhe w i d e r w o r l d . As I have already explained ro
each o f y o u . D r . C h a n n i n g w i l l secure Cyrus Benthoek's able y o u n g p r o -
tege Paul Gladstone as the European anchor o f rhar bridge. You w i l l find
his profile a m o n g rhe position papers in y o u r folders. O n o u r side of
rhings, o u r j u n i o r associate h e r e " — M a e s t r o i a n n i directed attention
t o w a r d A u r e a t i n i — " i s to be commissioned to entrain o u r man w i r h i n rhe
a m b i t o f the Chosen A l t e r n a t i v e . "
The deepest question in Aurearini's soul at that m o m e n t was a plaintive
W h y me? But because no one in this refined w o r l d w o u l d be so crude as to
use such language, and because he had not yet been briefed in this latest
dimension of the agenda, the question on his lips was all business. "Sem-
plice o no?" Was " o u r m a n " an innocent or not?
In answer, M a e s t r o i a n n i reached again i n t o his attache case, w i t h d r e w
another set of folders and passed them a m o n g his associates. " G l a d s t o n e ,
C h r i s t i a n T h o m a s . " C a r d i n a l Pensabene read rhe name a l o u d , and rhen
digesred rhe data w i t h his usual sharpness. "Some surprises," he mused to
no one in p a r t i c u l a r . " B u t they w i l l w o r k for u s . "
Others were a little more skeptical. I t had already been agreed a m o n g
the senior Cardinals that Christian Gladstone himself was no p r o b l e m .
But the y o u n g man's mother still made them nervous. W i t h that k i n d o f
money, and w i t h such muscular and long-standing family ties to the H o l y
See, Signora Francesca Gladsrone wielded roo much power.
M a e s t r o i a n n i d i d n ' t disagree. But his o p i n i o n remained w h a r ir had
been f r o m the starr. Jusr as rhey had sorred o u t so many other problems
over the years, so, t o o , w o u l d they sort this one o u t as they went along.
" A n d in any case," he offered o p r i m i s r i c a l l y , " t h i s y o u n g cleric himself is
our key t o the w i d o w Gladsrone. H e is o u r key to i t a l l . "
T h a t m u c h accepted, Aurearini's p a r t i c u l a r connection to the initiative
came to the fore ar lasr.
M a e s r r o i a n n i donned his reading spectacles and called attention to the
position paper dealing w i r h Farher Gladstone's O r d i n a r y , His Eminence
C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y o f N e w Orleans. " I r appears rhar o u r Venerable
Brother f r o m America has discovered the pleasures o f y o u r beloved Lake
M a g g i o r e as a summer rerrear."
"Yes, E m i n e n c e . " Aurearini d i d n ' t need to check the dossier. " H e ' s
come t o Stresa for rhe lasr three years r u n n i n g , stays at the Excelsior H o t e l
for the last week in July and the first t w o weeks in A u g u s t . "
" I take i t y o u k n o w h i m , t h e n ? "
"Yes, Eminence. He always wants the latest news . . . "
" D o y o u k n o w h i m well enough to persuade h i m to release this y o u n g
Father Gladstone for a year-round R o m a n career?"
A u r e a t i n i kept a poker face. For rhe briefest m o m e n t , he speculated
 152 WINDSWEPT' HOUSE

coolly t h a t rhe entire plan f o r new bridges and for rhe Chosen Alremarive
revolved a r o u n d his reply. So satisfying was rhe t h o u g h t thar he decided ro
toy f o r a time w i t h rhe obvious rension rhar had suddenly descended o n
his p o w e r f u l guests. " T h e r e w i l l be difficulties, Eminence."
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i srared over the t o p o f his reading glasses i n icy
disbelief. Ir w a s n ' t like Silvio Aurearini ro make r w o mistakes in a decade,
m u c h less r w o in a single h o u r . "Such as?"
T h o u g h M a e s t r o i a n n i fired his quesrion i n barely more than a whisper,
the salvo was enough to b r i n g A u r e a t i n i to his senses. " S i m p l y p u t , " the
j u n i o r C a r d i n a l offered lamely, " H i s Eminence O ' C l e a r y is the one w h o
wants ro come ro R o m e . "
"So?" W i r h rhar single w o r d , ir was made clear rhat a l l such details were
to be left t o A u r e a t i n i ' s ingenuity. " W h a t e v e r arrangements you make.
Venerable Brother Silvio, we w i l l n o t expect C a r d i n a l O'Cleary t o end up
on o u r doorstep. Shorr o f thar, Em sure y o u w i l l find some suitable m a n -
ner to r e w a r d H i s Eminence o f N e w Orleans for c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h us,
and t o facilitate Father Gladstone's needs. Everyone here w i l l back you to
the h i l t . I myself a m to be used as icing on the cake, if there is any cake.
Clear?"
" C l e a r , Your Eminence."
H a v i n g chastened A u r e a r i n i inro compliance, H i s Eminence Maesrro-
ianni p r i c k e d rhe bubble o f rension. Rising f r o m his chair, he clapped the
palms o f his hands against his r i b cage i n satisfaction. " T h i s is exhilarar-
ing, Venerable Brothers! Bur ler us leave Frarer Silvio ro his preparations
n o w , shall we? He's in a h u r r y t o be o f f t o his beloved Stresa."
A u r e a t i n i shook his head, b u t this time wisely kept his silence. He had
made more than one misrake this m o r n i n g . Ir w o u l d be a long time before
he w o u l d make another.

XVII
THE L A T E - A F T E R N O O N S U N slanted its rays o n t o the terrace o f
Stresa's exclusive Excelsior H o t e l at just such an angle as t o entice C a r d i -
nal John Jay O ' C l e a r y ro close his eyes, rilr his head against the back of his
chair and w a n d e r inro rhar comforrable place o f w a r m t h somewhere be-
tween sleep and wakefulness. Slumber was a b o u t to claim h i m altogether
when a sudden shadow darkened the reddish g l o w behind his eyelids and
sharpened rhe c o o l breeze rising f r o m Lake M a g g i o r e . O'Cleary shivered a
little, and opened his eyes.
" D i d I d i s t u r b Your Eminence?"
S q u i n t i n g u p , the A m e r i c a n C a r d i n a l had.the impression that he should
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 153
k n o w the casually dressed m a n l o o m i n g over h i m . The ice-blue eyes and
the pencil-sharp features almost registered in his m i n d , b u t he c o u l d n ' t
quite b r i n g the m e m o r y i n t o focus. H e glanced across the terrace in the
hope that A r c h b i s h o p Srurz or one o f rhe other clerics gathered over there
m i g h t come to his rescue; but they all seemed studiously engrossed i n their
gossip and their game o f cards.
It was a m a r k o f Silvio A u r e a r i n i ' s d i s c r e t i o n — a n d o f his o v e r r i d i n g
sense of specific p u r p o s e — t h a t he displayed none o f the annoyance f l o o d -
m g i n u p o n h i m ar nor h a v i n g been recognized at once. Instead, and most
a f f a b l y , he reintroduced himself by name, by his r a n k as C a r d i n a l , and by
his close associarion w i r h His Eminence C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i at the Vat-
ican Secretariat. T h e n , as that i n f o r m a t i o n registered on the features of his
target, he d r e w up a chair and made himself easily at home by O'CIeary's
side. H e refreshed his c o m p a n i o n ' s m e m o r y o f their r w o or three meetings
in summers gone by, all the w h i l e l a m e n t i n g that his contact w i t h the
A m e r i c a n prelate had been so occasional. For, confessed A u r e a t i n i , brief
t h o u g h those conversations had been, Flis Eminence's observations had
been so interesting and his selfless interest i n K o m e so refreshing that every
encounter had been a special pleasure.
A u r e a t i n i formed his sharp features i n t o a smile. There were no t w o
ways a b o u t i t , he said. T h i s s u m m e r w o u l d have to be d i f f e r e n t . His E m i -
nence O ' C l e a r y w o u l d have ro spare a litrle more time for a poor R o m a n .
Such a chance m e e t i n g — f o r so i t s e e m e d — w i t h the likes of Silvio
A u r e a r i n i srruck John O ' C l e a r y as perfectly n a t u r a l . FIverybody k n e w that
the m a j o r i t y o f clergymen w h o vacationed in rhis region were to be f o u n d
in Stresa; and i f y o u were anyone i n the clerical c o n t i n g e n t , y o u came to
the Excelsior H o t e l . T h a r being so, rhe A m e r i c a n responded as he always
d i d t o friendly overtures. H e presumed in the next man the g o o d w i l l he
himself spontaneously entertained. But more than t h a t , O ' C l e a r y pos-
sessed the soul o f a parish priest and the heart o f a man w h o wants t o be
loved.
O ' C l e a r y ordered a pair o f d r i n k s — a Jack Daniel's for himself; a C a m -
pari f o r rhe k a l i a n — a n d d i d his besr to appear casual as he struggled to
recall w h a r observations he m i g h t have made i n years past that w o u l d
have been so interesting for an associate o f the great C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o -
i a n n i . To his relief, however, A u r e a t i n i seemed content t o keep rhe conver-
sation casual. Flaving done his h o m e w o r k w e l l , the Italian w e n t o u t o f his
w a y t o e x t o l the local fishing possibilities. H e seemed surprised and genu-
inely delighted to hear O ' C l e a r y ' s modest c l a i m to some accomplishment
as a fly fisherman.
" T h a r was m a n y years ago, o f course," rhe A m e r i c a n added. Ir w o u l d n ' r
do f o r Aurearini t o r h i n k rhere was so little f o r h i m ro d o i n N e w Orleans
rhar he spent his days fishing on Lake P o n t c h a r r r a i n . Brushing a hand over
his srill ample hair, C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y tried t o get his u n r u l y c o w l i c k to lie
flat. " T h e r e ' s precious little rime these days f o r such pleasures."
 154 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" O f c o u r s e / ' The Italian nodded sympathetically. " N o w a d a y s , things

have become so strenuous t h a t all o f us have to make sacrifices i f rhe H o l y
See is ro succeed in its new evangelization o f rhe w o r l d . "
A u r e a r i n i made the observation seem so pointed and singular rhat
O ' C l e a r y sharpened w h a r he hoped were his R o m a n instincts. If any man
was ready t o make sacrifices for the H o l y See—indeed, ro cap his career
w i r h a post in the heart o f the H o l y See itself—he was rhat man. A l m o s t
immediarely, t h o u g h , he k n e w he must have read roo much inro rhe re-
m a r k , for A u r e a t i n i launched i n t o a series o f srories abour fishing the local
rivers n o t far f r o m his parents' home in T i c i n o .
" Y o u ' r e f r o m these parts, t h e n , Eminence?" O ' C l e a r y tried n o t to sound
disappointed.
" B o r n and bred. Sometimes I rhink rhe A l m i g h t y planted all rhese mag-
nolias and cypresses and clematis and wisreria just for m e ! " T h e n , as
t h o u g h struck w i t h sudden i n s p i r a t i o n , he w o n d e r e d if O'Cleary mighr
want to sample rhe pleasure o f this d e l i g h t f u l region w i t h a simple native
like himself. " I f y o u w a n t to k n o w the t r u t h " — A u r e a r i n i turned a sud-
denly w i s t f u l eye o u t over Lake M a g g i o r e and whispered, as i f c o n f i d i n g a
w e l l - g u a r d e d secret—"rhe heighr o f vacarion pleasure f o r me is to sail of
an early m o r n i n g a l o n g the western side o f the l a k e . " T h e n , t u r n i n g back
to O ' C l e a r y , " I f you're u p to a p r e d a w n excursion, Eminence, perhaps
y o u ' d care t o j o i n me one m o r n i n g w h i l e you're here."
" Y o u r Eminence is roo k i n d ! " The Yankee C a r d i n a l l o o k e d anyrhing
but w i s t f u l as he cast his o w n narrow-ser eyes across the lake. The height
o f vacation pleasure for John Jay O'Cleary—Jay Jay, as the folks back
home called h i m — w a s to r o l l over i n bed and sleep the m o r n i n g a w a y .
Still, t h a t remark a b o u t sacrifice for the success o f the H o l y See's evangeli-
z a t i o n efforts d i d wonders for a man's appreciation of the dawn's early
light. Particularly i f he had hankered after rhe sratus o f a Roman career
for as l o n g as O ' C l e a r y h a d .

Each summer, Silvio A u r e a t i n i counred o n his time in rhis privileged vaca-

rion spor ro release h i m f r o m rhe rension o f R o m a n life. He still fished on
M a g g i o r e ' s three rivers. H e spenr t r a n q u i l days w i r h o r d i n a r y people in his
h o m e t o w n o f T i c i n o a n d irs s u r r o u n d i n g hamlets, speaking his native
Ticinese dialect w i r h farmers and traders and fishermen. He spent many
hours r e l a x i n g w i t h his aged parents. A l l o f that was t o the good for
A u r e a t i n i . Ir made no difference that he c o u l d s u m m o n no real remem-
brance of the o l d pastoral lessons by w h i c h rhe people o f this area still
lived. T h e i m p o r r a n r r h i n g was rhar he c o u l d relax his guard f o r a time. He
c o u l d exercise his love f o r his parents by sparing rhem any shocks to their
simple and unchanged acceptance of all he had rejected.
So, t o o , f o r the folks a m o n g w h o m he a m b l e d in the unspoiled towns
rhat dotted rhe western shore o f Lake M a g g i o r e . N o t that he ever led them
in reciting the Rosary or heard their confessions. H e was f u n n y that w a y ,
I' R I F. N L) S OF FRIENDS 155

people said. But he was respected and loved all the same. Just ask rhe local
cobbler in rhe little village o f C a n n o b i o w h o made H i s Eminence's yearly
supply of buckled shoes. T h e folks d o w n the r o a d in Baveno were p r o u d
that His Eminence f a v o r e d the marvelous red wine produced in that t o w n .
Even the uninteresting t o w n o f A r o n a , w h i c h boasted n o t h i n g more than a
moderately e n t e r t a i n i n g Romanesque chapel, m i g h t see h i m s t r o l l i n g
a l o n g its quiet streets, a c r u m p l e d straw hat perched o n his head against
the sun.
For A u r e a t i n i , the place was a safe h a r b o r in s u m m e r t i m e . Here he was
sequestered for a little season f r o m the life he led i n R o m e and f r o m the
k i n d o f man he had become. Alas, however, this year had to be different.
A n official and cynical exercise i n regard to H i s Eminence John Jay
O ' C l e a r y o f N e w Orleans required that he b r i n g the tensions o f Vatican
life i n t o his safe harbor. Still, w h e n a l l was said and done, A u r e a t i n i re-
sented the i n t r u s i o n .

W i t h the always cheerful and seemingly rireless Silvio A u r e a t i n i as c o m -

panion a n d guide. C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y was soon something o f an expert on
the pleasures offered in rhis privileged corner o f n o r t h e r n Italy. Fie was
happy t o sacrifice sleep ro sail w i t h A u r e a t i n i and w a t c h the sun rise over
islands s r r u n g like beads a l o n g the western shore o f Lake M a g g i o r e . H e
heard f r o m A u r e a t i n i h o w the sixteenth-century B o r r o m e o family had en-
riched this w h o l e corner o f the l a k e — b u i l d i n g gorgeous palazzi. H e lis-
tened to A u r e a t i n i tell h o w lsola Bella had been named after Countess
Isabella B o r r o m e o by her husband, C a r l o , as together they visited the
elegant chateau b u i l t by another B o r r o m e o , C o u n t V i t a l i a n o , on that is-
l a n d . O ' C l e a r y registered surprise and amusement at the sight o f that
chateau. " Y o u r C o u n t V i t a l i a n o had a fevered i m a g i n a t i o n , s u r e l y . "
" W e l l , E m i n e n c e . " A u r e a t i n i smiled. " L e t ' s just say that the Borromeos
left a deeper stamp o n the geography o f this land t h a n o n its politics. We
expect to do better than that in R o m e . "
T h a t was a f u n n y t h i n g a b o u t C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i . H e seemed always to
be m a k i n g remarks like that. Wherever they w e n t over the three weeks o f
Jay Jay's v a c a t i o n , A u r e a t i n i always had some pointed remark to d r o p
about his w o r k , o r his access t o i m p o r t a n t levels of C h u r c h g o v e r n m e n t
or rhe currenr crises affecting the C h u r c h . A t every such remark,
O'Cleary's antennae o f personal a m b i t i o n sproured anew. Bur, every t i m e ,
A u r e a t i n i left the subject almost as soon as he raised ir.
By rhe second Sunday i n A u g u s t , the eve o f his departure f o r A m e r i c a ,
the tension was almost unbearable. O ' C l e a r y declined His Eminence's i n -
v i t a t i o n f o r a farewell excursion, therefore, p r e f e r r i n g to thank the C a r d i -
nal f o r his many kindnesses at a l u n c h in the sedentary c o m f o r t o f the
Excelsior's d i n i n g r o o m .
A u r e a t i n i arrived t o find C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y w a i r i n g for h i m o n the hotel
terrace. O ' C l e a r y had taken the liberty o f o r d e r i n g lunch f o r the t w o o f
 156 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

them i n advance. " I hope y o u like skate fish, Eminence. T h e chef tells me
the m o r n i n g catch was e x c e p t i o n a l / '
C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i declared himself to be delighted. T h e n , as they
strolled together i n t o the d i n i n g r o o m , he asked innocently enough i f H i s
Eminence was l o o k i n g f o r w a r d ro his return h o m e . " Y o u must be missing
N e w Orleans by n o w . "
" O h , o f course." O ' C l e a r y mustered w h a t enthusiasm he c o u l d for the
sentiment. " A n d y o u , Eminence. H o w l o n g more d o y o u stay in this m a g i -
cal s p o t ? "
A u r e a t i n i sighed as rhe pair settled in for l u n c h . " A n o t h e r week or t w o ,
Eminence. Unless R o m e . . . . Well, y o u k n o w w h a t I m e a n . "
O ' C l e a r y c o u l d o n l y imagine w h a t grave affairs m i g h t disrupr this w o r -
thy man's v a c a t i o n . " L e t ' s hope y o u can enjoy this paradise as l o n g as
possible," he offered generously. Then—because i t was n o w o r never—he
guided the conversation o n t o the course he had in m i n d . " A f t e r t h a t , it's
back t o the H o l y See, eh, Eminence?"
"Yes, E m i n e n c e . " A u r e a t i n i m o u n t e d the w o r d s o n another sigh a n d , as
their unobtrusive wairer retreated, consoled himself w i t h a generous bite
o f skate fish f o l l o w e d by a generous d r a f t o f the t r u l y excellent w i n e
O ' C l e a r y had o r d e r e d . I n some ways, rhis A m e r i c a n wasn'r half bad.
John O ' C l e a r y was nor made by nature for the verbal fencing m a t c h .
T h e best w a y f o r h i m was to take a straight lunge at w h a t occupied his
m i n d . A n d so he d i d . " I ' v e been t h i n k i n g on all you've said, Eminence,
since y o u t o o k me i n t o y o u r confidence. You were absolutely right when
y o u said we s h o u l d all be ready to make sacrifices for the H o l y See in its
present constricted c o n d i t i o n . I have great compassion f o r the H o l y Fa-
ther. W h a r a d i r r y j o b he has!"
T h o u g h O ' C l e a r y had a few years o n h i m , A u r e a r i n i nodded in paternal
approval.
" I guess"—O'Cleary's smile was self-deprecating—"there's nor m u c h a
p o o r p r o v i n c i a l C a r d i n a l like myself can d o beyond f u l f i l l i n g my o r d i n a r y
duties. S t i l l — e r — w h a t I mean is, I hope Your Eminence realizes that I am
personally and rotally at the disposal o f the H o l y See."
A u r e a t i n i a l l o w e d an answering smile o f appreciation t o touch his lips.
N o slouch himself at the subtleties o f fly fishing, he k n e w he had his catch
on the line. " W h a t w e need in the V a t i c a n , Eminence, is m a n p o w e r . Sim-
p l y , bodies."
4
i myself . . . " O ' C l e a r y hoped his tone was dispassionate enough to
convey total and selfless indifference. "Please p a r d o n the personal refer-
ence. Eminence; but I myself have done m y little b i t in this d i r e c t i o n . "
T h e reference, A u r e a r i n i assumed, was ro O'Cleary's ridiculous foray
i n t o the M i d d l e East. " W e k n o w , Eminence. We k n o w . A n d believe me,
your efforts are highly treasured. We k n o w N e w Orleans has been and
w i l l c o n t i n u e t o be a bastion o f loyal s u p p o r t for the H o l y See."
A u r e a t i n i straighrened in his chair and l o o k e d a b o u t h i m as t h o u g h
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 157

concerned rhar he n o t be overheard n o w by the several other vacationing

clerics at nearby tables. " T h e r e may be something Your Eminence might
do f o r us p o o r pen pushers in Rome. W h a t I tell Your Eminence n o w is by
way of strict confidence. It involves many governments in Europe—and
u l t i m a t e l y , o f course, y o u r o w n government in the U n i t e d States." Aurea-
t i n i lowered his voice so that O'Cleary had t o lean f o r w a r d to catch his
w o r d s . "1 have learned f r o m H i s Eminence M a e s t r o i a n n i . . . "
The m e n t i o n of that name had exactly the effect A u r e a t i n i had antici-
pated it w o u l d . " C a r d i n a l Maesrroianni is here?" O ' C l e a r y was all but
overcome.
The Italian p u t one finger t o his lips to signal again the confidential
nature o f this conversation. A c t u a l l y , i t h a d n ' t been necessary to i n t e r r u p t
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s summer h o l i d a y w i t h a call f o r H i s Eminence to come to
Stresa. Still, a little insurance t o cement O'Cleary's cooperation w o u l d n ' t
be amiss. M a e s t r o i a n n i had said he was prepared ro back rhis mission to
the h i l t , after a l l . A n d A u r e a t i n i had felt a particular touch o f satisfaction
at b o o k i n g the senior C a r d i n a l i n t o a somewhat down-at-the-heels r o o m -
ing house o n the Isola dei Pescatori.
" I n d e e d , yes," A u r e a r i n i whispered. " H i s Eminence arrived just yester-
day. To discuss rhis very matter, i n fact. He's i n c o g n i t o , o f course. Staying
on the Isola dei Pescatori. Loves simple places, that m a n ! Loves to loaf
a r o u n d in a shirt and jeans, sipping w i n e in the cafes w i t h the o r d i n a r y
people he never gets t o meet in R o m e . "
O ' C l e a r y was m o v e d . " N o w that. Eminence, is true greatness!"
" T r u e greatness indeed, Eminence. N o w , w h a t b r o u g h t the Cardinal
here so urgently is o u r absolute need for a middle-echelon m a n . A n d Your
Eminence is the o n l y one w h o can help us get this man for ourselves."
O ' C l e a r y was r o r n between his desire to show his w i l l i n g usefulness and
his sharp d i s a p p o i n t m e n t that he himself d i d n o t seem to be the object o f
such urgent Vatican interest. H e c o u l d o n l y listen, therefore, as A u r e a t i n i
went o n .
" T h e name o f the y o u n g man H i s Eminence has in m i n d is the Reverend
Christian T h o m a s Gladstone. Does Your Eminence remember h i m ? "
H i s c o n f l i c t i n g emotions under better c o n t r o l n o w , C a r d i n a l O'Cleary
nodded v i g o r o u s l y . " O f course, Eminence. A marvelous y o u n g priest. His
family and I go back a long w a y . But Father does already spend half o f
every year in R o m e . "
"Yes, yes. We k n o w t h a t , Eminence. But the C a r d i n a l has made i t plain
to me. We need y o u r y o u n g man f u l l - t i m e . A n d we need h i m as o f this
c o m i n g September."
W h e n O ' C l e a r y ' s eyes clouded for a m o m e n t , as if he was struck by
some p o w e r f u l r h o u g h t , A u r e a r i n i shook his head in a display o f under-
standing. " I k n o w it's impossible, really. A n d quite unjust. R o m e must n o t
d r a i n the dioceses o f their best . . . "
" N o , no Eminence." O ' C l e a r y seemed t r u l y a l a r m e d . " W h a t I mean,
 158 WINDSWEPT H OUSE

Eminence, is rhis: If Rome needs Gladsrone, then Rome w i l l have G l a d -

stone. In fact, as his direct superior, I guarantee i t . "
A u r e a t i n i was the one w h o appeared overcome by e m o t i o n n o w . " D / o
miol The C a r d i n a l w i l l be delighted by y o u r sacrifice! Pm sure he'll w a n t
to t h a n k y o u personally. I've arranged to dine w i t h h i m this very evening.
A t M a m m a l e t t o ' s on the Via Ugo A r a . The C a r d i n a l loves lobsrer. Rut
Your Eminence w o u l d p r o b a b l y prefer their marvelous striped bass."
O ' C l e a r y c o u l d hardly believe his ears. " D o y o u mean . . . ?"
" I mean, Eminence, that C a r d i n a l Maesrroianni w o u l d surely be upset
should y o u n o t see y o u r w a y clear to j o i n i n g us. I cannot take no for y o u r
answer."
It w o u l d never have occurred t o O ' C l e a r y to say no to an evening of
close conversation w i t h the fabled C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i . But when he
b l i n k e d his eyes shut ever so briefly, the p a i n f u l thought that had struck
him seconds before a l l but t o o k flesh. T h e p r o u d face of the doughty
Francesca Gladsrone flashed across his m i n d , w a r n i n g h i m that he had
made a rash promise. It w o u l d take a miracle to overcome rhe force of that
m a t r o n ' s objections to Rome itself, much less to a f u l l - t i m e Roman career
for her son C h r i s t i a n .
" S h a l l I stop by for y o u here?" Aurearini p r o d d e d . "Say ar about eight
this evening?"
" S t r i p e d bass, y o u say?" C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y opened his eyes a n d , for the
m o m e n t at least, banished the face and the power of Francesca Gladstone
f r o m his m i n d .

A l o n e in his Excelsior suite, Jay Jay O'Cleary was surprised at h o w

q u i c k l y a l l sense of e x h i l a r a t i o n fell away. H e had no sense that he was
being used, cynically or otherwise, by A u r e a t i n i . Yet in some corner o f his
heart he k n e w these Romans were too subtle for h i m .
J o h n Jay O ' C l e a r y bore no obvious resemblance to Silvio A u r e a t i n i . His
k i n d m o u t h was an honest reflection of his heart. H i s eyes, balanced too
near his nose, rold t r u l y o f the n a r r o w dimensions o f his vision concerning
rhe potential p o w e r that was his but for the exercising of i t . H i s dignified,
flat-footed gait seemed the pattern for his somewhat labored process of
t h o u g h t and argument.
H o w e v e r , the mind-set favored by C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i was not entirely
foreign even t o the benign O ' C l e a r y . In fact, i t was that very m i n d - s e t —
r u n n i n g like a current n o w t h r o u g h o u t much of the w o r l d ' s episcopate—
w h i c h H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i himself intended t o m a n i p u -
late in order to elicit the C o m m o n M i n d of the Bishops against the Slavic
Pope. W h i c h was to say t h a t on this Sunday a f t e r n o o n , w h a t drove C a r d i -
nal O'Cleary's thoughts had far less to do w i t h the t r a d i t i o n a l mandate of
an Apostle than w i t h personal a m b i t i o n and n a r r o w self-interest.
His Eminence flopped wearily i n t o an armchair. Life finally seemed to
be g e t t i n g h i m d o w n . It was too great an i r o n y that C h r i s t i a n Gladstone,
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 159

w h o made n o secret of his scorn for the clerical life in Rome, was unac-
countably b u t urgently required there, w h i l e O ' C l e a r y himself was to re-
m a i n in the ecclesiastical backwater o f N e w Orleans.
O ' C l e a r y d i d n ' t fool himself about Rome. Yet it was part o f O " G e a r y ' s
character that he had always preferred t o t h i n k o f Rome as he had seen i t
in his early days, back when he had first frequented the Chancery. Back
when time spent in Rome h a d n ' t endangered y o u r f a i t h , or sapped your
c o n v i c t i o n that love o f G o d and o f Christ d i d still predominate. O v e r a l l ,
there had been n o regnant cynicism, no penetrating heartlessness in
O'Cleary's Rome. I n irs heyday, a solidarity o f Christian love had still
reigned.
O ' C l e a r y srill preferred to interact w i t h his w o r l d in those terms. N o t
that he was altogether unaware that things had changed. I t was just that
he chose t o deal w i t h change differenrly rhan most o f his episcopal col-
leagues. Even n o w , after nearly a decade as C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p o f N e w
Orleans, O ' C l e a r y remained convinced that w i t h justice and love as mo-
tive, and w i t h a u t h o r i t y to back h i m u p , his message was b o u n d to be
heard and accepted.
Over the years o f his tenure as C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p o f N e w Orleans,
O ' C l e a r y had often enough been faced w i t h the Gladstones of W i n d s w e p t
House as a p r o b l e m . But, i n his narive w i s d o m , he had realized he should
avoid any real clash w i r h rhem. H e thus never made the mistake o f his
predecessor, the p o w e r f u l and f l a m b o y a n t and reputedly megalomaniacal
C a r d i n a l Jean de Botirgogne.
Bourgogne, in his arrogance, had w r i t t e n a letter t o Francesca Glad-
stone, mistress of W i n d s w e p r House, asserting very u n t r u t h f u l l y that " t h e
H o l y Father and the Vatican C o u n c i l had abolished the o l d R o m a n Mass
and f o r b i d d e n all R o m a n Catholics to have any more to do w i t h i t . "
Francesca had fired o f f a response to the C a r d i n a l he had never antici-
pated: " A s mistress o f W i n d s w e p t H o u s e , " she t o l d Flis Eminence, " I w i l l
n o t p e r m i t the destruction o f this R o m a n Mass in my chapel. I claim our
perperual privilege as in C a n o n L a w 77, according to w h i c h we G l a d -
stones have a papally granred right that cannot be abrogated, subrogared
or terminated by ecclesiastical decree f r o m any dicastery o f the C h u r c h ,
but o n l y by direct and personal papal action. M o r e o v e r , I intend to m o u n t
a legal a c t i o n , civilly and canonically, if such becomes necessary."
Bourgogne made one attempr t h r o u g h his represenrative i n Rome to
o v e r t u r n the Gladstone privilege. Rome, for all the right reasons, t o l d him
to desist.
Since 1982, w h e n O ' C l e a r y had succeeded Bourgogne as C a r d i n a l A r c h -
bishop o f N e w Orleans, he had f o l l o w e d a wiser and gender course w i t h
the Gladstones. H i s n a t u r a l desire was to b r i n g the mistress o f W i n d s w e p t
House to his p o i n t o f v i e w . To his dismay, however, Cessi Gladstone had
consistently declared herself intent u p o n a v o i d i n g " t h e best and worst
efforts of c h u r c h m e n t o r i d the C h u r c h of its supernatural value as the true
 160 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

and o n l y C h u r c h o f C h r i s t . " As was often the case, O'Cleary's natural

desire had given way ro his n a t u r a l c a u t i o n . H e generally kepr a safe
distance f r o m W i n d s w e p t House.
O n this Sunday afternoon in Stresa, as he pondered the galling fact that
his relationship w i t h the Gladstones o f W i n d s w e p t House had suddenly
become b o t h the key and the s t u m b l i n g b l o c k t o his R o m a n a m b i t i o n s ,
John O ' C l e a r y felt more and more as t h o u g h he were w a n d e r i n g in a
maze. There c o u l d be no d o u b t that Francesca Gladstone w o u l d t h r o w her
influence w i t h her son against his permanent transfer to Rome. "People go
to Rome and lose their f a i t h , " she had said more than once. Worse s t i l l ,
and based o n his o w n experience in Rome, Chrisrian Gladstone c o u l d n ' t
be faulted for sharing that m e n t a l i t y . Nevertheless, i f he failed to deliver
C h r i s t i a n i n t o C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's hands as he had p r o m i s e d ,
O ' C l e a r y c o u l d kiss goodbye t o any hope of finishing his career on the
banks o f the T i b e r .
O'Cleary's a m b i t i o n finally w o n o u t over his disraste for the G l a d -
stones. Perhaps the d o o r t o a R o m a n career had n o t yet been opened to
h i m , Jay Jay reasoned; b u t neither had i t been closed. H a d n o t Aurearini
already been m o r e than generous in his recognition of the value o f N e w
Orleans? H a d he nor even called N e w Orleans a bastion o f loyal supporr
for the H o l y See? Surely if he delivered C h r i s t i a n Gladstone to C a r d i n a l
M a e s r r o i a n n i as he had v o w e d to d o — t h e t i m e w o u l d come f o r his o w n
jusr r e w a r d .
O ' C l e a r y therefore turned to his new p r o b l e m : finding C h r i s t i a n G l a d -
stone and o b t a i n i n g his consent to be posted t o Rome on a permanent
basis. H e glanced at his w a t c h . Four o'clock already. T h a r w o u l d be 9 A . M .
in N e w Orleans. Fie decided t o tackle the q u a i n t telephone system o f
Stresa and get t h r o u g h to his Vicar-General o f the N e w Orleans diocese,
M o n s i g n o r Pat Sheehan. A f t e r one hour's w a i t i n g and pleading and cajol-
ing successive operators in a j u m b l e o f English and I t a l i a n , His Eminence
nearly bursr inro tears o f relief when at last he heard the calm and
" h o m e y " sound o f Pat Sheehan's voice.
" P a t ? " O ' C l e a r y shoured over a sudden crackle of Stresa's c o r r o d e d
p h o n e lines.
"Yes. W h o ' s this?"
" I t ' s me, Pat. Jay Jay."
" I n the name o f all that's h o l y , m a n , where are you? Sounds like you're
talking through a t i n can and a s t r i n g ! "
O ' C l e a r y laughed w i t h such unexpected pleasure that he w o n d e r e d i f
A u r e a t i n i had been r i g h t , after a l l . M a y b e he d i d miss N e w Orleans. " P m
still i n Stresa. They have a l o t o f palaces over here and some dandy fisher-
ies. But I d o n ' t believe they've discovered fiber optics y e t . "
O n e o f the many advantages o f Pat Sheehan as Vicar-General was rhat
he was such a q u i c k study. In no time at a l l , the M o n s i g n o r g o t the
picture. Jay Jay had been cornered. A n d , true t o f o r m , Sheehan k n e w
F R I F N D S O f F R I E N D S 161

exactly where to find Father Gladstone. " H e ' s at the Dominican residence
in Colmar, Jay Jay. Working on that thesis of his. According to the sched-
ule he phoned in, he'll be on his way home to Galveston within the next
day or t w o . "
O ' C l e a r y groaned. For Father Chrisrian, going home to Galveston
meant going home to Windswept House. A n d that meant he would be
reinforced all over again by the traditional ethos that still reigned there.
O ' C l e a r y royed wirh the suddenly artractive idea thar it would be best to
defer the whole matter of Gladstone's shift to Rome until September—
until after Gladstone had finished his vacation stay with his family. H e
would have to report ro New Orleans then anyway, for his half-year
teaching stint at the Seminary. Perhaps that would be time enough to tell
him of the proposed change in his career.
Sheehan was firm but dispassionate in his disagreement with that tack.
" I f you were dealing with any other cleric in the diocese, it wouldn't
matter how you went about it. But the Gladstones are not without their
influence."
" T e l l me something I don't k n o w , " O ' C l e a r y grumbled.
" I f you ask me, Jay Jay, the worst thing you can do is to spring your
proposal on Father Christian when neither you nor he will have any time
left before he's supposed to be in Rome. If you wait, and if he turns out to
be reluctant, you won't have left yourself any wiggle room. And in any
case, Jay Jay"—Sheehan rried to sound encouraging—"1 think you may be
selling the lad shorr. He's going to need time to think your proposal over.
Resign yourself ro that. And whenever he gets your proposal, he's bound
to talk the whole thing over with his mother. But Gladstone is as indepen-
dent-minded as that lady ever was. H e ' l l make his own decision."
A glance ar his watch decided the matter for O ' C l e a r y . He had just
enough time to freshen himself with a shower before Aureatini would
collect him for rheir dinner with Cardinal Maestroianni. " L i s t e n , Pat. Do
you have Gladstone's number in C o l m a r ? "
"Wair, n o w . " There was a pause while Sheehan shuffled through some
papers. " Y e s . Here it is. 32-84 . . . "
" N o , Pat." Jay Jay pleaded the strictures of time. " Y o u do the honors.
Ask young Gladstone to spare his poor Archbishop a few momenrs of his
vacation on his way to Galveston. Pm leaving Stresa and heading for New
Orleans tomorrow. Book him in on my calendar at your discretion."
 162 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

XVIII
S O M E M O M E N T S before seven o'clock o n M o n d a y evening—the hour
he had fixed w i t h M o n s i g n o r Pat Sheehan when the Vicar-General had
r u n g h i m so unexpectedly in C o l m a r — C h r i s t i a n Gladstone emerged f r o m
a cab and pressed the d o o r b e l l of C a r d i n a l Jay Jay O'Cleary's episcopal
residence in N e w Orleans.
T h e rrendily dressed and o d d l y coifed Sisrer C l a u d i a Tuite opened the
d o o r and p e r m i t t e d C h r i s t i a n to step i n f r o m the August rain shower.
W i r h a rolerance she reserved for any clergyman below the rank o f C a r d i -
n a l , she acknowledged Gladstone's greeting w i t h a c u r t n o d , received his
raincoar gingerly between t w o fingers as if she m i g h t d r o p ir as soon as
possible inro an aseptic s o l u t i o n and glided silently o f f to announce his
a r r i v a l t o H i s Eminence.
Left t o make his o w n w a y i n t o the f a m i l i a r sitting r o o m . Christian
turned his rhoughrs to his c o m i n g interview w i t h the C a r d i n a l . Like most
o f the priesrs i n Jay Jay's diocese, he k n e w he c o u l d gauge the tenor o f
things to come by rhe length o f time he was left ro c o o l his heels. H e read
rhe o b v i o u s , therefore, inro the fact t h a t the Cardinal's j u n i o r secretary
appeared at the d o o r after barely a momenr.
In his quest f o r ecclesiastical prefermenr, Father Eddie McPherson
treated most clerical visitors as rivals f o r the Cardinal's favor. H e had
w a l k e d over m o r e than one priest i n the diocese, and was w i d e l y regarded
as one o f those clerical careerists w h o are oriented, body and soul, to the
rising sun. A man like Gladsrone, w h o n o t o n l y came f r o m a moneyed
family b u t had frequented Rome t o b o o t , set his teeth o n edge.
" H i s Eminence w i l l see y o u , Father." McPherson pronounced rhe for-
m u l a r y expression i n a flat sort o f w a y , and gestured t o w a r d the c o r r i d o r
leading to H i s Eminence's study.
" 1 assumed he w o u l d , Eddie, since I ' m here at his request." H i s o w n
teeth set o n edge by McPherson's coldness, C h r i s t i a n led the way d o w n
the c o r r i d o r , strode i n t o the Cardinal's study and left McPherson t o close
the d o o r behind h i m .
A l o n e again for the m o m e n t , Gladstone reacquainted himself w i t h the
r o o m . T h e desk where H i s Eminence w o u l d surely sear himself. T h e l o w -
slung chair beside i t t h a t guaranteed the Cardinal's edge of height over
most o f his visitors. T h e pair o f armchairs over by rhe garden w i n d o w s ,
reserved for conversations w i t h visiting prelates and other r a n k i n g d i g n i -
taries. The p o r t r a i r o f the Slavic Pope inscribed t o " O u r Venerable
B r o r h e r " t h a t h u n g o n the w a l l behind the desk. T h e o i l p a i n t i n g o f the
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 163

C a r d i n a l o n the same w a l l , to the left o f the desk, side by side w i t h H i s

Eminence's intricate coat o f arms.
"Farher C h r i s t i a n ! H o w welcome y o u a r e ! " C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p
O ' C l e a r y came b u s t l i n g i n t o the study.
" Y o u r Eminence."
T o O'Cleary's m o m e n t a r y surprise, the l a n k y y o u n g priest d r o p p e d to
one knee and kissed the bishop's r i n g o n his h a n d . These Gladstones!
" C o m e , Father, Fake a seat."
H i s Eminence gesrured his visiror t o w a r d the l o w - s l u n g chair and settled
himself i n t o the high-backed chair that gave h i m w h a t he t h o u g h t of as the
advantage o f perspecrive. " N o w , Father, tell me. H o w is t h a t marvelous
lady, y o u r beloved m o t h e r ? "
" M o t h e r ' s fine. Your Eminence." T o o tall for the a w k w a r d chair, G l a d -
stone arranged his l o n g legs as best he c o u l d . "She's k i l l i n g the fatted calf
to celebrate m y h o m e c o m i n g , "
If Jay Jay k n e w a n y t h i n g a b o u t Cessi Gladstone, she was preparing
Belshazzar's Feast. " 1 hope this unexpected lirtle stopover in N e w Orleans
hasn't disrupted her plans, my b o y . "
" E m sure she undersrands. Eminence. She always does." Christian got
his legs i n order and prepared himself f o r another o f the Cardinal's rituals.
Small talk f r o m O ' C l e a r y meant H i s Eminence w o u l d c o n d u c t the inter-
view in the style o f one o f those seagulls Gladstone had often watched
f r o m the seaward w i n d o w s at W i n d s w e p t House. T h e C a r d i n a l w o u l d
bank and wheel in the air f o r a w h i l e , u n t i l t h a t particular m o m e n t w h e n
all the soaring and g l i d i n g w o u l d end in a final s w o o p o n t o his intended
target.
" F a t h e r C h r i s t i a n . " His Eminence displayed the expansive smile that
had become his media signature in N e w Orleans. " I cannot tell you h o w
dear y o u r f a m i l y is to me. H o w dear the Gladstones have been for more
than a century to the H o l y See and to the H o l y Father; and h o w m u c h you
have all c o n r r i b u r e d t o the upkeep o f God's C h u r c h . "
" Y o u r Eminence is mosr g r a c i o u s . "
" N e w Orleans musr seem quite p r o v i n c i a l to you by n o w , after all the
time you've spent i n R o m e . "
T h e remark struck C h r i s t i a n as o d d u n t i l he reminded himself that
O'Cleary's eyes were k n o w n to be perpetually set o n Rome. " I n some
w a y s , " Gladstone responded, " r h e t w o cities are n o t so different, Your
Eminence. N e w Orleans is so sinful and so h o l y . So d i r t y and so clean. So
very happy and at the same time so very sad. L i k e Rome, one can only
imagine h o w w o n d e r f u l N e w Orleans must have been in its great Catholic
heyday."
T h e smile w i r h w h i c h Jay Jay had heard Christian's first w o r d s gave
way ro bafflement. H e seemed like a benign professor sadly disappointed
in one o f his most prized scholars. " A f t e r all this t i m e , d o y o u still see
Rome i n such stark terms?" O'Cleary's question was so heartfelt and at
 164 WINDSWEPT HO USE

the same time so p a t r o n i z i n g that Gladstone was struck w i t h the realiza-

t i o n that he had been called to this i n t e r v i e w to talk about R o m e . The idea
was so implausible that he knew i t had t o be true. Tilled w i t h foreboding
and distaste, he c o u l d o n l y answer w i r h silence.
H i s rone almosr r e p r o v i n g n o w , the C a r d i n a l w e n t o n . " A s you k n o w , I
have just returned f r o m an extended t r i p t o Europe. We princes of the
C h u r c h must stay in t o u c h w i t h each other about universal problems, as
y o u m i g h t imagine. 1 began w i t h an audience w i t h the H o l y Father. M o s t
consoling, Father C h r i s t i a n . W h a t a great m a n Christ has given t o H i s
C h u r c h i n her h o u r o f need! A n d d u r i n g m y stay i n the Eternal C i t y , I had
a l o n g conversarion w i t h the Rector of the A n g e l i c u m . I cannot tell y o u ,
Father, h o w Master-General Slattery values y o u r services d u r i n g the one
semester you spend there each y e a r / '
O ' C l e a r y gave Gladstone a l o o k of l o v i n g satisfaction. " I t may not sur-
prise you—especially given the status of y o u r f a m i l y in the annals o f the
H o l y See—that over i n the Secretariat of State y o u r name stands very high.
Very h i g h , indeed! Guess w h a t they have asked o f me, Father C h r i s t i a n . "
U n w i l l i n g ro ease such a conversation as t h i s , Gladstone looked steadily
at H i s Eminence, but still said n o t h i n g .
" M y dear Father, they have asked me to d o the hardest t h i n g a bishop
can be asked: to give up a g o o d m a n . " Ready to dive on his target n o w ,
O ' C l e a r y changed his expression to one of grave concern. " A s of this very
September they w a n t me to release y o u t o R o m e as a f u l l y tenured profes-
sor of theology at rhe A n g e l i c u m and as a rheologian f o r rhe papal house-
hold."
Flis w o r s t expectation c o n f i r m e d , Gladstone was i n w a r d l y beset w i t h so
many questions that he hardly k n e w h o w ro sort them o u t . As far as he
k n e w , the A n g e l i c u m had no need of h i m o n a year-round basis, A n d there
were already so many hundreds of Theologians in the " p a p a l house-
h o l d " — a loose term at best in this c o n t e x t — t h a t there c o u l d be no urgent
need f o r another. M o r e o v e r , despite O ' C l e a r y ' s w o r d s about his high
standing at the Secretariat, no one in official Rome had given Christian the
time of day. O h , he had h a d that one inconsequential meeting w i t h C a r d i -
nal M a e s t r o i a n n i . A n d w h i l e Master-General Slattery was k n o w n as a
papal i n t i m a t e , it was unlikely that he was behind this curious business.
W h o in R o m e , then, w o u l d even t h i n k o f reaching o u t for him? A n d
w h y such urgency? N o n e o f i t made any sense. Gladstone was suddenly
clear o n one t h i n g . Jay Jay was in a b i n d ; a n d for whatever reason. Chris-
tian was the Cardinal's o n l y hope of getting o u t o f that b i n d . So m u c h so
that he was even w i l l i n g ro risk the w r a t h of Christian's mother i n a bid to
save his o w n hindquarters. In fact, O ' C l e a r y was so tense, so nervous
about rhe w h o l e p r o p o s i t i o n , that the y o u n g priest reckoned it was only
the Cardinal's diffidence regarding the s r r o n g - w i l l e d Cessi Gladstone that
kept O ' C l e a r y f r o m o r d e r i n g h i m t o R o m e o n the spot.
" Y o u r E m i n e n c e . " It was C h r i s t i a n w h o broke the silence. A few ques-
FRILNDS OF FRIFNDS 165

tions should be enough to test O'Cleary's d e t e r m i n a t i o n to release h i m to

Rome; and t o rest h o w difficult it m i g h t be t o sidestep the p r o p o s i t i o n .
" Y o u r Eminence, give me the benefit o f a little counsel. 1 am a very small
fish in the p o n d . 1 teach m i n o r courses ar rhe A n g e l i c u m . I minister ro the
Polish nuns on Via Sistina. I give a few retreats to rhe Irish nuns on Via d i
Sebasrianello. I d o n ' t k n o w R o m e , really; or the papal household. I speak
u n f o r g i v a b l y bad I t a l i a n . I am an A m e r i c a n . W h a t assignment could be so
urgent for a cleric w i t h such credentials as t h a t ? "
Jay Jay assumed the most pontifical bearing ar his c o m m a n d . "Despite
your commendable modesty. Father C h r i s t i a n , I t h i n k you should give this
matter y o u r most serious consideration. A t rhe risk o f berraying a confi-
dence, I believe y o u s h o u l d k n o w that y o u have come to the attention of
no less a figure i n o u r C h u r c h than His Eminence Cosimo Maestroianni
h i m s e l f . " The disbelief w i t h w h i c h Gladstone heard that b i t of i n f o r m a -
tion passed in O'Cleary's eyes f o r the awe he himself entertained f o r the
great C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . " A l l right. Father. Cards on the table, eh?
Both at the Secretariat and elsewhere in rhe H o l y C i t y " — t h e Cardinal's
sage l o o k was meant to underline the fact that in rhis R o m a n context, the
w o r d " e l s e w h e r e " c o u l d only mean the H o l y F a t h e r — " I find a grear sense
of i m m i n e n t developments. A consensus that new initiatives are afoot.
A n d I find the same buoyancy a m o n g my brother Cardinals. Berween you
and me, this could be the grearesr o p p o r t u n i t y o f y o u r clerical career."
Convinced that i t was rhe Cardinal's clerical career rhat was o n rhe line,
and that he was rhe bair, Chrisrian gave a moment's t h o u g h t nonetheless
to Jay Jay's sense o f i m m i n e n t developments. F r o m Gladstone's perspec-
tive, rhe greatesr global crisis was w i t h i n the C h u r c h Universal. N o . The
besr t h i n g he c o u l d d o , C h r i s t i a n t o l d himself, w o u l d be ro finish his
studies and come back t o the States, where he c o u l d make a difference. A t
least here he c o u l d serve the f a i t h f u l w h o were i n such desperate need o f
good priesrs. Here, he c o u l d t u r n his back o n the careerism o f Rome.
"1 say again, t h e r e f o r e , " C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y was pressing o n . " Y o u
should give the matter y o u r most serious consideration. T i m e is a factor in
y o u r decision, of course. B u t " — J a y Jay smiled b r a v e l y — " y o u must feel
free in this m a t t e r . "
"1 shall, Your Eminence. Be assured o f t h a t . "
For the first t i m e , Jay Jay glanced at a page o f t y p e w r i t t e n notes on his
desk. " T h e y w o u l d like y o u t o d r o p in sometime before the end ot Septem-
ber t o talk w i t h t h e m — w o r k o u t a schedule, find accommodations. That
sort of t h i n g . A c t u a l l y , my b o y , y o u can have a r o o m o n rhe H i l l as o f this
very m o m e n t i f you like. I arranged that personally f o r y o u w i t h the Rec-
t o r . " " T h e H i l l " was the f a m i l i a r R o m a n tag f o r the A m e r i c a n College,
and C h r i s t i a n understood the g a m b i t as an intended inducement.
A w a r e that Christian's confident answer concerned the w h o l e Roman
proposal itself, Jay Jay resigned himself to the fact that he w o u l d get no
definitive answer this evening. Flis best hope n o w was to bury Gladstone's
 166 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

reluctance—and w i t h i t , the influence his mother was b o u n d to exert on

h i m in the c o m i n g days—beneath a new avalanche of pious and comple-
mentary phrases. " 1 cannot tell y o u h o w much I love y o u r f a m i l y / ' he
offered again. " W h e n Peter calls . . . he suggested. " Y o u cannot begin
to k n o w h o w valued y o u r services are in the H o l y C i t y . Y o u r background
and credentials c o u l d be of immense benefit ro Rome, I n fact, in today's
ambience just such a man as yourself is needed, my dear Father Chris-
tian."
T h e A r c h b i s h o p l o o k e d one m o r e time at his notes, as t h o u g h he m i g h t
find a sudden miracle there. T h e n , a little disheartened, he rose f r o m his
chair. " Y o u ' l l be heading for Galveston n o w , my b o y ? "
" I n the m o r n i n g , Eminence. Ell be spending the night at rhe Seminary."
As C h r i s t i a n srood up i n his t u r n , he c o u l d n ' t resisr a sudden impulse.
" M o t h e r w o u l d love to entertain Your Eminence once again at W i n d s w e p t
H o u s e , " he suggested w i t h a mischievous t w i n k l e . "Perhaps Your Emi-
nence m i g h t even j o i n us w h i l e I ' m t h e r e . "
T h i s was nor the note o n w h i c h Jay Jay had hoped t o end the interview.
H e h a d n ' t forgotten his last visit t o W i n d s w e p t . For days a f t e r w a r d , his
ears had echoed w i t h Cessi Gladstone's p o i n t - b l a n k refusal o n that occa-
sion to chair a diocesan committee for ecumenical relations w i t h the Bap-
tists. "Please rhe g o o d G o d , my b o y . " O'Cleary finessed Gladsrone's i n v i -
t a t i o n w i t h another smile. " O n e of these days w e ' l l manage a visit to your
beloved W i n d s w e p t . " H i s F-minence reached for the buzzer on his desk
a n d , w h e n Farher Eddie reappeared obediently at the d o o r , directed that a
car be ordered ro take Christian t o the Seminary.
Gladstone bent again t o kiss his r i n g , and then strode across the study.
" Y o u ' l l let us hear f r o m y o u w i t h as little delay as possible, Farher?"
C h r i s t i a n t u r n e d back for a m o m e n t . " I w i l l , Eminence." T h e n , brush-
ing past Father Eddie McPherson srill standing i n the d o o r w a y , he was
gone.

Some thousand miles o r so to the northeast of N e w Orleans, i n the pleas-

ant m i d s u m m e r Virginia countryside n o t far f r o m W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . , G i b -
son A p p l e y a r d pulled i n t o the d r i v e w a y of his home just as his w i f e , Ge-
nie, was p u l l i n g her car o u t .
"Eastern Star meeting, G i b d a r l i n g . " She blew the reminder o n a kiss.
"See y o u at d i n n e r . "
A p p l e y a r d waved and blew a kiss in r e t u r n . He made his w a y a r o u n d to
the garden a n d , despite the t e m p t a t i o n to give a little attention to his
splendid collection of roses, entered his light-filled study t h r o u g h the
French d o o r s , deposited his briefcase o n his desk, tossed his tie and suit
jacket o n t o a chair, selected The Magic Flute for his stereo and set about
w h a t he hoped w o u l d be several uninrerrupred hours of w o r k .
A N a v y Counrerintelligence officer by trade, this exceptionally tall m a n
w i t h the sandy-gray h a i r — t h i s A n g l o - S a x o n type w h o had seemed so for-
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS 167
gertabJe to C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i w h e n Cyrus Benthoek had introduced
h i m ar rhe clandestine Schuman Day gathering i n Srrasbourg—had been
assigned since January 1990 to special duties at the pleasure of the Presi-
dent o f rhe Unired States.
In late December 1989, the President had been approached by ten men
w h o were reckoned as colossi w i t h i n the nation's largesr, most i m p o r t a n t
and most prosperous Transnational c o r p o r a t i o n s . M e n w h o controlled
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d electronics and o i l , agribusiness and b a n k i n g and
insurance and reinsurance.
These genrlemen had called at the W h i t e House to volunteer a clear
analysis o f the U.S. position i n a suddenly changing w o r l d . The disinregra-
t i o n o f the Soviet U n i o n i n t o separate states, they said, was as sure as
t o m o r r o w ' s sunrise. T h e most natural course for those states to f o l l o w
w o u l d be i n t e g r a t i o n w i t h the European C o m m o n M a r k e t nations. M r .
G o r b a c h e v — n o t t o m e n t i o n others in Europe itself—was already forecasr-
ing just such a t u r n .
" M r . President," the ten said in effect, " i f that were t o happen anytime
s o o n — i f a Greater Europe were to come u p o n us by the presently planned
target date o f January 1993, there w o u l d be no w a y the United Srates
could compete. We w o u l d be d w a r f e d . "
N a t u r a l l y , rhe genrlemen had a recommendation t o make: " A u t h o r i z e
us as an ad hoc c o m m i t t e e t o w a t c h over U.S. business interests in general
r h r o u g h o u r rhis new s i r u a t i o n ; and in particular t o circumvent in a timely
fashion the rapid creation o f such an unbeatable economic c o m p e t i t o r . "
T h e President had seen their p o i n t . N o President w o u l d fail to heed such
men as these; and no President c o u l d gainsay their c o m m o n voice.
W i t h i n a m o n t h , the ad hoc Presidential C o m m i t t e e of Ten, answerable
o n l y t o the Chief Executive, had been established. A n d , like so many other
committees in W a s h i n g t o n , it soon acquired a permanency rhat made the
t e r m " a d h o c " inro an o x y m o r o n . W i r h i n the same m o n t h , Gibson A p -
pleyard had been detached f r o m his N a v y Counterintelligence post. He
and his senior officer, A d m i r a l (Ret.) E d w a r d " B u d " Vance, functioned as
the Committee's executive officers. They were t o develop w h a t the Presi-
dent had loosely described as " t o e h o l d s and h a n d g r i p s " w i t h i n the Euro-
pean C o m m u n i t y . " A little insurance," as rhe President had explained in
his first meeting w i t h the t w o intelligence officers, "so rhat some measure
o f c o n t r o l and pressure w i l l be available t o us w i t h o u r allies, should the
need ever arise."
A p p l e y a r d was adept at ferreting o u t toeholds and handgrips. A n d
t h o u g h the climate in Europe lent urgency ro his w o r k , he hadn'r come
across a n y r h i n g that wasn't easily w i t h i n his c a p a b i l i t i e s Pragmaric and
resourceful, he had l o n g since f o u n d that the w o r k i n g s o f politics and
politicians do n o t change m u c h , just because they take place o n the trans-
national level.
True, rhe European C o m m u n i t y d i d represent 3 2 0 m i l l i o n people in
 168 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

twelve nations. If y o u added the seven nations of the European Free Trade
Association—the E F T A , you were l o o k i n g at a market economy o f some
370 m i l l i o n people already w i t h a high level o f social culture and techno-
logical sophistication. The " E u r o p e a n s " had been speaking i n the eighties
of a c o m i n g financial and p o l i t i c a l European u n i o n — p e r h a p s by the m i d -
nineties. T h i s Greater Europe was rheir g o a l .
As of this summer, h o w e v e r — a n d despite the EC's bright-eyed projec-
tions—Appleyard counted the chances t o be iffy for that Greater Europe
to emerge as a done deal, united a n d h a r m o n i o u s , by rhe target date of the
mid-nineties. T h e separate member states o f the European C o m m u n i r y
hadn't exactly submerged rheir national identities i n t o the EC. Germany
was beginning ro flex its p o l i t i c a l muscle; a n d , ever so remorely, irs poren-
rial milirary muscle as w e l l . T h e French still c l u n g t o the idea o f France as
rhe heart and soul of European democracy. A n d , despite the English Prime
Minister's brave w o r d s recently, the English people i n their m a j o r i t y d i d
not w a n t t o be reckoned as Europeans. England was England, by Jove.
O n t o p o f all t h a t , the EC's great rival—Conference on Security and
C o o p e r a t i o n in E u r o p e — h a d h a r d l y faded a w a y . Ever since the Final Ac-
cords had been signed in 1975 in H e l s i n k i , a large body o f o p i n i o n saw the
CSCE as the chief organ o f Greater Europe. A f t e r a l l , the U n i t e d States—
unwelcome as a European player i n the eyes of the EC—was n o t only a
full-fledged member o f the rival CSCE but the principal supporter of the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
By this A u g u s t , after a year and a half o f l o w - k e y b u t effective dealing,
Gibson A p p l e y a r d had f o u n d plenty of toeholds and handgrips w i t h i n t h a t
general g r i d o f European c o m p e t i t i o n . H e was rightly appreciared by his
superiors as a man w h o let n o t h i n g get by his expert eye, and w h o c o u l d
h o l d his o w n f o r the A m e r i c a n posirion w h i l e rhe C o m m i t t e e o f Ten wenr
a b o u t its ad hoc business of securing global peace and A m e r i c a n primacy
w i r h i n the emergent new order in Europe.
O n rhis sunny a f r e r n o o n , by the time the slow siciliano rhythm of
Pamina's aria in G m i n o r for her losr T a m i n o surged i n his ears, G i b
A p p l e y a r d had broughr himself up to date o n the current s i t u a t i o n i n each
o f the EC countries. O n e last review o f the folders devoted to the c o m i n g
final selection of the new Secretary-General t o the C o u n c i l o f Ministers o f
rhe European C o m m u n i t y was all that remained to be done.
The post o f Secretary-General had been vacant since June. T h e EC Se-
lection C o m m i t t e e had met twice. Each t i m e , A p p l e y a r d had attended the
proceedings as U.S. representative and liaison officer. A n d each time the
number o f candidates—all o f them Europeans, o f course; and all o f them
recommended t h r o u g h various members o f the C o u n c i l ot Ministers or
t h r o u g h rhe C o u n c i l o f C o m m i s s i o n e r s — h a d been pared d o w n . The t h i r d
a n d final meering o f the Selection C o m m i t t e e w o u l d be held i n Brussels in
September. A c c o r d i n g l y , m i d - A u g u s t was an ideal time for a final r u n -
t h r o u g h of the dossiers o f those few w h o had made it to the short l i s t —
FRIENDS OP FRIENDS 169

men w h o understood h o w ro play " t h e European g a m e " to their o w n

advantage w i t h o u t upsetting delicate balances.
The files yielded n o t h i n g unexpected. A p p l e y a r d was w i t h i n hailing dis-
tance o f the last page o f rhe last dossier when the privare phone on his
desk began to jangle.
" 1 k n o w y o u d o n ' t w a n t t o be i n t e r r u p t e d . C o m m a n d e r . . . "
Gibson smiled i n t o the receiver at M a r y Ellen's f a m i l i a r and efficient
voice. H i s secretary had the good sense t o k n o w w h a t was i m p o r t a n t , and
G i b had the g o o d sense n o t to question her j u d g m e n t . " W h a t ' s u p , M a r y
Ellen?"
" A d m i r a l Vance's aide just came by w i t h a b i g , fat folder in his hand,
sir. I t seems there's another name in the hat f o r Secretary-General ar the
EC."
Gibson w h i s t l e d in surprise. " I s i t somebody w e already k n o w or are we
starting f r o m square o n e ? "
" N e v e r heard o f h i m before, sir. But he does w o r k w i t h Cyrus
Benthoek. A n d the President himself has signed o f f o n the recommenda-
tion."
G i b l o o k e d l o n g i n g l y t h r o u g h the French doors. F r o m the sound o f
things, he c o u l d forget his rose garden f o r t o d a y . "Better fax i t t h r o u g h to
me here. M a r ) ' E l l e n . "

"Gladsrone. Paul T h o m a s . "

A p p l e y a r d read the name o n the cover page o f the dossier w i t h profes-
sional c u r i o s i t y . The pages M a r y Ellen faxed t h r o u g h p r o v i d e d so t h o r -
ough and detailed a b a c k g r o u n d that there was n o way it c o u l d have been
assembled hastily. Eate entry or n o t , some careful p l a n n i n g had gone i n t o
this m o v e .
The mosr pleasant surprise f o r A p p l e y a r d was t h a t an A m e r i c a n should
be a candidate at all for a posr o f such consequence i n the EC. The least
pleasant surprise was t h a t the Gladstones were clearly d i e d - i n - t h e - w o o l ,
d o w n - t h c - l i n e R o m a n Catholics.
It w a s n ' t a question o f prejudice. G i b was t o o g o o d a man f o r that. Still,
the religion and ethics o f M a s o n r y were the w a r p and w o o f o f his personal
life. In his soul, this hard-nosed analyst and t o u g h infighrer was a mystic.
T h i s man w h o c o u l d be parachuted, metaphorically or actually, i n t o any
blazing t r o u b l e spot and be relied u p o n t o emerge intact and w i t h all the
irons pulled our o f the fire, was also a m a n whose p h i l a n t h r o p y and at-
rractive h u m a n i s m were central in his life.
Dedicated t o the principles o f liberal education and to the use of enlight-
ened reason t o solve a l l problems, h u m a n and social, he never deviared
f r o m rhe holy parh o f M a s o n r y ' s " S p i r i t u a l P y r a m i d " ; o f God's Spiritual
Temple. The ceremonies o f rhe Lodge t h a t revolved a r o u n d the H o l y Alrar
and the Feast Days—the early-spring Feast Day o f the Paschal L a m b was a
good e x a m p l e — o n l y added t o his c o n v i c t i o n that the ideals o f M a s o n r y
 170 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

outshone those or the R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h . Indeed, he t o o k pride in

the fact that it had been his organization that had b r o u g h t the a u t h o r i r y
and supremacy o f rhe R o m a n C h u r c h i n t o question t h r o u g h such means
as rhe t r a n s l a t i o n o f the Bible, the W o r d , and r h r o u g h that era o f history
called the R e f o r m a t i o n .
A t the same t i m e , however, anyone w h o k n e w h i m w e l l — h i s Catholic-
b o r n w i f e , Genie, above a l l — c o u l d tell y o u that A p p l e y a r d had only m i -
n o r interest in the governance o f the M a s o n i c o r g a n i z a t i o n . Never m i n d
Gib's o w n record as past G r a n d Steward of the G r a n d Lodge o f rhe Srare
o f V i r g i n i a ; as pasr M o s t Wise Master o f the Chapter o f Rose C r o i x ; as
current C o m m a n d e r y Generalissimo o f rhe Lake N e w c o m b e C o m m a n d -
ery i n the M a s o n ' s Y o r k Rite and deputy G r a n d H i g h Priest o f the 2 7 t h
Capital D i s t r i c t i n rhe Y o r k Rite.
The fact remained thar he cared litrle a b o u t the conflict o f Lighr and
Darkness. Rather, he immersed himself in the Rosicrucian levels in order
to witness to the b i r t h o f the N e w M a n and W o m a n . T h a t , in fact, was the
reason f o r his d e v o t i o n t o the music o f Amadeus M o z a r t .
A p p l e y a r d f r o w n e d as he read t h r o u g h that o b l i g a t o r y p o r t i o n o f Paul
Gladstone's record that dealt w i t h his b l o o d f a m i l y . Gladstone's mother,
Francesca, shaped up as more Catholic t h a n the Pope. A n d his older
brorher, C h r i s t i a n , had opted for the priesthood. O n the plus side, t h o u g h ,
no one i n the f a m i l y except Paul seemed to be p o l i t i c a l .
Like his brother C h r i s t i a n , it seemed t h a t Paul had had an early brush
w i t h the p r i e s t h o o d ; but he had had the g o o d sense t o d r o p our o f rhe
Seminary. H a v i n g opred f o r degrees i n law and finance f r o m H a r v a r d , this
Gladstone had p u t himself o n a fast track. He had been snapped up fairly
q u i c k l y by Cyrus Benthoek's l a w firm. D i d an impressive internship in
Brussels and Strasbourg. N o w , at barely t h i r r y - s i x , he was a j u n i o r part-
ner. Fluent i n French, G e r m a n , Iralian, Russian and M a n d a r i n Chinese.
M a r r i e d to a Chinese citizen, in fact. One c h i l d ; a son. Principal residence
in L o n d o n . A n estate i n I r e l a n d . A n a p a r t m e n t i n Paris. N o p r o b l e m about
security srarus.
A l l o f that was interesting. Some o f ir was even i n t r i g u i n g . But i t d i d n ' t
add u p t o a n y t h i n g that w o u l d move the EC Selection C o m m i t t e e either to
v i e w such a late entry w i t h k i n d l y eyes or t o f a v o r an American over the
European candidates. T h e case f o r Paul Gladstone, t h o u g h , was clinched
in A p p l e y a r d ' s eyes by Gladstone's o w n w o r d s in the pages that came
under the heading "Personal Sraremenr." O n page six, f o r example, G l a d -
stone had w r i r t e n w i t h remarkable understanding of " t h e opening up of
w h o l l y new bases for c o l l a b o r a t i o n and transnational association." H e
had devoted several especially g o o d paragraphs t o " t h e present need for a
w h o l l y new m e n t a l i t y . . . nonnationalistic and nonsectarian."
M o r e o v e r , there was a nice balance t o Gladstone's p o i n t o f v i e w . H e
had ended his personal sraremenr w i r h the w o r d s " . . . always keeping in
m i n d thar rhe A n g l o - A m e r i c a n establishment should m a i n t a i n its power
FRIENDS OF FRIFNDS 171

p r i m a c y u n t i l the transnational balance outweighs all other f a c t o r s . " T h a t

phrase alone pur Paul Gladstone w e l l ahead i n Appleyard's estimation.
Those w o r d s m i g h t have come straight f r o m his o w n pen. O r straight
f r o m rhe C o m m i t t e e o f Ten itself.
It remained o n l y t o check Gladstone's endorsements. As expected, there
was a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n f r o m C y r u s Benthoek. But w h a t a b o u t the W h i t e
House endorsement? O r , rather, the fact t h a t the President himself had
signed o f f o n rhe endorsement. T h e o l d m a n d i d n ' t usually f o l l o w these
matters i n such detail. W h a t , he w o n d e r e d , was the story behind that
presidential signature?
So absorbed had A p p l e y a r d become in the p o r t r a i t of Paul Gladstone
that he h a d n ' t heard the final strains of The Magic Flute fade i n t o silence.
Still deep i n t h o u g h t , he was about to feed his stereo again—this time w i t h
the Maestro's Symphony N o . 39 in the M a s o n i c r i t u a l key o f E-flar ma-
j o r — w h e n his private phone rang again.
" R e a d any g o o d dossiers lately, G i b ? " A d m i r a l Vance's deep voice was
relaxed and official at the same t i m e .
" H e l l o , B u d . I t h o u g h t y o u ' d be checking i n before long. I just finished
reading the life and times o f Paul T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . "
"And . . . ?"
A p p l e y a r d gave his boss rhe reading he was asking f o r . Professionally,
he said, as an executive officer of the C o m m i t t e e o f Ten, he c o u l d find no
f a u l t w i r h the idea o f rhis late entry as the next Secretary-General of the
EC, A n d even on the personal level, he c o u l d n ' t restrain a certain enthusi-
asm f o r such a maverick. A n o n p r a c t i c i n g R o m a n C a t h o l i c . A Yankee w h o
seemed more European rhan A m e r i c a n , and w h o was very m u c h ar home
in inrernarional affairs. Strong f a m i l y bias i n his life. N o hinr o f w o m a n -
izing or any p r o b l e m w i t h l i q u o r o r drugs. Given his family f o r t u n e ,
maybe even fairly i n c o r r u p t i b l e .
" D o e s i t borher y o u , G i b , thar he's a C a t h o l i c ? " A l w a y s concerned
a b o u t people in high places w h o were attached to w h a t he frequently
called " a l l t h a t Pope f o l d e r o l , " apparently Vance w a s n ' t convinced by
Gladstone's disclaimer.
" I t w o u l d n ' t matter i f i t d i d bother m e , " A p p l e y a r d answered. " T h e
President wants h i m , and that's that. I n fact, n o w that we're o n the sub-
ject, w h a t ' s i n this p a r t i c u l a r deal that g o t it all the w a y up t o the o l d man?
W h y w o u l d he p u t his name to i t ? "
"Beats m e , " Vance dissembled u n c o n v i n c i n g l y . " W h e e l s w i t h i n wheels,
I suppose. T h e President has his o w n pipelines. M o r e ro the p o i n t , h o w do
y o u rare Gladstone's chances w i t h rhe EC Selecrion C o m m i t t e e ? "
Somewhere between slim and none was A p p l e y a r d ' s v i e w . " Y o u k n o w
the setup as w e l l as I d o . Except f o r one Brit, the C o m m i t t e e is European
t o the bone, just like the EC itself. I t isn't likely to favor an A m e r i c a n as
Secrerary-General. T h e post has too m u c h influence. Too much access t o
 172 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

roo many people. T o the twelve Prime Ministers, and to rhe seventeen E C
Commissioners, for starrers."
" T h a r ' s just the point, C o m m a n d e r . " Vance was all business now. " W e
can't let a chance for American influence at the top echelons of the E C
pass us by. You'll be at the September meeting. We don't have a vote, of
course. But if it begins to look bad for Gladstone, get a postponement on
the vote. Be inventive. Buy us some time to change a few minds. We
need . . . "
" I k n o w , B u d . " Appleyard laughed, and came up with his best presiden-
tial imitation. " W e need toeholds and handgrips."
 XIX
F O R A L L of Francesca Gladstone's seventy years, her home at Windswept
had been the house of God and the gate of the Heaven she hoped to reach.
Intangibly but really for her, G o d had ser Jacob's Ladder down in rhis
place, and here she moved in rhe company of Angels who descended and
ascended between this privare heaven of hers of earth and the Heaven of
God's glory.
That did not mean rhar Cessi Gladstone's life ar Windswepr House had
been all ringed round wirh cherub faces like some della Robbia ceramic or
rhar tragedy had been a stranger here. O n the conrrary. Her mother had
died when Cessi was barely five. Her own marriage—not a happy one—
had ended with the early death of her husband in a stupid and bloody
accident. And, while the Gladstone fortune and the family status in the
Vatican as privilegiati di Stato had provided sturdy bulwarks for her, rais-
ing her three children during the sixties and seventies had been like hold-
ing out—with mixed success, as she was the first to admit—against a siege
that had been raised against her faith. A siege against her whole wav of
life.
Tragedies and troubles norwithstanding, an inner happiness was a solid
and ever shining archway covering all rhe years of Cessi's life at Wind-
swepr House. She had known discontent, disappointment, regrer and an-
ger. Bur she had never ceased ro possess whar can only be called happiness
of soul.
Cessi Gladstone possessed an opaque intuition of future things. It was
nothing so precise as visions or a detailed knowledge of events yet to
happen. Ir was more in the nature of foreboding; a foretaste of the effect
of impending changes. It was her mood, in fact, more rhan her mind rhar
would suddenly begin to reflecr rhings in rhe offing. And more ofren than
not—more often than was comforting, especially when the lives of her
children were involved—Cessi's instincts had proved correct.
In the spring of this year of change in Christian's Roman career, it was
Cessi's youngest child and only daughter, Parricia, who had firsr picked up
on rhe facr thar just such a mood had raken hold. There was nothing
specific that Tricia could define. Her mother hadn't looked any different
that morning than she normally did. At seventy, Cessi Gladstone was still
an erect five foot eight. Long-legged, long-waisted and without unneeded
fat, she looked like a woman of fifty; and she moved with all of the strong
 176 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

grace o f the p r i m a ballerina she had once been. She never merely w a l k e d ;
she strode. Every action seemed t o come f r o m some invisible, invincible
inner center o f balance.
T h a t one m o r n i n g , t h o u g h , in the sunny breakfasr r o o m where rhe r w o
Gladsrone w o m e n began their day, Tricia k n e w her morher's b u i l t - i n ba-
rometer had begun t o register changes. M a y b e ir was rhat her morher's
G o t h i c face, w i r h its utterly w h i t e s k i n , had seemed t o o flushed thar day.
M a y b e Cessi's strong m o u t h and the slightly aquiline nose o f all the true
Gladstones had seemed t o o pinched. M a y b e those wide-set eyes had
changed f r o m their n o r m a l l y soft blue to the flashing green o f the older
w o m a n ' s sharper moods. O r maybe ir was rhe way Cessi had pulled her
gray-flecked a u b u r n hair back so severely. Whatever i t was, Tricia
c o u l d n ' t help r e m a r k i n g o n her o w n i n t u i t i v e sense that something was
t r o u b l i n g her m o t h e r .
"Nonsense, d a r l i n g . " Cessi had pooh-poohed Patricia's concern. " E v -
e r y t h i n g c o u l d n ' t be b e t t e r . " She m i g h t have saved herself the t r o u b l e ,
t h o u g h . In realiry Tricia was no more convinced by Cessi's w o r d s rhan
Cessi herself.
"Nonsense yourself, Miss Cessi." Beulah T h o m p s o n , jusr in f r o m rhe
kitchen w i t h a fresh p o t o f steaming coffee in her hand and a f r o w n on her
forehead, had weighed i n . " A n y o n e w h o ' s got half an cye'll see s o m e t h i n g
w r o n g . " A handsome, r a w b o n c d mother o f f o u r and g r a n d m o t h e r o f
three, Beulah had been housekeeper and confidante to the Gladstones for
nearly t w e n t y years. She felt herself to be a believing and f a i t h f u l member
o f rhe local Baptist c h u r c h . But firsr and foremost, Beulah felt herself to be
a bona fide Gladsrone and a part o f any f a m i l y conversation that t o o k
place in her presence.
Faced w i t h these t w o w o m e n w h o k n e w her so w e l l , Cessi finally a d m i t -
red the t r u t h . A sense o f deep changes a b o u t to come had taken h o l d o f
her again, b u t she c o u l d n ' t be any more specific rhan rhar. U n r i l events pur
a face o n her f o r e b o d i n g — r h e r e was n o r h i n g she c o u l d d o bur w a i t .
N o sooner was that unaccusromed idea o f helplessness o u t o f her
m o u t h , however, than Cessi rebelled against her o w n w o r d s . Wherher in
C o r n w a l l , E n g l a n d , or in Galveston, Texas, Gladstones had never jusr sat
and w a i t e d for a n y r h i n g , she declared; and she was n o t about to be the
first. T h i s year's reunion o f her f a m i l y promised to be exceptional, and no
p r e m o n i t i o n s or m o o d s or changes or a n y r h i n g else was g o i n g ro get in the
w a y o f that. C h r i s t i a n w o u l d be c o m i n g home f r o m Italy for r w o weeks ar
the end o f A u g u s t . A n d this year, Paul w o u l d be c o m i n g home, r o o , along
w i t h his little son, Declan, w h o figured as one of rhe grear joys o f Cessi's
life. Paul w o u l d b r i n g his w i f e , Yusai, r o o , o f course: b u t Cessi figured she
could put up w i t h that.
" L e t ' s all spit straight i n t o the eye o f p r e m o n i t i o n , t h e n ! " Cessi's face
had l i t up w i t h such a sudden fire o f determined enthusiasm that Tricia
and Beulah T h o m p s o n were engulfed in the flames before rhey k n e w ir.
W I \ D S W I: P r HOUSE 177
' ' W e ' l l polish this o l d pile f r o m t o p to b o t t o m . W e ' l l make this a summer
Galveston w i l l never f o r g e t ! "
N o sooner had she decided t o b r i n g W i n d s w e p t House t o life again than
she had set a b o u t the d o i n g o f i t . Cessi w o r k e d up a flowchart o f every-
t h i n g t h a t was ro be done. W i t h rhe late A u g u s t a r r i v a l o f her t w o sons as
r e w a r d , n o t h i n g w o u l d d o bur a total refurbishmenr o f every r o o m in rhe
house.

For Cessi Gladstone, the preparations at W i n d s w e p t t u r n e d o u t t o be a

special b o o n , a time o f unexpected celebration in itself.
Before the end o f M a y , relays o f carpenters and plumbers and cleaners,
electricians and roofers, upholsterers and gardeners were already r r o o p i n g
in and o u t o f the great m a n s i o n , w o r k i n g m e t h o d i c a l l y according to
Cessi's f l o w c h a r t , their labor subject to her constant scrutiny. Under
Cessi's w a t c h f u l eye, W i n d s w e p t had its face washed. T h e red-brick outer
walls o f the mansion were sprayed clean f r o m g r o u n d level a l l rhe way up
to the T o w e r Chapel; and the semicircle o f inrricate w r o u g h r i r o n that
embraced rhe p o r c h and sun r o o m was made to look as i t had in the 1870s
when O l d G l a d had firsr had ir insralled.
Inside, m e a n w h i l e , there was h a r d l y a splinter that w a s n ' t smoothed or
a speck o f dust n o t d o o m e d . T h e dozens o f O r i e n t a l carpets Paul G l a d -
stone had i m p o r r e d were taken up a n d cleaned, w h i l e rhe riger-srriped
maple f l o o r i n g G l a d had i m p o r t e d f r o m Italy was made to shine w i t h its
o r i g i n a l hues o f biscuit b r o w n and amber.
In rhe foyer, w h i c h curved a r o u n d rhe g r a n d L-shaped staircase leading
to rhe second f l o o r , rhe enormous oaken grandfather clock O l d G l a d had
b r o u g h t home w i t h h i m f r o m Z u r i c h was given some p a r t i c u l a r l y l o v i n g
and expert a t t e n t i o n . " O a k e y P a u l , " Cessi's c h i l d r e n had always called
that clock. N o matter where y o u were i n W i n d s w e p t — e v e n up in the
Tower C h a p e l — t h e rich chimes of Oakey Paul c o u l d be heard telling the
hours and h a l f hours and quarter hours.
Under Cessi's d i r e c t i o n , it was Beulah w h o r o o k charge o f rhe library.
She had all the books a n d f a m i l y records taken f r o m their shelves so that
everything c o u l d be cleaned. In the great hall to the left o f the foyer, built
as a replica o f the grear hall o f Launceston M a n o r , the Gladstones' ancient
ancestral home in C o r n w a l l , i t was Cessi w h o directed the refurbishing o f
everything, beginning w i t h the open fireplace and t w e l v e - f o o t - h i g h m a n -
telpiece and e n d i n g w i t h the oaken beams t h a t raftered its ceiling. W h e n
she was done, the splendid Elizabethan table that seated sixty guests, and
all the high-backed Elizabethan benches that cozied up to i t , seemed more
majestic t h a n ever.
Tricia insisted o n overseeing the cleaning o f the many oil portraits and
paintings t h a t h u n g at W i n d s w e p t : o f Jose de Evia, w h o had first charted
Galveston in the eighteenth century, f o r instance; and Spanish Viceroy
Bernardo de Galves, w h o had sent Evia here and w h o had given Galveston
 178 WINDSWEPT H O I ' SE

its name, b u t w h o had never himself visited the island; o f Cabeza de Vaca,
the first Spaniard w h o had set foot o n Galveston; and o f Jean Lafirre,
portrayed w i t h the famous patch over one eye a n d his feet planted i n f r o n t
o f his blood-red t w o - s t o r y house at Campeachy.
In rerms of m o n e t a r y value, rhe prize collection of paintings was housed
o n the second floor o f W i n d s w e p r , i n the f o r m a l d r a w i n g r o o m . Here,
a m o n g some h a l f dozen o l d masters G l a d had acquired o n his later visits
t o Europe, r w o paintings held pride of place: El Greco's St. Simeon and a
grand p o r t r a i t of Pope Pius I X , w h o had received O l d G l a d so w a r m l y i n
the Vatican of the Risorgimento and whose papal rescripr had truly made
W i n d s w e p t House viable, even to this day, i n its fullness as a bastion of
R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m . I n terms of e m o t i o n a l value, m e a n w h i l e , n o t h i n g
c o u l d m a t c h the f a m i l y p o r t r a i t s that adorned the walls o f the second-
floor l a n d i n g . Beginning w i t h O l d G l a d himself and his w i f e , Francesca,
the faces o f a l l the Gladstones w h o h a d lived at W i n d s w e p t looked d o w n
f r o m their g i l t frames to greet any w h o m i g h t c l i m b the nine-foot-wide
staircase that swept up f r o m rhe g r o u n d floor.
A l l summer l o n g , as she looked i n t o every corner of O l d Glad's m a n -
sion, Cessi was r e l i v i n g her entire life. C l a m b e r i n g a r o u n d rhe house,
c l i m b i n g its staircases, e x a m i n i n g a p h o r o g r a p h , sropping in fronr of a
p o r r r a i t , she experienced the t r u t h o f w h a t St. Paul had said in one of his
letters: all o f us go t h r o u g h o u r earthly existence accompanied by "a cloud
of witnesses." By all o u r forebears and all w h o put rheir share i n t o the
m a k i n g o f the g o o d and the b a d , the h o l y and the u n h o l y in us. W i t h o u t
nostalgia, w i t h o u t self-satisfaction, but o n l y w i t h the confidence and the
happiness o f soul that had never failed her, she w a l k e d in the presence of
each o f the people whose faces and voices were n o w a part o f the heritage
o f W i n d s w e p t House.

So i t was that July arrived at W i n d s w e p t before anyone was ready. Plans

for the brunches and lunches and dinners t o be given i n August a n d Sep-
rember had t o be firmed u p , and i n v i t a t i o n s had to be sent.
A l l of Galveston was caught up in the game of guessing w h o w o u l d be
invited t o the celebrations at W i n d s w e p t House. Because the Gladstones
had always been m o r e a p a r t of the N e w Orleans diocese than of their
o w n , everyone figured that C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y w o u l d be a house guest for
at least a day or r w o . T h e m a y o r w o u l d surely be a dinner guest more than
once. Prominenr Galvesronians and o l d friends of rhe Gladstones still in
the area w o u l d be i n v i t e d , and memories were stretched to recall members
of rhe f a m i l y w h o lived i n other parts o f the c o u n t r y .
In all this w h i r l w i n d o f w o r k and excitement, Cessi w o u l d never retire
for the n i g h t w i t h o u t first c l i m b i n g the steep spiral stairs ro the Tower
Chapel. T h e r e , for a quiet h o u r or so, she w o u l d do w h a t she had done
since earliest c h i l d h o o d : discuss all o f her problems and concerns—and
3bove all those tenacious forebodings that had taken h o l d o f h e r — w i t h
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 179
C h r i s t in the Tabernacle, w i t h the Blessed V i r g i n and the Saints and w i t h
those Angels gathered at the f o o t o f Jacob's Ladder.
Everyone in the f a m i l y k n e w that the T o w e r Chapel was Cessi's special
place. I t w a s n ' t just that she and her c h i l d r e n had all been baprized here,
o r that she had been m a r r i e d here, or rhar every Gladstone since O l d G l a d
himself, i n c l u d i n g Cessi's morher, Elizabeth, and her father, Declan, had
been buried f r o m here. Ir was as w e l l t h a t every experience o f her curious
g i f t o f p r e m o n i t i o n had been closely l i n k e d i n one w a y and another t o the
Chapel.
Cessi's firsr conscious experience o f t h a t g i f t had occurred ar such an
early age thar, at the t i m e , she had had no w o r d s w i t h w h i c h t o share i t . I t
was the m e m o r y o f her morher, whose p o r t r a i t corresponded exactly w i t h
Cessi's recollection o f her; a frail y o u n g w o m a n w i t h jet-black hair and
h i g h - b o n e d cheeks and a gentle m o u t h and laughing blue eyes. It was the
m e m o r y o f the somber presentiment thar had taken h o l d in her hearr
m o n t h s before her m o t h e r had fallen i l l . It was the m e m o r y o f her father's
face, wet w i t h tears and yet so strong w i t h love and f a i t h , as he t o l d her in
this very Chapel w h a r she already k n e w . " O u r l a u g h i n g a n g e l , " Declan
had said ro his little Cessi, "has gone w i t h O u r L o r d ro be happy in
Heaven."
The second such event in her y o u n g life had been m o r e i n the nature o f
rhe sublime. Cessi was eighr years o l d by t h e n . H o l y Week had nearly
ended, and in every sense winrer was ready ro give w a y to early spring.
Cessi had gone w i t h her father and A u n t Dotsie t o St. M a r y ' s Cathedral
for G o o d Friday devotions. Dotsie had come to live at W i n d s w e p t in order
to take care o f the c h i l d r e n .
Kneeling between her father and Dotsie i n the f a m i l y pew, Cessi lis-
tened. A t each Station, a verse o f the Stabat Mater h y m n was sung, f o l -
l o w e d by a short m e d i t a t i o n and prayer. ". . . give me Thy grace and Thy
love. Lord Jesus " the congregation prayed a l o u d as one, "and then do
with me what Thou wilt." She heard that prayer, o f course; bur ar a
cerrain m o m e n t she heard another voice as w e l l . Soundless. Clear. Gentle.
Sofr i n irs effecr. I n t i m a t e t o her alone. A voice o f Someone w h o had
always been w i t h her, near her; nearer even rhan her farher. A voice that
promised she w o u l d indeed have H i s grace and Flis love. A voice that
promised t h a t He w o u l d do w i t h her according t o H i s w i l l . It was a
precious m o m e n t t h a t came and was over i n a flash; an announcemenr
rhar filled Cessi's m i n d and soul t o o v e r f l o w i n g .
W h e n she and her f a m i l y had rerurned to W i n d s w e p r and she was help-
i n g her farher prepare rhe T o w e r Chapel f o r the Easter V i g i l , she f o u n d
thar a strange and c o m f o r t i n g radiance seemed to f o l l o w her f r o m the
Tabernacle. Ir f o l l o w e d her in the Chapel i n the same w a y the silvery
radiance o f the full m o o n o n the G u l f w o u l d f o l l o w her w h e n she ran w i t h
friends a l o n g the beach. " D a d d y . " Cessi had called to her father. T h i s
rime, she wanred ro try to find w o r d s . " D a d d y . Ir f o l l o w s m e . " H e r voice
 180 W I N U S W l 1' 1
;
HOUSE

was t h i n b u t clear, and a sweet flooding o f tears b r i m m e d in her eyes. " H e

follows me."
Favored w i t h some grace o f his o w n , Declan understood. H e knew she
had been granted an experience o f w h a t lies beyond the perception o f a l l
o u r senses and m i n d .
Cessi saw t h a t experience ever a f t e r w a r d as something m u c h more than
p r e m o n i t i o n . She saw i t as n o t h i n g less than a p r o v i d e n t i a l preparation f o r
a life rhat was t o open up almost at once t o the w o r l d outside of W i n d -
swept House.

A u n t Dotsie had been the u n l i k e l y catalyst f o r the first stage o f Cessi's new
life. Cessi, Dotsie decided, had become t o o m u c h o f a t o m b o y . I t was none
t o o soon f o r the f u t u r e mistress o f W i n d s w e p r House t o " l e a r n ro be a
l a d y . " I t was time, therefore, that she attend local dance classes.
To everyone's astonishment, Cessi had t a k e n to dance as t h o u g h every
day o f her first eight years h a d prepared her for i t ; as t h o u g h dance was
the exact b o d i l y expression o f the promise of supernatural grace that had
already p r o v i d e d rhe s p i r i t u a l cenrer o f balance for her.
By the time Cessi was twelve, she realized t h a t her ability ro dance was
more than a g i f t o f nature. I t was a responsibility, she t o l d her farher; a
c a l l i n g t h a t obliged her t o create visible i f transient beauty o u t o f human
m o v e m e n t . F r o m t h a t rime f o r w a r d , a very p a r t i c u l a r merger t o o k place.
A singular marriage between rhe center o f balance she needed as a dancer
and the center she had already f o u n d i n her religion became the center o f
balance and c o n t r o l f o r her life; a permanent c o n d i t i o n o f her being. W i t h
o n l y one exception i n her life, Cessi never abandoned those t w i n centers o f
balance inside her being; and f r o m t h e m , all o f her happiness seemed to
flower, and all o f her freedom flowed.
In her early teens, Cessi organized a little dance c o m p a n y o f her o w n
and began to give programs and e x h i b i t i o n s . A t sixteen, she toured w i t h
the Ballet Russe. She studied for a t i m e w i t h the famed A l b e r t o Galo o f
N e w Y o r k . A t t w e n t y - o n e she was invited by C e c c h e t t i — w i d e l y esteemed
as Pavlova's teacher and considered one o f the greatest ballet instructors
o f all t i m e — t o d o the exam f o r membership in rhe I m p e r i a l Society o f
Teachers and Dancers. O n l y five Americans had ever raken that exam
successfully. Cessi became the s i x t h .
W h i l e Declan was immensely p r o u d o f his daughter, he was never en-
tirely c o m f o r t a b l e w i r h her l o n g absences f r o m W i n d s w e p t . He was as
pleased as he was surprised, therefore, w h e n Cessi suddenly decided to
t u r n away f r o m the p u b l i c recognition that was beginning to attend her
career. She a r r i v e d home f r o m a t o u r and announced to her father rhat
" G o d does n o t w a n t me t o be a performer. H e wants me to teach."
Declan t o o k Cessi's w o r d in the matter to heart. I f she said G o d wanted
her to reach, then teach she w o u l d . H e n o t o n l y i n v o l v e d himself i n help-
ing his daughter organize her o w n school o f dance but remained her parr-
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 181

ner i n managing the business affairs o f the academy. A t the same t i m e ,

n o w that Cessi was home again for g o o d , Declan began a gentle campaign
to persuade her t o choose one a m o n g the many men w h o f o u n d her attrac-
tive. It was t i m e for her ro m a r r y .

As i t rurned o u t , that pressure f r o m her father to m a r r y p r o v i d e d rhe

m a r r i x f o r another m a j o r episode o f f o r e b o d i n g in Cessi's soul. For some
reason she c o u l d n o t f a t h o m , even the idea o f marriage felt like a threat t o
her. A threat to that centering balance rhar had been rhe mainsray o f all
her strength since that p r o v i d e n t i a l year w h e n she was eighr. She was nor
at all interested in marriage, Cessi t o l d her father plainly and often. W h a t
finally impelled Cessi to m a r r y was simple. Ar r h i r t y - o n e , she finally had to
agree w i r h her father t h a t i f she was t o have c h i l d r e n , she had better ser
abour i t . W h a r impelled her t o accept Evan W i l s o n as her husband, h o w -
ever, was something no one ever undersrood.
Born to a f a m i l y o f cattle ranchers whose Texas holdings were some-
times c o m p a r e d t o the fabled K i n g Ranch, but n o t m u c h o f a rancher
himself, Evan was attracred t o Galveston by rhe m i x o f opposire pleasures
he f o u n d there. He rhrived o n its renderloin district, but also on the self-
contained society framed i n rhe lives o f families like rhe Gladstones. Evan
d i d n ' t exactly fall in love w i t h Cessi. W h a t attracred h i m was her unat-
r a i n a b i l i t y . Independent w o m e n were f o r h i m w h a t mountains are for
climbers. Whenever he f o u n d one, he was her slave u n t i l he had conquered
her. W i t h his attractive side to the fore, he f o u n d any n u m b e r o f imagina-
tive ways and entertaining reasons to see Cessi. But courtship as a prelude
ro marriage was nor w h a r he had in m i n d . The conrest for h i m was simply
to possess rhis obstinate crearure. A n d in his w a y , he was as stubborn as
she.
It was d u r i n g a h o l i d a y dinner parry ar W i n d s w e p r rhar Evan's fondness
for d r i n k a n d his f r u s r r a t i o n ar Cessi's consranr refusal o f his advances
finally c o m b i n e d t o u n d o h i m . In too jovial a m o o d after several glasses o f
w i n e , Evan rose f r o m his chair, tapped his crystal glass as if to offer a toast
and t h e n , w i t h all faces t u r n e d t o w a r d h i m , was astonished to hear w o r d s
c o m i n g o u t his m o u t h that he had never inrended. W o r d s that promised
Cessi the m o o n and the stars i f o n l y she w o u l d m a r r y h i m .
H a d he been sober, p r o b a b l y no one w o u l d have been m o r e surprised
than he—unless it m i g h t have been D e c l a n — w h e n , w i t h a peculiar air o f
challenge and defiance abour her, Cessi agreed ro the marriage. The m o o n
and rhe stars, she said as she raised her glass in answer t o Evan's, held no
interest f o r her. It w o u l d be enough for her simply ro live all her life ar
W i n d s w e p t , to raise a f a m i l y w i t h Evan, and to continue t o teach the
y o u n g t o dance at her academy.
W h a t m a r i t a l feeling there was between Cessi and Evan was never more
than l u k e w a r m ar best. T h e y d i d produce three children i n q u i c k succes-
s i o n — C h r i s r i a n first, i n 1954; Paul the year f o l l o w i n g ; and Patricia in
 182 W I N D S W F . P T H O U S E

1956. Bur w i t h the b i r t h o f each c h i l d , Evan became increasingly peevish

and i l l - h u m o r e d . Ir was f o l l o w i n g Tricia's b i r t h that all the fault lines in
the marriage finally gave w a y . H e became resentful o f Cessi's attention t o
the c h i l d r e n ; to her dance students; to her father; t o her many friends. To
anyone bur himself. H i s d r i n k i n g became a scandal. Bur ir was only after a
series of v i o l e n t scenes rhat Cessi actually became fearful for the physical
safety o f the c h i l d r e n .
It had come even t o the p o i n t that, having been b l o o d i e d one n i g h t in
her efforts to keep Evan f r o m r a m p a g i n g i n t o the rooms where rheir chil-
dren were asleep, Cessi swore to her husband t h a t , as G o d was in Heaven,
her o w n b l o o d w o u l d have to d r i p f r o m his hands before she w o u l d a l l o w
h i m ro be alone w i t h Chrisrian or Paul or Tricia again.
Aghast t h a t his g o o d intentions for his daughter had come to such a
pass, and convinced that it promised to end in disaster, Declan waited one
night f o r Evan t o return f r o m one o f his escapades i n t o debauchery. Still
robust for a m a n in his mid-sixties, he literally hauled his son-in-law into
the l i b r a r y , sobered h i m up by p o u r i n g s t r o n g coffee d o w n his gullet a n d ,
w h e n he was sure every w o r d w o u l d be heard and understood, proceeded
ro lay our the condirions u p o n w h i c h Evan w o u l d remain welcome at
Windswept.
There was some d e m o n in Evan, t h o u g h ; some volcanic anger whose
flames no one c o u l d cap. H e more or less d r i f t e d back ro his f a m i l y ' s ranch
on rhe m a i n l a n d . In rhe end, it was a cousin w h o b r o u g h t rhe news o f the
accident to W i n d s w e p t . Cessi c o u l d n ' t f o l l o w all the details. Something
abour s p r i n g r o u n d u p a n d a b o u t d r i n k i n g w i t h a couple o f the hands;
a b o u t b r a n d i n g and a w i l d bet and a rope t h a t had gor rangled a r o u n d
Evan's a r m before he c o u l d secure ir ro his saddle. T h e o n l y t h i n g clear to
her was t h a t Evan's death had been a d r u n k e n and b l o o d y affair.
Chrisrian was jusr five w h e n his father d i e d . Paul was four. T r i c i a ,
barely three. Nevertheless, remembering rhat she had been no older than
Chrisrian w h e n her o w n m o t h e r had d i e d , Cessi was saddened that her
children w o u l d n o t be left w i t h the same certainty o f ultimate grace f o r
Evan that she had k n o w n f o r her mother. It was a legitimate concern, for
Cessi was fairly sure rhat C h r i s t i a n at least, and perhaps Paul and Tricia as
w e l l , had seen and been affected by far more o f rheir father's behavior
than they c o u l d say. So it was w i t h prayers of rhanks that she watched
h o w all o f t h e m somehow made a peaceful place i n their hearts for rheir
father. They never indulged in false or childish reminiscences a b o u t their
father. But never d i d rhey fail to pray f o r his i m m o r t a l soul.

Cessi consciously sought and f o u n d again t h a t center o f balance she had

abandoned. D u r i n g rhe years o f her marriage, Cessi came to realize, it was
this center t h a t had saved her saniry. In the t u r b u l e n t years to come, never
again w o u l d she step aside f r o m that centering balance; and never w o u l d it
abandon her. T h a t d i d n o t mean, however, that she w o u l d ever again find
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 183

the simple and singular h a r m o n y that had m a r k e d her earlier life. The
deepest disruptions srill lay ahead. T h e w h o l e w o r l d she had k n o w n — r h e
w o r l d o f Galvesron and o f A m e r i c a , the w o r l d o f her beloved C h u r c h , and
to some degree, the w o r l d o f Windswepr House irself—all o f that was
a b o u t to be swept a w a y .

XX
" I T ' S N E A R L Y the end o f A u g u s t , M o t h e r , and in spite o f y o u r forebod-
ings, we're still i n one piece." Head benr back and eyes sraring u p w a r d in
the e a r l y - m o r n i n g lighr, Patricia Gladstone perched o n rhe edge of the
chaise longue in her b e d r o o m . " B e f o r e y o u k n o w i t , Chris w i l l be home;
and then Paul and his f a m i l y . "
" H o l d s t i l l , T r i c i a , or rhese drops w i l l end up in y o u r hair instead o f
y o u r eyes!"
Obedienrly, Tricia leaned back, rilred her head a n d , despire rhe pain ir
cost her, held her eyes w i d e open so rhar Cessi c o u l d administer rhe latest
solution o f a r t i f i c i a l tears prescribed in the c o n t i n u a l bartle ro preserve her
eyesighr. For over a decade n o w , Tricia had suffered f r o m an agonizing
affliction f o r w h i c h the doctors had a n a m e — k e r a t o c o n j u n c t i v i t i s sicca—
but for w h i c h no antidote or certain treatment had yer been devised.
In basic rerms, rhe a f f l i c t i o n involved a progressive dryness o f rhe eyes
rhat affected sight a n d , i f unchecked, c o u l d be the prelude ro life-threaten-
ing illness. I n terms o f day-to-day l i v i n g for Patricia Gladstone, it meant a
steady battle against p a i n , and a consranr e f f o r t to stave o f f ultimate ca-
l a m i t y . The marvel was that Tricia was strong enough to pursue her cho-
sen career as an artist, and that despite her agonies she never losr rhat
sharp edge to her characrer rhat was so like Cessi's.
" T h a t ' s one eye." Cessi applied the artificial tears w i r h an expertise thar
o n l y comes w i r h practice. " A n d t h a t makes r w o . "
" I t w o n ' t be l o n g n o w . " Tricia d i d n ' r wanr ro be disrracred f r o m rhe
p o i n t she had been m a k i n g . " Y o u have t o a d m i t , M o t h e r , t h a t e v e r y r h i n g ' s
w o r k i n g our jusr fine. Chris w i l l be home rhis weekend. A couple of days
after rhat, Paul and his f a m i l y w i l l be here. W i r h W i n d s w e p t so sparkling,
the worsr rhar can happen is rhar t h e y ' l l t h i n k they've come to the w r o n g
house and pass us b y ! "
Cessi wished she c o u l d agree. Despire her besr efforrs, t h o u g h , for the
past day or so Cessi had j u m p e d like a nervous cat whenever the phone
had r u n g , fully a n t i c i p a t i n g news that w o u l d give f o r m to her shadowy
expectation.
"Let*s face i t , M o t h e r . " Tricia rose f r o m rhe chaise and changed f r o m
 184 WINDSWEPT MOUSE

her robe i n t o one o f her painter's smocks. " M a y b e just this once, these
p r e m o n i t i o n s o f yours are n o t h i n g more rhan rhe resulrs o f i n d i g e s t i o n . "
" D o n ' t let Beulah hear y o u say t h a t ! " Cessi had to laugh o u t loud at the
thought.
Laughter and affectionate jokes about Beulah T h o m p s o n aside, there
was a shading i n Cessi's voice that made Tricia understand that this wasn't
the m o m e n t t o brush things aside w i t h a c o m f o r t i n g w o r d o r r w o . Under
her daughter's p r o d d i n g , Cessi finally began ro share her forebodings.
For one t h i n g , Cessi r o l d her daughrer, her feelings seemed norhing like
rhose t h a t had w a r n e d her against whar had rurned our ro be rhe darker
consequences o f her marriage ro Evan W i l s o n . Bur rhere was no doubr in
her m i n d rhar wharever was in the o f f i n g had everything ro do w i t h her
o w n f a m i l y . A n d she had the persisrent sense t h a t her p r e m o n i r i o n w o u l d
nor merely be c o n f i r m e d after the fact by exrerior evenrs bur w o u l d some-
h o w be announced by such events.
A l l in a l l , Cessi confided to Tricia, rhe fact was that she felt n o w — o v e r
thirry years larer—almost exactly as she had at the beginning of the terri-
ble events that had begun t o u n f o l d i n 1960.

U n t i l the year f o l l o w i n g Evan's death, whenever Cessi had felr change in

rhe a i r , i t was always a matter o f vague i n t e r i o r feelings. Bur rhe first
harbinger o f change i n the sixties had been different. It had been specific;
and i t had been unsettling and significant enough in itself t h a t she had n o t
been the o n l y one t o recognize i t as a foreshock o f larger earrhquakes ro
come.
Because rhe famed Farima mandates insrrucred " r h e Pope o f I 9 6 0 " to
reveal the T h i r d Farima Secrer to the w o r l d , a n d to lead all the bishops o f
the C h u r c h Universal i n a consecration o f Russia to M a r y under her title
as the Immaculate C o n c e p t i o n , everyone expecred the good Pope John ro
do exacrly that. But the Pope refused ro obey rhar mandare. There was no
consecrarion o f Russia. The famous T h i r d Secret was n o t revealed to m i l -
lions o f expectant R o m a n Catholics.
Cessi was beset by f o r e b o d i n g . " M a y b e everyone does call h i m rhe good
Pope," she had w a r n e d . " B u r even a Pope can't refuse ro obey rhe m a n -
dare o f rhe Queen o f Heaven and expect ro get away w i t h i t . " The a p p a l l -
ing and unacceptable realiry o f rhe g o o d Pope's decision was borne home
for Cessi a n d Declan w h e n , as privilegiati di Stato, they had arrended the
f o r m a l o p e n i n g o f his Second Vatican C o u n c i l o n October 1 1, 1962, and
sat in .special t r i b u n e seats o f Sr. Peter's Basilica o n the day the Council
opened.
The t w o Gladstones had listened to the P o n t i f f announce to the bishops
gathered in f r o m every diocese, to the C h u r c h Universal and to the w o r l d
at large w h a r he inrended rhar his C o u n c i l should achieve. He spoke of
m o d e r n i z i n g a n d b r i n g i n g up ro dare his churchly o r g a n i z a t i o n ; o f opening
up the C h u r c h t o non-Catholics and non-Christians; o f the need to relax
WINDS W KIT H O U S F. 185
strict rules t h a t punished those w h o violated C h u r c h law o r rejected its
sacred doctrines.
To Cessi a n d Declan, all o f that sounded like a renunciation o f the
strong stance their C h u r c h had always taken, Even worse, i t sounded as i f
the g o o d Pope was apologetic instead o f p r o u d o f w h a t their C h u r c h had
done and o f w h a t ir had been up to rhar t i m e . Worst o f a l l , ir sounded as if
the good Pope had been persuaded that today the C h u r c h had ro rurn ro
the w o r l d i n order ro learn h o w to be a true C h u r c h .
There had been no w a y ro assuage Cessi's w r a t h or mitigate her con-
t e m p t . She w e n t up in flames even before she and her farher had left the
Basilica; n o r d i d she bother t o keep her voice d o w n . " I d o n ' t k n o w about
y o u , D a d d y , bur I feel as if o u r Gladstone f a m i l y status has provided us
w i t h f r o n t - r o w sears at the public announcement o f rhe Church's execu-
t i o n . This far o l d Pope has slapped all Catholics—bishops, priesrs and
p e o p l e — r i g h r across rhe f a c e ! " The besr r h i n g rhey c o u l d d o , she said, was
to leave Rome and get back t o W i n d s w e p t House as q u i c k l y as they c o u l d .

Cessi had watched the innovations that began t o come f r o m rhe bishops in
C o u n c i l w i r h a distrust that went t o her very m a r r o w . Gladstone that she
was, she had a deep instinct bred in her f a m i l y since the early days in
C o r n w a l l w h e n her ancestors had seen the enemy closing in o n t h e m , on
their faith and o n all they held dear. Yet no one in 1962 c o u l d foresee
precisely rhe extent t o w h i c h Rome, its bishops and its Popes w o u l d em-
brace w h a r many later came to characterize as wolves in clerical c l o t h i n g
whose a i m was lethal f o r R o m a n Catholic doctrine and m o r a l i t y .
A t first, the Council's innovations came piecemeal. Soon, t h o u g h , the
changes increased to a steady trickle, and then t o a f l o o d . W i t h o u t any nod
or say-so f r o m either rhe Pope or the C o u n c i l bishops, new armies o f self-
styled " l i t u r g i c a l e x p e r t s " and "catechesis teachers" and c h u r c h "archirec-
tural s p e c i a l i s e " wenr to w o r k . A l l the dioceses of A m e r i c a , including
Galveston, were drenched in w h a t Cessi and Declan saw as liberalise m o -
r a l i t y , u n - C a t h o l i c l i t u r g y , denuded churches and w a r e r e d - d o w n beliefs.
Even rhe Masses offered at St. M a r y ' s C a t h e d r a l , n o w said i n English,
frequently became folksy celebrations o f local custom and political causes,
rarher rhan the profession and celebration o f the central act o f the C a t h o -
lic f a i t h . In Galveston, as elsewhere, congregations were instructed t o
stand u p , and then to sit, and then to shake hands. O n l y rarely were they
to kneel any longer in the presence of G o d .
Cessi realized rhar the changes c o m i n g o u t o f Rome w o u l d overhaul
society in general t o such an extent t h a t , no matter w h a r provisos she
r o o k , her c h i l d r e n w o u l d be deeply affected.
S k i l l f u l l y and devotedly, therefore, she had changed the r h y t h m o f
household life at W i n d s w e p r . She and Declan participated far less fre-
quenrly in the social life o f Galveston. Cessi's w h o l e life n o w revolved
a r o u n d the rearing o f her c h i l d r e n ; rhe defense o f the Catholic faith i n
 186 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

rheir lives as rhe loyal papisr Gladsrones rhey were; and rhe c o n t i n u a t i o n
o f her o w n calling as a readier o f dance.
As the effects o f the Second Vatican C o u n c i l began ro m u l t i p l y , the
Gladstones attended Mass o n l y at W i n d s w e p t ' s T o w e r C h a p e l . Privare
religious i n s t r u c t i o n f o r the three children t o o k the place o f the new "cate-
chesis classes." W h e n ir was no longer practical for her children ro be
home-schooled, Cessi made cerrain rhar the M o t h e r Superior o f Tricia's
school, and the Brorhers w h o ran rhe school she chose f o r Christian and
Paul, understood t h a t her hefty financial c o n t r i b u t i o n s w o u l d continue
just as l o n g as they adhered to superior scholarship and solid Catholic
doctrine.
T o w a r d the end o f the sixties, Cessi's reckoning that secular life w o u l d
change p r o f o u n d l y was starting to prove true. T h e private and public life
o f .society was being uncoupled f r o m its m o r a l underpinnings, and rhere
was no shielding o f her children f r o m all rhat. The best Cessi c o u l d d o , she
t o l d Declan, was to keep C h r i s t i a n and Paul and Tricia alert ro the dangers
o f rhe new secularisr c o n f o r m i t y that was springing up as w h a t she re-
garded as a new state r e l i g i o n ; t o continue ro p r o v i d e rhem w i r h an articu-
late understanding o f their R o m a n , Catholic and A p o s t o l i c faith; and al-
ways t o foster that independence o f m i n d that was t o remain a consranr
element in the life and character o f each o f r h e m .

So complete—so self-contained a n d self-sufficient—had Cessi and Declan

made life at W i n d s w e p t House t h a t , by 1969, i t almost seemed that n o t h -
ing c o u l d t r a n s f o r m i t . I t was just a b o u t that t i m e , however, that a seem-
ingly r o u t i n e matter t u r n e d i n t o a watershed event that was t o harden still
further her a t t i t u d e t o w a r d the far-reaching consequences o f rhe good
Pope's Second Vatican C o u n c i l .
Cessi and Declan had been asked to travel ro W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . , for a
meeting w i t h Treasury officials over some o f rhe Gladstone holdings i n
c u r r e n t l y sensitive areas o f Larin A m e r i c a . T h o u g h they had booked their
suite well ahead o f time at the H a y - A d a m s H o t e l , they had checked in
o n l y t o find their rooms w e r e n ' t yet ready. T h e p r o b l e m , it seemed, was a
well-attended convention o f priests in favor of a married clergy.
A married clergy was as shocking and impossible a c o n r r a d i c t i o n in
terms for Cessi and Declan as a quadriplegic brain surgeon, or a sinless
Satan. Yet, as they w a i t e d i n the hotel l o b b y , they were surrounded by
priests o f every age and description. A few o f the graybeards were in
clerical clothes, but most w o r e slacks and sport shirts. A few breviaries
were t o be seen in this contingent; but far more numerous were the
w o m e n w h o had come along as assistants o r , as one bellhop w i n k e d , as
"housekeepers." Some hundreds o f delegates in their thirties and forties
betrayed no visible sign of their priestly status, and seemed t o enjoy n o t h -
ing so m u c h as socializing in the bar, w h i l e a still younger element—just
o u t o f seminary in all l i k e l i h o o d — s k i r r e r e d a b o u t the hotel lobby like
W I N D S W E P T H O U S E 187

students o n the t o w n after a college hasketball t o u r n a m e n t . Dressed in a

m a d variery o f casual clothes, rhey appeared f o n d o f gathering a r o u n d in
g r o u p s , s t r u m m i n g guitars a n d singing ' T h e Impossible D r e a m " loudly
and o f f key.
Seized by a m i x t u r e o f curiosity a n d h o r r o r , Cessi and Declan checked
the notice board i n the lobby that listed the activities scheduled for this
c o n v e n t i o n o f priests. One seminar, rhey saw, was ro deal w i t h the subject
o f " T h e A n t h r o p o l o g y o f P r i e s r h o o d . " A n o t h e r was t o take a look at " T h e
Role o f W o m e n i n Redemptive L i v e s . " Orhers were ro examine such mat-
ters as "Sexuality i n the Service o f C o d " a n d , ro Declan's supreme o u t -
rage, " T h e A n d r o g y n y o f H u m a n Love as Porrrayed in rhe B i b l e . "
A n g r y t o rhe p o i n t o f f u r y , Declan c o u l d n ' t sleep rhat night. The next
m o r n i n g , Cessi f o u n d her farher, chalk w h i t e and shaking, still seated at
the w r i t i n g table. Emergency medical examinations in Washington were
inconclusive. Bur specialists Cessi summoned ro Galveston immediately o n
rheir r e t u r n home f o u n d t h a t Declan had suffered a m i l d stroke.
T h o u g h suddenly deprived o f rhe robust health he had enjoyed all his
life, and unable t o tend t o n o r m a l business or ro r o m p ourdoors any
longer w i r h Cessi's c h i l d r e n , Declan seemed conrent t o spend most o f his
time w i r h i n the confines o f W i n d s w e p r . A r his age, he said w i r h a w r y k i n d
o f h u m o r , i t was o n l y to be expected that the cogs and flywheels o f his
machinery should need some adjusting,
Declan never recovered. H e lingered t o r abour eighr monrhs, bur rhe
onrush o f rhe so-called " r e f o r m s " emanating f r o m the post-Council bu-
reaucracy was t o o m u c h for h i m . H e died peacefully and surrounded by
his f a m i l y . Francesca Gladsrone was mistress o f W i n d s w e p t House n o w .
A n d just as she had defended her children f r o m being ravaged by her
husband's h a n d , so n o w she w o u l d defend herself, her children and all
w h o were associared w i r h W i n d s w e p r House f r o m rhe ravages being per-
perrared on rhe i m m e m o r i a l R o m a n Catholic Mass. The Novus Ordo
w o u l d never be said in the T o w e r Chapel. N o w more t h a n ever, Cessi
became the personification of her f a m i l y ' s m o t t o : she w o u l d give N o
Q u a r t e r in her lifelong barrlc t o remain f a i t h f u l t o the R o m a n Catholicism
o f her papist forebears.

The more Cessi rried to e x p l a i n things t h a t m o r n i n g by recalling the f a m -

ily's past, the more T r i c i a began ro chime i n . She had her o w n bittersweet
memories of rhe weeks after Grandfather Declan died. "Remember h o w
Chrisrian r o o k charge o f rhings even then, M o t h e r ? " Tricia's voice carried
all rhe w a r m t h she felt for her older brother.
C h r i s r i a n T h o m a s Gladsrone was thirteen w h e n his grandfather died.
Declan's life had made ir p l a i n that Gladstone men carried rhe honor o f
the f a m i l y , and that they d i d not use w o m e n , bur prorected them. W i t h
such lessons in m i n d , and all the compassion, c o m m a n d and independence
he had already learned f r o m Cessi, Chris had presented himself in Cessi's
 188 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

sitting r o o m early one Saturday m o r n i n g a b o u t a m o n t h after Declan's

death.
He was n o w the m a n o f this f a m i l y , he announced t o his mother. Paul
and T r i c i a , hair r u m p l e d and still in their nighties, had stood beside h i m
w i t h all the g r a v i t y they c o u l d c o m m a n d . They agreed t h a t , apart f r o m
school, they w o u l d all three become Cessi's parrners, jusr as rheir grandfa-
rher had been, i n managing the affairs o f W i n d s w e p t House, and o f the
dance academy as w e l l .
Cessi was stunned to tears by rhis sudden and unexpecred reversal o f
roles. N o r h i n g had ever erased f r o m her m i n d a single derail o f the p r o u d
m e m o r y o f those three "perfecr lirrle persons" o f hers w h o had taken i t
u p o n themselves t o lay o u t the family's f u t u r e .
There was C h r i s t i a n , w i t h that unmistakable Gladstone l o o k about h i m .
Already taller t h a n Cessi, even then, w i r h that slightly aquiline nose set
above his s t r o n g m o u t h , and those wide-set eyes flashing blue, he m i g h t
have been a y o u t h f u l version o f O l d Glad himself. Paul was m a t u r i n g
somewhat more s l o w l y rhan his brother; b u t aparr f r o m rhat, and a cerrain
difference in rheir character—a certain set t o his j a w that t o l d o f s t u b b o r n -
ness t h a t w e n t beyond independence—he m i g h t almost have been Chris-
tian's fraternal r w i n . T r i c i a , m e a n w h i l e , was her o w n person. T h o u g h
lanky like rhe boys, there was already a grace about her rhar often re-
minded people o f Cessi herself. Her hair rended ro a u b u r n hues like her
mother's and her brorhers'; bur it was just a few shades lighter. Her skin
was a few shades d a r k e r , t h o u g h , so she never had to bother as Cessi d i d
about the strong summer sun o f Galveston.
Whatever their similarities or differences, f r o m that day until Christian
and Paul left home in quick succession a few years larer, Cessi's three
children had remained as one in rheir d e t e r m i n a t i o n . They became closer
ro her, and a m o r e inrimare parr o f her incessant activities than ever be-
fore. Each day afrer rheir classes let o u t , they w e n t ro w o r k at the dance
academy. A n d such was their d e v e l o p m e n t rheir talent and their de-
meanor o f c o m m a n d even rhen that the staff q u i c k l y learned to w o r k as
easily w i t h them as they had w i t h Declan.
Cessi n o t only involved the children in the affairs o f the household bur
began t o acquaint them w i t h the intricacies o f managing the family for-
tune. A l l rhree proved to be quick studies; b u t even in his earliest teens
Paul had taken most keenly t o the Gladstone financial p o r t f o l i o s .
There was no denying rhe gap lefr i n rheir lives n o w rhar Declan was
gone. Nevertheless, and understandably, i t was A u n t Dotsie w h o had been
most p r o f o u n d l y affecred by the loss o f her brother. Dotsie had rarely
been away f r o m W i n d s w e p r . As the quietest member o f rhis unquiet f a m -
ily, she had always sacrificed herself for orhers. Her constant tenderness
had been like parr o f the atmosphere—something everyone relied u p o n
even w h i l e t a k i n g it for granred. Less than a year afrer Declan's death,
Dotsie died very m u c h as she had lived. W i t h o u t p r o v o k i n g any painful
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 189

shock or r u p t u r e , she slipped quietly away one night f r o m sleep i n t o eter-

nity.
Such were the hurricanes o f change bartering at the w o r l d a r o u n d them
by then t h a t at any place but W i n d s w e p t H o u s e , and in any family except
Cessi's, rhe loss in such quick succession o f t w o such i m p o r t a n t people as
Declan and D o r o t h y Gladstone—the last t w o l i v i n g links w i t h the stability
of past generations—might have been the catalyst f o r strife and disrup-
tion.
Elsewhere in Galveston, t h a t peculiarly self-aware society f o r w h i c h the
Gladstones remained an inspirarion was a t t e m p t i n g to keep its balance in
the high w i n d s of c u l t u r a l upheaval. U n l i k e Cessi, however, many were
sure i t was just a matter of sensible compromise. A lirtle m o d e r n i z a t i o n . I t
w o u l d n ' t matter m u c h if they t o o k a tuck or t w o in their m o r a l stance, or
revised their religious beliefs here and rhere. I f they were judicious, the
rougher side o f the new c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n w o u l d surely pass over rhem.
After a l l , their C a t h o l i c C h u r c h had been the first organized religion to
arrive i n Texas, h a v i n g come w i t h the Spanish and the French. I n 1838,
rhe first C h r i s t i a n service in Galveston had been a Catholic Mass. By
Cessi's day, there was a large diocesan seminary, f o u r academies f o r girls
and five schools for boys. A n d o n t o p of all t h a t , there were srrong congre-
gations o f Baptists, M e t h o d i s t s , Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans,
Jews and C h r i s t i a n Scientists. Between rhem a l l , the members o f these
religious d e n o m i n a t i o n s strove to remain more or less d o m i n a n t as rhe
w i l d storms of change broke u p o n rhe w o r l d .
W i r h i n barely r w o years o f Declan's death, however, it was no longer a
question o f small compromises or o f m i n o r revisions in religious practice.
Rather, p r o f o u n d religious instability was as m u c h the order o f the day in
Galveston as in the rest o f America and the w o r l d . A n d , as Cessi had
expected, social i n s t a b i l i t y rose in its w a k e .
For Cessi Gladsrone, there was no sense o f t r i u m p h in having been
right. She was far t o o large-minded for rhar. I t was true that those storms
were a p a i n f u l v i n d i c a t i o n o f her decade-long campaign ro m a i n t a i n the
status q u o . But they were also a fierce new stimulus to give N o Q u a r t e r ,
a n d to ask for none.

" M I S S CESSI!" Beulah T h o m p s o n scolded f r o m the d o o r of Tricia's sit-

t i n g r o o m , her voice as rich as the chimes o f Oakey Paul telling the hour of
eight o'clock f r o m the downsrairs foyer. Concerned these days over " M i s s
Cessi's h u m o r s , " as she called Cessi's deepening sense of some i l l w i n d
 190 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

rising, Beulah relied o n her c o m m o n sense ro keep things o n a fairly even

keel. " M i s s Cessi! Are you t w o a i m i n ' ro pass the w h o l e day c l u c k i n ' up
here like a couple o hens? Breakfast's been ready f o r over an h o u r ! "
1

" D o n ' t be a g r o u c h , B e u l a h ! " Cessi scolded back. " W e ' v e just been
t a l k i n g a b o u t all the crises we've weathered over the years."
" A i n ' t no reason y o u can't d o that over fresh f r u i t and homemade
b r e a d . " Beulah sruck to her guns.
In n o w a y chasrened b u t enticed at the t h o u g h t o f Bculah's incompara-
ble home-baked bread, Cessi and Tricia headed f o r rhe sunny t h i r d - f l o o r
breakfasr r o o m . But so deep were they by n o w in their e x a m i n a t i o n o f jusr
h o w prescienr Cessi's feelings o f f o r e b o d i n g had proved i n the past that
they settled i n t o conversation again almost as if there had been no inter-
ruption.

By the end of the sixties, Cessi had constricted her p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the

social life o f the Island even furrher t h a n she and Declan had done. The
f o u r t h - f l o o r guest rooms were sufficient to handle the few friends and
family members w h o m i g h t be invited for a visit t o W i n d s w e p t . The rooms
o n the f i f t h f l o o r were closed. W i t h the notable exception o f Beulah
T h o m p s o n , members of rhe household staff w h o left or retired were rarely
replaced. T h e worsr o f i t for Cessi i n g o i n g i t alone was the fact that by
1970 or so ir had become w e l l - n i g h impossible ro find a priest w h o could
be relied o n regularly t o say an authentic R o m a n C a t h o l i c Mass in the
T o w e r Chapel at W i n d s w e p t .
" I t got so d i f f i c u l t , " Cessi confided ro Tricia as t h o u g h sharing a
naughty secrer, " r h a t I began ro give O u r L o r d a few reality reminders
d u r i n g my prayers up in the Chapel. I t d i d us a fat l o t of g o o d , 1 told H i m ,
to have the papal rescript a l l o w i n g us t o celebrate the H o l y Sacrifice of His
Body and Blood at W i n d s w e p t i f H e was g o i n g to a l l o w those fools in
R o m e t o take all o u r f a i t h f u l priests f r o m us and replace them w i t h a
c r o w d of lewd buffoons in r o u n d c o l l a r s . "
" Y o u d i d n ' t p u t i t like t h a t , I h o p e ! " L i k e the resr of rhe f a m i l y , Tricia
had always lived w i r h rhe reality o f Cessi's special f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h the
citizens of Heaven.
" O f course I d i d , sweethearr." Cessi smiled her most innocent smile
over rhe c u p o f coffee raised ro her lips. " A n d a good t h i n g 1 d i d , t o o . W h y
else d o y o u t h i n k o u r flamboyanr friend T r a x l e r Le Voisin popped inro o u r
lives all o f a sudden?"
Tricia had no answer ro rhar. But she certainly d i d remember rhe day
T r a x l e r " E v e r y o n e Calls M e T r a x i " Le Voisin had come t o W i n d s w e p t .
F l a m b o y a n t was o n l y one w a y to describe this local sculptor and father o f
seven. I n f l a m m a t o r y was another that came to m i n d . Persuaded that nei-
ther the g o o d Pope nor his immediate successor were w h a t he and his ilk
regarded as " t r u e Popes," T r a x i Le Voisin was one of rhe larrer-day breed
of R o m a n Carholics k n o w n as sede vacantists. They were persuaded, in
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 191

other w o r d s , that in legal terms Peter's C h a i r had been vacant since the
late 1950s.
Papist that she was, Cessi had never agreed w i r h T r a x i o n that issue.
W h e n he had come t o W i n d s w e p t for the first t i m e , at the head of a
delegation representing some sixty f a i t h f u l Catholic families in the area,
she was nearly p u t o f f his scheme altogether by his insistence that " t h e
true Pope—Pope Pius X I I I — m u s t be h i d i n g somewhere in the w o r l d ! "
T r a x i rescued himself, t h o u g h , w i t h another bir of indelicare candor. He
and the others had asked for this meeting, he had said, because "everyone
k n o w s rhe misrress o f W i n d s w e p r House is fed up w i t h the newfangled
l i t u r g v being foisted on the o r d i n a r y people by those impostors on Vatican
Hill/
I n a decision that was to be as far-reaching for herself a n d her children
as any she had made, Cessi had agreed on the spot t o cooperate in f o r m i n g
a new congregation, and t o lend whatever protection the Gladstones'
status might p r o v i d e , so that authentic R o m a n .Masses c o u l d be celebrated
regularly by an aurhenric R o m a n Catholic priest for the benefit of rhe
faithful.
H a v i n g secured w h a r he and his little g r o u p had come for, T r a x i had left
W i n d s w e p t that day determined to make the new congregation a practical
realiry. The firsr s t e p — f i n d i n g a suitable and affordable church b u i l d i n g —
was simple enough. Unused any longer by its M e t h o d i s t owners, a little
chapel o n the m a i n l a n d at D a n b u r y was purchased, refurbished and re-
n a m e d . It was n o w the Chapel o f St. M i c h a e l the Archangel.
W i t h the same fervor t h a t had led h i m t o Cessi Gladstone, meanwhile,
T r a x i lost no time i n m a k i n g contact w i t h A r c h b i s h o p M a r c e l Lefebvre of
Switzerland. Famous—or n o t o r i o u s , depending on one's ecclesiastical p o l -
itics—as one o f o n l y four bishops in the C h u r c h at that t i m e w h o had
refused to accept the new f o r m of the Mass, Lefebvre had stood firm
against the innovations i n C h u r c h liturgy and d o c t r i n e , and had founded
the Society of Pius X as a haven and touchstone for t r a d i t i o n a l - m i n d e d
R o m a n Catholics. In short o r d e r , b o t h Lefebvre a n d his Society had be-
come flash poinrs o f controversy w i t h i n his deeply divided C h u r c h .
Aware that even the Gladstone status i n Rome was not sufficient to
supply the canonical validity that was vital to the new Chapel, or ro p r o -
vide i m m u n i t y f r o m local diocesan officials w h o were sure t o make t r o u -
ble for any such t r a d i t i o n a l i s t congregation as rhis one, T r a x i wanted t w o
things f r o m A r c h b i s h o p Lefebvre: he wanted St. Michael's Chapel t o come
under the umbrella of the Society o f Pius X , and for the Society ro supply
the new Chapel w i t h a validly ordained priest o f o r t h o d o x belief for the
Chapel's service.
Lefebvre supplied T r a x i w i r h ar leasr half of w h a t he w a n t e d : he was
pleased to a d o p t the new Chapel i n t o the Society. A n d , t h o u g h he had
been unable to meet Traxi's second need, he at least recommended a most
singular clergyman t o fill that post.
 192 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

_l 3 • J

Despite the shock everyone felt at the firsr sighr o f his severely scarred
face, the most s t r i k i n g t h i n g a b o u t Father Angelo Gurmacher was rhe
confidence w i t h w h i c h he combined his ecclesiastical o r r h o d o x y w i r h his
priestly kindness and w i s d o m .
A refugee f r o m C o m m u n i s r Easr G e r m a n y , Gurmacher had been rhe
o n l y one o f his f a m i l y ro be pulled alive f r o m rhe arson fire rhar had
destroyed their home in Leipzig lare one nighr. T h e i r bedrock Carholicism
and their inrransigent resisrance ro rhe C o m m u n i s r regime had made the
Gutmachers targets for r e r r i b u t i o n ar the hands of East Germany's secret
police, the Stasi. T h a n k s to the care o f a few brave friends, rhe boy had
recovered f r o m rhe terrible burns over his face and body and in time had
escaped t o West G e r m a n y . A couple o f years in the home o f aging relatives
b r o u g h t h i m t o m a n h o o d , whereupon he had f o u n d and enrered a semi-
nary rhar was still h o l d i n g against the tide o f strange and u n o r t h o d o x
curricula being i n t r o d u c e d i n t o many seminaries a r o u n d rhe w o r l d .
U p o n his o r d i n a t i o n . Gutmacher had sent a f o r m a l letter t o Rome ask-
ing for an assignmenr under rhe aegis o f rhe Congregation for the Clergy,
fully expecting ro be assigned to someplace i n South A m e r i c a , perhaps, or
to Indonesia. H e w e n t d o w n to R o m e in order ro plead his cause.
Ar rhe rime o f Gutmacher's a r r i v a l in R o m e , his dossier was b r o u g h t t o
the a t t e n t i o n o f the Pope, together w i t h the suggestion t h a t such a loyal
papist and o r t h o d o x priest might p r o f i t a b l y be sent o n a quasi-permanent
basis t o A m e r i c a . A t the very least, he c o u l d be relied u p o n t o keep both
the P o n t i f f and the Congregation f o r the Clergy up t o date o n develop-
ments there.
As he began his o d d American mission, his firm tie ro the H o l y See
p r o v i d e d Father Gutmacher w i t h a certain i m m u n i t y f r o m more than a
few u n f r i e n d l y diocesan officials. He had been able ro w o r k his way across
the l a n d , filling i n for absent or vacationing priests in many undersraffed
parishes. By 1970, w h e n his advenrures had raken h i m as far as H o u s r o n ,
Texas, Father Angelo had seen the worst and the best o f post-Conciliar
Carholicism as practiced i n the United States. A l o n g the w a y , and w i t h o u t
any i n t e n t i o n o f d o i n g so, he had come to the a p p r o v i n g attention of the
Society o f Pius X . I t was only n a t u r a l , t h e n , that A r c h b i s h o p Lefebvre
should have recommended Angelo Gutmacher to T r a x i Le Voisin.
N o sooner had Farher Angelo been persuaded t o come aboard at St,
Michael's t h a n the local diocesan authorities raised objections. Because
rhey c o u l d n ' t get a g r i p o n Gurmacher himself, rhey appealed ro rhe C a r d i -
nal A r c h b i s h o p o f N e w Orleans f o r his a i d in pressuring rhe p o w e r f u l
Francesca Gladstone t o w i t h d r a w " h e r scandalous m o r a l and financial
support f r o m the schismatic congregation at the Chapel of St. M i c h a e l the
Archangel."
Cessi's s u p p o r t p r o v e d constant and u n y i e l d i n g . W h e n it was made
clear that Gladstone s u p p o r t was more likely ro be w i r h d r a w n f r o m N e w
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 193
Orleans rhan f r o m rhe Chapel ar D a n b u r y , rhe marter was serried in favor
o f rhe " b r e a k a w a y c o n g r e g a t i o n . " A n d w h e n Lefebvre's enemies w i r h i n
the R o m a n Chancery succeeded some years larer i n having rhe A r c h b i s h o p
d r u m m e d our o f rhe C h u r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n , and forbade Catholics t o have
a n y t h i n g t o d o w i t h h i m or his religious institute, Cessi remained quick ro
defend against the o b v i o u s threar ro St. Michael's by q u o t i n g w e l l - p u b l i -
cized statements by t w o p r o m i n e n t Cardinals in defense o f A r c h b i s h o p
Lefebvre and his f o l l o w e r s .
T h e resulr was rhar, by rhis year, Farher Angelo had served Sr. Michael's
parish for nearly r w e n r y - r w o years as priesr and pastor. I n all rhar rime, he
had remained so k i n d , so wise, so priestly and so o r t h o d o x that he not
o n l y kept even T r a x i Le Voisin's excesses under c o n t r o l bur managed ro
keep St. Michael's o u t o f the w o r s t o f rhe controversies rhar spread like a
liturgical plague t h r o u g h o u r rhe C h u r c h . A n d i n rhar r i m e , i n many and
varied w a y s , Father Angelo had also managed ro fill some part o f the
undeniable v o i d that Declan Gladstone's death had left in the lives o f his
daughter and his three g r a n d c h i l d r e n .

" F u n n y t h i n g a b o u t Father Angelo, Miss Cessi." As she bustled about the

breakfasr r o o m , Beulah had a rhing or r w o to p u t i n t o this family conver-
sation. " F u n n y t h i n g , the w a y he never changes himself, bur seems t o have
jus' the r i g h t way w i t h all kinds o f f o l k s . "
Cessi had t o agree. F r o m rhe time Father Angelo had first begun to
frequent W i n d s w e p t House and to offer Masses for the family in the
T o w e r Chapel, it was clear ro Cessi t h a t Heaven had answered her c o m -
p l a i n t against the " l e w d buffoons in r o u n d c o l l a r s " w h o were becoming ro
rhe priesrhood w h a r bad money is to g o o d . H o w else was she t o explain
the sudden a r r i v a l in their midst o f this priesr w h o surely w o u l d have
passed muster even w i t h O l d G l a d himself? The greatest w o n d e r for Cessi,
t h o u g h , was t h a t after h a v i n g suffered w h a t a m o u n t e d i n her eyes to a
m a r r y r d o m for rhe fairh in East G e r m a n y , and in the midsr o f the sham-
bles o f a once v i b r a n t C h u r c h , Gurmacher lived a brand o f Carholicism
riven w i r h rhe same N o Quarrer a t t i t u d e t h a t O l d G l a d had b u i l t inro
W i n d s w e p r House.
W h i l e he remained staunch—even severe, Cessi suspecred—in his per-
sonal ausrerities, Father Gurmacher was k i n d ro everyone else; a n d , as
consranr as he was in himself, he had an uncanny a b i l i t y t o see i n t o the
hearts o f people w h o were radically different f r o m one another.
Take the three Gladstone c h i l d r e n . T h e t w o boys had taken rurns serv-
ing as acolyres for Farher Angelo's Masses, b o t h at D a n b u r y and at W i n d -
swept. Yet Cessi and Tricia were as one i n rheir recollection rhar i t was
C h r i s t i a n w h o had taken most immediately t o Father A n g e l o . In C h r i s -
tian's eyes, G u t m a c h e r came ro occupy a special place. Fie came f r o m the
totally differenr w o r l d o f rhe Sovier " e v i l e m p i r e . " He was genrle but
 194 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

brave beyond any d o u b t ; and Gutmacher's personal d e v o t i o n i n the saying

o f the Mass g r i p p e d Christian's inner m i n d w i r h awe.
T h e discernment was n o t exclusively o n Christian's side; Gutmacher
detected i n the y o u n g teenager a certain m o r a l q u a l i t y . N o t that anybody
ever r o o k rhe boy ro be " a G o o d y T w o - S h o e s " ; Chrisrian got i n t o as much
t r o u b l e t h r o u g h boyish escapades as any o f his contemporaries. Bur there
was always this m o r a l t i m b r e to h i m . O n t h a t , Gutmacher k n e w , the
awesome c o m m i t m e n t t o priesthood c o u l d be b u i l t . A n d , in t i m e , Chris-
rian d i d tell everyone t h a t he wished t o study for the priesthood.
A t any other rime in the recent history o f rhe C h u r c h , Cessi w o u l d have
been overjoyed that one o f her sons had opred for the priesthood. N o w ,
however, she w o r r i e d to Father Angelo t h a t priestly t r a i n i n g w o u l d b r i n g
her older son i n r o dangerously close association w i t h "those black beetles
s k i t t e r i n g a r o u n d o u r seminaries as t h o u g h rhey were d u n g h i l l s . " Bur Fa-
rher Angelo's answer was always rhe same. The real solution ro Cessi's
concern, he insisted, was nor ro keep g o o d men like Chrisrian f r o m serving
C h r i s t , bur ro search, as Gutmacher himself had done, for the r i g h t semi-
nary.
To Cessi's surprise, Gutmacher had suggested even then t h a t she m i g h t
have m o r e reason ro w o r r y over Paul t h a n over C h r i s r i a n . Ir hadn'r raken
this unusual priest l o n g to discover rhe u n y i e l d i n g edge of srubbornness in
Paul's character, or t o realize that such a q u a l i t y m i g h t render his faith
m o r e b r i t t l e than Christian's. For the m o m e n t , however, i t was Christian's
decision ro enter priestly t r a i n i n g that had to be dealr w i t h .
O n c e her son's decision was f i r m , rhere was no need f o r Father
Gurmacher ro p o i n r Cessi in the righr d i r e c t i o n . She called o n all rhe help
she c o u l d c o m m a n d ro check o u r those seminaries t h a t seemed t o be h o l d -
ing t r u e against the rising tide o f liturgical and d o c t r i n a l i n n o v a t i o n . In the
end, Chris had agreed rhar N a v a r r e in northeastern Spain seemed ro be the
best a m o n g a n a r r o w i n g l o t , and had been delighted w h e n his m o t h e r had
been able ro cur t h r o u g h rhe usual red rape ro arrange f o r h i m ro be
accepted rhere as a candidate for priestly t r a i n i n g .
By the t i m e Chris was ready for O r d i n a t i o n in the early eighties, h o w -
ever, even the Spanish bishops were suspect in Cessi's eyes. She wanted t o
be sure Christian's O r d i n a t i o n was v a l i d . She paid one l i g h t n i n g visit t o
Fcone, Switzerland, therefore, where A r c h b i s h o p Lefebvre gave her rhe
name o f the Bishop o f Santa Fe in the A r g e n t i n e . She checked t h a t advice
t

out personally, discovered i t t o be sound and arranged w i r h rhe Bishop of

Santa Fe for Christian's O r d i n a t i o n .
Cessi had been o f t w o minds over Christian's desire to complete his
d o c t o r a l thesis in Rome. H e r w o r r y — r h e n as n o w — w a s t h a t Chrisrian
m i g h t be brutalized and sidelined by the clerical bureaucracy rhere. O n the
orher h a n d , she c o u l d n ' t really quarrel w i r h Chris's wish ro secure rhe
Recror M a g n i f i c u s o f rhe D o m i n i c a n Universiry o f rhe Angelicum as his
rhesis advisor and academic director. I n rhe ecclesiastical desert o f the
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 195

early 1980s, Farher Damien D u n c a n Slatrery's repurarion as a firsr-rare

theologian was k n o w n far beyond rhe Varican, and his loyalry to rhe H o l y
See had by rhar rime made more enemies rhan friends for h i m .
Ir had srill been early days f o r Christian at N a v a r r e , however, when
Farher Angelo's w a r n i n g concerning Paul's spiritual welfare began to take
flesh.

It was Paul Gladstone's m i s f o r t u n e rhar rhings fell our for h i m much as

Farher Gurmacher had feared. Indeed, and t o Cessi's infinire p a i n , his case
was far more rypical rhan his brorher's. I n a mere eighreen months—the
rime he spent at N e w Orleans' M i n o r Seminary—Paul became w h a r many
w e l l - i n t e n t i o n e d bur u n g u i d e d R o m a n Catholics became in the decade of
rhe seventies: a v i c t i m o f circumstances over w h i c h he had no real c o n t r o l .
He had been prorecred in large parr f r o m rhe abrupr and disruptive
changes in rhe C h u r c h . T h o u g h p o w e r f u l , rhe s t o r m o f change d i d not hit
everywhere at once. I t was a process applied t h r o u g h o u t the articulations
o f the R o m a n C a t h o l i c b o d y — a t parish level; at diocesan level; at national
and regional levels; u l t i m a t e l y , at the R o m a n level. It was an affair subtly
calculated by minds and wills bent on l i q u i d a t i n g the t r a d i t i o n a l organiza-
t i o n o f the C h u r c h . A n d ir succeeded.
Paul entered the M i n o r Seminary of the N e w Orleans diocese in 1972.
W i t h i n his firsr semesrer, he and his f e l l o w seminarians were t o l d officially
t o d o f f their clerical cassocks and to wear o r d i n a r y srreer clothes. In their
studies, they no longer had t o master L a t i n . T h e y f o u n d open invitations
f r o m the m a j o r i t y o f their professors ro t h i n k as they judged best about
o r i g i n a l l y sacrosanct doctrines and fundamental teachings. A b o u t the exis-
tence o f G o d . A b o u t the d i v i n i t y o f Jesus. A b o u t the Real Presence of
Chrisr in the Blessed Sacrament. A b o u t the a u t h o r i t y o f the Pope. A b o u t
rhe full g a m u t o f R o m a n C a t h o l i c beliefs and laws.
Beyond the classroom, m e a n w h i l e , seminarians were encouraged ro en-
large their experience by d a t i n g w o m e n . A t the same t i m e , many found it
easy t o establish homosexual bonds a m o n g themselves, f o r rhey were rold
that a positive a t t i t u d e t o w a r d homosexuality w o u l d make them "pasto-
rally sensitive."
In the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the o l d C h u r c h inro the House o f Ecumenical
W i n d s , Paul saw every f a m i l i a r t h i n g i n the Seminary swepr i n t o o b l i v i o n .
Seminarians were no longer required ro t u r n up for m o r n i n g prayers or for
daily Mass. But those like Paul w h o chose t o d o so f o u n d that even in the
Seminary Chapel a c o m m o n rable had replaced the alrar. Sratues, Srarions
o f the Cross, pews, mosaics—even the Tabernacle, c o m m u n i o n rails and
C r u c i f i x e s — w e r e nowhere ro be seen. Confessionals rhar h a d n ' t been
scrapped were less likely ro contain a priesr rhan rhe janitor's cleaning
supplies. The sins of society and o f m a n k i n d were deplored c o n t i n u a l l y , o f
course; bur personal sin was never mentioned.
Seminarians a n d the public alike were greeted at the new ceremonies by
 196 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

a priest in blue jeans and a T - s h i r t — a n d perhaps a stole or a shoulder

v e i l — w h o started things o f f w i t h a hearty " G o o d m o r n i n g , e v e r y b o d y ! "
T h e seminarians were instructed to set an example as free men and c h i l -
dren o f G o d . T h e y were to sit or stand as they pleased, b u t rhey were not
to kneel. Female " l i t u r g i c a l " dancers in leorards were accompanied by
C h u r c h music rendered o n guitars, banjos, ukuleles, tambourines and cas-
tanets.
Over rhe m o n t h s , Paul watched as the liturgical gatherings turned into
something resembling the " c h i e f l y feast," or Great Potlatch o f the K w a k i -
utl Indians o f the Pacific N o r t h w e s t , in w h i c h the chieftain gave away so
m u c h o f his w e a l t h in order ro attract and impress more and more guests
that in the end he was left w i t h n o t h i n g m o r e rhan his status and prestige
as " t h e great g i v e r . " A n y t h i n g f r o m other religions was a d m i t t e d o n equal
f o o t i n g to these l i t u r g i c a l gatherings. Paul was rreated t o a j u m b l e o f
Buddhist m e d i t a t i o n s , Taoist d u a l i s m , Sufi prayers, Tibetan prayer wheels,
N o r t h A m e r i c a n Indian m y t h o l o g y , ancient Cireek gods and goddesses,
hard rock and heavy metal music, H i n d u w o r s h i p o f Shiva and K a l i , and
cult w o r s h i p o f the earth goddesses Gaia and Sophia.
Paul Gladstone understood a l l o f this to be c o n t r a d i c t o r y , hypocritical
and, in the end, destructive o f genuine Catholic f a i t h . As nearly as he
could t e l l , most Catholics accepted it all as an e f f o r t at roral democratiza-
t i o n o f the t r a d i t i o n a l R o m a n C a t h o l i c religion. Wherever he went, rhe
cenrerpiece o f C a t h o l i c churches was n o w the "Supper T a b l e , " and the
" p e o p l e o f G o d " gathered a r o u n d ir ro celebrare rheir o w n freedom in a
c o m m e m o r a t i v e banquet.
In the e n d , his brief i n t i m a c y w i t h the " C o n c i l i a r C h u r c h " r o o k an
a w f u l r o l l o n Paul Gladsrone. Unable any longer ro stomach the b a w d y ,
ramshackle atmosphere o f the once o r d e r l y Seminary, he had announced
his departure to the Rector one m o r n i n g w i t h a candor so brutal even
Cessi w o u l d have been hard pressed t o match i t . " 1 a m n o t being trained
as any k i n d o f Sacrifice-offering, s i n - f o r g i v i n g priesr." PauPs eyes were
blazing. " I f I r e m a i n , Pll come o u t as a disheveled dispenser o f useless
rrinkers in rhe Grear A m e r i c a n R o m a n Catholic P o t l a t c h . "
Astonished almost i n t o speechlessness at such unprecedented rebellion,
rhe Rector managed t o say a few standard w o r d s in defense o f rhe man-
dates o f Vatican C o u n c i l I I , and to utter w h a t Paul c o u l d only regard as a
laughable appeal t o obedience.
" I d o n ' t k n o w h o w t o be a priesr," Paul had countered w i r h an iciness
rhar froze rhe very atmosphere o f the r o o m . " I d o n ' t even k n o w w h a t it
means t o be a priest in a c h u r c h where the centerpiece is n o t h i n g more
rhan a 'Supper Table.' O h , I k n o w . I've heard over and again h o w this new
' C o n c i l i a r C h u r c h ' o f yours w i l l present a more h u m a n face to the w o r l d .
But 1 tell y o u this: I w i l l n o t preach to 'the people o f G o d ' t h a t w h e n they
gather together, they n o t o n l y 'become church" bur rhemsclves ' f o r m
Chrisr.' I d o n ' t begin t o understand such meaningless j a r g o n . "
WINDSWEP'I HOUSE 197
Stupefied at such t o t a l lack of discipline, the Rector had tried to give
Gladstone a dose of his o w n tough medicine. Paul was p u t t i n g his entire
priestly career in jeopardy, the Rector had w a r n e d , by this unbridled and
uncalled-for o u t b u r s t .
" H a v e I n o t made myself p l a i n . Father Rector?" Paul was already on his
w a y o u t the d o o r . " I w o u l d rather be a decent C a t h o l i c layman cooperat-
ing w i t h the C h u r c h t h a n a ragrag member of this tasteless, irreligious
pigsty."

The firsr Cessi had k n o w n of her younger son's decision ro q u i t rhe Semi-
nary was w h e n Paul had arrived bag a n d baggage ar W i n d s w e p r House. Ir
was o n l y then that she heard, full blast and in the bald language she
understood so w e l l , w h a t a hotbed o f i m m o r a l i t y and unbelief her son had
immersed himself in for a year and a half. Once home f r o m N e w Orleans,
it had been Paul's choice to enroll immediately at the university at A u s t i n
for the balance of the semester, and to a p p l y to H a r v a r d for the semester
f o l l o w i n g — a l l of w h i c h he successfully accomplished. There was no ques-
tion that H a r v a r d made Paul academically. O r that i t excised f r o m h i m
any s u r v i v i n g ties w i t h the o l d C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , and many of rhe ties—
save his a b i d i n g love for r h e m — t h a r had b o u n d h i m ro his f a m i l y . H e was
ripe f o r the basic principle of the H a r v a r d intellectual: n o m i n a l Cartesian-
ism. O n l y clear ideas were rrue.
T h e clearest idea o n Paul's h o r i z o n was of one w o r l d , of an interna-
tional convergence of nations i n t o one superstate. H e fixed therefore on a
career in rhe field of inrernarional relations, and o n a rough and single-
m i n d e d course of study calculated ro place h i m at the t o p of that heap.
A f t e r a b r i l l i a n t and accelerated career at H a r v a r d L a w School, Paul
had taken a doctorate in i n t e r n a t i o n a l studies a n d , simultaneously, a mas-
ter's degree in business a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . Each summer recess was devoted
to a c q u i r i n g the languages he figured w o u l d serve h i m besr in his chosen
career. H e displayed an almost eerily q u i c k a b i l i t y to pick u p new lan-
guages. By rhe time this plastic a d a p t a b i l i t y of ear and palate had h a r d -
ened and his amazing faciliry had diminished to n o r m a l c y , he had already
learned Russian in M o s c o w and M a n d a r i n Chinese in T a i w a n and Beijing,
l i e had perfecred his G e r m a n , French and Italian on the C o n t i n e n t . A n d
he had learned A r a b i c in C a i r o .
A t the relatively y o u n g age of t w e n r y - s i x — a r about the same time
C h r i s r i a n was ro be ordained and begin his firsr srinr ar the Angelicum in
R o m e — P a u l n o t o n l y had completed his studies b u t had been snatched u p
as a rising star by Cyrus Benrhoek's transnational l a w f i r m . H a v i n g been
assigned to the firm's L o n d o n headquarters f r o m rbe start, he had come
home t o Galveston f o r brief vacations f r o m rime ro time. But there were
always roo many inrricare and sometimes violenr discussions between
m o t h e r and son; and each of them was always too b r u t a l l y f r a n k w i t h the
other.
 198 WINDSWFPT HOUSE

For all his brilliance, Paul was never a march for his morher w h e n ir
came t o discussions o f Catholicism's clear and derailed docrrinal posi-
tions. " I ' v e been telling y o u f o r years"—Cessi c o u l d barely express her
f r u s t r a t i o n — " t h a t the m o m e n t you w e n t along w i t h those newfangled
ideas o f one w o r l d government, your faith was in grave danger. The firsr
t h i n g y o u k n o w , y o u ' l l be missing Mass on Sundays and H o l y Days.
Y o u ' l l o m i t regular Confession. Y o u ' l l forget y o u r m o r n i n g and evening
prayers. For all I k n o w , you've already forgotten t h e m . "
Intransigence had reached its pitch o n b o t h sides, however, w h e n Paul
had made a special t r i p home f r o m L o n d o n ro rell Cessi of his proposed
marriage ro a Chinese w o m a n , a C o n f u c i a n , named Yusai K i a n g . Ir was
true rhat Paul had arranged everything according t o the b o o k . He had
asked f o r and received a special ecclesiasrical dispensation f r o m rhe Vati-
can ro m a r r y his beloved Yusai in a Catholic ceremony. A n d Yusai had
agreed cheerfully and sincerely ro live her life w i r h Paul i n accordance w i r h
R o m a n C a t h o l i c marriage laws.
Nevertheless, Cessi had objecred to the prospect o f her son's marriage
ro " a Chinese C o n f u c i a n w i t h Buddhist tendencies." She had n o t meant
the phrase ro be a n y t h i n g m o r e rhan an educared guess—an accurate one,
as it t u r n e d o u r — a r Yusai's religious b a c k g r o u n d . But Paul had taken it
beyond that. Fie had so wanted to tell Cessi h o w he and Yusai felt, each
a b o u t the other. H o w perfect each was for the other. A b o u r h o w truly he
loved Yusai, and h o w excruciatingly p a i n f u l was rhe mere idea rhar she
m i g h t n o t be able t o m a r r y h i m . W h a r he said, however, was something so
entirely different t h a t i t c o u l d o n l y have come f r o m the abyss of his disap-
p o i n t m e n t at Cessi's reaction. " I declare to G o d , M o t h e r ! Fven i f the Pope
himself blessed m y marriage and officiated at the ceremony, y o u w o u l d
still refuse ro give us y o u r blessing!"
" Y o u are absolutely righr, y o u n g m a n ! " Cessi's eyes were h a r d , green,
impenerrable, flashing anger and her o w n disappoinrmenr like emeralds
held over fire. " E v e n if he d i d all rhar, I w o u l d still n o t countenance this
marriage!"
I t was a N o Q u a r t e r standoff between m o t h e r and son. Paul had n o t
renounced Yusai. A n d Cessi had nor arrended rhe marriage ceremony in
Paris.

U
I d o n ' t care w h a t y o u say, M o t h e r . " T r i c i a d r a n k the last d r o p of juice
f r o m her glass. " I grant t h a t y o u r p r e m o n i t i o n s have been good indicators
o f terrible rhings f o r o u r f a m i l y in rhe pasr. Bur t h a t was all l o n g ago. T h i s
time I t h i n k your b u i l t - i n baromerer is jusr w o r k i n g overrime. I still
say . . . "
" I k n o w . " Cessi pressed rhe bell ro ler Beulah k n o w she and Tricia were
finished in rhe breakfasr r o o m . " I k n o w . Everything's g o i n g according t o
p l a n . " As the t w o Gladstone w o m e n c l i m b e d rhe srairs rogerher—Tricia
heading f o r a lare start in her studio up on the sixth floor; Cessi heading
WINDSWEPT HOI SE 1 199

for rhe T o w e r Chapel ro give Heaven another lirrle realiry r e m i n d e r —

T r i c i a c o u l d srill feel rhe rension in her morher. She c o u l d see thar rheir
conversation h a d n ' t done m u c h t o quier Cessi's barometer after a l l .

If there rruly was a m o d e r n - d a y Jacob's Ladder at W i n d s w e p t House,

surely irs rails resred on rhe sturdy f l o o r of rhe T o w e r Chapel. Since the
day O l d G l a d had completed c o n s t r u c t i o n a century and a quarter before,
almost n o t h i n g here had been changed. T h e stained-glass w i n d o w o f
Christ c a l m i n g rhe angry rides of Galilee still faced seaward. T h e vigil lighr
k n o w n far and w i d e as Glad's Eye srill shone our r o w a r d rhe m a i n l a n d to
tell o f God's true sacramental presence a m o n g m o r t a l s . T h e statues and
icons favored by O l d G l a d remained in their places a r o u n d the walls: the
Crucified C h r i s t , the great Archangel M i c h a e l slaying the D e m o n D r a g o n ,
Ignatius L o y o l a , Therese o f Lisieux and Catherine o f Siena.
Afrer a shorr prayer of a d o r a r i o n in f r o n t of the Tabernacle, where rhe
Blessed Sacramenr was reserved, Cessi kissed rhe Alrar Srone. Then she
removed a lirtle silver coroner f r o m a side table, placed i t u p o n the head of
the statue depicting the M a d o n n a o f Fatima and then began a slow and
p r a y e r f u l progression a r o u n d rhe Chapel. Rosary beads entwined in her
fingers, she had a frank w o r d o r r w o w i r h some of God's most favored
crearures. Because her forebodings cenrered rhis rime squarely on her f a m -
i l y , so t o o d i d Cessi square her prayers on her three c h i l d r e n . D u r i n g the
next h o u r , the o n l y sound other than Cessi's prayers—the only sound
f r o m the ourside w o r l d — w a s the soughing o f the w i n d s sweeping in f r o m
rhe G u l f .
There was no need ro r e m i n d Chrisr or H i s M o r h e r or rhe Angels or rhe
Saints w h a t was o n her m i n d . So far as she k n e w , Cessi had no desire t o
c o n t r o l the lives of her sons o r her daughrer. T h e d i f f i c u l t y was rhar, as
r r a d i r i o n had been b l o w n to bits in just abour every orher u n i t of their
w o r l d , the only place left where those solid roors could find nourishment
was i n the f a m i l y . Given her b r a n d of love for t h e m , that was precisely the
reason for Cessi's desire that her sons return home f r o m time to time t o
W i n d s w e p t . T h a t very desire, however, was n o w the focus o f Cessi's cur-
renr unease. For, vague as they remained, her p r e m o n i t i o n s were laced
w i t h a sense rhar wharever d i s r u p t i o n s lay in srore were somehow en-
r w i n e d w i r h her present plans for r e u n i o n .
Relying o n rhar opaque i n t u i t i o n itself as her guide, Cessi discussed the
p r o b l e m , m o t h e r ro M o t h e r , w i t h M a r y . H e r w o r r y for C h r i s r i a n , as Cessi
laid ir our yet again for the Queen of Heaven, was no less p r o f o u n d for
t h a t . M a i n l y she w o r r i e d that Chrisr w o u l d be deadened i n his soul by rhe
clerical bureaucracy in R o m e . Surely rhe best t h i n g for her older son
w o u l d be t o take up pastoral duties closer ro home, where he could give as
g o o d as he gor i n the ecclesiasrical w a r f a r e . T h a t was the Gladstone w a y .
T h e c o m p l a i n t she raised for Heaven's consideration in Christian's regard
was rhar her prayers for h i m seemed to find no resonance. His w o r k on
 200 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

thar thesis o f his seemed to stretch o n forever, tethering h i m ro Rome.

"Sometimes, H o l y M o t h e r , I t h i n k he'll never come home a g a i n , " Cessi
g r u m b l e d — a n d then b i t her tongue at her w o r d s .
T h e w o r r i e s she laid our concerning Paul were more p o i n t e d , and the
circumstances o f his life made them ever more urgent. Despite the terrible
scene w i t h Paul over his marriage to Yusai, that w a s n ' t the grearesr p r o b -
lem. Cessi's deepest fear f o r Paul was centered o n his b r i l l i a n t road to
success in his chosen career. H e was like a gambler ar a h o t table where
the odds were b o u n d ro t u r n against h i m .
L i k e m a n y i n f o r m e d citizens, Cessi k n e w something abour rhe trans-
n a t i o n a l l a w firm in w h i c h her younger son had chosen ro w o r k . Like
m a n y in her class, she had even dealt n o w and again w i t h rhe likes o f the
men i n charge o f Paul's life. W i r h few exceptions, she had f o u n d them to
be i n d i v i d u a l s w h o k n e w the mechanics o f everyrhing and rhe meaning o f
n o r h i n g . T h o u g h still in his thirties, Paul had already been made a j u n i o r
parrner. T h e s i t u a t i o n , therefore, was clear. Ir was safe ro assume thar Paul
was being megadosed w i t h an o u t l o o k t h a t w o u l d w r i t e finish t o his faith.
"Blessed M o t h e r . " In her a g i t a t i o n , Cessi let the w o r d s cascade aloud
f r o m her lips. "So m u c h has passed between Paul and me. A m I being
foolish t o c o u n t so heavily o n his c o m i n g visit t o Windswept? M a y b e
n o t . " She cocked her head t o one side, as i f a r g u i n g the p o i n t . " I s n ' t i t true
rhat t i m e has begun to heal the a w f u l r i f t between us?
" T i m e " — C e s s i smiled i n t o the smiling face o f the statue, b u t her w o r d s
were directed t o the Lady in Heaven i t s e l f — " a n d the birrh o f Paul's joy o f
a son, Declan. H o w p r o u d my father must be o f the little boy w h o bears
his name! D o n ' t misunderstand, Blessed M o t h e r . You k n o w h o w grateful I
a m t o y o u r Son and t o y o u f o r all of t h a t . But h o w m the w o r l d am 1 ever
ro ger ar rhe p r o b l e m o f Paul's fairh w i r h o u t setting o f f another w i l d s t o r m
between us?"
Cessi fell silent again. She reminded herself rhat Chrisrian w o u l d be
home, r o o . Paul had always listened t o his big brother. If she c o u l d no
longer reach her younger boy, perhaps she c o u l d rely on Chris. Yes. T h a r
was i t . Chris w o u l d be home first, a n y w a y . She w o u l d just have a good
talk w i t h h i m a b o u t this p r o b l e m .
There was one more t h i n g Cessi w a n t e d t o take u p again w i t h Chrisr's
M o t h e r . As close as she was ro her daughter, there seemed ro be a w h o l e
dimension o f Tricia's being rhat was beyond Cessi's undersranding. She
sometimes t h o u g h t that the mysterious onset o f her daughter's excruciar-
ing and dangerous eye disease a decade before had somerhing ro d o w i t h
that hidden part of her character. " 1 h a r d l y k n o w w h a t t o ask f o r , " Cessi
a d m i t t e d . For a cure certainly. A n d yet, she d i d have the sense t h a t Tricia
had reached her o w n understanding w i t h Heaven i n regard to her suffer-
ing.
As was her c u s t o m , once Cessi had spoken her heart t o M a r y , she
removed the coronet f r o m the V i r g i n ' s srarue and placed i t again in its
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 201

d r a w e r . T h e n , as always, she knelt before the Tabernacle f o r a p a r t i n g

w o r d w i t h the Sacramental Christ. " M y o n l y and l o v i n g L o r d " — C e s s i
rested her forehead lightly o n die A l t a r ' s e d g e — " I k n o w You w a n t souls
to serve You ar the expense o f w h a t seem to them t o be their o w n interests.
A n d I k n o w t h a t i f we refuse You n o t h i n g , w e w i l l gain more t h a n w e can
ask or imagine. But"—Cessi raised her eyes, the better ro make her
p o i n r — " I can't see w h a t purpose o f Yours ir w o u l d serve, L o r d , f o r rhe
t w o sons Y o u have given me t o be lost to us b o t h ! A n d y e t — t h a t does
seem to be the w a y things are h e a d i n g . "
N o r m a l l y , Cessi's t i m e i n the T o w e r Chapel, w i d i the ocean w i n d s as a
gently keening susurrus t o her prayers, gave her a fresh burst o f confidence
and peace. T o d a y , no such solace was granted her.

W i t h a precision so consummate t h a t it m i g h t have been Heaven calling t o

continue the conversation, Paul rang t h r o u g h f r o m L o n d o n just as Cessi
reached the b o t t o m o f the spiral staircase leading f r o m rhe Chapel. But the
news she heard was nor celestial.
" P m devastated, M o t h e r . " Paul d i d not sound devastated. " Y u s a i and 1
were l o o k i n g f o r w a r d so m u c h to b r i n g i n g Declan t o W i n d s w e p t again.
A n d t o being w i t h y o u and Chris a n d T r i c i a . But the head m a n himself has
asked me t o stay closer to home base . . . "
" T h e head m a n ? " Cessi k n e w w h o m Paul meant. Bur she needed to
slow h i m d o w n . She needed time t o understand t h a t he w a s n ' t c o m i n g
h o m e . T i m e to recognize rhis as the c o r o l l a r y to 1960; as the expected
event t h a t was n o t g o i n g t o happen, as rhe trigger to everything else—
whatever everything else m i g h t be.
" C y r u s Benthoek, M o t h e r . It seems P m i n the final r u n n i n g f o r the post
o f Secretary-General at the European C o m m u n i t y . Can you believe i r ? "
Cessi wished she c o u l d share Paul's excitement over this latest hand he
had d r a w n ar his h o t table. H o w she wished she c o u l d be happy f o r his
happiness. "Yes, P a u l , " was all she c o u l d manage t o say. " I can believe i t . "
' T i l make i t up to y o u , M o t h e r . " Paul heard the d i s a p p o i n t m e n t in
Cessi's voice.
" O f course y o u w i l l , d a r l i n g , " Cessi glanced u p t o see Tricia peering
f r o m the d o o r o f her s t u d i o . " T e l l me, love. H o w is m y little D e c l a n ? "
" H e ' s a five-year-old w o n d e r ! I can h a r d l y w a i t for y o u to see h i m
again. H e and Yusai are w a i t i n g f o r me ar o u r place in I r e l a n d . I ' l l be there
myself in a couple o f h o u r s . I ' l l give t h e m b o t h a big hug f o r y o u . "
Cessi's eyes were s w i m m i n g w i t h tears, but she k e p t her voice d e a r and
even. "Yes, sweetheart. Give them b o t h a big h u g f o r me. A n d keep one
for y o u r s e l f . "
" I ' l l m a k e i t u p t o y o u , M o t h e r , " Paul said again.
" 1 k n o w y o u w i l l , d a r l i n g , " Cessi said again.
N o sooner was the receiver i n its cradle than the telephone jangled a
second t i m e . " I s t h a t y o u , M o t h e r ? Y o u r voice sounds so strange!"
 202 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" C h r i s ! " Cessi's knees weakened and she sank i n t o the chair beside the
phone table. " L e t me guess. You're nor c o m i n g home afrer a l l . "
" O f course I ' m c o m i n g home. Jusr o n a different flight. Cardinal
O ' C l e a r y invited me t o stop by for a little N e w Orleans hospirality on my
w a y h o m e , so I had to change all m y travel plans. This is the firsr chance
I've had t o call to let y o u k n o w . "
J o t t i n g d o w n the new flight i n f o r m a t i o n Chris read o u t gave Cessi a
chance to recover her w i t s , and her n o r m a l curiosiry. " W h a r i n Heaven's
name was so urgenr rhar rhe C a r d i n a l c o u l d n ' r have waired a few more
weeks? You're due in N e w Orleans in Seprember a n y w a y . O r had he
forgotten t h a t ? " Cessi's distrusr o f Jay Jay O ' C l e a r y ran deep. H e was less
o f a b r u t e t h a n Bourgogne had been. Bur O'Cleary's desire ro be loved by
absolutely everybody made h i m seem r a w d r y . Yes, Cessi ofren t h o u g h t ,
that was the vety w o r d . T a w d r y . A n d besides, she had never mer a man
w i r h so m u c h potential p o w e r and so few ideas of h o w to use i t .
" N o , M o t h e r . H e d i d n ' r forger. H e has a b u r r under his saddle abour
my career in R o m e . "
"Rome!" Weak knees o r n o , that bombshell was enough to galvanize
Cessi all over again.
" H o l d y o u r fire. M o t h e r . N o t h i n g ' s been decided. I ' l l tell you all about
it w h e n I see y o u . "

XXII
C H R I S T I A N G L A D S T O N E made his w a y t h r o u g h the deepest night he
c o u l d remember t o w a r d the Basilica o f St. Peter. By his side, Father A l d o
Carnesecca was p o i n t i n g to the shadowed h u l k o f the Apostolic Palace.
U p to the f o u r r h floor. To the last w i n d o w on the righr. T o rhe stained-
glass w i n d o w depicring r w o w h i t e pillars sranding i n w h a r looked like the
d a r k warers o f the G u l f a n d , between the pillars, the p r o w o f a small boar
a t t e m p t i n g t o steer its w a y . He heard the sound o f voices. The sound of a
great w i n d . T h e n a R o m a n taxicab careened our of nowhere, b l a r i n g its
k l a x o n and c a r r y i n g Cessi and Father Damien Slarrery d o w n rhe Via della
Conciliazione. Chris bolted after the cab, away f r o m St. Peter's Square,
a w a y f r o m Carnesecca. Bur Carnesecca r a n , roo. Kepr pace. Kepr p o i n t i n g
t o that stained-glass w i n d o w where D a m i e n Slarrery's cappa magna bel-
lied our suddenly l i k e a sail. T h e n i t began all over again . . . Christian
heading t h r o u g h the darkness t o w a r d St. Peter's . . . Carnesecca's w o r d -
less gesture . . . rhe srained-glass w i n d o w . . . rhe m a d l y careening cab
. . . Cessi and Slattery and the sound o f the k l a x o n . . .
Breathless as i f f r o m the chase, bathed in sweat. Christian sat b o l t up-
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 203

righr in bed. For a second, he rhoughr rhe k l a x o n had pursued h i m crazily

our of his d r e a m . Bur ir was o n l y rhe rhroary chimes o f Oakey Paul echo-
ing t h r o u g h rhe silent r o o m s of W i n d s w e p r House.
Chrisrian was nor in rhe habit o f p a y i n g m u c h a t t e n t i o n t o his dreams.

Bur in this case, neither rhe derails o f that dream n o r rhe heighrened sense
o f strain he had felr o n firsr a w a k e n i n g f r o m it faded even in the w h i r l w i n d
o f activities and celebrations Cessi had arranged.
H e had expected t h a t the first order of business on his arrival home
w o u l d be a full-blast discussion w i t h his m o t h e r abour the R o m a n p r o p o -
sition C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y had made in N e w Orleans. H e had even been
l o o k i n g f o r w a r d ro ir. Jusr ar rhis m o m e n t , a good dose o f her plain
language and u n c o m p r o m i s i n g fairh was w h a r he needed ro help h i m sorr
our his Thoughts. I t w a s n ' t as if Jay Jay had laid a c o m m a n d o n h i m ,
o b l i g i n g h i m in v i r t u e o f h o l y obedience t o take u p a year-round post in
Rome. Wharever sorr o f a fix Jay Jay had gor himself i n r o , rhere wasn't
a n y r h i n g in C a n o n L a w t h a t obliged a priest to save his Cardinal's bacon.
M o r e o v e r , Chrisrian felt strongly the debt he o w e d t o his mother. She
had given all o f her stupendous energies and talents t o her rhree c h i l d r e n .
Surely the roles were reversed n o w . Surely they o w e d something to her.
W h a t k i n d o f recompense w o u l d it be for Christian t o a l l o w himself to be
press-ganged i n t o a Vatican career?
As c o u n t e r p o i n t t o such arguments, however, there were serious reasons
for Chris ro consider C a r d i n a l O'Cleary's proposal. One o f rhe most seri-
ous was A l d o Carnesecca's consranr a r g u m e n t rhar Rome should nor be
deserred by all o f irs g o o d priesrs. Ir was sobering ro realize rhar he had
been called t o the city o f the Popes. Perhaps rhe call had come t h r o u g h the
unimpressive John O ' C l e a r y ; b u t Jay Jay was a C a r d i n a l alter a l l , and G o d
had manifested H i s w i l l many times in the past t h r o u g h srranger means.
O n rop o f all rhar, Chris had ro question even his o w n noble-sounding
motives for w a n t i n g ro come home. Truth to tell, w o u l d n ' t it be just so
c o m f o r r a b l e t o be Stateside again?
T h e o d d t h i n g , t h o u g h , was t h a t w h i l e Cessi had fairly exploded ar the
bare m e n t i o n o f R o m e w h e n he had called f r o m N e w Orleans, n o w rhar
he was in Galveston she d i d n ' t press the matter. A t firsr, Chrisrian pur his
mother's unaccusromed silence i n so i m p o r t a n t a matter d o w n t o the
ceaseless f a m i l y - r e u n i o n activities she had ser i n m o r i o n . As rhe days
passed, however. C h r i s t i a n realized rhar circumsrances were m a k i n g
Cessi's argurnenr far more effectively than she c o u l d have hoped to do
herself. For, as carefully as she had planned e v e r y t h i n g , even Cessi G l a d -
stone c o u l d n o t have arranged things t o reflect more perfectly or more
poignanrly rhe endless reasons for C h r i s to abandon Rome for g o o d and
to take up a t r u l y useful apostolate back here where he belonged.
The pleasures o f reunion aside, C h r i s soon discovered t h a t w h a t aunts
and uncles and cousins and friends all seemed to w a n t f r o m h i m — w h a t
 204 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

they had c o m e t o W i n d s w e p t House t o find again—was the confidence

and joy of basic, objective C a t h o l i c t r u t h s . A t dinner after f a m i l y dinner,
as one conringenr of house guesrs was replaced every r w o o r three days by
another, relatives and o l d friends alike t o l d such tales of theological irreg-
ularities and d o w n r i g h t apostasy that Christian began to t h i n k of them as
w a r srories.
One of his favorire cousins, for example—a splendid, strapping lad w h o
w a n t e d t o be a priest—had just been expelled f r o m his local Catholic
school for w e a r i n g a c r u c i f i x . W h a t was a boy like that to do? Where was
he t o turn? In such an ecclesiasrical n o - m a n ' s - l a n d , w h a r was t o become o f
his vocation? A n d w h a t a b o u t that middle-aged priesr w h o had already
been caughr molesring c h o i r b o y s , bur was moved f r o m parish ro parish i n
his diocese, where he c o n t i n u e d to find victims for his lust? Christian
heard i t a l l : stories of nuns w h o had given up teaching c h i l d r e n and were
s t u d y i n g economics and architecture and medicine and psychology in or-
der to launch their personal careers; stories o f priests w h o a l l o w e d contra-
ceptive means, w h o w i n k e d at a b o r t i o n s , w h o laughed a b o u t young un-
m a r r i e d people l i v i n g together as man and w i f e , w h o ignored the absence
o f any C a t h o l i c teaching a b o u t the Eucharist, about the fires of H e l l ,
abour rhe nature of sin.
Ever since w o r d had begun ro spread in early M a y rhat Francesca G l a d -
stone was p r e p a r i n g a special h o m e c o m i n g for her r w o sons, a curious
c u r r e n t had taken h o l d a r o u n d Galveston; a current t h a t swirled a r o u n d
rhe c o m i n g arrival o f Farher Chrisrian Gladstone at W i n d s w e p t again. A
currenr rhar seemed to swell suddenly t o the surface, as t h o u g h fed and
forced u p w a r d by a deep, unseen tide. F r o m Chris's firsr f u l l day at home,
therefore, u n t i l the last full day before his deparrure, Beulah T h o m p s o n
spent so much of her rime answering rhe Telephone and rhe d o o r b e l l , i t
was a w o n d e r she gor everyrhing else done.
Chris made himself available ro as many callers as he c o u l d . He devoted
most o f every m o r n i n g to confessions and priestly consultations. Several
rooms o n the g r o u n d f l o o r at the back o f the house had t o be set aside to
accommodate the scores of people w h o phoned ahead or came unan-
nounced for o r t h o d o x confessions or sound theological counsel. But even
w i t h Angelo Gutmacher t o help h i m — f o r Father Angelo was a frequent
a n d most beloved visitor t o W i n d s w e p t a l l d u r i n g Chris's time in Galves-
t o n — i r was impossible f o r C h r i s t i a n to see everyone w h o wanted to see
him.
There was n o t a m o m e n t ' s v a i n g l o r y for Chris in this sudden demand
f o r his a t t e n t i o n . Rather, it saddened h i m . For in every case, and whether
he had t o d o w i r h men or w o m e n , rich or p o o r , laborers or lawyers or
cabdrivers or mothers or fathers or one o f rhose fishermen w h o somerimes
l o o k e d t o the lights of W i n d s w e p t ' s T o w e r Chapel for a bearing in rough
wearher, ir was always rhe same. A l l of rhem were starved for d i r e c t i o n ,
c l a r i r y , fairh and hope.
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 205

T h e p l i g h t of these people drove home in Chrisrian a suddenly new

comprehension. H e undersrood as never before that the v o i d these people
faced i n their daily l i v i n g was m u l t i p l i e d m i l l i o n s of times a r o u n d rhe
w o r l d . In the churches rhey amended—if rhey srill d i d attend—they were
dished a steady diet o f Freud for their personal woes, Piager for their
problems w i r h their c h i l d r e n , M a r x for rheir social disrress and rhe insidi-
ously subjecrive and ever more p o p u l a r encounter therapy as the new
religion that w o u l d p u t them in touch w i t h their "deeper selves."
T o w a r d the m i d d l e of his second week home, Cessi gave a festive dinner
as the final gala o f Chris's stay. H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l O'Cleary was
conspicuous by his absence. Whar impressed Chris rhe mosr was h o w
easeful in their minds were all the clerics his morher had invited to meet or
ro be reacquainred w i r h her son. They all had an a b i d i n g curiosity about
" h o w Rome w o u l d j u m p o n the big issues," as one y o u n g a u x i l i a r y bishop
put i t . A n d because C h r i s t i a n d i d frequent R o m e , was near the Pope in
that sense, he became the focus of their a t t e n t i o n .
But because he sensed the m o o d behind the questioning, he decided to
d r a w our the latent dislike he detected for rhe Pontiff. " Y o u people are
pastors." H e looked a r o u n d rhe table. " Y o u ' r e in rhe rrenches. I w o r k in
an i v o r y rower. So, y o u tell me. W h a t should this H o l y Father do for the
good o f rhe C h u r c h ? "
In deference ro Cessi Gladsrone's presence, rhe avalanche of suggestions
was lathered w i r h pietistic s o r r o w . Bur whar ir came d o w n ro was clear
enough. The Ponriff had made an a w f u l mess. The need n o w was for a
Pope w h o c o u l d r h i n k intelligently; a Pope w h o w o u l d be more positive in
his attitude about things like priestly celibacy and an exclusively male
priesrhood and conrraception and a b o r t i o n ; a Pope w h o c o u l d go w i r h rhe
f l o w . M a y b e rhe rime had even come f o r rhis Pope ro srep aside; ro make
w a y for a m o r e able successor.
W h e n rhe u p r o a r abared, C h r i s t i a n had a sober suggestion of his o w n to
make. " I have no direct c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h the H o l y Father; no occasion
to make y o u r suggestions k n o w n to h i m . But since y o u have problems,
w h y d o n ' r y o u make your o w n case? W h y not w r i r e ro him? I n d i v i d u a l l y
or as a g r o u p , w h y nor . . . "
"Berween y o u and me and rhe H o l y Spirir, Farher C h r i s , " rhe y o u n g
a u x i l i a r y bishop weighed in again, "rhere are some nifry and intelligent
churchmen over rhere w h o do have rhe ear of rhe H o l y Farher. T h e y ' l l ger
h i m ro d o rhe r i g h t t h i n g . W e ' l l just have t o w a i t h i m o u t . "
Chrisrian mer Cessi's eyes flashing green w i r h ire. Bur still she said n o t h -
ing. To his utter bafflement, still she kept her silence.

A t f o u r in the m o r n i n g o n his last f u l l day at home, Christian arose f r o m

bed. A quarter of an h o u r later, showered, shaved and dressed, he made
his w a y soundlessly along rhe r h i r d - f l o o r c o r r i d o r and up rhe srairs ro O l d
Glad's T o w e r Chapel. A t a r o u n d five-thirty or so, Father Gutmacher
 206 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

w o u l d j o i n h i m as he had done each m o r n i n g o f his vacation to assist ar

Mass; and Cessi and T r i c i a w o u l d be there, t o o . But jusr as his morher
habitually came ro rhe Chapel f o r w h a r was k n o w n as "Cessi's h o u r , " so,
r o o , had this silent rime in rhe house become Christian's h o u r . A time
when he c o u l d say his Office and his Rosary and his m o r n i n g prayers. A
rime w h e n he c o u l d puzzle again r h r o u g h all rhe argumenrs for leaving
Rome a n d the argumenrs for g o i n g rhere f o r g o o d .
Ir was d u r i n g rhese mornings in rhe Chapel as well that the lively
w a r m t h C h r i s r i a n had always felr f o r his favorire ancestor seemed ro nour-
ish itself anew. It w o u l d have been impossible for h i m nor to feel a resur-
gence o f love and a d m i r a t i o n and gratitude f o r the man w h o had builr rhis
house ro be rhe very refuge ir had indeed become. A n d , as if in an answer-
ing blessing, rhar o l d patriarch himself seemed ro weave rhe sweet m o -
ments Chris spenr alone in the Chapel rhis m o r n i n g inro a mantle of
memories: W i n d s w e p r House seemed again ro be almost as he remem-
bered ir f r o m his c h i l d h o o d .
Perhaps rhis was an empry place n o w . Perhaps all the celebrations that
had filled W i n d s w e p t w i t h guests and chatter and laughter and rears dur-
ing rhese pasr t w o weeks were only reminders o f w h a t once had been.
Perhaps rhis o l d pile was battered itself these days by the searing winds of
the storm tearing at the h u m a n landscape all a r o u n d i t . Perhaps i t was
even invaded f r o m time t o rime by rhe v i c t i m s o f rhar s r o r m — b y rhose sad
a n d searching penirents w h o had come here in such numbers for the
priestly succor so w a n t i n g ro rhem elsewhere; a n d by those clerics w h o
had seemed so mindless o f their sacred charge as priests as rhey had garn-
ered a r o u n d rhe Gladstone dinner rable.
Yer this place—this lirrle corner o f Texas real estare defended so fiercely
by Cessi Gladsrone againsr all encroachment, this great o l d house, this
T o w e r Chapel where Glad's Kye t o l d the w o r l d so f a i t h f u l l y o f the abiding
presence o f Christ in rhe Tabernacle—rhis place remained one bastion
againsr the s r o r m . T h i s place remained one haven where penirents m i g h t
still come. This place remained a rock. T h i s was the place C h r i s t i a n w o u l d
always call h o m e .

" F o r g i v e me, o l d f r i e n d . "

Srarrled by the softly accented w o r d s . C h r i s t i a n l o o k e d up f r o m his
prayers and i n t o the h o r r i d scars of Angelo Gurmacher's face.
" F o r g i v e me. I come early, I k n o w . But I t h o u g h t we m i g h t have a lirtle
rime rogerher before Mass. Before heading back to Rome. . . . "
Starrled n o w to the p o i n t o f c o n f u s i o n , Chris cut the older priesr off in
mid-senrence and rose f r o m his knees. " Y o u r c o m i n g is never an i n t r u s i o n ,
F a t h e r . " The phrase was n o t merely a social grace. Christian regarded this
man as a godsend in the most literal sense. A strange and w o n d e r f u l friend
w h o m G o d H i m s e l f seemed ro prorecr, and whose sreps He appeared ro
guide in priestly service. C h r i s t i a n m o t i o n e d t o w a r d a little g r o u p i n g o f
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 207

prie-dieu chairs near the d o o r a n d , w i t h a smile as genrle as his voice,

Gutmacher seared himself beside his long-legged y o u n g protege.
" I gather M o t h e r t o l d you of my call f r o m N e w Orleans. But she must
have t o l d y o u as well thar nothing's been decided. A b o u t m y g o i n g to
R o m e , I m e a n . " Chris sounded l i k e a man defending his independence. " I
t r i e d to make that clear. I intend to talk the w h o l e t h i n g out w i t h her. D i d
she tell y o u t h a t ? "
"She d i d n ' t p u t ir just that w a y . " Gutmacher appeared to be w e i g h i n g
his w o r d s carefully. " W h a t she h a d was an honest question. She wanted to
k n o w h o w i t c o u l d be the w i l l o f G o d that y o u should live your life
surrounded by people w h o have forgotten the basics."
C h r i s t i a n was surprised rhar Cessi w o u l d open her m i n d even that far ro
rhe possibiliry of his g o i n g ro Rome full-rime. Still, i t required a big leap to
get f r o m a question like that t o the bald assumption that Chris w o u l d
agree to C a r d i n a l O'Cleary's p l a n . Unless he was mistaken, t h o u g h , that
was Father Angelo's m i n d . " T e l l me, Farher A n g e l o . H o w d i d y o u answer
my morher's question?"
"Jusr as you w o u l d have, my f r i e n d . " Gutmacher's smile was perplex-
ing. " A s honestly a n d as fully as I c o u l d . I suggested to her that this
m o m e n t had been a l o n g time in c o m i n g a n d that because its crux was the
f u t u r e — a n d not just yours a l o n e — i t was an occasion o l i m p o r r a n r deci-
sions for us a l l . "
A l o n g rime i n coming? T h a r was an o d d r h i n g ro say, Christian
rhoughr. In facr, his friend's w h o l e arrirude seemed srrange. " A n y r h i n g
else?"
" I t o l d her I shared her fears for w h a t m i g h t happen t o any good priest
w h o is called t o Rome these days. But I t o l d Cessi, t o o , that she c o u l d n ' t
k n o w , nor c o u l d I , w h a t the grace of G o d can achieve."
I n all rhe years rhey had k n o w n each orher, ir had never been Father
Angelo's w a y ro be evasive. But Chris was sure he h a d n ' t heard everyrhing
yer.
As r h o u g h he had read the younger man's m i n d , Gutmacher removed a
lerrer f r o m his inner poeker and held ir o u t . Chris recognized the Vatican
stamps on the envelope, but there was no surprise in that. Father Angelo's
ties to the Congregation for rhe Clergy a n d t o the papal household were
h a r d l y secrer. The address of the sender was another matter, however.
" M o n a s r e r y of Sanra Sabina," Gladsrone read the address of the D o m i n i -
can headquarrers a l o u d . " R o m a 0 0 9 2 1 , l r a l i a . "
"Read i r . "
Chris knew the hand the m o m e n t he rook the single sheer of paper out
o f rhe envelope. Jusr ro be sure, t h o u g h , he glanced ar rhe large and gener-
ous flourishes s u r r o u n d i n g the initials that were so f a m i l i a r ro h i m . D D S ,
O P . " D a m i e n Slattery?" It was m o r e exclamation rhan question.
W h e n i t b r o u g h t no reply f r o m Gutmacher, Christian returned to the
letter. A solirary paragraph. Just t w o sentences, i n fact: " A new i n i t i a t i v e
 208 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

or His I Ioliness requires y o u r presence here in m i d - a u t u m n . Unless I hear

f r o m y o u personally w i t h i n ten days o f this letter's dare, I w i l l take ir you
do nor see y o u r w a y ro c o m p l y . "
Chrisrian had neither quarrel nor question concerning the peremptory-
seeming tone o f Farher Slarrery's note, f o r rhar was the way such things
were done in Rome. The call was always clear, usually brief and rarely
adorned w i t h e x p l a n a t i o n or e x h o r t a t i o n . The reply was left to the recipi-
e n t ir had t o be entirely v o l u n t a r y . W h a t C h r i s t i a n d i d feel was a generous
and unaccustomed dose o f self-reproach. Ir was his t u r n to apologize.
H o w c o u l d he have been so absorbed in himself? H o w c o u l d he have
assumed it was o n l y his o w n situation t h a t mattered? T h a t Gutmacher
had come to talk o n l y a b o u t Christian? That his reference t o departing for
Rome c o u l d o n l y have to d o w i t h Christian?
Father Angelo received Chris's eloquenr apology w i t h an equally elo-
quent lirrle shrug.
" Y o u ' r e g o i n g , then. Father?" T h e question was a whisper on Chris-
tian's lips.
" T h e day Cessi came ro see m e " — G u t m a c h e r n o d d e d — " w a s the day I
received rhis lerrer. A n d ir was the day I sent my response. I w i l l g o . "
This m o r n i n g was full o f unexpected t u r n s . " M o t h e r knows? You t o l d
her t h a t d a y ? "
"She k n o w s . "
"So, all that honest advice y o u gave her abour rhis m o m e n t — a b o u r its
having been so l o n g i n c o m i n g ; abour irs being an occasion of imporrance;
about w h a t God's grace can achieve—all o f that really had to do w i t h
you?"
" A n d w i t h y o u . " Gutmacher was nor abour ro ler Chrisrian Gladsrone
o f f rhe h o o k as easily as rhat.
Chris thrust the letter back as if ro r i d himself o f a n y r h i n g to do w i t h i t .
" T h i n g s are different f o r y o u . U n t i l n o w , and in spite of my repugnance
for rhe w h o l e idea, I h a l f w a y t h o u g h t I should accept C a r d i n a l O'Cleary's
proposal."
" A n d now?"
Chris d i d his best t o answer w i t h o u t sounding b r u t a l . Angelo was al-
most a member o f the f a m i l y , but he d i d n ' t have the same b l o o d ties that
Christian d i d . He d i d n ' t have the same obligations to Cessi and Tricia. Ir
was all well and g o o d for h i m t o leave, if that was w h a t he thought best.
Bur Chrisrian c o u l d h a r d l y be expected ro c o m p o u n d the b l o w ro his
mother and Tricia by agreeing to O'Cleary's request. " A n d besides"—
Christian was l o o k i n g for a w a y to bolster w h a t he sensed was an insuffi-
cient a r g u m e n t — " y o u ' v e been called to Rome by a good m a n . There's nor
a more solid papist left in the V a t i c a n — o r maybe in rhe w o r l d — r h a n
Damien Slartery. Bur i f I ' m ro believe C a r d i n a l O'Cleary's hints to me in
N e w Orleans, H i s Eminence Cosimo M a e s t r o i a n n i has something to d o
w i t h Rome's sudden interest in my existence. A n d that's far d i f f e r e n t . "
WINDSWEPT HOUSE 209

" I s i r ? " Father Angelo's voice had the effect of a h o t poker.

" Y o u k n o w i t is, Gutmacher! Y o u musr remember the lerrer I w r o t e you
afrer C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i called me ro the Secretariat last M a y . Smooth
as s i l k , t h a t m a n is. But he's no D a m i e n Slattery. A n d no friend o f the
Pope. A man like t h a t p r o b a b l y devours a dozen men like me for breakfast
every d a y . "
Father A n g e l o stood u p , s m i l i n g but w a t c h f u l , " I d o n ' t d o u b t a n y t h i n g
you say."
" W e l l , t h e n . We agree." Christian relaxed a little. " D a m i e n Slattery's
voice is the voice o f R o m e . "
" E x a c t l y ! " Father Angelo pounced o n that t h o u g h t . " M a s t e r - G e n e r a l
Slattery's is the voice o f Rome. T h e voice o f Rome calling for help. Can
you hesitate . . . ?"
" I t ' s n o t the same t h i n g ! " Chris shot back. " Y o u can't tell me that your
being called ro Rome by such a g o o d man as Father Slattery is in any way
c o m p a r a b l e to . . . "
"Yes, Father C h r i s t i a n . 1 can. N o matter h o w it comes, or w h o makes ir,
rhe call is rhe same. T h e question isn't whether D a m i e n Slattery or C a r d i -
nal M a e s t r o i a n n i are or a r e n ' r g o o d papisrs. The question is whether you
are. A n d I can tell you i t requires f a i t h — p r i e s t l y f a i t h , C h r i s — t o recognize
that call f o r w h a r it i s . "
In a gesture that was all but sacramental in n a t u r e — a n d that c o m -
manded supremest honesty i n response—Gutmacher t o o k a step f o r w a r d
and laid his hands on Chris's shoulders. " T e l l me t r u t h f u l l y , Father Chris-
t u m . Can y o u have any real hcsirarion in answering that same c a l l ? "
A l l at once. C h r i s t i a n remembered Farher A l d o Carnesecca's prophecy
rhat he had come to a stage in his career where rhe choices he made w o u l d
ser the pattern o f his priesthood for as l o n g as he lived. " T h e bureaucratic
rat race y o u happened u p o n . . . , " Father A l d o had said, " i s defining the
w h o l e strategy and all o f the tactics i n this global w a r f a r e o f spirit. Nevcr-
rheless . . . make no misrake a b o u t this: the center o f the battle is in
Rome."
Father A n g e l o tightened his g r i p o n the younger man's shoulders, forc-
i n g h i m back to the present m o m e n t . Forcing rhe decision rhat w o u l d
define his priesthood one w a y or the other. " T e l l m e . " Gutmacher's w o r d s
were slow and deliberate. " C a n you have any real hesitation in answering
that c a l l ? "

Cessi haired so suddenly at the d o o r o f the T o w e r Chapel that T r i c i a ,

c o m i n g up behind her, nearly ran her d o w n . " . . . it requires faith—
priestly f a i t h , C h r i s — r o recognize that call for w h a t it i s . " She shut her
eyes against rhe sight o f Gutmacher's face a n d the sound o f his voice;
closed them against w e l l i n g tears; felt Tricia's hand w a r m in the sudden
iciness o f her o w n . " T e l l m e . " Father Angelo's challenge to her son
 210 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

washed over Cessi like an icy b a t h . " C a n y o u have any real hesitation in
answering that c a l l ? "
U n t i l n o w , Cessi had t h o u g h t she had faced inro this moment, The day
Chris had called f r o m N e w Orleans, she had gone to Father Gurmacher
for c o m f o r t a n d for counsel only t o find that he, t o o , had been summoned
i n t o the midst of those clerical wocbegones in Rome. T h a t was the day she
heard the reasons w h y he w o u l d leave St. Michael's Chapel. For all the
days since, she had k n o w n Christian w o u l d hear those reasons, roo; and
rhar he w o u l d respond as she h a d .
M o r e t h a n one nighr since then, Cessi had lain awake i n her bed w o n -
d e r i n g h o w deep she w o u l d have to dig f o r the strength to let go. Wonder-
i n g i f she had really been m u c h of a mother at a l l . W o n d e r i n g if even n o w
she was n o t h i n g more t h a n a crazed pottery maker, never k n o w i n g when
to stop m o l d i n g and shaping her c h i l d r e n .

"Mother!"
Cessi snapped her eyes open ro see Chrisrian srriding t o w a r d her, his
face suffused w i t h the same stress and pain w e l l i n g inside her.
" C h r i s . " She t o o k her hand gently f r o m Tricia's and stepped f o r w a r d
inro rhe Chapel w i t h such grace a n d c o m m a n d that her movemenr seemed
a simple e x c l a m a t i o n . Gutmacher had asked rhe only question that mat-
tered. O n l y C h r i s t i a n c o u l d give the answer. Cessi k n e w that in a few-
moments she w o u l d receive the Body and Blood of Christ f r o m rhe con-
secrated hands o f her priest-son ar the H o l y Sacrifice of the Mass. After
t h a t , she d i d n o t k n o w h o w far he w o u l d choose to go f r o m this still grand
o l d bastion called W i n d s w e p t House.
Tricia's thoughts were on C h r i s t i a n , t o o . But just as m u c h o n Father
A n g e l o . O f all the experts she had seen, o n l y this priest had taught her to
make her sufferings useful. W i t h that e x t r a o r d i n a r y gift of insight and
hard-edged tenderness, he had taught her rhe rules of t r a d i t i o n a l asceti-
cism. W o u l d she n o t continue n o w to offer up her sufferings to G o d the
Father in u n i o n w i t h the sufferings o f Christ the Son? W o u l d she not
continue t o counter Satan a n d w i n forgiveness for many sins? W o u l d she
n o t remain a m o n g those privileged souls w h o had presented themselves
d o w n the ages as victims, ready to cooperate w i t h the Supreme V i c t i m
executed in great b o d i l y pain o n the Cross for the offenses and sins of
mankind?
A n d then there was C h r i s r i a n , caught again in the essence of that dark
dream f r o m w h i c h he had awakened, bathed in swear, o n his first night
home. O n l y i t wasn't just Father A l d o Carnesecca w h o ran beside h i m
n o w , p o i n t i n g t o w a r d the Apostolic Palace. I t was Angelo Gutmacher
c h i d i n g h i m i n t o priestly self-denial and i n t o the trust such self-denial
demanded. C h r i s t h o u g h t he must be g o i n g to s p i r i t u a l flab if Gutmacher
had t o r e m i n d h i m of all rhat. I t was the sight of his mother w a i t i n g so
coolly for his answer; and it was all the lessons he had learned f r o m her
W I N D S W E P T H O U S E 211

abour the depth and brearh and majesry and freedom of his fairh. Ir was
the too vivid memory of all the people who had come to Windswept
House in their defenselessness againsr rhe offenses of Rome.
A n d ir was rhe legacy of old Paul T h o m a s Gladstone that lived on in this
place. Surely that legacy amounted to something more fruitful than a man-
tle woven of nice old memories. Hadn't even Carnesecca said as much? It
was curious, Chris thought, the way Father Aldo kept popping up in his
mind. But prophers were like that, he supposed. Without ever having set
foor in this place, Carnesecca understood that O l d G l a d and his Wind-
swept House had always been Christian's links to Rome. To the Vatican.
T o the papacy.

It was to be Rome, then.

Cessi was the first to read Christian's decision in his eyes and put words
to it. " I t ' s abour time another Gladstone went to rhe rescue of rhe pa-
pacy." She looked her son full in the face, and her o w n eyes were not
green. "Just be sure to remember, young man, that this isn't the nineteenth
century, and you're not O l d G l a d . A million dollars in cold American cash
won't help this time. What Rome needs is a good shaking-up."
H a d Cessi nor found herself suddenly in the unique sweetness of her
son's embrace, she was sure she would have losr composure.
" T h e only real e x i l e " — i n words borrowed from Joseph C o n r a d , Chris-
tian whispered his gratitude for his mother's N o Quarter blessing—"the
only real exile is a man who cannor go home again, be it to a hovel or a
palace."
H e r head on Chris's shoulder, Francesca Gladstone raised her eyes ro
the Tabernacle behind him. O n l y Heaven was privy ro her heart's whisper.
Heaven, and all those Angels who had gathered in O l d Glad's Tower
Chapel at the foot of Jacob's Ladder for all her sevenry years. "See Lord? I
told You s o ! "
 XXIII

O N T H E S E C O N D F R I D A Y of September 1991, as Mikhail Sergeyevich

Gorbachev was fighting before rhe Soviet Presidium in Moscow for all he
ever ambitioncd to achieve, Gibson Appleyard strode without hurry inro
the forry-srory Berlaymont Building, home of the European Commission,
located between Charlemagne Boulevard and Archimede Street in the east-
ern sector of Brussels. He glanced ar his watch more our of habir than
necessity as he took the elevator to the thirtieth floor. He had plenry of
rime before the srart of the Selectors meeting set for this morning ro fill rhe
post of Secrerary-General.
When life had been simpler—long before the Presidential Committee of
Ten had been invented and before he had ever heard of Paul Thomas
Gladstone—Gib had done his first European service in Brussels, ' i f you
must live in a city," his associates used to say back then, "do it in Brus-
sels."
The luxury of living here hadn't been in the cards for long in Ap-
pleyard's case. But he had always loved this place. The art collected here
was magnificent. The food was firsr-class, even by F'uropean srandards.
There was a real friendliness about the people who called this city home.
And there was no forgetting Belgium's role as the cockpit of Europe.
Romans, Asiarics, Germans., Frenchmen who had followed Napoleon,
Spaniards from the south, the English and finally the Americans had all
decided history on rhis terrain in the age-old human way. The way of
bloodshed and carnage.
Today, though, Belgians were serious about making Brussels into the
capital of a new Europe even greater and more glorious than the old
F'urope achieved by Charlemagne on Christmas Day in 800 A.D., when
Pope Leo III had placed the crown of empire on his head.
Poor Belgium, Appleyard thought to himself. Perhaps the original Euro-
pean Community had been a comfortable thing in its heyday. As one
element of a trilateral world in close parrnership with America and Japan,
that Europe had been part of an expedient system of cooperation and
competition. Each leg of that: trilateral system had had its surrogares and
dependenrs. Each had cooperared wirh the others for peace; and each had
competed with the others for financial and economic hegemony.
Now, by a sort of mental presumption, the European Community was
set to claim for irself a new digniry; a new desriny of glory and power, Ir
 216 WINDSWEPT HO USE

saw itself already, i n fact, as a supranational state alive and f u n c t i o n i n g on

the w o r l d scene.
There m i g h t srill be w a r s o f b l o o d and carnage for a t i m e , like the one in
Yugoslavia. But the real w a r f a r e — r h e k i n d that w o u l d shape the N e w
W o r l d O r d e r — w a s conducted n o w in buildings like this one. I n confer-
ence rooms like the one o n the t h i r t i e t h floor o f rhe Berlaymont Building,
where rhe EC Selectors were garnering at this m o m e n t .
As sure o f his g r o u n d as he was o f sunrise, Gibson A p p l e y a r d had his
o w n slant on that w a r f a r e . " P o o r B e l g i u m , " he t h o u g h t again. " P o o r Eu-
rope."

" T h e w h o l e idea is r i d i c u l o u s and unacceptable!" N i c o l e Cresson's stri-

dent voice was like a k n i f e in G i b A p p l e y a r d ' s ears as he slipped i n t o the
conference r o o m . Cresson was bur one o f several early arrivals a m o n g the
Twelve Selectors already gathering inro little groups. " T h e t h o u g h t o f p u t -
t i n g this A m e r i c a n — t h i s — t h i s w h a t ' s - h i s - n a m e — " Cresson brandished
rhe Gladsrone dossier in irhe face o f her c o m p a n i o n Selecrors f r o m rhe
Netherlands and Spain l i k e a prosecuting attorney e x c o r i a t i n g a c r i m i n a l
before a j u r y .
" P a u l T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . " The patient R o b e r t Allaeys o f H o l l a n d sup-
plied the name the French Selector was l o o k i n g for.
"N'est-ce pas!" Cresson sneered. "These Americans and their precious
m i d d l e names! The w h o l e rhing is roo preposrerous!"
A p p l e y a r d decided ro a v o i d the French Selector. Cresson probably knew
as w e l l as he d i d rhar rhere was n o r h i n g ro be gained or lost by a conversa-
tion berween t h e m . Ir w o u l d be more profitable and far less srressful jusr
t o amble over ro rhe sidelines and keep an eye o n things as groups formed
and changed.
O v e r the past several m o n t h s , as he had attended the p r i o r meetings of
rhis ad hoc Selection C o m m i r r e e , A p p l e y a r d had gor ro k n o w as m u c h
about the twelve Selectors as they knew a b o u t each other. He knew rhem
by rheir names, o f course; bur jusr as much by their nicknames, w h i c h rhey
used freely a m o n g rhemselves and w h i c h spoke eloquently of rheir q u a l i -
ties as w e l l as their q u i r k s .
For reasons rhar were all! too obvious this m o r n i n g , Nicole Cresson had
earned her m o n i k e r , " V i n a i g r e . " As career d i p l o m a t and secrerary to
France's currenr Foreign M i n i s t e r , Cresson had never accepred President
Bush's 1990 statement thar " A m e r i c a is n o w a European p o w e r . " As far
as she was concerned, n o real E u r o p e a n — n o " E u r o p e a n E u r o p e a n " —
w o u l d ever accepr such a v i e w . M o r e to the p o i n t rhis m o r n i n g , no self-
respecting European European w o u l d w a n r ro see Paul T h o m a s G l a d -
srone's A m e r i c a n backside seated i n rhe Secrerary-General's chair.
" A h , my dear A p p l e y a r d . Come to savor v i c t o r y , have y o u ? " The Bel-
gian Selector—Jan B o r l i u t h by name; Stropelaars by n i c k n a m e — w e l -
comed G i b in his o w n peculiar w a y . " Y o u m u s t n ' t take offense at
 OF Ml C F AN D M F N 217

Vinaigre's temper. She's been away o n vacation a n d f o u n d our only this

m o r n i n g thar rhe candidares we had selected in o u r p r i o r meetings have
w i t h d r a w n rheir names. 1 d o u b t a n y t h i n g like rhat has happened before.
A n d o n t o p o f t h a t , rhe Commissioners themselves have presented us w i t h
a t o t a l l y new proposal f o r Secretary-General. T h e w h o l e r h i n g is w i t h o u t
precedent."
G i b raised his eyebrows i n an expression he hoped w o u l d pass in Bor-
liurh's eyes as the laconic surprise o f an A m e r i c a n . Bur before he had a
chance to say a w o r d , the pair was joined by Italy's C o r r a d o Dello
ludice—such a handsome m a n that he c o u l d only be called " I I B e l l o . "
"Cresson has a p o i n t , you k n o w . " 11 Bello saw no reason to apologize,
as B o r l i u t h h a d , for the French Selecror's o u t b u r s t . T h i s a p p o i n t m e n t o f a
new Secretary-General comes at a most delicate t i m e . W h y , the events o f
this year alone are already o p e n i n g a d o o r ro entirely new t e r r a i n . Given
the c o m p l i c a t i o n s and subtleties, I have ro question whether an American
can measure u p . "
" T h a t ' s p u t t i n g i t m i l d l y ! " " As possibly the o n l y practicing Catholic in
the g r o u p , Portugal's Francisco dos Santos bore his nickname o f " C a p e -
l a o " — t h e Portuguese for c h a p l a i n — w i t h true Christian patience. " B y the
time o u r new appointee has been i n i t i a t e d , and by the time he has his
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n well oiled a n d r u n n i n g , the EC Commissioners and the
C o u n c i l w i l l be faced w i t h very d i f f i c u l t new choices. A n d the w o r k o f the
Secrerary-General w i l l have m u l t i p l i e d a t h o u s a n d f o l d . "
" T e l l us, A p p l e y a r d . " Dos Santos t u r n e d to the tall A m e r i c a n . " C a n you
fill us in on rhis Paul Gladstone? We've all read his dossier, of course. But
this has been such a sudden t u r n o f events, we haven't had a chance t o d o
m u c h independent c h e c k i n g . "
Gib reflected f o r a momeni;. Dos Sanros had asked a clumsy question for
such an accomplished d i p l o m a t . A question obviously meant, then, to
implicate A p p l e y a r d as the fly w h o had gor i n t o this Committee's o i n t -
ment. " I k n o w w h a t I've read in his file," A p p l e y a r d answered t r u t h f u l l y .
" E v e never met the man personally. B u t f r o m w h a t I can see, you're not
dealing w i t h a clumsy geopolitical oaf in Gladstone. Pie's earned his
stripes."
"So it's n o t to w o r r y , rhem?" Jan B o r l i u t h was ser ro press rhe matter
furrher w h e n rhe lirrle g r o u p was invaded by G e r m a n y .
Emil Schenker—Pfennig, bis colleagues called h i m , in deference to the
size o f his c o u n t r y ' s T r e a s u r y — w a s Nico le Cresson's exact opposite in
temperament. N o r c o u l d he have been more at odds w i t h her exclusivist
view o f Europe f o r Europeans. "Excuse m e ! But I c o u l d nor help overhear-
ing this e x c i t i n g discussion, my friends. A n d I have to say I t h i n k y c u
w o r r y far t o o m u c h . The w o r l d is changing, and that's all there is to i t . We
must take cognizance o f the new realities."
Pfennig's colleagues c o u l d o n l y w i n c e , for it was clear enough w h a t he
meant by t h a t phrase. Europe's financial c l o u t and industrial sinews were
 218 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

centered i n West Germany. O f course, rhe reunification o f rhe r w o Germa-

nys—a p i t i f u l marriage o f convenience, Schenker acknowledged p r i -
v a t e l y — w o u l d be a near-furure financial and sociological drain on Wesr
Germany. Bur the b i g new realiry f o r Pfennig was an o l d realiry come back
ro life. " W e Germans have a b u i l t - i n Drang nach Osteu" he had begun to
say ar every o p p o r t u n i t y . " W e are oriented to the East. People cannot
j u m p o u t o f rheir skins, n o r nations o u t o f their history. The historical role
of the G e r m a n people as a European p o w e r has always been linked ro o u r
p o w e r f u l neighbors in rhe East."
Schenker's srand on this innate push o f rhe Germans to rhe East was not
i n c o m p a t i b l e , in fact, w i r h rhe official policies o f most o f the orher eleven
counrries whose representatives w o u l d sit as Selectors i n Today's meeting.
Nevertheless, A p p l e y a r d figured he undersrood Pfennig a n d his govern-
m e n t s policy in this regard w e l l enough. Given rhe meresr o p p o r r u n i t y ,
Schenker himself w o u l d e x p l a i n w h a r ir meanr ro be a German faced w i r h
Russia. For Gib's m o n e y , however, rhe Presidential C o m m i t t e e o f Ten had
been dead right in assessing the danger ro rhe U n i t e d States. T h e o n l y g o o d
t h i n g a b o u t Pfennig's precious Drang nach Osten was that it meant he
was in thar camp w i r h i n rhe EC rhar favored a policy o f deep and c o n t i n u -
ing lines o f involvemenr berween Europe and non-European countries.
I n c l u d i n g A m e r i c a . In rhe w o r d s o f the EC's geopolitical j a r g o n , Schenker
was a Euro-Arlanricisr.
In rhe n a r r o w e r context o f today's business, m e a n w h i l e , it also meant a
sure vote in f a v o r of Paul T h o m a s Gladstone.
" . . . So t r u l y , m y g o o d friends"—Schenker was w i n d i n g up his pre-
dictable speech to his fell'ow Selectors—"you w o r r y roo m u c h . In rhe
vvorsr case, h o w m u c h hairm can rhis Gladsrone do? After a l l , rhere are
rhose w h o regard the Secretary-General as just a glorified stand-in f o r the
a l l - p o w e r f u l European Commissioners. . . . "
" B a h ! " D e l l o Iudice o f Italy had heard enough. He cringed to t h i n k h o w
m u c h h a r m Gladsrone m i g h t d o . " T h e C o m m i s s i o n e r s — a l l seventeen o f
t h e m — h a v e real p o w e r . Enormous p o w e r . A n d the Secretary-General
shares rhar p o w e r , a n d all o f irs leverage."
Ir wasn't often that E m i l Schenker f o u n d himself o u t n u m b e r e d . But in
j o i n i n g this little discussion g r o u p , he had placed himself at just such a
m o m e n t a r y disadvantage.
" I must second I I Bello's p o i n t of v i e w , my dear P f e n n i g . " Jan B o r l i u t h
of Belgium weighed i n agaiin. " T h e EC is no longer rhe compact ship of
Wesrern Europe. N o longer rhe Europe o f rhe Seven. W h y , everybody
r u m s our ro be a European rhese days! Very soon n o w , we i n the EC must
face the prospect of a d m i t t i n g the seven nations o f the European Free
Trade Association, rhe EFT A , inro close associarion w i t h o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n .
" N o r w a y , Sweden, F i n l a n d , Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria d o
comprise a substantial m a r k e t that w e cannot ignore. But they also present
m o n u m e n t a l political c o m p l i c a t i o n s f o r the EC.
 OF MICE AND MEN 219

" A n d as l o n g as y o u have b r o u g h t the East into the picture, E m i l " — t h e

Belgian shot a spear o f a glance at P f e n n i g — " G o r b a c h e v is fairly bartering
d o w n rhe portals o f this new Europe o f ours. In fact, he has staked his
c l a i m in the very name o f E u r o p e ! "
"Ja, Stropelaars. Bur . . . " Schenker tried ro ger a w o r d in to defend his
p o s i t i o n , but B o r l i u t h was insistent.
fct
But me no buts this t i m e , o l d friend. Everyone here has reason ro
remember Gorbachev's very w o r d s . ' Y o u r new Europe w i l l be impossible,'
he had rhe gall ro say, " w i t h o u t close bonds w i t h the Soviet U n i o n / A n d
everyone here has reason ro undersrand thar in practical terms Gorbachev
meant close u n i o n n o t o n l y w i t h his new Soviet Federation bur also w i r h
associared srares o f Eastern Europe, w h i c h cannor survive w i r h o u t rheir
o w n close bonds ro rhe Soviers. I n practical terms ir doesn't matter rhat
Gorbachev is o n rhe ropes in M o s c o w himself these days. Because in prac-
tical terms, he's been t a l k i n g to us about a huge n e w m a r k e t o f over 2 0 0
m i l l i o n people.
" W h a t e v e r happens to Gorbachev, t h e n , his sraremenr rhar there can be
no Europe w i t h o u t the U.S.S.R.—or the CIS, or whatever ir w i l l be called
in rhe end—is borh a sraremenr o f fact and a threar. He's changed the
m o l d o f Europe whether we like it or n o t . "
By n o w , the conversation surging a r o u n d G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d was so
intense, and its substance was so crucial ro rhe future o f the EC, that some
o f the other members o f rhe ad hoc Selection C o m m i t t e e had gathered i n .
For, one and a l l , rheir careers were tightly tied t o this i n s t i t u t i o n .
"Stropelaars is r i g h t , P f e n n i g . " The new voice belonged ro Fernan de
M a r a i s o f L u x e m b o u r g . H i s confreres called h i m " r h e C o u n r " for rhe
simple reason rhar he was one. " W e all remember rhe early years. Things
were relatively simple f o r a l o n g time afrer rhe EC was b o r n . Back then, it
was just seven nations o f rhe European h e a r t l a n d . Bur n o w the EC has to
contend w i t h the likes o f the CSCE, the EFTA nations, the Western Euro-
pean U n i o n , the G-7, the Bruges G r o u p and a host o f others whose names
and initials everyone here can rartle o f f w i r h o u t missing a bear. . . . "
Listening ro rhe C o u n r address rhe r h o r n y issue o f geopolitical competi-
t i o n . G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d k n e w that the rhorniesr poinr o f all concerned rhe
serious lines o f r i v a l r y t h a t h a d been d r a w n between rhe European C o m -
m u n i t y on rhe one hand and,, o n rhe other, the Conference o n Security and
C o o p e r a t i o n i n Europe. In the v i e w o f " E u r o p e a n Europeans"—rhe likes
o f D e l l o Iudice of Iraly, B o r l i u t h o f Belgium, dos Sanros o f Portugal, Cres-
son o f France, and Dolores " V i v a " U r r u t i a o f Spain—the CSCE c o u l d not
begin to m a t c h the EC's pedigree. In their eyes, the CSCE was the misbe-
g o t t e n c h i l d b o r n o f rhe marriage o f inreresrs in rhe U.S.A. and rhe
U.S.S.R. i n Western Europe. T h e geopolitical t h r u s t o f the CSCE, there-
fore, was predictably E u r o - A t l a n t i c i s t . Predictably oriented r o w a r d a p o l -
icy o f m a i n t a i n i n g and n o u r i s h i n g ties w i t h the U n i t e d Srares. A n d rhar
meant rhar rhe EC and rhe C S C E were nor o f rhe same b l o o d type.
 220 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

The simple fact was t h a t the EC had been overtaken by the rush of
geopolitical events, and everyone here knew i t . In the o n g o i n g drive to
b u i l d the new Europe, n o b o d y could yet predict w h i c h of the t w o — t h e EC
or the C S C E — w o u l d p r e d o m i n a t e ; w h i c h w o u l d f o r m the actual govern-
ment o f that new Europe.
" I d o n ' t k n o w about y o u , m y f r i e n d s . " M a r a i s l o o k e d at everyone ex-
cepr A p p l e y a r d and made the poinr that was o n everyone's m i n d . " B u t this
o d d s i t u a t i o n s u r r o u n d i n g the sudden and exclusive candidacy of A m e r -
ica's Paul Gladstone gives me the impression that the illustrious C o m m i s -
sioners o f o u r EC are n o longer c o n f i n i n g rheir o u t l o o k to the twelve
member states."
" M y dear C o u n t . . . " Eugenia L o u v e r d o of Greece spoke up f r o m
where she stood between the Selectors f r o m Spain and Ireland. *M have an
impression o f m y o w n . N o t so much a b o u t o u r esteemed Commissioners,
r h o u g h , as a b o u t Europe itself.
* i can't help r e m e m b e r i n g rhar passage in Plaro's Symposium where rhe
wise o l d w o m a n , D i o t i m a , tells Socrates h o w m a n k i n d was originally one
spherical b o d y . Some evil godlet sliced i t in t w o . A n d forever afrer, m a n -
kind's hisrory has been the e f f o r t o f the t w o parts t o get back together
again. N o w , w i t h the d r i v e and impulse c o m i n g .ir us f r o m all the parts o f
E u r o p e — a n d w i r h this unprecedenred foisting o f Paul Gladstone o n us as
the o n l y candidate for Secretary-General—don't you feel as if someone has
taken D i o t i m a seriously? T h a t someone is pushing everything back to-
gether? O r at least that the t w o halves are seeking our rheir original one-
ness?"
" W h a t a poetic t h o u g h t , G e n i e . " Ireland's Pierce W a l l chimed i n . Unlike
L o u v e r d o , W a l l was o n the side o f an open Europe. " A b i t far-fetched f o r
my poor Irish taste, b u t poetic all the same.
" T h e real p o i n t , " he c o n t i n u e d " i s that the Europe w e all k n o w , the
Europe we live i n r i g h t n o w , is already a relic. We've got t o get w i t h the
Europe as it w i l l shortly be—as it is b e c o m i n g . "
A l m o s t every head i n the g r o u p nodded in agreement w i t h the Irishman.
But Gibson A p p l e y a r d read little traces o f regret o n every face.

Barely ten minutes remained before the gavel w o u l d open this morning's
meeting. Yet the m a n w h o w o u l d w i e l d t h a t gavel, England's Herbert
Fcathersrone-Haugh, was the only Selecror w h o h a d n ' t a r r i v e d .
T h a r was o d d , G i b mused. Featherstone-Haugh—in g o o d British t r a d i -
t i o n the name was p r o n o u n c e d Fan-Shaw, so o f course everyone called
h i m " F a n n y " — l i k e d t o w o r k the r o o m in advance of any i m p o r t a n t meet-
ing. The somewhat fussy premeeting a c t i v i t y o f this accomplished arisro-
crat and p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n h a d saved more rhan a few EC initiatives f r o m
shipwreck. I t was hard t o imagine, t h e n , w h a t m i g h t be so i m p o r t a n t as to
have kept h i m f r o m that task this m o r n i n g .
As i f s u m m o n e d by A p p l e y a r d ' s c u r i o s i t y , Featherstone-Flaugh bustled
 OF MICE AND MEN 221
i n t o the conference r o o m at that very m o m e n t , a leather folder stuffed
w i t h papers clutched to his chest and a look o f strain evident o n his face.
He greeted various Selectors in his progress t o w a r d the l o n g conference
table. H e stopped to exchange a w o r d w i r h D e n m a r k ' s H e n r i k B o r c h r —
" O s t , " as he was called f o r the delectable cheeses he b r o u g h t f r o m his
trips to his h o m e l a n d . A n d then he stopped a second time to engage
France's feisty N i c o l e Cresson i n a slightly longer chat.
As the Selectors w h o h a d gathered a r o u n d A p p l e y a r d began to d r i f t
t o w a r d their o w n seats, the Englishman caught the American's eye w i t h a
q u i c k , hard glance. G i b gave an u n b l i n k i n g stare in r e t u r n , and nodded as
if in a c k n o w l e d g m e n t of some unspoken understanding.
" C o m m a n d e r A p p l e y a r d ! " The first o f t w o latecomers w h o had entered
the conference r o o m o n Fanny's heels approached G i b , his hand our-
srretched in greeting. "Serozha G a f i n , " the Russian reintroduced himself
wirh a b r o a d , f u l l - l i p p e d smile.
" Y e s . " A p p l e y a r d gave the y o u n g Gafin a firm handshake. " I remember
o u r inreresring char d u r i n g the break in the proceedings at Strasbourg."
Gafin's eyes t w i n k l e d . " C o n v e r s a t i o n is always more f l a v o r f u l when
accompanied by such w o n d e r f u l foie gras and w i n e , is i t n o t ? "
Gafin's c o m p a n i o n broke in w i t h a b o w and a Prussian-style click of his
heels. There was no m i s t a k i n g that shiny bald pate o r the ramrod-straight
torso. But the second m a n reintroduced himself all the same. " O t t o
Sekuler, H e r r A p p l e y a r d . Special Liaison-Delegate f o r the Conference o n
Security and C o o p e r a t i o n i n E u r o p e . "
L o o k i n g i n r o the steady stare o f black eyes framed behind gleaming
steel-rimmed spectacles, G i b was tempted t o mock Sekuler's greeting w i r h
a click o f his o w n heels. H e resrrained himself, however, and responded
instead w i t h a simple " H e r r Sekuler."
Featherstone-Haugh was already r a p p i n g the meeting t o order, so A p -
pleyard, Gafin and Sekuler made their way t o the chairs rhat had been
p r o v i d e d for t h e m . Because rhey had no vote o n rhe C o m m i t t e e — o r per-
haps because rhere were Selecrors w h o hoped ro a v o i d c o n t a m i n a t i o n w i t h
the E u r o - A t l a n t i c i s t positions rhey represented—the three visitors sat near
the w a l l a few feet f r o m the conference table. Before Fanny c o u l d take up
the firsr order o f business, Italy's beautiful C o r r a d o Dello ludice leveled a
c o m p l a i n t . W h y had there been such a sudden and drastic change in rhe
Committee's mandate. W h y o n l y one candidate? A n d , finally, w h o was
behind this Paul Gladstone, anyway?
" W e ' l l get to a l l t h a t in g o o d t i m e , my dear f e l l o w . " Fanny rapped Dello
ludice i n t o u n w i l l i n g silence. " B u t we m u s t n ' t forget o u r m a n n e r s . "
"N'est-ce pas!"
N i c o l e Cresson's stage whisper b r o u g h t a f r o w n to the chairman's face.
" A s o u r regulations p e r m i t , we have special Liaison-Delegates w i t h us
again t o d a y . A l l j o i n us at the request o f their respective home offices.
A n d , 1 m i g h t a d d , at the requesr o f o u r esteemed Commissioners them-
 222 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

selves. We are all pleased to welcome Washington's C o m m a n d e r Gibson

A p p l e y a r d again, I ' m sure. . . . "
"N est-ce
y
pas!"
A n o t h e r f r o w n at V i n a i g r e ; but the c h a i r m a n was determined to get o n
w i t h things. " L e t us acknowledge and welcome o u r t w o new guests. W i l l
you make yourselves k n o w n to us, gentlemen?"
The Russian was the first to take to his feet in response to Fanny's
i n v i t a t i o n . "Serozha G a f i n , Special arrache for socioculrural relations w i r h
the European C o m m u n i t y . ( b r i n g y o u greetings f r o m President M i k h a i l
Sergeyevich Gorbachev. T h e Sovier U n i o n and irs frarernal srates have
always belonged to Europe. N o w rhar we are b u i l d i n g a freshly demo-
cratic federation o f all the Russias, we feel the time is right to activate once
again o u r deep and i n s t i n c t u a l Europeanness."
As G a f i n regained his chair, rhis time ir was Jan B o r l i u t h o f Belgium
w h o belted o u t a lusty "Nest-ce pas!" T h e n he shot a l o o k at A p p l e y a r d
as i f ro p o i n t t o G a f i n as l i v i n g p r o o f rhat Gorbachev was a threat.
W i t h another lirrle rap o f his gavel, Fanny turned to Sekuler.
" O r r o Sekuler!" T h e G e r m a n visiror stood up in his t u r n and gave
another sharp click o f his heels. "Special Delegate f o r the CSCE at y o u r
service!" To A p p l e y a r d ' s eye, rhe Selectors seemed caught in a comical no-
man's-land somewhere between m i l d amusemenr at the sight o f o l d Prus-
sia alive and w e l l i n their m i d s t and sharp dismay at Sekuler's connection
w i t h the rival CSCE.
" V e r y g o o d . " Fanny straightened i n his chair. " N o w , before we take up
o u r noble task in earnest. T h e e x r r a t e r r i t o r i a l recommendations have
come in since o u r lasr meeting. F r o m rhe Republic o f C h i n a . A n d f r o m the
A r a b League's Secrerary. C o m m e n r s a n y o n e ? "
Silence.
" G o o d . " Fearherstone-Flaugh began ro rummage a m o n g the papers in
his leather case. " B u t we have received t w o more letters o f interest. In fact,
that was w h a t delayed me this m o r n i n g . . . . A h ! Flerc rhey a r e ! " T h e
c h a i r m a n held t w o envelopes alofr and rurned rhem f o r all to see.
Even at a distance, everyone recognized the c r i m s o n emboss of rhe pa-
pal T i a r a and Keys ar rhe upper left corner o f b o t h envelopes, and even at
a distance, everyone noticed the subtle differences in the t w o . They had
seen the first hundreds o f times o n f o r m a l i n v i t a t i o n cards, envelopes and
documents, and recognized i t as belonging ro the H o l y See. The second,
however, was the personal version of rhar emboss, w h i c h adorned only the
correspondence o f rhe H o l y Father himself.
Gibson A p p l e y a r d was as fascinated as anyone that the Vatican had sent
not one, but r w o lerrers olf r e c o m m e n d a t i o n to this meeting. But for rhe
m o m e n t — a t least u n t i l he heard w h a r those letters conrained—he was jusr
as interested in the reactions a r o u n d h i m . H e heard a few gasps of aston-
ishment. O t t o Sekuler stiffened noticeably in his chair and clenched his
fists. Serozha G a f i n , h o w e v e r , remained pleasanrly poker-faced.
 OF MICE AND M EN 223

Featherstone-Haugh first removed a single page f r o m the envelope bear-

ing the Pope's personal emboss. " W e l l , o f c o u r s e / ' C h a i r m a n Fanny felt i t
sufficient ro paraphrase m u c h of the papal letter. " O f course, the H o l y
Father, whose h u m a n i t a r i a n and religious stature we all admire and re-
vere, recommends that we choose a candidate w h o is best fitted ro aid rhe
M i n i s t e r s and the Commissioners in their herculean task of reassembling
o u r ancient Europe as o u r c o m m o n h o m e l a n d . . . . " Fanny ran his eye
d o w n rhe page, and then read a few snatches v e r b a t i m . " ' M i n d f u l always
o f Europe's ancient C h r i s t i a n history and inspired w i r h rhe surery of pros-
perity and salvation w h i c h is uniquely guaranteed by the Redeemer of
m a n k i n d . . .' "
Fearhersrone-Haugh's b r o w s began to bob u p and d o w n , but he went
m a n f u l l y o n . " T h e H o l y Father says that his heart 'bleeds for poor, p o o r
Europe being progressively alienated f r o m its heritage and appointed
destiny, w h i l e its noble t r a d i t i o n is being transmogrified. . . / Fie warns
us and rhe new Secrerary-General and the C o u n c i l Ministers and C o m m i s -
sioners of the r a m p a n t dangers of materialism and hedonism. Then he
w i n d s up his letter rhis w a y : 'Europe must seek a future o f unity for the
benefit of the entire h u m a n f a m i l y o f m a n by r e t u r n i n g to its Christian
r o o t s . ' A n d o f c o u r s e " — F a n n y was already f o l d i n g the papal document
a g a i n — " w i t h joy and w i l l i n g l y , the H o l y Father imparts his Apostolic
blessing et cetera and so o n . "
The m o m e n t a r y silence a m o n g the Selectors was broken by Robert A l -
laeys o f H o l l a n d . ITe was n o r m a l l y a patient m a n , he g r u m b l e d . Bur he
saw no reason for the Selectors to b r o o k papal interference in the w o r k -
ings o f the EC.
A p p l e y a r d t o o k note o f Allaeys' o b j e c t i o n , and of the Selectors w h o
seconded his sentiments w i t h a rap o n rhe table or a ritual " h e a r , hear."
For his o w n parr, however, G i b was srruck by a single passage in rhe
Pontiff's otherwise predictable lerrer. T h e passage rhat referred to " p o o r ,
p o o r E u r o p e . " Flad nor A p p l e y a r d himself uttered rhose very w o r d s to
himself o n l y a short time ago? Clearly, this Pope was not impressed w i r h
rhe general euphoria about the new Europe, any more than G i b was. T h a t
pegged the Pontiff as an independent t h i n k e r ; as a man w h o formed his
o w n opinions.
But just h o w far d i d such papal sentiments go? D i d the H o l y Father
share Appleyard's view that Europe was a shuttlecock? In fact, was there a
realistic geopolitical basis ro the Pontiff's t h i n k i n g at all? O r was G i b
reading roo m u c h i n r o one short passage? W h a t was that other phrase
Fanny had read our? S o m e t h i n g about Europe r e t u r n i n g to its Christian
roots. Was the papal heart bleeding w i t h n o t h i n g more rhan a yearning for
pasr glories, rhen? Those were questions A p p l e y a r d w o u l d love ro probe
w i t h rhe H o l y Father, i f he ever got rhe chance. But at the very least there
was reason n o w for heightened interest in the Slavic Pope.
A p p l e y a r d was jolted f r o m his r u m i n a t i o n s by Featherstone-Haugh's
 224 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

voice i n f o r m i n g his f e l l o w Selectors that the t w o Vatican documents were

identical i n all details. " E x c e p t . . Fanny extracted the second letter
f r o m irs manila envelope. " E x c e p t that this second letter, w h i c h ostensibly
comes f r o m the Secrerariar o f Srate, carries rhe signarure o f rhe Cardinal
Secretary o f Srare himself. H i s Eminence Cosimo M a e s t r o i a n n i . A n d ir
carries one a d d i t i o n a l p a r a g r a p h , w h i c h I w i l l read in irs enrirery.
" T h e C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s and rhe Commissioners o f rhe grearer Euro-
pean C o m m u n i t y must be in a position t o enable its member stares ro
enrer the large Trails o f h i s t o r y not o n l y i n Europe but also in all continents
of the globe. Therefore, h a v i n g d u l y examined the credentials and assessed
the promise o f rhe new candidare for the posr o f Secretary-General ro the
Commissioners—credentials and d o c u m e n t a r y evidence w h i c h the C o u n -
cil k i n d l y chose to pass o n t o the H o l y See by w a y o f i n f o r m a t i o n — t h e
Floly See feels that Paul T h o m a s Gladstone, Esquire, is a d m i r a b l y suited
to fill the post that has fallen vacant at such a critical m o m e n t in the life o f
the European C o m m u n i t y . T h e H o l y See wholeheartedly recommends his
candidacy, subject always o f course to rhe good judgmenr o f the ap-
pointed Selector*.' "
The silence that greeted rhe reading o f rhis paragraph was charged w i t h
rhe special electricity o f geopolitical interest. The Selecrors had heard all
rhe gossip thar r o l d o f a d i v i d e d Vatican hierarchy, o f course. Bur rhey had
never been privy to such an open and official display o f direct opposition
to the H o l y Father at the highest levels o f his a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
To be sure, the disdain amd disrespect t h a t H o l l a n d ' s Robert Allaeys had
expressed moments before for rhe Varican had ro do w i t h disagreement on
fundamental issues. But i t d i d not have to do w i t h the r a w and decidedly
w o r l d l y p o w e r still h e l d , i f nor always exercised, by the H o l y See. O n that
score, the papal office c o m m a n d e d serious a t t e n t i o n . For this g r o u p ,
Maestroianni's letter Trained a light o n internal conditions at the topmost
level o f Vatican affairs. A r rhar level—and whatever about his r e c o m m e n -
dation o f Gladstone as the next Secretary-General—the fact that the Car-
dinal had sent a letter o u t s t r i p p i n g rhe intent o f the Pope's message was
eloquent in its o w n message o f a house d i v i d e d . M o s t revealing. M o s t
encouraging.
T h o u g h A p p l e y a r d kept his o w n c o u n c i l , he was neither surprised nor
enlightened by C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s lerrer. N o r , he s u p p o s e d , were
Serozha G a f i n and O r r o Sekuler. Thar meeting rhey had attended lasr M a y
ar Strasbourg had been a v i v i d demonstration o f the w a r f a r e raging in the
Vatican. A t that g a t h e r i n g , A p p l e y a r d had nor only seen rhe lengths to
w h i c h His Eminence had already gone in l i n i n g up specific operations
againsr the Pope i n the name o f u n i t y . H e had seen as w e l l h o w closely
allied M a e s t r o i a n n i was w i t h Cyrus Benrhoek. N o r had G i b forgotten that
Benthoek's o w n effusive r e c o m m e n d a t i o n was a part o f Paul Gladstone's
official dossier. F l o w was all that f o r wheels w i t h i n wheels?
" M r . C h a i r m a n ! " Germany's Emil Schenker rose ro defend the Vari-
 OF MICE AND M EN 225

can's point o f view. For one t h i n g , Pfennig pointed o u t , a bit legalistically,

the H o l y See was w i t h i n its technical rights as a sovereign state o f Europe
t o send irs recommendations ro rhis C o m m i t t e e , or even ro send irs o w n
Liaison-Delegares, if ir chose. Bur far more i m p o r t a n t f r o m Schenker's
poinr o f view were the d u a l reminders in those letters. " W h a t e v e r their
o w n differences may be, the Pope reminds us o f Europe's ancient history.
A n d rhe Secrerary o f State r e m i n d s us rhat, like it or n o t , the EC must be
able t o deal effectively w i t h and in all continents o f the g l o b e — "
" W i l l my esteemed colleague f r o m G e r m a n y y i e l d ? "
W i t h a n o d o f his head. Pfennig gave w a y to 11 Bello o f Italy.
" I t ' s all very w e l l to talk o f a broadened idea of the new E u r o p e . " Dello
ludice spoke w i t h obvious a g i t a t i o n . " B u t Em still a l o t more concerned
w i t h the questions I asked at the outset o f this meeting. A l l the candidates
w e screened so carefully have mysreriously taken themselves o u t o f the
r u n n i n g . Suddenly, we're faced w i r h this Paul Gladstone as the only name
in the hat f o r Secretary-General. So i f y o u ask me, this whole election
procedure has been r i g g e d . "
" N o , n o , m y dear C o r r a d o . " T h a t was as close as Featherstone-FIaugh
was likely t o come t o an o p e n challenge. " N o , not at a l l . The C o m m i s -
sioners simply have made a u n a n i m o u s suggestion for o u r consideration.
We do rhe choosing, my b o y . "
" W e l l , t h e n . " For all rhe g o o d i t w o u l d d o , the Italian decided to face
Fanny d o w n . " C a n we at least defer o u r decision?"
For rhe second time this m o r n i n g , an audible gasp was heard f r o m
several Selectors. But i t was Fanny w h o put their reaction into w o r d s .
" M y dear D e l l o l u d i c e . " Fie was rhe picture o f forbearance. " T h e d i f f i -
culty we n o w face is this. I f we c a n n o t agree w i t h the Commissioners'
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f Paul Gladstone and i f we cannot adduce any valid
reason for such a rejection based o n Gladstone's m o r a l or professional
qualifications and i f we delay o u r o w n decision beyond this week's dead-
l i n e " — F a n n y proffered a l o n g l o o k o f w a r n i n g o n all i n general and on
D e l l o ludice in p a r t i c u l a r — " t h e n , under EC l a w , the Commissioners can
make the choice in o u r s t e a d . "
Featherstone-Haugh had said everything that mattered. Afrer a l l , the
security each person o n this C o m m i t t e e felt w i t h all the others resred o n
rheir shared and esrablished sratus as behind-the-scenes architects, func-
tionaries and professional colleagues w i r h i n rhe b u r g e o n i n g bureaucracy
of their new Europe. They n o r o n l y k n e w bur were part o f rhe complex
interactions and rivalries a m o n g the various units o f the EC o r g a n i z a t i o n ;
a m o n g the C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s a n d the C o u n c i l o f Commissioners and
rhe European Parliament itself.
Given such r i v a l r i e s — a n d given thar rhey w o u l d sir o n other committees
in rhe furure—these Selectors w o u l d be unlikely t o set the dangerous pre-
cedenr o f a l l o w i n g today's election to pass u p w a r d i n t o the hands o f the
Commissioners. In fact, c o m p a r e d to all the other possible c a l a m i t i e s —
 226 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

compared even to p u t t i n g a n American into the Secretary-General's p o s t —

n o t h i n g measured up by half ro the calamity ot losing power w i t h i n the
KG.
Featherstone-Haugh was certain o f his g r o u n d . Therefore. He and the
other Selecrors had learned ro trust one another even when rhey held
d i f f e r i n g o p i n i o n s . A l l were at least t r i l i n g u a l , so rhe most subtle c o m m u -
nication a m o n g them was facile. Agreemenr berween them—even t o dis-
agree a m i c a b l y — w a s Therefore a marter of course. Decisions were reached
in a spirit of w h a t Vinaigre called "bonhomie professionelle" and Fanny
somewhat preciously called! " o u r dear, dear f e l l o w s h i p . " T h a t spirit meant
there w o u l d be a decision rhis m o r n i n g on rhe candidacy o f Paul Thomas
Gladstone.
Fanny smiled at C o r r a d o Dello ludice, rhen ar rhe full complemenr of
his colleagues, and rhen at his w a t c h . "Shall w e take a straw vote then,
just t o see h o w things stand? I see we are already r u n n i n g late. I propose
we dispense w i t h the w r i t t e n bailor and go w i t h a show of h a n d s . " A n y -
one m i g h t have been able r o predicr rhe lineup of Selecrors on a firsr and
unofficial sounding of senriment. There were five vores in favor of G l a d -
srone, all of them f r o m rhe E u r o - A t l a n t i c i s t Committee m e m b e r s — H o l -
l a n d , Germany, D e n m a r k , L u x e m b o u r g and Ireland. Togerher w i r h
Fanny's o w n vore for F.ngland, rhar made six.
As expecred, therefore, those against were all Eurocentrics—Vinaigre of
France, Stropelaars of B e l g i u m , II Bello of Iraly, Viva of Spain, Capelao of
Portugal, a n d , i n spire of her l i k i n g for Plato, Louverdo of Greece.
Fanny sighed. In its small w a y , rhe split i n the straw vore reproduced the
split that ran righr d o w n rhe m i d d l e of rhe EC irself. N o r t h against South.
Euro-Atlanticists againsr FLurocenrrics. T h e obvious deadlock left no need
for c o m m e n t a r y beyond a delicate shrug of Feacherstone-Haugh's shoul-
ders. " C o u l d I possibly hear one good Eurocentric voice proposing M r .
Gladsrone's candidacy, please?"
" A n o r h e r srraw vore, F a n n y ? " Thar practical question came f r o m Ire-
land's Pierce W a l l .
" N o , Paddy. I need a d e c i s i o n . "
" I propose M r . Paul T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . " To everyone's utter baffle-
ment, the n o m i n a t i o n came f r o m N i c o l e Cresson, whose high-decibel ire
at the mere t h o u g h t of an A m e r i c a n as Secretary-General had filled the
conference r o o m o n l y shorrly before.
" 1 second." T h o u g h Borcht of D e n m a r k was a confirmed E u r o - A t l a n -
ricisr, he grimaced as if he had birren into bad cheese.
Flad Gibson A p p l e y a r d been wearing a har, he w o u l d have doffed ir in
a d m i r a r i o n of Fanny's pairliamenrary performance rhis m o r n i n g . " T u t -
r u r , " the Englishman fussed. " A show of hands. For the record n o w ,
please." W h i l e all hands were still raised—before anyone c o u l d change his
m i n d or make some legal o b j e c t i o n ; before anyone c o u l d even say n est-ce J

pas—Fanny rushed ro finalize the vore. " I n o w declare M r . Gladstone's

 OF MICE AND MEN 227

a p p o i n t m e n t has been u n a n i m o u s l y a p p r o v e d . " W i t h another rap of his

gavel, Feathersrone-Haugh declared rhat the final meeting o f this ad hoc
C o m m i t t e e was a d j o u r n e d .

F r o m Fanny's poinr o f v i e w , rhe meeting had gone o f f well enough. The

EC had s h o w n again rhar ir was a smoorhly w o r k i n g parr o f a n o w widely
established process rhar was patiently m o l d i n g the minds and disposing
the hearts—and the p o c k e t s — o f m i l l i o n s o f Europeans to t h i n k and there-
fore act as citizens o f a u n i t y greater than they had ever conceived. As the
b l u e - b l o o d Englishman he w a s , Featherstone-Haugh had some under-
srandable reservations a b o u r rhat process. But for Fanny rhe EC Euro-
Arlanricisr, it was essential that all parrs o f rhar subtle, peaceful, con-
stantly w o r k i n g process s h o u l d f u n c t i o n ar various levels and f r o m d i f f e r -
ing angles.
Those parrs sometimes seemed to w o r k ar cross-purposes. Bur Fanny
had the faith o f a true believer. The EC, rogerher w i t h the EFTA nations,
the CSCE, the W E U , N A T O , the European C o u n c i l — e v e n rhe contentious
Bruges G r o u p — w e r e s l o w l y fitting i n t o the process. A I L rhar is, excepr
rhar one sovereign ruler o f a d o m a i n n o bigger than a g o l f course d o w n
there o n the banks o f Rome's river Tiber. W h a r a joke it was, Fanny
t h o u g h t c o n t e m p t u o u s l y , f o r such a man ro w a r n rhe EC rhat Europe was
being " t r a n s m o g r i f i e d " and " a l i e n a t e d . "
W e l l , no marrer. Rome's day was fasr s l i p p i n g away o n the curve o f
history in the m a k i n g . Bad Vatican jokes n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , then, the meet-
ing had gone o f f well in the circumstances. T r u e , the i m p o s i t i o n o f Paul
Gladstone's candidacy f r o m above had been a w k w a r d . Still . . .
For the last time that day, he gave C o m m a n d e r A p p l e y a r d a wordless
glance and a rueful smile. T h e n he rushed ro carch N i c o l e Cresson just as
she was disappearing o u t the d o o r . T h e i r "bonhomie professionelle"—
their "dear, dear f e l l o w s h i p " — h a d prevailed. Europe had always been
good ro rhem. T h e y w o u l d m a k e sure that goodness c o n t i n u e d .

G i b A p p l e y a r d had f o u n d his handgrips and toeholds, just as he had

promised A d m i r a l Vance he w o u l d . A n d he had used them w e l l . His mis-
sion successfully completed, he lingered a w h i l e to shake hands w i t h this
and t h a t Selector as they f o r m e d again i n t o their easy groups and headed
off. L i k e Feathersrone-Haugh, A p p l e y a r d was subject t o his o w n personal-
ity split. A n d the Slavic Pope's characterization o f " p o o r , poor E u r o p e "
had b r o u g h t t h a t split t o the fore.
G i b remembered his h i s t o r y . A n d because he d i d , rhose rhree w o r d s —
" p o o r , p o o r E u r o p e " — s r i l l played in his m i n d like a puzzle ro w h i c h he
had no answer. O r , perhaps, more like a dirge being piped f r o m an unex-
pected quarter. As rhe mystic Rosicrucian he was i n his heart, G i b A p -
pleyard had no love f o r an i m p e r i a l papacy, and certainly d i d n o t w a n t t o
see its r e t u r n . Bur as dispassionare executive officer for rhe Presidential
 228 W I N D S W F IM HOUSE

C o m m i t t e e o f Ten, he d i d w a n t answers t o the questions those w o r d s had

raised concerning the m i n d o f the Slavic Pope. N o r was it a matter o f mere
curiosiry. The H o l y See had access to intelligence that any n a t i o n w o u l d
give a t h i r d o f its treasury t o possess. A n d whether his house was divided
o r n o t , this Pope had s h o w n himself w e l l able t o use that intelligence i n
geopolitical gambits o f the highest order.
Those facrs alone—rhose facts, and T h o m a s Jefferson's famous w a r n i n g
that anyone w h o dreams o f being ignorant and free, dreams o f something
t h a t never was and never w i l l be—meant that it w o u l d be a long time
before A p p l e y a r d w o u l d cease w o n d e r i n g w h a t intelligence m i g h t lie be-
h i n d the Pope's dirgelike lament for " p o o r , poor E u r o p e / '

XXIV
"DECKEL! . . . Deckel! . . . Deckel!"
Eyes half closed, Paul T h o m a s Gladstone t u r n e d his head t o w a r d the
urgent c r y , and then smiled i n purest delight. H i s son was dancing about
in happy excitement, s h o u t i n g lustily as o n l y a five-year-old can as he
bounced his name o f f the ruined battlements o f the O ' C o n n o r Castle
standing some t h i r t y yards offshore in the river Shannon.
As Paul lay on rhe r i v e r b a n k , this t h i r d M o n d a y o f September, in this
remote and private spot i n southwestern Ireland's C o u n t y K e r r y , o n this
vvesternmosr t i p o f Europe ar the edge o f the A t l a n t i c Ocean, he was
certain t h a t life—the life he l i k e d — w a s just beginning for h i m . Swathed in
Declan's happy cries and i n rhe w a r m embrace of rhe early-afternoon sun,
and k n o w i n g that his w i f e , Yusai, was w a i t i n g in the M a n o r House eager
for rhe faxed message t h a t w o u l d tell t h e m o f their f u t u r e , i t seemed to
Paul Gladstone t h a t the c u p o f life's enjoyment was full to o v e r f l o w i n g .
"Deckel! . . . Deckel!" Declan leaped abour i n the most amazing
gyrations as the castle echoed his name i n a voice t h a t was f a i t h f u l l y ,
magically his o w n . H e k n e w his proper name, o f course; knew he had
been named for G r a n d f a t h e r Declan. But Deckel had been so much easier
for h i m to say as a t o d d l e r t h a t it had become his nickname.
"Deckel! Deckel! Deckel!" The quicker he repeated the cry, rhe faster
came the echoes, u n t i l his voice and his echo were one. Then he stopped
just l o n g enough to let every sound die a w a y , so he c o u l d begin all over
again. "Deckel! . . . Deckel! . . . Deckel! ..."
Sequestered w i t h the t w o people in the w o r l d he loved the most, Paul
k n e w t h a t the p u : i t y and e x u l t a t i o n o f his son's voice anu its echo be-
longed here where all was untouched by stridency. O n lazy days like t o -
day, the r a n d o m cry o f a lone c u r l e w and the busy c h i r p i n g o f grasshop-
 OF MICE AND MEN 229

pers i n the tall g r o w t h a r o u n d h i m and the sound of Deckel's v o i c e —

above a l l , the sound o f Deckel's voice—all seemed t o belong i n some
satisfactory w a y t o nature at its summer p r o f u s i o n . H e r e , all was in har-
m o n y , fresh, c a l m i n g . Here, all was parricipanr i n some eternal n o w that
bathed the sycamores and the copper beeches l i n i n g C a r r a i g Road and
rhar veiled land and warer a n d skies w i t h the contentment of permanence.
O n his first visit here. C h r i s t i a n had been so struck by the similarities
between Liselton M a n o r a n d W i n d s w e p r House rhat he had teased his
younger brother a b o u t i t , w o n d e r i n g i f Paul had chosen Liselton o u t of a
secret desire to reproduce W i n d s w e p r House w i r h o u t r e t u r n i n g to i t .
There was some t r u t h in w h a t Chris said. But f o r Paul, Liselton was far
more rhan a m i r r o r o f W i n d s w e p t House. There was n o t h i n g in Galveston
o r anywhere o n earth to c o m p a r e w i t h the sweeping v i e w o f the entire
Shannon estuary, o f rhe r u m b l i n g and ever encroaching A t l a n t i c Ocean, of
C o u n t y Clare ro the n o r t h w i t h its rocky coast, holiday beaches and cen-
t r a l granite plateau. Surely enchantment had always been a c o n d i t i o n of
life here. For Paul, ir was the A t l a n t i c w i n d sweeping the river estuary and
L i s e l t o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y f r o m late a u t u m n to early s p r i n g , rhar sang ro h i m of
the special character of this place. N o t h i n g w o u l d satisfy h i m b u t to be-
long here; ro have this retreat here. A n d the call t o d o s o — f o r he regarded
it as n o t h i n g less than a mysterious call of some s o r t — w a s far srronger
t h a n his mental perception o f its source.
In time ro come, perhaps; life w i r h all irs reckonings w o u l d sharpen
Paul's perception. But f o r n o w , there was Yusai. There was Declan. There
was Liselton. A n d there was the g l o w i n g promise of rhe near future.

" D e c l a n ! " Stirred f r o m his reveries by a t o o l o n g silence, Paul raised his

head to see his son leaning t o o far over the riverbank. " D e c l a n ! " G l a d -
stone was o n his feet and beside his son in a few giant strides. " W h a t is i t ,
son? D i d n ' t I tell y o u n o t to bend over the edge?" Fie scooped the boy i n t o
his arms. " T i m e t o go back t o the house, my b o y o . "
" T h e r e was a fish there, D a d d y , " Deckel protested. " A green fish. He
was l o o k i n g at m e ! "
" H e wasn't l o o k i n g at y o u , s o n . " In spite of himself, Paul shivered as he
recalled the local s u p e r s t i t i o n — t h e " p i s h o g u e " — t h a t said a fish l o o k i n g at
y o u meant y o u w o u l d j o i n h i m soon. "Fishes sleep i n the sun w i t h their
eyes o p e n / '
" B u t , D a d d y ! " W i t h a t o u c h o f his father's stubbornness, Declan p r o -
tested a second t i m e . " W h e n I m o v e d , the fish moved his t a i l . "
Paul ruffled the boy's black hair and settled h i m in his arms. " L i t t l e
fishes do that to stay i n one place. Otherwise the water f l o w i n g o f f to the
sea w o u l d take them f r o m where they w a n t to sleep. See?" Fie turned so
Declan c o u l d look i n t o the Shannon f r o m the safety o f his embrace.
" T h o s e flat stones get w a r m in rhe sun, and the little fishes like a w a r m
place ro sleep."
 230 WI N D S W F P T HOUSE

So apparently d i d little boys. Paul c o u l d already feel Deckel relaxing, his

face buried in his father's shoulder. Paul turned and headed up t o w a r d
Liselton House. As he reached C a r r a i g R o a d , he caught sight o f Yusai
r u n n i n g d o w n the steep rise o f the d r i v e w a y w a v i n g a clutch o f papers in
one h a n d . H e r face was as m u c h a smiling picture o f excitement as
Declan's had been w h e n he had called o u t to the echoing castle in the
Shannon.
" P a u l ! D a r l i n g ! " Yusai called in her picturesque English. " T h e y ' r e a l -
ready screaming f o r y o u ! T h e bonzes o f Brussels! They w a n t y o u there by
the f o u r t h week o f this m o n t h ! " N o w that she was nearer, the o d d look on
Paul's face gave Yusai a sudden fear. W h a t was wrong? H a d something
happened t o little Deckel?
" I t ' s n o t h i n g , d a r l i n g . " Paul glanced sideways at his son. "Just relaxed
after all rhe sun and excitement, I guess. W o r n o u t f r o m c a l l i n g M r .
Echo!"
" H e r e , t h e n . " In o b v i o u s relief, Yusai handed the fax to her husband
and stretched her arms t o w a r d their son. " G i v e me my tired little b o y . "
Deckel opened his eyes in a sleepy sort o f w a y . " 1 saw a fish.
Mummy. . . W i t h a c h i l d ' s unconscious g r a v i t y , he looked back
t o w a r d the river.
Something o f Paul's fear shivered r h r o u g h her o w n heart. " W h a t hap-
pened d o w n there, Paul?"
" I t was n o t h i n g at a l l . " Fully himself again, Paul was already scanning
the fax t h a t had filled his w i f e w i t h such excitement. "So! We're t o be the
Gladstones o f Brussels! A n d d i d y o u see? T h e message is signed by Cyrus
Benthoek h i m s e l f . " Paul was e x u l t a n t . " T h e bonze o f all bonzes! H i g h e r
than t h a t y o u can't g o ! "

" D o little fishes go t o H e a v e n , M u m m y ? Does Fioly G o d love t h e m ? "

Yusai d r e w the coverler o f his bed over her sleepy boy. " O f course, my
per. O f course He does."
" T h e very same Heaven where the Angels and Little Linnet are?"
Deckel's pet canary, Little Linnet, had died the previous w i n t e r .
"Yes, sweet. T h e very s a m e . " Yusai spoke s l o w l y and soothingly, but
w i t h no special c o n v i c t i o n . She m i g h t have been singing a sleepy-time
l u l l a b y . " A l l God's Angels take care of the little fishes and birdies. . . . "
Yusai's w o r d s trailed i n t o silence. Exhausted by the day's adventures,
Declan was already fast asleep. She brushed his cheek lightly i n a blessing
o f love f o r this c h i l d w h o was so m u c h like his father.
Ourside o n the l a n d i n g , Yusai stood at the bay w i n d o w g i v i n g o u t over
C a r r a i g Road and the estuary. A n o r h e r few hours o f sun, she t h o u g h t , and
then the slow t r a n q u i l decline o f the evening. Entranced by the vista and
the silence, she settled for a time i n t o the love seat t h a t nestled by the
w i n d o w . She loved L i s e l t o n . She loved i t because she shared i t w i t h Paul
and Declan. She felt at h o m e here. W h y , t h e n , was there a mystery about
 OF MICE AN 0 MEN 231
this place for her? Some element or atmosphere she c o u l d n o t easily pene-
trate or ignore? W h y was she disturbed? W h y these bouts o f uneasiness?
A n d w h y had t h a t strange l o o k o n Paul's face stirred all thar in her again,
shattering the order and t r a n q u i l l i t y o f her C o n f u c i a n i s t mind?
Yusai had t o smile. In her love f o r her husband, she had c o n f o r m e d t o
his decision that their c h i l d be reared in Catholic beliefs and devotions.
T h a r was w h y she k n e w ar least the rudimenrs o f the Catholic catechism;
and t h a t was w h y she c o u l d answer Deckel's questions a b o u t C o d and
little fishes. But she herself remained the p r o d u c t o f a type o f C o n f u c i a n
c u l t u r e and mind-set t h a t had been stripped bare o f those supposedly
picturesque and invisible forces t h a t still permeared rhe minds o f unedu-
cated Chinese.
Even w h e n it came t o her o w n Paul—or at any rate, w h e n it came to the
quasi-religious unease and disquiet she sometimes f o u n d in h i m — Y u s a i
c o u l d o n l y feel t h a t u n w e l c o m e sense o f mystery. O r maybe puzzlement
was m o r e like i t . H a v i n g seen t h a t l o o k o n Paul's face, h o w c o u l d she n o t
be disturbed? H e was always so sure o f himself. So divinely sure. Never
v i o l e n t l y taken aback at events. Yet today she had seen—what? Surprise?
Fear? Confusion? N o , she decided. L i k e Liselton itself, Paul's expression
this a f t e r n o o n had been n o t h i n g so simple.

Yusai K i a n g had firsr laid eyes o n Paul 1'homas Gladstone in the m i d -

eighties. As a twenty-five-yea r - o l d postgraduate student at the Sorbonne in
Paris, she had been a guest o f the Belgian g o v e m m e n r ar a Brussels inter-
n a t i o n a l conference o n Europe-China relations. Paul, barely rhirty years o f
age, had been rhe keynote speaker. She had fallen in love w i t h h i m almost
i m m e d i a t e l y . H e had seemed to be some sort o f god in h u m a n f o r m . O r , as
she t o l d h i m at a later and tender m o m e n t between t h e m , he had seemed
like one o f those "messengers f r o m H e a v e n " c o m m e m o r a t e d in t r a d i t i o n a l
Chinese m y t h o l o g y w h o were said t o come d o w n a m o n g mere mortals ro
share rheir roils and bestow happiness.
O n e of rhe things Yusai valued a b o u t her C o n f u c i a n i s m was rhat she
c o u l d indulge in such imagery and meraphor w i r h o u t any i m p l i c a t i o n that
they had any f o u n d a t i o n in reality. They were meant t o give a romantic
elegance t o life's marvelous happenings. In irs centuries-old e v o l u r i o n ,
C o n f u c i a n i s m had wisely d r o p p e d the theological underpinnings o f an-
cient Chinese a n i m i s m . But wisely, t o o , some of its fanciful language had
been absorbed i n t o a c o n v e n t i o n a l h u m a n i s m , the better to enhance the
brure materialism o f l i v i n g . T h e K i a n g family readily a d m i t t e d the d i v i n i t y
of gods and goddesses a n d a l l the rest o f religion's paraphernalia i n a most
practical and eclectic w a y : U:se i t i f it firs y o u r fancy; d o not bother w i t h it
if i t means n o t h i n g t o y o u .
A t any rate, time had n o t dulled even her r o m a n t i c firsr impression o f
Paul. T h e M a n d a r i n Chinese he had learned i n Beijing was as smoorh and
effective and impeccable as his French. She was amused by the trace of
 232 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Texas t w a n g rhat spiced his m i d - A t l a n t i c English. He had a t r u l y global

view o f the society o f nations, and she saw a dimension in Paul that
exactly matched her w h o l e f a m i l y t r a d i t i o n . A d i m e n s i o n f o u n d in people
w h o f o r generations have balanced the inherent miseries o f h u m a n exis-
tence w i t h c o n t i n u o u s success and prosperity.
Yusai f o u n d herself unable t o t u r n away f r o m the w i n d o w outside
Declan's r o o m . I t was as i f she was transfixed by the v u l n e r a b i l i t y Paul
had displayed f o r just a m o m e n t today. A n d it was as if t h a t vulnerability
had something to d o w i r h the mystery o f this isolated retreat. I t was silly
to sit here, she t o l d herself, as i f she w o u l d suddenly be able to p u t such
things i n t o a focus she c o u l d understand and cope w i t h . W i t h another
l o o k o u t over C a r r a i g R o a d and rhe river estuary, Yusai resigned herself to
l i v i n g t h r o u g h this b o u t o f uneasiness. I t w a s n ' t the first; and she supposed
it w o u l d n ' t be the last.

Paul w e n t to his study at the far end of the house. Cyrus Benthoek wanted
c o n f i r m a t i o n t h a t Gladstone w o u l d reporr direcrly t o h i m in L o n d o n be-
fore heading o f f t o his new p o s t — a n d his new life—as Secretary-General
at the EC i n Brussels.
As he composed his r e p l y , it was easy to push Deckel's encounter w i t h
his "green fish" t o a far corner o f his m i n d . H e t h o u g h t instead, and w i t h
justifiable satisfaction, h o w far he had come i n his chosen career in so
short a t i m e . A n d , as he anticipated his c o m i n g meeting w i t h the inde-
structible Cyrus Benthoek, he t h o u g h t , t o o , o f h o w careful t h a t o l d man
had been f r o m the start to direct h i m o n t o the p o l i t i c a l l y correct and
ideologically pure parh of life i n a transnational w o r l d . N o t t h a t Paul had
m i n d e d such d i r e c t i o n back then. O r n o w either, f o r that matter.
W i t h his faxed message safely o f f to Cyrus Benthoek's office in L o n d o n ,
Paul was more t h a n ready for his shower, and then d r i n k s w i t h Yusai
before dinner. The first rush o f w a r m water over his body p u t h i m in m i n d
again o f Deckel leaning so precariously over t h a t flat rock in the Shannon
to investigate his "green fish." Nonsense, he decided, and soaped himself
d o w n as i f t h a t m i g h t wash the incident o u t t h r o u g h the d r a i n . Yusai had
the r i g h t idea a b o u t such t h i n g s , he told himself. H e r C o n f u c i a n o u t l o o k —
her idea o f order and t r a n q u i l l i t y ; her mind-set t h a t w o u l d have no truck
w i t h puzzlement and superstitions—those were things he treasured in her.
O f course, he treasured m u c h more than rhat. She had always fascinated
h i m . Yusai had challenged any stereotype that m i g h t have lingered in
Paul's m i n d abour Chinese w o m e n . She was more eleganr and polished
than any o f the y o u n g w o m e n he had squired before he met her. She was
w e l l educated; fluent in three Western languages as well as in Japanese,
Russian and o f course her native M a n d a r i n . She seemed to be w i t h o u t
prejudice, and yet t o feel and t o be superior to most o f her peers. A n d like
Cessi and T r i c i a , Yusai recoiled f r o m a n y t h i n g t h a t was t a w d r y or trashy.
I t had been her family history and culture as m u c h as Yusai herself that
 OF M l t: Y AV D M F N 233

had first made Paul a fascinated prisoner of this u n c o m m o n y o u n g

w o m a n . H e had never come across any f a m i l y like the Kiangs. He had
never even heard of a Chinese m a i n l a n d f a m i l y t h a t had survived the
collapse o f the Chinese empire in 1 9 1 1 ; that still flourished in the period
of Sun Yat-sen and the Kuonninrang o f C h i a n g Kai-shek; that escaped the
Japanese onslaught o f the thirties as well as the devastation of W o r l d
War I I and the subsequent M a o i s t purges in the forties and fifties and
sixties. Yet Yusai herself was p r o o f that the K i a n g family had emerged
f r o m those eighty years of turbulence "beneath the Heavens" w i t h their
landed properties intact, t h e i r b a n k i n g business in H o n g K o n g and M a c a o
as solvent as ever and w i t h a n apparent acceptability for and access to the
p o s t - M a o clique o f Chinese C o m m u n i s t s i n Beijing.
Paul had asked Yusai h o w her f a m i l y had managed such a miracle.
Every one o f those regimes., she had said, needed families such as the
Kiangs. Every one o f those regimes needed money, and they needed access
to foreign money markets. " A n d besides," Yusai had w i n k e d at h i m in a
w o n d e r f u l l y provocative w a y . " M y f a m i l y never b o u g h t a house that
h a d n ' t g o t several back d o o r s ! "
Still, Paul had guessed q u i c k l y and correcrly t h a t the Kiangs' secret o f
success had less t o d o w i t h back doors than w i t h their perennial member-
ship in a vaguely k n o w n i n t e r n a t i o n a l b r o t h e r h o o d of capital composed o f
individuals and groups whose interests spanned and outreached all n a t i o n -
alisms a n d all particular sovereignties. Thus it was thar the K i a n g family
m a i n t a i n e d a perperual l i q u i d i t y a b r o a d , based o n concrere assers at home
and a r o u n d the globe. A n d thus i t was that they remained useful go-
betweens for a M a o i s t regime facing the capitalist and a n t i - M a r x i s t w o r l d
outside C h i n a . T h e Kiangs practiced m o d e r a t i o n in all their political a f f i l i -
ations, o f course. Still, w h i l e that d i d result in a m i n i m u m o f real enemies,
it d i d n ' t eliminate the p r o b l e m entirely. T h a t was w h a t Yusai had meant
a b o u t houses w i t h back d o o r s .
By n o w Paul had learned t h a t the Kiangs were n o t the o n l y Chinese of
that i l k . A n d yet, there was something special in t h e m . For, while they
remained q u i n t e s s e n t i a l ^ Chinese, it appeared that Yusai Kiang's family
had been t r u l y transnational i n m i n d and policy long before it crossed the
minds of Western European a n d N o r t h A m e r i c a n CEOs that such a m i n d
and policy were the keys to g l o b a l success. For most people, such a real-
ization w o u l d not have been the stuff of romance. But when Paul had first
met Yusai, the transnational idea and w a y o f life had taken h o l d in h i m as
his supreme ideal. For Paul, t h e n , Yusai was more than elegance and pol-
ish. M o r e t h a n b e a u t i f u l and f u n and w o n d e r f u l l y provocative. I n a literal,
flesh-and-blood w a y , his dreaim had w a l k e d right i n t o his life. She was his
ideal.
Yusai had n o t been everyone's ideal, however. She had not been Cessi's,
for example; rhe a w f u l scene ar W i n d s w e p r House w h e n Paul had f l o w n
home to tell his mother o f his intended marriage had made rhat painfully
 234 W I N D S W F . P T H O U S E

clear. Surprisingly, r h o u g h , a few o f Paul's in-house colleagues had had

rheir o w n reservations a b o u t Yusai K i a n g as the future M r s . Paul G l a d -
stone. O n e senior partner lin particular, in fact, had come righr our and
said t h a t the Kiangs were p r o b a b l y " i n t e r n a t i o n a l double-crossers." H o w
else, he had asked, c o u l d o l d man K i a n g have been o n good terms w i t h
M a o Z e d o n g and w i t h Z h o u Rn-lai and w i t h Deng Xiaoping?
Cyrus Benthoek had remained above the fray over Paul's plans to m a r r y
Yusai. But Benthoek's C R O , Nicholas C l a t t e r b u c k , had given his support
t o Gladsrone, and rhar was almosr as g o o d . Like everyone i n the firm, Paul
had always seen C l a t t e r b u c k as a k i n d of tweedy grandfather type. But no
one at the firm ever d o u b t e d C l a t t e r b u c k ' s esteem in the eyes o f Cyrus
Benthoek. N o r d i d rhey question his a u t h o r i t y , or his ability to manage
any a f f a i r , large or small. I t was at Clatterbuck's inspired suggestion, then,
and w i t h his able connivance, that Paul had invited all the firm's partners
to a p r e n u p t i a l dinner. A n d ir was Yusai herself w h o had proceeded rhar
n i g h t t o c h a r m and w i n t h e m to the last m a n .
T h e couple m a r r i e d in Paris, and flew immediately to Yusai's birthplace
in M a i n l i n g for their h o n e y m o o n . There, Yusai had p u t her stamp forever
on rhose m e m o r y medals Paul still w o r e a r o u n d his neck. T h o u g h his
medals were religious in character, rhey were i m p o r t a n t ro Paul because
they represented layers o f his life that stretched back t o c h i l d h o o d — b a c k
t o the day o f his first C o m m u n i o n w h e n Cessi had presented one o f them
to h i m as a g i f t .
T h a t one, a small golden o v a l , bore rhe image o f the V i r g i n M a r y stand-
ing atop the globe o f the w o r l d , and encircled w i t h the petition " O M a r y
conceived w i t h o u t sin pray for us w h o have recourse to thee." Cessi had
given Paul a c o m p a n i o n ro the M i r a c u l o u s M e d a l o n that n o w distant
d a y — t h e crucified figure o f Jesus o n the t r a d i t i o n a l R o m a n Cross, an
image meant t o evoke penitence and repentance and s o r r o w for personal
sins i n the i n d i v i d u a l C a t h o l i c . But Paul had replaced Cessi's c r u c i f i x w i r h
a plain gold cross insread. lit had seemed a suitable c o m p r o m i s e .
Yusai understood all a b o u t Paul's g o l d cross. Her Confucianisr m i n d
had n o p r o b l e m w i r h the accepted and universal s y m b o l o f C h r i s t i a n i t y .
But as she and Paul had lazed in bed together, she had begun to finger the
medal w i t h the image o f the w o m a n . " W h o is she?"
" W h o is w h o ? "
" T h i s w o m a n . " Yusai lifted the M i r a c u l o u s M e d a l o n its chain. " H a s
she a place inside y o u r heart ?" The medal had been part o f the f u r n i t u r e o f
his life f o r so l o n g that he rarely gave i t a t h o u g h t . Even n o w , it wasn't the
medal itself t h a t was central in his m i n d , b u t his first experience o f Yusai
in a state o f uncertainty.
" I really w o u l d like t o k n o w , " Yusai persisted, " w h y you carry this
w o m a n so near t o y o u r heart. It's i m p o r t a n t ro me, P a u l . "
" M y sweet Y u s a i . " Paul rook the hand t h a t held rhe medal and kissed ir.
" I ' m m a r r i e d ro y o u , nor t o h e r . " Paul held the medal up in his t u r n . " I t ' s
 OK MICE AND MEN 235

a Catholic religious medal. I've w o r n i t since I was a boy. It's a picture o f

M a r y w h o was the mother o f Jesus. Remember? She came up once in
rhose i n s t r u c t i o n classes w e w e n t t h r o u g h before o u r w e d d i n g /
1

" A h ! " Yusai had beamed w i t h the sudden delight o f understanding.

"That*s her. The m o r h e r . " T h e gremlins o f uncertainty o b v i o u s l y banished
f r o m her m i n d . Yusai relaxed in her husband's arms.
Brief as rhat m o m e n t was, i t had a remarkable and e n d u r i n g effect o n
Paul. W i t h her Confucianist desire t o master uncertainty and d o u b t , Yusai
had convinced h i m that their marriage had set them o n a course that
w o u l d b r i n g them t o an enticing land far distant f r o m the M e i l i n g o f
Yusai's parents and f r o m rhe Galveston o f Cessi Gladstone. A course that
was irresistible. T h a t n i g h t , Paul had tasted more than Yusai's sweetness
and love. W i t h a few gremlins o f his o w n p u t away at last, he knew the
giddiness o f freedom f r o m a l l that was o l d and o u t w o r n .

" G o o d s h o w , Gladsrone! O r should I say, M r . Secretary-General!"

Paul had no sooner stepped i n t o his corner office o n rhe r h i r t y - f o u r t h
floor o f his firm's L o n d o n headquarters than Nicholas Clatterbuck was
hot o n his heels.
" T h a n k s , N i c h o l a s . " Paul accepted the congrarulations w i t h a broad
smile. " I s Benthoek here a l r e a d y ? " It was barely eight o'clock.
" H e ' s here all righr. Asked me t o b r i n g you up myself as soon as y o u
a r r i v e d . " T h e t w o men headed for the private elevator rhat w o u l d take
them t o Cyrus Benthoek's penthouse office. " A f t e r y o u sertle things w i t h
CB, w e ' l l need a day or t w o o f y o u r time here in L o n d o n . There's a lot
g o i n g o n . A f t e r t h a t , your m a i n liaison w i t h us w i l l be t h r o u g h Benthoek
himself. H e has an exclusive o n you as l o n g as y o u w o r k w i t h the Euro-
pean c r o w d . "
The elevator doors slid open noiselessly o n the penthouse floor, and at
the sound o f voices Cyrus Be nrhoek's private secretary popped her head
i n t o the c o r r i d o r and p r o n o u n c e d herself ready t o usher the pair i n t o the
inner sanctum.
Absolutely n o t h i n g had changed in Benthoek's office in the ten years
since Paul's first i n t e r v i e w . There was still that enormous desk w i t h its
curious i n l a i d design o f the Great Seal o f the U n i t e d States. As always,
there were a few piles o f documents neatly squared o n its vast surface.
A n d o f course that p o r t r a i t o f Elihu R o o t still surveyed the scene like an
ageless m o n i t o r . A b o v e a l l , C y r u s Benthoek had not changed. He was still
straighr and r a i l , and his blue eyes were as steady as his capable hands.
" I d o n ' t m i n d t e l l i n g y o u , y o u n g m a n — " There were to be no congratu-
lations f r o m C B , i t seemed. " I d o n ' t m i n d t e l l i n g y o u that by some rather
unexpected causalities over w h i c h none o f y o u r superiors have had any
direcr c o n t r o l , y o u have been rhrusr i n t o a position o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y rele-
vance."
T h a t was an o d d w a y t o start this meeting, Gladstone reflected. He
 236 WINDSWEPT MOUSE

knew better rhan t o ask questions; there was no freewheeling in conversa-

t i o n w i t h Benthoek. Were they to deal in cryprograms, rhen? Was Paul to
spend his t i m e here t r y i n g t o figure o u t CB's hidden meanings? He knew
rhe o l d f e l l o w w e l l enough t o understand that "unexpected causalities"
conveyed the idea o f voices outside the firm. A n d , of course, the " p o s i t i o n
o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y relevance" meant PauPs new career w i t h the EC. He
c o u l d o n l y surmise, however., that lack o f " d i r e c t c o n t r o l " must mean that
the firm and its president h a d backed Paul for the post o f Secretary-Gen-
eral because o f some useful l i n k berween those outside voices and the
interests o f the firm irself.
" M r . Clatterbuck's presence here t o d a y is as imperative as y o u r o w n ,
M r , Gladstone. H e w i l l be o u r go-between; yours and mine. I t is therefore
essential that he have a w o r k i n g knowledge o f w h a r we are a b o u r . " Paul
nodded.
" T h e firsr big dare on your calendar w i l l be December 10." CB fixed his
eyes o n Paul l i k e an o w l o n a mouse. " Y o u k n o w a b o u t the Maestricht
meeting, eh?"
"Just the essentials, s i r . " L i k e everyone else interested in transnational
affairs, Paul k n e w rhat the EC C o u n c i l M i n i s t e r s w o u l d meet in Maes-
t r i c h t , H o l l a n d , on December 10 to finalize their plans for esrablishing the
ultimate p o l i t i c a l and financial u n i o n o f rhe European C o m m u n i t y mem-
ber states.
" G o o d ! " Benthoek gave his y o u n g protege a magisterial smile. " Y o u
k n o w w h a r you d o n ' t k n o w . A n d that is the beginning o f w i s d o m in my
b o o k . A t this crucial stage—after getting acquainted w i t h your official
duries i n Brussels, o f course; and selecting your personal aides—your i m -
mediate task between n o w a n d December 10 w i l l be to get a t h o r o u g h
k n o w l e d g e o f each of the twelve i n d i v i d u a l Ministers in the C o u n c i l . A n d
a Thorough knowledge as w e l l o f rhe seventeen EC C o m m i s s i o n e r s . "
Benthoek rose f r o m his desk and planted himself beneath the p o r t r a i t o f
Elihu R o o t . "1 cannot stress rhe p o i n t t o o strongly, M r . Gladstone. You
must get to k n o w each of those t w e n t y - n i n e men i n d i v i d u a l l y . In detail.
Personally. Politically. Financially. Get to k n o w t h e m ; their associates;
their aides; their friends; t h e i r enemies; their loves and hares; their weak-
nesses and their strengths. A n d in the case o f the M i n i s t e r s in particular,
their d a y - t o - d a y w o r k i n g relations w i t h their home governments. Under-
stood?"
"Yes, s i r . "
Satisfied that his most basic w a r n i n g was clear, CB relaxed slightly and
strolled the few steps back t o his desk t o lay o u t some o f the particulars
rhat concerned h i m . H e went o n ro outline the most basic split w i t h i n the
E C — t h e fact that half its members favored close ries across rhe A t l a n t i c ,
w h i l e the other half opposed rhem. " A n d o f c o u r s e " — C B sounded almost
c o n s p i r a t o r i a l n o w — " t h e r e \a also the rival organization t o the EC. In o u r
o p i n i o n , M r . Gladstone, the Conference o n Security and C o o p e r a t i o n in
 O F M IC E AN D .VI E N 237

Europe is the one unit f u n c t i o n i n g today t h a t is most likely to become the

chief organ o f Greater Europe. We must n o t forger entirely the land of o u r
b i r t h , m u s t we? The U n i t e d States is a fully fledged member of rhe CSCE.
A n d i t is the p r i n c i p a l moneybags behind the European Bank for Recon-
s t r u c t i o n and Development.
" T h e p o i n t I wish to m a k e , M r . Gladsrone, is rhat we at this law firm
are convinced E u r o - A t l a n t i c i s t s . We are c o m m i t t e d to the creation o f a
f u l l y developed global e c o n o m y , organized according t o a globalized
b a n k i n g system. You must serve the EC Commissioners and the C o u n c i l of
M i n i s t e r s , o f course. Bur y o u must remember rhe posirion of your firm.
We fully expect y o u ro m a i n t a i n close ties w i t h us—exclusively t h r o u g h
this office of mine. O f c o u r s e — " Benrhoek smiled like a professor pleased
to instruct an apt p u p i l . " T h e r e is n o d o u b t where y o u r technical loyalties
lie."
"Technical loyalties, s i r ? "
"Technical loyalties, yes, M r . Gladstone. Once you leave the valley and
w a l k u p o n the m o u n r a i n t o p , y o u w i l l have a view of rhe valley dwellers
t h a t is very different f r o m theirs. F r o m the t o p , M r . Gladsrone, you w i l l
have the complete p i c t u r e . " T h e o l d man eyed Paul w i t h a look that was at
once p r y i n g and genuinely shy. " P m sure y o u understand my m e a n i n g . "
Gladstone h a d n ' t the experi ence necessary to understand all o f w h a t CB
meant t o convey by those w o r d s . N o t w i t h his r a t i o n a l m i n d , at any rate.
Yer i t was a faculty o f C y r u s Benthoek's peculiar character and temper
t h a t , w i t h such simple p h r a s i n g and in a brief instant, he had succeeded in
penetrating the privacy of Paul's sentimentality. W i t h t h a t l o o k , he had
succeeded i n entering Paul's heart, rhar part of h i m that each of us must
try ro keep intact and i n v i o l a t e f r o m the necessary ravages that o r d i n a r y
h u m a n intercourse wreaks on us a l l .
In that instant, and w i t h those few w o r d s , i t seemed t o Paul that there
was a sudden inner change i n h i m that he was powerless to arrest righr
rhere and rhen. I t was as i f the solid g r o u n d — t h e w e l l - k n o w n and w e l l -
beloved scenery of his f a m i l i a r surroundings, his Yusai, his Declan, his
L i s e l t o n , his W i n d s w e p t H o u s e , his f a m i l y — a l l d r o p p e d a w a y and out of
sight.
Paul's unexpected and i n v o l u n t a r y reaction was part panic and parr
e x h i l a r a t i o n . The sense of e x h i l a r a t i o n said: W i r h o u t any personal bag-
gage, y o u can fly higher and higher. The sense o f panic said: You w i l l
belong to no one; no one w i l l care w h a t happens to y o u . A n d a little voice
o f sad self-reproach whispered: T h i s d e m o n of loveless flight was always
w i t h y o u , always a part o f y o u .
Cyrus Benthoek o b v i o u s l y noticed rhe look of puzzlemenr on the y o u n g
man's face. " I t takes t i m e , M r . G l a d s t o n e . " H e was almost paternal n o w ,
f u l l o f care and understanding. " I t takes time to adjust. Take it i n easy
steps." Fie squared the already squared piles o f documenrs on his desk.
" L e t me p u t it t o you in a d i f f e r e n t w a y . By n o w y o u m u s t have realized
 238 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

that things are never quite w h a t they seem at first, eh? A t least, not in this
life. W o u l d y o u not agree?"
T h o u g h he heard the w o r d s and met the cool l o o k Benthoek leveled
upon h i m , f r o m Paul's p o i n t of view this was no longer a conversation
between himself and the president o f this prestigious and p o w e r f u l trans-
n a t i o n a l law firm. A t this m o m e n t , Cyrus Benthoek seemed to be some
h o a r y , human-faced repository o f stark t r u t h about the h u m a n c o n d i t i o n .
Someone w h o lived in a place where there was no condemnation for the
blindness o f that c o n d i t i o n , and no compassion for irs puny rrairs. G l a d -
stone tried t o clear his t h r o a t ; tried t o say something. But his m o u t h had
gone completely d r y .
Benthoek w e n t on i m p e r t u r b a b l y . " Y o u and I and M r . Clatterbuck
here—all o f us m o v i n g ar this level of affairs—are no longer merely a m b i -
tious and capable colleagues in an i m p o r t a n t transnational firm. N o r are
w e any longer merely responding as best we can t o r a n d o m events in the
competitive life o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l business.
' i f rhat were so, M r . Gladsrone, y o u w o u l d nor be sirring where you
n o w sit. N o r , indeed, w o u l d I be where I n o w sir. Insrincrively you k n o w
t h a t . D o y o u n o t , M r . G l a d s t o n e ? " It was less a question than a c o m -
m a n d ; and in any case, Paul undersrood it to be rhetorical.
" N o w . " Inevirably, the m o m e n t had come for Cyrus Benrhoek ro raise
his hands in the orans gesture typical of h i m . " T h a t brings us full circle. I
a m certain y o u w i l l remember that I began this little interview w i t h a
m e n t i o n o f the e x t r a o r d i n a r y relevance of your new a p p o i n t m e n t . I am
also certain that y o u w i l l understand that y o u were n o t chosen as Secre-
tary-General at the EC o u t o f love tor your beautiful eyes, as the saying
goes. A n d n o t even f o r y o u r ralents, t h o u g h they are admirredly f o r m i d a -
ble.
" B u t the simple fact is that y o u r circumsrances—the w h o l e man that
you have become t h r o u g h f a m i l y , education, t r a i n i n g , marriage—happen
t o make y o u suitable f o r a job of the highest importance w i t h i n a vast and
o n g o i n g plan of h u m a n affairs. As he w o u l d say, M r . G l a d s r o n e " —
Benthoek stood up s l o w l y and smiled, firsr ar the porrrair of Elihu R o o t
behind h i m , and rhen ar P a u l — " a l l y o u need do is be f a i t h f u l and f o l l o w
the f o o t p r i n r s o f Mistress H i s t o r y in rhe sands of h u m a n time. If you w i l l
continue to do that, I have not the slightest d o u b t that my full meaning
this m o r n i n g w i l l become clearer t o y o u .
" G o o d l u c k , M r . Gladstone. A n d G o d bless."

" G i v e me a couple o f minutes, N i c h o l a s . " Back on terra firm a of rhe

r h i r t y - f o u r t h f l o o r , Paul w a v e d Clatterbuck o f f , headed alone for his o w n
office and closed rhe door behind h i m . W h e n his call ro Liselron went
t h r o u g h , ir was Yusai w h o answered.
" P a u l ! W h e r e are you? W h a t ' s the n e w s ? "
" E v e r y t h i n g ' s fine, d a r l i n g . Jusr fine. Where's D e c l a n ? "
 OP MICE A N {) M EN 239

F r o m the first syllable, Yusai heard the dead w e i g h t at the back o f his
voice. " S c h o o l . H e ' l l be back at three-thirty. But are you sure everyrhing's
all right? You sound peculiar, P a u l . "
" C o u l d n ' t be better," he l i e d . "Saw o l d CB jusr n o w and got my march-
ing orders. Just w a n t e d t o hear your voice—say hello to Deckel—tell you
both I love y o u and miss y o u . . . . "
" P a u l d a r l i n g , we k n o w y o u love us. But . . . "
" W h a t have y o u been d o i n g since I left?"
Yusai recognized his need. Paul was reaching o u t f r o m some rarefied
and humorless p l a i n far a w a y f r o m her. Despire a rwinge o f fear in her
that had no name, she painted a sprightly picture o f rhe m o r n i n g ' s doings.
They had gor up extra early, she said. " Y o u k n o w Declan wakes up w i t h
the chickens a n y w a y . But n o t h i n g w o u l d do for h i m today except to go
and pick some fresh m u s h r o o m s . I w i s h you could have been there, dar-
ling. Declan was t a l k i n g to the s w a l l o w s , telling them n o t t o eat too many
m o r n i n g flies.
" O h a n d , Paul, rhere was one lone skylark up there, c i r c l i n g higher and
higher inro rhe bluest o f skies—singing, singing, singing all the time in that
lovely silence. I t was like a sign f r o m Heaven that all w i l l be good for us.
For rhe rhree o f us. It was really a g l a m o r o u s m o r n i n g . Deckel shouted at
the skylark ro tell the Angels ro b r i n g you back soon. The sunshine was
like a golden shower. The V i r g i n i a creeper was a cloak o f yellow lighr.
Liselton was all gilded g l o r y . . . . "
A t an o d d sound on the line, Yusai t h o u g h t they had been disconnected.
"Paul? Are you there? D a r l i n g , have we been cut o f f . . . ?"
W i t h his every sense, Paul absorbed the grace o f the m o r n i n g Yusai was
describing for h i m . A n d w i r h his every sense, he c o u l d feel a pain that was
new to h i m . He c o u l d hear an inner voice; a nevermore bell o f w a r n i n g .
Yes. T h a t was i t . A voice—a bell—thar said, " N e v e r m o r e , as it has been
for y o u . Never w i l l y o u see w i r h innocent eyes or w i t h u n d i v i d e d m i n d , as
before rhis m o m e n t . A part o f you is consecrated n o w to all that excludes
such simple joy and e x u l t a t i o n . You were blessed to have it for a short
time. . . . "
" . . . Paul? Are y o u there? D a r l i n g , have we been cut o f f ? "
" O f course, d a r l i n g . Pm still here." T h a n k f u l that Yusai c o u l d n ' t see his
tears, Paul tried ro masrer rhe huskiness in his voice.
Yusai accepred the lie a n d t o o k up her description o f the morning's
adventures. She repeared H a n n a h D o w d ' s t o w n gossip. She told Paul h o w
many m u s h r o o m s she and Declan had f o u n d ; h o w rhey had cooked rhem
on a h o t g r i d d l e ; h o w many curs o f toast and m u s h r o o m s Deckel had put
away. . . .
" W h a t are you d o i n g n o w , love?" Paul wanted to see t h a t , t o o .
" I ' m getting a l o n g w i t h o u r packing and getting ready for rhe move t o
Belgium. A n d I ' m missing y o u , Paul. It's not rhe same w i t h o u t y o u . "
" M e , t o o . I ' l l call y o u again t o n i g h t . "
 240 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Paul gave a h a r d l o o k ai: rhe receiver as he rested it again in its cradle.

T h e n , s t r i d i n g t o w a r d the d o o r , he raised his eyes as t h o u g h he could see
t h r o u g h the ceiling o f his office; t h r o u g h all the floors rhar connected h i m
to the desk w i t h the Grear Seal and t o the porrrair of Elihu Roor. " D a m n
your eyes, M r . Cyrus B e n t h o e k ! "

XXV
BY T H E FIRST M O N D A Y in October, c o m f o r t a b l y installed in his new
corner office on the t h i r d f l o o r o f the Apostolic Palace, H i s Eminence
C a r d i n a l C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i was ser t o launch the first stage of the
rhree-srep agenda he had o u t l i n e d barely five monrhs before ro Cyrus
Benrhoek and D r . Ralph C h a n n i n g . A n y nosralgia rhe little C a r d i n a l mighr
have suffered for his f o r m e r status was all but banished by the intensity o f
his w o r k ro b r i n g a new b r a n d o f u n i t y t o his churchly organization and to
b r i n g that o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t o a new brand of u n i t y w i t h the society of
nations.
It was fair t o say, in fact, that his retirement f r o m the all-consuming
duries o f g u i d i n g the H o l y See's internal and external affairs as Vatican
Secretary of State c o u l d not: have come at a m o r e o p p o r t u n e moment. N o r
could his Transition ro w h a t he considered a higher plane of activity have
been more effortless or m o r e p r o m i s i n g . Paul Gladsrone was i n Brussels
and already f u n c t i o n i n g as the newly installed Secrerary-General of rhe
EC. H e had heard f r o m C a r d i n a l John Jay O ' C l e a r y that Father Christian
Gladstone had accepted the invirarion ro w o r k f u l l - r i m e in Rome. A n d ,
mosr i n s p i r i n g of a l l , he h a d received exacrly rhe responses he had wanred
ro his lasr official lerrer as Secretary of State ro rhe d i p l o m a t i c representa-
tives o f the Fioly See in e i g h t y - t w o countries a r o u n d the w o r l d .
T h a t delicarely w o r d e d letter had rurned o u t t o be one o f the more
s k i l l f u l pieces o f w o r k H i s Eminence had ever done. Indeed, i t could not
have been more successful as an instrument t o test the l i n c h p i n question of
his entire agenda. The question: H o w united w i t h the Slavic Pope d i d the
4 , 0 0 0 bishops o f the C h u r c h Universal feel?
Just as M a e s t r o i a n n i had expected, the i n f o r m a l polls conducted by the
d i p l o m a t i c representatives at the Cardinal's requesr srressed the lack of
unity between this Pope and his bishops. They also supplied C a r d i n a l
M a e s r r o i a n n i w i r h a lisr o f those bishops whose t h i n k i n g on this issue still
required some judicious revision. Equally clear was the lack of agreement
among the bishops as to w h a t k i n d o f unity w o u l d be most desirable
between rhemselves and rhe H o l y See.
Responses that added up to such a t o t a l absence of cohesion m i g h t have
 OF MILE AND MEN 241

rold o f chaos and n o t h i n g m o r e . But f o r the littie C a r d i n a l , they provided

a useful m a p upon w h i c h to chart the course agreed upon at Strasbourg.
By early O c t o b e r , i n fact, C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i had already plotted rhe
t w o m a i n lines o f w o r k rhat faced h i m .
The first and easier i n i t i a t i v e w o u l d involve n o t h i n g more r a x i n g than a
little old-fashioned l e g w o r k lin rhe field. W i r h Father C h r i s t i a n Gladstone
in R o m e , and w i t h his b r o t h e r Paul installed as Secretary-General at the
European C o m m u n i t y , M a e s r r o i a n n i n o w had rhe means t o assess both
the needs and the weaknesses o f every i m p o r t a n t bishop. A n d , t h r o u g h all
kinds o f political favors, he had the means to t u r n needs a n d weaknesses
alike ro his advanrage.
Just as he had proposed to C h a n n i n g and Benthoek, i n other w o r d s , the
C a r d i n a l n o w had at his fingertips a process by w h i c h ro guide even the
most conservative bishops t o an i n t i m a t e appreciation o f just h o w con-
cretely rhe favors and considerations they required f r o m secular a u t h o r i -
ties depended o n a new k i n d o f bridge t o the w i d e r w o r l d , and therefore
o n a new k i n d of C h u r c h governance.
T h e second o f C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s initiatives was more c o m p l e x .
T h i s was the bureaucratic design he had spoken o f w i t h such candor t o
C h a n n i n g and Benthoek. T h e design to use the m u l t i l a y e r e d Bishops C o n -
ferences a r o u n d the w o r l d ro f o r m and t o foment an open expression o f
the new C o m m o n M i n d o f the Bishops. T h o u g h the details o f the process
srill required serious a t t e n t i o n , H i s Eminence had a finely tuned instinct
for the perfect bureaucratic m a c h i n e r y .
The last step—the use o f the C o m m o n M i n d o f the Bishops to forge a
canonically valid instrument t o b r i n g a b o u t the end o f the present p o n t i f i -
cate a n d , w i t h i t , the end o f die papacy as it had heretofore been k n o w n —
w o u l d itself be reduced to a matter o f some a d d i t i o n a l bureaucratic engi-
neering, once the process was in place. The operation M a e s t r o i a n n i had
mapped o u t w o u l d be r a x i n g . T o achieve i t in rhe relarively short span o f
time insisted u p o n by D r . C h a n n i n g w o u l d test even C o s i m o Maestro-
ianni's talents and experience. The C a r d i n a l w o u l d have t o keep a close
personal rein on rhings. A l l imust be done r a p i d l y , but w i t h method and
great professional care.
T h a t being so, H i s Eminence's calendar was already bristling w i t h c r u -
cial meetings, p l a n n i n g sessions and private a p p o i n t m e n t s . H e w o u l d have
to give the socially polished, politically naive C h r i s t i a n Gladstone his or-
ders, o f course. Bur M a e s t r o i a n n i anticipated n o complications there. I n
rhe first instance, he w o u l d be senr o f f to canvass the needs o f key Euro-
pean bishops, w i t h A m e r i c a n bishops ro f o l l o w . A n d , w i r h a little behind-
the-scenes help f r o m Cyrus Benrhoek, he w o u l d entrain his brother's co-
o p e r a t i o n in satisfying those needs t h r o u g h the p o w e r f u l EC contacts that
came w i t h the post o f Secretary-General.
The r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k t o be done w i t h i n the Bishops Conferences
themselves, m e a n w h i l e — p a r t i c u l a r l y the w o r k o f selecting and directing
 242 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the first persuasive field c o m m a n d e r s — w o u l d certainly require delicare

judgments. The strategy m u s t always be t o b u i l d f r o m strength. In this
s i t u a t i o n , that meant c o n c e n t r a t i n g i n i t i a l l y on Conferences headed by
bishops whose names w o u l d carry w e i g h t well beyond their t e r r i t o r y .
Bishops like the r e m a r k a b l y p o w e r f u l C a r d i n a l o f Centurycity in the
Unired Srates, for example. T o o bad rhere weren'r more like h i m in the
vineyards o f the C h u r c h .
A d d i n g to the c o m p l e x i t y o f Maestroianni's agenda was the fact that
the nonclerical side o f things had ro be kept in m i n d and in balance. Cyrus
Benthoek was as m u c h a parr o f rhis b r i l l i a n r scheme as Maestroianni
himself, and there was rhe potentially p o w e r f u l new alliance w i t h D r .
Ralph C h a n n i n g ro n u r r u r e .
As i m p o r t a n t as all o f t h a t was, however, no one k n e w better than
C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i h o w suicidal it w o u l d be t o w o r k in rhe w o r l d w i d e
vineyards o f rhe C h u r c h w i r h o u t keeping the C a r d i n a l Secrerary o f State
reasonably w e l l briefed. N o t thar there was any question o f i n v o l v i n g H i s
Eminence G r a z i a n i in the i n t i m a t e w o r k i n g s o f rhe p l a n . T h a t w o u l d be
t o o m u c h to expect o f a man so politically coy as the new Secretary.
Neverrheless, G r a z i a n i was n o w the second most p o w e r f u l individual in
the V a t i c a n — n o m i n a l l y at leasr. Political realiry therefore required rhat he
be kept i n f o r m e d . Practical necessity required his cooperation in certain
peripheral derails. A n d expediency required a face-to-face meeting w i t h
the Secrerary as a first p r i o r i t y .

" M o s t significant news, Y o u r Eminence!" Early on rhat first M o n d a y o f

October, C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i strode i n r o his o l d office w i t h proprietary
confidence.
The new and unseasoned Secrerary ot State t o o k such e a r l y - m o r n i n g
enthusiasm in stride. Even before his installation as Secrerary, Giacomo
Graziani had begun t o behave w i r h the g r a v i t y o f the office. N o w , w i t h the
Cardinal's red har perched o n his head and the Secretary's post secure as
his o w n , he had become positively Buddha-like in his demeanor. Hands
clasped on his ample m i d d l e , he responded t o Maestroianni's elation w i t h
a pleasanr smile, a slow b u t n o n c o m m i t t a l b l i n k i n g o f the eyes and a
w e l c o m i n g n o d t o w a r d the chair o n rhe visitor's side o f the desk thar was
n o w his.
His new manner n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , there were no questions a b o u t Gia-
c o m o G r a z i a n i i n C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's m i n d . To a v o i d a stalemate
w i t h the Slavic Pope, he had backed Graziani as Secretary, but d i d not
regard h i m as one o f his crearures. Graziani was nobody's crearure, in
fact. He was a c a l m and conservative m a n . A d i p l o m a t ' s d i p l o m a t . N o t
given t o any excess in w o r k o r in t h i n k i n g . N o b o d y ' s pushover, yet acces-
sible and w i l l i n g ro learn. H i s greatest strength was t h a t he had no ideol-
ogy except to come u p on the w i n n i n g side.
" M o s t significant n e w s , " M a e s t r o i a n n i repeared, extracting his tabula-
 OF MICE AND MEN 243

tions f r o m the folder he c a r r i e d . T m sure Your Eminence remembers my

l

letrer o f lasr M a y t o o u r d i p l o m a t i c represenrarives a r o u n d rhe w o r l d . "

A single slow blink served as Graziani's a c k n o w l e d g m e n t . He remem-
bered w e l l Maesrroianni's c o m m a n d o f decorous language as a mask for
b r u t a l questions.
M a e s t r o i a n n i laid the typewritten sheets o n the eighteenth-century Flor-
entine desk w i t h the touch of a poker player s h o w i n g an ace-high straight.
Barely leaning f o r w a r d , G r a z i a n i reached our w i t h one hand t o t u r n the
pages as he scanned t h e m . " T h e tabulations are most interesting, E m i -
nence. C h a o t i c , but interesting, Em sure. Significant was y o u r w o r d , I
believe. To w h a t significant use do you intend to p u t this d a t a ? "
" T h e purpose here, Eminence/* the older C a r d i n a l answered, "is to
proceed t o w a r d an accurate sounding o f w h a t the bishops as a w h o l e
college actually t h i n k is necessary f o r the uniry o f rhe C h u r c h ? "
Buddha b l i n k e d . T h a t m u c h had registered. " A n d the general lines
along w h i c h t h a t sounding w i l l be conducted, Eminence?"
M a e s t r o i a n n i had t h o u g h t it all t h r o u g h , and he wanted the Secretary to
k n o w thar. " I f Your Eminence is asking abour rhe goal t o w a r d w h i c h we
w i l l be w o r k i n g , rhe answer is rhar we intend to facilitate the bishops. To
ease their w a y . To aid them i n o v e r c o m i n g any hesitations they may have,
so t h a t they can clarify their o w n t h i n k i n g and beliefs in this a l l - i m p o r t a n t
matter.
k
*But perhaps Your Eminence wishes ro undcrsrand h o w we intend to
conduct the sounding. O u r p r i n c i p a l i n s i r u m e n r w i l l be rhe vast global
n e t w o r k o f Regional and N a t i o n a l Bishops Conferences that have g r o w n
to such m a t u r i t y since Vatican I I . Em inclined t o think o f each Bishops
Conference as a separate e n t i t y in itself. We w i l l w o r k at t h a t level o f
c o m p a r t m e n t a t i o n . W i t h i n each Conference, the matter w i l l be managed
as a n o r m a l inrernal-affairs issue. As always, we w i l l construcr ad hoc
commirrees—Internal A f f a i r s Committees. We a i m for an I A C w i t h i n each
Conference."
G r a z i a n i glanced again t h r o u g h rhe dara culled f r o m e i g h r y - t w o Varican
d i p l o m a t s . " S o . " The Secretary raised an eyebrow. " W e are l o o k i n g at a
series o f Internal A f f a i r s Committees? A w o r l d w i d e n e t w o r k o f l A C s ? "
C a r d i n a l Graziani's appraisal of rhe immense complexiries o f such an
operation was welcome, M a e s t r o i a n n i said, M o s r g r a t i f y i n g . In the same
breath, and w i t h the merest d r o p o f acid in his tone, he assured Graziani
that the dozen years and m o r e he himself had p u t in as head o f the State
D e p a r t m e n t had proven his skills and had p r o v i d e d h i m w i t h an intimate
knowledge o f personnel.
" F o r r u n a t e l y " — M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s smile softened the p o i n t — " w e have a
number o f good men already in place w h o w i l l surely w a n r ro aid their
brother bishops in r h i n k i n g t h r o u g h the matter o f u n i t y . G o o d men i n key
areas in Europe, o f course. A n d in the U n i t e d States Em sure we can count
on H i s Eminence o f C e n t u r y c i t y . 1 o n l y wish we had more like h i m . "
 244 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" A h , yes. H i s E m i n e n c e . " A c l o u d o f Buddha-like reflection passed over

Graziani's b r o w . It seemed t h a t the C a r d i n a l Secretary n o w understood as
m u c h as he cared t o c o n c e r n i n g the machinery by w h i c h M a e s t r o i a n n i
w o u l d d r a g o o n the bishops i n t o a single line o f t h o u g h t concerning the
p r o b l e m o f episcopal u n i t y w i t h the Slavic Pope. There was another area
o f concern for h i m , h o w e v e r . A n area rhat reached beyond rhe quesrion o f
the renure o f the Slavic Pope, that touched o n rhe office and jurisdiction o f
any Pope as the Vicar o f C h r i s t o n earth. T h a r touched o n papal a u t h o r i t y
as a religious and social force.
"Several o f Your Eminence's correspondents—not all o f them in A n g l o -
Saxon countries—speak o f the Pope as the Vicar o f Peter." Graziani fin-
gered rhe pages o f M a e s r r o i a n n i ' s report. " O f course, I recall rhar at the
Strasbourg meeting to w h i c h Y o u r Eminence so generously invited me last
M a y , Father-General M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o o f the Jesuits brushed thar rerm
lightly in his remarks. But to find i t c r o p p i n g up a m o n g so many o f o u r
bishops is disconcerting, is i t n o t ? "
A h , G i a c a m o , M a e s t r o i a n n i t h o u g h t , w h a t a q u i c k eye you have. " D i s -
concerting, Eminence? N o t i n the least. P r o b i n g and s t i m u l a t i n g , yes. Bur
nor disconcerting. I t is the issue."
There was no need to e x p l a i n rhat i f the Pope in Rome was merely rhe
vicar o f St. Peter the Apostle as the firsr Bishop o f Rome, then logic dic-
tated rhat every i n d i v i d u a l bishop was neither more nor less. Each bishop
Traced his roors back ro the Apostles, after a l l ; each was rhe vicar o f an
A p o s t o l i c predecessor. I f such a view c o u l d be adopted as official teaching,
it w o u l d be the bedrock f o u n d a t i o n o f a new g o v e r n i n g structure o f rhe
C h u r c h . The centralizing role o f the P o p e — i n c l u d i n g his role as official,
ultimate and i n f a l l i b l e arbiter in questions o f faith and m o r a l s — w o u l d
give w a y . Power w o u l d s h i f t f r o m Rome t o rhe w h o l e body o f bishops.
The l o o k t h a t passed between the t w o Cardinals n o w was a calculating
one. Both realized w h a t was at stake. As usual, Graziani was figuring the
odds. A n d , as usual, M a e s t r o i a n n i was confident.
" Y o u r Eminence." C a r d i n a l Graziani was every inch rhe Vatican d i p l o -
m a t n o w . " T h e C h u r c h — r h e voice o f the C h u r c h — m u s t eventually speak
clearly o n this p o i n t . "
M a e s t r o i a n n i was calm b u t w a t c h f u l . For the m o m e n t , he d i d n o t re-
quire the Secretary to occupy a n y t h i n g more t h a n a neutral position on
this central issue. " T h a t , Y o u r Eminence, is precisely w h a t this entire new
operation is intended t o achieve. The C h u r c h w i l l decide! By the w a y , "
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i added as i f by way o f coda, " t h e new A l t a r Missal
n o w being p u t i n t o use t h r o u g h o u t the C h u r c h does speak o f the Bishop o f
Rome as the Vicar o f Peter."
"So I have noticed. But we all k n o w t h a t the new Missal has n o t yet
received o f f i c i a l R o m a n a p p r o v a l . As I recall, it was chosen by rhe Interna-
t i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n on English in the L i t u r g y . O r at least by its extension,
 OF MICE AND M EN 245

the English-Language L i t u r g y Consultants. But the status o f the 1CEL i t -

self as a papal agency has still t o be assessed."
" T h e r e ' s the c r u x , " M a e s t r o i a n n i agreed readily. " T h e data 1 have p u t
before Your Eminence rhis m o r n i n g indicates that many bishops believe
that the Bishop o f Rome is n o t the sole Vicar of Chrisr o n earrh, bur
merely rhe Vicar of Peter. T h e new Alrar Missal also reflecrs rhis belief.
N o w , i f the Bishop o f R o m e claims t o decide the question because he
believes he alone is the Vicar o f Chrisr, are we not facing the o l d logical
fallacy of begging the question? Is this n o t the petttio prmcipii of Aquinas
and A r i s t o t l e ? "
" P e r h a p s . " Graziani had t o hand it ro rhe C a r d i n a l , H e barely blushed
ro invoke Sr. T h o m a s A q u i n a s i n his argurnenr. "Nevertheless, Eminence,
to decide i t a l l , we must still find the voice o f the C h u r c h . "
" O f course we m u s t , E m i n e n c e ! " M a e s t r o i a n n i decided i t was time to
b r i n g the discussion f u l l circle. " A n d where else can we hear that voice i f
n o t f r o m the bishops o f the Church? F r o m the successors of the Apos-
tles?"
The hint o f a smile touched Graziani's eyes. " A n d that is the purpose o f
Your Eminence's present o p e r a t i o n ? "
" T h a t , Eminence, and o n l y t h a t ! A l o n g the w a y , of course, we w i l l be in
a posirion ro assess and i m p r o v e rhe presenrly rartered c o n d i t i o n of
Church unity."
Once more Graziani rook shelter behind a momenr's silence. " T e l l me,
Eminence. W h a t is rhe clearance on rhis documenr y o u have shared w i r h
me this m o r n i n g ? "
" L e r us say, m o m e n r a r i l y , 'celestial.' C o m p a r t m e n t a t i o n is an absolure
priority."
Ircms classified as " c e l e s t i a l " were accessible o n l y ar the C a r d i n a l i t i a l
level, o n l y on a need-to-know basis, and at the ultimate discretion of Pope
and Secretary of State. C o m p a r t m e n t a t i o n , m e a n w h i l e , t h o u g h n o t pecu-
liar t o the Vatican, had certainly been developed to its highest f o r m by
this, the oldest p o l i t i c a l chancery in the w o r l d .
"So, f o l l o w - u p action w i l l be strictly 'celestial,' and stricrly along c o m -
parrmenrarion lines?" G r a z i a n i wanted unequivocal verbal assurance.
"Yes. S t r i c r l y . " As if to underscore his c o n f i r m a t i o n , Maesrroianni re-
l i e v e d rhe reporr that had been the basis o f discussion. " A n d for obvious
reasons. We're Talking here a b o u t the papacy, and u l t i m a t e l y about papal
candidacy. A c c o r d i n g ro C a n o n L a w , this is rhe business solely and specifi-
cally o f the College of C a r d i n a l s . "
" A t w h a r stage does Your Eminence reckon things w i l l encroach on the
papal level?" T h a t , as M a e s t r o i a n n i understood full w e l l , was the lan-
guage o f romanita for " W h e n w i l l y o u fling rhis w h o l e seditious mess in
the face o f the P o n t i f f ? "
" W h e n we have an accurate s o u n d i n g o f w h a t the bishops as a w h o l e
college d o t h i n k is necessary f o r the unity o f the C h u r c h . " T h a r , as G r a z i -
 246 W I N D S W E P T HOUSE

ani u n d e r s t o o d , was M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s romamta for " W h e n we have the o l d

man boxed i n and there is no escape for h i m b u t t o t a l c a p i t u l a t i o n in his
policies or resignation f r o m rhe papal o f f i c e . "
C a r d i n a l Secrerary G r a z i a n i kepr c o o l . " I suppose," he said almosr as i f
m u s i n g ro himself, " t h a r Your Eminence w i l l be w o r k i n g w i r h C a r d i n a l
A u r e a r i n i as usual?"
M a e s t r o i a n n i filled his lungs w i t h a deep brearh. Graziani had left no
d o u b t that he understood w h a t was happening. Mis a b r u p t questions
about personnel was as g o o d as a tacit agreement to stand aside at least
u n t i l the odds were clearer. " A u r e a r i n i is available, and he k n o w s h o w I
w o r k . Bur I w i l l also be r e l y i n g very m u c h o n C a r d i n a l Pensabene. I n facr,
1 expecr ro meer w i r h rhem both in my office w i t h i n the h o u r . "
O d d s m a k e r rhar he was by narure and experience, Maesrroianni's use o f
Pensabene's name was deliberate. For, like everyone else, Graziani knew
that the cadaverous-faced, bony-fingered C a r d i n a l Pensabene had t r u l y
c l i m b e d to the t o p o f the heap. By this time in his life, n o t much could
budge in the Vatican Chancery w i r h o u r his blessing. M o r e than t h a t , his
voice w o u l d be d o m i n a n t i n any discussion and choice o f a future Pontiff.
W i t h his p o i n t nicely made, and w i t h everyrhing accomplished that he
considered needful, M a e s t r o i a n n i was i m p a t i e n t t o be a b o u t his business.
It seemed, however, rhat the fledgling Secretary o f Srate was nor quite
satisfied. " O n e last p o i n t . Eminence. I received a passport a p p l i c a t i o n yes-
terday f r o m Your Eminence's office o n behalf o f a y o u n g A m e r i c a n . Father
Chrisrian T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . "
"S/ f si. Infatti." T h a t expression o n Maesrroianni's rongue meanr he
was c o a t i n g a p i l l . A n d it meant he expected no t r o u b l e on this question.
No man knew better t h a n he that the privilege o f c a r r y i n g a Vatican
passporr was granred to very few i n d i v i d u a l s w h o were n o t State Depart-
ment professionals. But he felt detailed discussion to be unnecessary.
" I was jusr c u r i o u s , " G r a / i a n i probed cautiously, "as to w h y this y o u n g
man should need a Vatican passporr srraighraway. . . . "
" F a t h e r w i l l be o u r liaison w i t h many bishops in the European C o m m u -
nity and w i t h certain governmental secrors. H e w i l l need rhe srarus o f an
official passporr. A n d there may be good reason f o r h i m ro take our a
European C o m m u n i t y passport. We musr envisage rhe possible course o f
things. W i r h a Vatican passport in his pocket, an EC passport w i l l be easy
to o b t a i n . "
"Bene! Bene!" For n o w , Graziani w o u l d have t o be satisfied w i t h rhe
Cardinal's matter-of-facr e x p l a n a t i o n . Perhaps ir was berter n o t to k n o w
t o o many details i n this d a r k affair. Still, rhe facr rhat this Gladstone was
i m p o r t a n t enough t o receive Maestroianni's parronage made h i m interest-
ing.
The Secretary o f Srate rose f r o m his chair at lasr. " L e t Father Gladstone
d r o p in ro pick u p his papers. I w o u l d like ro meer this new a d d i t i o n ro
 OF MICE AND MEN 247

Your Eminence's staff. As ro rhe resr, Your Eminence w i l l keep me au

courant, of course."
" O f c o u r s e . " Barely able t o restrain his impatience to be gone, C a r d i n a l
M a e s r r o i a n n i all b u t sprang to his feet. " Y o u r Eminence has been t o o
generous w i t h y o u r r i m e . "

G r a z i a n i r e w o u n d the tape o f his conversation w i t h M a e s t r o i a n n i . As he

played ir back pensively, he ran his eye again over the archival dossier on
the Gladstone f a m i l y and the c u r r i c u l u m virae o f Father Chrisrian G l a d -
stone.
Was i t merely coincidence, he w o n d e r e d , that the Slavic Pope had sent
the Gladstone material t o h i m that very morning? There was no hinr o f an
answer in rhe papal note attached to the m a t e r i a l ; it said merely, " F o r
your i n f o r m a t i o n . "
T h a t was always the puzzle in w o r k i n g w i r h this Pope. There could be
no d o u b r that the H o l y Father was au courant w i t h w o r l d and Vatican
affairs. A n d w h e n he had his eyes on a new m a n , he was aboveboard
a b o u t i t . Yet he spent no e f f o r t in explanations.
T h a t had been exactly the situation w h e n Graziani had s h o w n the Pon-
t i f f a copy o f M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s lerrer ro Vatican d i p l o m a t s scattered over
some fourscore countries o f ithe w o r l d . O f course, there was no need f o r
C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i to k n o w the Pope had seen that letter; not soon
a n y w a y . But in the V a t i c a n — i n this w o r l d where finally there were no
secrers—the Secrerary d i d have t o cover his o w n back.
Ar any rate, w h e n the Ponriff had read rhat letter, he had given a short
lirtle l a u g h , as if t o himself. But, as i n so many situations, he had said
n o t h i n g . T r u t h to tell, G r a z i a n i had not been altogether surprised by H i s
Holiness' wordless reaction. N e w t h o u g h he was to the j o b , there seemed
already t o be tacit agreement between himself a n d the Pontiff that rhe
Secrerary o f State was the Pope's man for as long as the Pope remained at
the t o p o f the heap.
Still, w h i l e he was not p r i v y to the deeper intentions of the Slavic Pope,
Graziani had his o w n theories. As nearly as he c o u l d tell, the Pontiff's
order o f the day for the governance o f his C h u r c h remained w h a t it had
been f r o m the beginning. Undeclared t h o u g h it was, t o Graziani that p o l -
icy seemed simple, clear and f r a n k . By his actions—or more by his inac-
t i o n o n so many vital f r o n t s — t h e H o l y Father was saying: Let the bureau-
cratic machine r i p ahead as it w i l l , f o r n o b o d y can stop it n o w . It appeared
to G r a z i a n i , t h e n , that the Pope was a g a m b l i n g m a n . A n d the papal
gamble appeared t o be that he could o u t p l a y his adversaries by o u t w a i t i n g
them.
Listening t o Maestroianni's; voice o n the tape, it was almost mechanical
for G r a z i a n i t o factor the o d d s . As far as he could see, b r i n g i n g an obscure
y o u n g professor like Father C h r i s t i a n Gladstone i n t o the equation w o u l d
 248 W 1 N P S W li P I H O L! S F.

m a k e n o appreciable difference. O n rhe orher h a n d , a m a n o f such power

as C a r d i n a l Leo Pensabene c o u l d be decisive.
As he considered his o w n p o s i t i o n in rhe explosive siruarion rhar was
developing, G r a z i a n i remained unequivocally o n rhe fence. I t had been one
r h i n g — a judicious t h i n g , i n those circumstances—to raise a hand of agree-
menr at t h a t meeting o f R o m a n and n o n - R o m a n huskies at Strasbourg.
Bur any fool c o u l d see t h a t i t was still t o o soon to j u m p definitively i n t o
anyone's c a m p .
It was not t o o soon to w o n d e r , t h o u g h , just h o w close to the brink His
Holiness w o u l d be w i l l i n g to shave.

M a e s t r o i a n n i blessed his ^ o o d forrune i n h a v i n g at his disposal C a r d i n a l

Silvio Aurearini's capacity for long hours o f w o r k and C a r d i n a l Leo Pen-
sabene's k n o w l e d g e o f ecclesiastical machinery and personages. Both of
these colleagues shared M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s enthusiasm and interests. Bur ir
was Pensabene w h o had the most resources. A n d in rhe intricate scheme t o
establish special ad hoc I n t e r n a l A f f a i r s Agencies w i t h i n the various N a -
t i o n a l and Regional Bishops Conferences, it was Pensabene w h o came up
w i t h the key factor.
" ' C h a n g e agents!' " C a r d i n a l Pensabene cocked a bony forefinger at
M a e s r r o i a n n i and A u r e a r i n i ar the outset of their very firsr w o r k i n g ses-
sion. " I f we can install 'change agents' and 'upper-level facilitators' w i t h i n
every ad hoc I A C in every Bishops Conference, we can meet our early
Timetable. W i t h o u t t h e m , we haven't a p r a y e r — i f y o u ' l l pardon rhe ex-
pression."
Pensabene realized thar he had a lot o f e x p l a i n i n g ro d o ro bring his t w o
colleagues up t o his level o f understanding. O n the historical side of the
ledger, he r o l d h o w rhe concept and i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f "change agenrs"
and " u p p e r - l e v e l f a c i l i t a t o r s " had appeared firsr as p r i m e factors in rhe
rise o f European dictatorships in rhe 1920s a n d 1930s. " N o t a b l y , " * he
observed w i r h o u r a p o l o g y , " i n Joseph Stalin's Soviet empire, in A d o l f
Hirler's N a t i o n a l Socialism regime and in Beniro M u s s o l i n i ' s Fascist re-
gime.
" T o be accurate, the first page o f this m e t h o d o l o g y was w r i t t e n by the
Soviets. H i t l e r copied theim. A n d , as H i t l e r ' s lackey, M u s s o l i n i tried t o
reproduce the Flihrer's version. T h e premier educational philosopher o f
the U n i t e d States, John D e w e y , studied the same methods and came up
w i t h his o w n version. A version Tailored for use w i r h i n r w o areas rhar
concern us n o w .
" F i r s r . " As he had ar rhe Strasbourg meeting—as he was always d o i n g ,
much t o the annoyance o f Silvio Aureatini—Pensabene raised his bony
fingers as if ro keep score. " F i r s r , Dewey Tailored his methods for use
w i t h i n the educational r e a l m . A n d second, he Tailored rhem for use w i r h i n
rhe f r a m e w o r k o f Wesrern democratic society. W h a r is n o w called 'social
engineering' rook o n a respecrable a i r , "
 OF MICE AND MEN 249

H i s nerves already grating at rhe sight o f rhose fingers p o p p i n g inro rhe

air like skeleral e x c l a m a t i o n p o i n t s , C a r d i n a l A u r e a r i n i gritted his teeth
and settled into silent a t t e n t i o n .
' " N o w , as I see i t , " Pensabene c o n t i n u e d , " t h e p r o b l e m we face—the
task of b r i n g i n g the thinking; o f o u r b i s h o p s into a l i g n m e n t w i t h o u r o w n
v i e w s o n the question o f unity w i r h the Pope—is exacrly rhe p r o b l e m faced
by all rhose earlier t h e o r e t i c i a n s and practitioners o f s o c i a l engineering.
A n d t h a t p r o b l e m is s i m p l e : H o w ro persuade m i l l i o n s of people ro change
Their o u t l o o k so as t o fit ideologically into the m o l d the social engineers
have in m i n d . For u l t i m a t e l y , i t is nor o u r four Thousand bishops alone
w h o must be p e r s u a d e d . "
Pensabene o b s e r v e d rhar rhe roors o f rhe s o l u t i o n had been sought in the
v a r i o u s forms o f the a b s t r a c t p h i l o s o p h y called p h e n o m e n o l o g y . " A s a
devoted student o f h i s t o r y , Y o u r Eminence w i l l recall rhar p h e n o m e n o l o g y
enrered its grear vogue a m o n g the intellectuals o f Cenrral and Easrern
E u r o p e d u r i n g rhe twenties a n d Thirties."
"Indeed, Eminence." Maesrroianni was truly pleased t o rhink rhar rhe
s o l u t i o n ro his b u r e a u c r a t i c p r o b l e m might emerge f r o m rhe very process
o f hisTory. " D o go o n . "
Pensabene obliged. " I T ' S quire s i m p l e really. T h e i r s o l u r i o n was To create
Those 'agenrs o f c h a n g e ' and ' f a c i l i r a r o r s ' I s p o k e o f earlier. A n 'agent of
c h a n g e ' mighr be any n u m b e r o f things. A n institution. A n o r g a n i z a t i o n . A
lone i n d i v i d u a l . It might originate f r o m either the p u b l i c or rhe private
s e c t o r — o r sometimes f r o m b o t h . Indeed"—Pensabene c o u l d nor resisT a
rare s m i l e — " i r mighr even be o u r o w n n e t w o r k o f ad hoc I n t e r n a l Affairs
C o m m i r t e e s ser up w i r h i n rhe Bishops Conferences. The purpose o f an
'agenr o f c h a n g e ' is ro replace ' o l d ' values and behaviors w i r h ' n e w 1
ones.
A n d t o d o so by using p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y based techniques developed specifi-
cally for rhe w e a r i n g a w a y o f a r r i r u d i n a l resisrance.
" A t some poinr, rhe practice o f these Techniques became k n o w n as 'fa-
c i l i t a t i n g , ' or as ' f a c i l i t a t i o n / But the object is a l w a y s to c h a n g e a previ-
ously held mind-set into a totally new and different mind-set. Even to a
mind-set rhar p r e v i o u s l y w o u l d have been u n a c c e p r a b l e a n d abhorrent."
A n o t h e r pointed l o o k at C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i . " T h e process is fascinat-
ing. I n rhis case, the process is a p y r a m i d a l a f f a i r . A n d rhe 'agent of
c h a n g e ' is rhe c a ps ro ne o f rhe p y r a m i d .
" T h e 'change agent' sets o u r To recruir a g r o u p o f i n d i v i d u a l s or o r g a n i -
z a t i o n s w h o a p p e a r mosr susceptible ro rhe desired and a l w a y s attractively
p a c k a g e d new mind-set. A s s u m i n g the ' c h a n g e agent' is c a p a b l e , those
w h o regard the new mind-set as a p e r v e r s i o n o f thought w i l l be few in
n u m b e r . A n y s u c h dissenters are left by the w a y s i d e . The successful g r a d u -
ates, m e a n w h i l e , h a v i n g e m e r g e d f r o m rhe Tutelage of rhe 'change agent 1

a r m e d w i r h a total a c c e p t a n c e ot rhe new T h i n k i n g — h a v i n g been 'facili-

rared, 1
in orher w o r d s — a r e Themselves n o w rightly regarded as 'facili-
t a t o r s . ' In his role as 'upper-level facilitator,' the 'agent o f c h a n g e ' charges
 250 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the newly converted t o repeat the process. T o go our inro the w o r l d and
spread rheir n e w f o u n d beliefs. To coerce as many orhers as possible inro
accepting the ' n e w ' and jettisoning the ' o l d . ' As ever w i d e n i n g layers are
f o r m e d i n the p y r a m i d o f change, so t o o is the desired ' n e w ' t h i n k i n g
f o r m e d abour values, beliefs, arritudes and b e h a v i o r . "
A r this p o i n t , M a e s t r o i a n n i felt it imperative to raise a practical con-
cern. " O u r present enterprise is delicare and dangerous. A n d we haven't
rhe l u x u r y o f rime. We c a n n o t a f f o r d merely ro assume such simple success
as y o u r ' f a c i l i t a t i o n ' theory i m p l i e s . "
Pensabene's answer was as practical as the question. In the first place,
he pointed o u t , there was no other model t o f o l l o w . " A n d i n the second
place. Eminence, the process I have o u t l i n e d is accomplished w i t h relative
ease. The basic t h i n g to undersrand is J o h n Dewey's o w n explanation of
the techniques i n v o l v e d as—and I believe my quote is exact—'a c o n t r o l o f
rhe m i n d and emotions by e x p e r i m e n t a l , n o t r a t i o n a l means.' T h e aim is
to arouse emotions rarher t h a n t o stimulate t h o u g h t or intellectual percep-
t i o n . A s s u m i n g that the 'change agent' has chosen his initiates w i t h cun-
ning, he institutes a process i n w h i c h his target audience participates ac-
tively. It is sometimes called a 'freezing and unfreezing' process—a
relatively s t r a i g h r f o r w a r d p r o g r a m of f o u r steps."
A u r e a t i n i almost groaned a u d i b l y as C a r d i n a l Pensabene held up rhe
first o f f o u r bony fingers. " H a v i n g garhered a captive and complaisant
audience, the 'change agent' begins by 'freezing the a t t e n t i o n and the
1

experience o f the g r o u p o n irs o w n isolation and v u l n e r a b i l i t y . The second

step is to disaggregare, or 'unfreeze.' In rhis context, t h a t means a distanc-
ing f r o m the ' o l d ' values on w h i c h rhe members of the audience once
relied. I t means, in s u m , t h a t those f o r m e r values are made to seem no
longer desirable o r suitable. Stage rhree—reaggregation—follows w i t h ac-
ceptance o f the new structure o f t h o u g h t proposed by the 'facilitator.* The
final step is r o u r i n i z a r i o n . T h e new structures o f t h i n k i n g are incorporated
into the f l o w o f n o r m a l , everyday life.
" T h a t basic procedure can be repeated as often as necessary—and
r h r o u g h as many converted ' f a c i l i t a t o r s ' as possible—to perpetuate and
spread the ' n e w ' thinking,. Equally i m p o r t a n t f o r o u r o w n present en-
deavor w i t h the bishops, i t can also be used t o b r i n g the participants in the
ever g r o w i n g p y r a m i d to a still higher level o f ideological persuasion i n -
tended by the 'upper-level facilitators.' "
H a v i n g suffered w i t h remarkable patience t h r o u g h a rash o f upraised
fingers, perhaps Silvio A u r e a r i n i was merely o n edge. Wharever the reason,
he remained a h o l d o u r . C i t i n g the importance o f w h a t was at stake, the
j u n i o r C a r d i n a l observed t h a r this was not 1920. N o r w o u l d they be deal-
ing w i t h p o p u l a t i o n s beaten d o w n by a recent w o r l d w a r and a deep
w o r l d w i d e economic depression. O n rhe conrrary. In b r i n g i n g rhe bishops
inro line o n the u n i t y q u e s t i o n — o r even in dealing w i r h rhe clergy and
l a y f o l k w h o w o u l d have t o be broughr a l o n g at some level—they were
 OF MICE AM) MEN 251

dealing w i t h people w h o felt themselves t o be in the mainstream of life. It

d i d n o t seem feasible that they c o u l d be made to feel " i s o l a t e d and vulner-
a b l e , " as C a r d i n a l Pensabene's plan required.
H a d Pensabene n o t k n o w n better, he w o u l d have t h o u g h t the sharp-
featured C a r d i n a l ro be one o f rhe dullest colleagues w i t h w h o m he had
ever been obliged t o w o r k .
" M y dear y o u n g f r i e n d . " H e cocked his sunken eyes r o w a r d A u r e a r i n i .
" I n m y happy experience, ir is one of rhe wonders of the h u m a n c o n d i t i o n
t h a t , w i t h a little care and a t t e n t i o n , almost anyone can be made t o feel
isolated and vulnerable. W h e n we planned the huge changeover in the
d a i l y Mass-going habits of fifty-five m i l l i o n Catholics in the United Stares,
for example, we were nor w o r k i n g in rhe 1920s, bur i n the 1970s. A n d
w h e n we u n d e r t o o k ro Transform parish life and rhe importance of piety,
w e were nor w o r k i n g i n rhe 1930s, but in the 1980s. A n d in b o t h cases,
w e w o u l d have got nowhere w i r h o u t 'change agents' and 'facilitators.* Jusr
t h i n k , Eminence. T h i n k ! " Pensabene tapped his bony temple w i t h a bony
finger. " A s k yourself, h o w d i d i t happen i n rhe U n i t e d States that in the
short space of t w o decades w e practically obliterated any effective traces
of a lirurgy and parish life rhar had been i n g r a i n e d — i n s t i t u t i o n a l l y i n -
g r a i n e d ! — f o r nearly t w o centuries?"
" W e l l , I suppose if Y o u r Eminence purs i t in those terms . . . "
" A n d have we n o t all a d m ired the w o r k of o u r venerable brorher C a r d i -
nal N o a h Palombo? We h a v e ! " Pensabene answered his o w n question
w i r h unaccusromed vigor. " A n d r i g h t l y so! For under his leadership as a
'change agent par excellence—as an 'upper-level faciliraror w i r h o u t
1 1

peer—rhe Vatican's I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o u n c i l for Christian Lirurgy has re-

srructured rhe very nature o f priestly t h i n k i n g i n matters of approved
prayer a n d d e v o t i o n . I c o u l d cite other examples. . . . "
Such was C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s c o m m a n d over even so p o w e r f u l a
figure as Leo Pensabene rhar a mere raising of his hand was enough ro end
rhe discussion. H e had emphasized rhar time was a factor; and ir was rrue
t h a t there was no w o r k i n g m o d e l t o f o l l o w other rhan Pensabene's. But
w h a t really made h i m itchy t o stop the debate and get o n w i t h practical
p l a n n i n g and i m p l e m e n t a t i o n was that he could see h o w neatly his recenr
dara o n rhe bishops doverailed w i r h the w h o l e srrucrure and process of
"facilitation."
" Y o u have b o t h studied the i n f o r m a l p o l l taken by the H o l y See repre¬
sentatives." M a e s t r o i a n n i spread rhe t y p e w r i t t e n pages in f r o n t of h i m .
" C o r r e c t me if Pm w r o n g , Imminence. Bur ir w o u l d appear rhar o u r first
rask i n rhis ' f a c i l i t a t i o n ' process—the task of defining o u r ideological
goals—is already a c c o m p l i s h e d . "
A satisfied Pensabene agreed. " T h e goal is rhat the Slavic Pope resign
v o l u n t a r i l y , in order t o a l l o w the C h u r c h to have a Pope w h o w i l l en-
hance—not endanger—the precious unity o f the bishops w i t h rhe pa-
pacy."
 252 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

"Precisely." Fired w i t h energy, M a e s t r o i a n n i led the w a y q u i c k l y for-

w a r d n o w . " W e have a slight difference in t e r m i n o l o g y . For w h a r Your
Eminence refers ro as 'the new mind-set' is w h a t Pve referred t o in the past
as 'the desirable c o n f o r m i t y ' a m o n g o u r bishops. Thanks to the data of
this i n f o r m a l p o l l , we can already classify rhe various levels of c o n v i c t i o n
at w h i c h o u r bishops stand o n the u n i t y question. W i t h o u t exception, all
m a i n t a i n that u n i t y between themselves as bishops and the papacy is v i -
tally i m p o r t a n t . T h a t is the lowest level o f c o n v i c t i o n ; the lowest level of
c o n f o r m i t y . But the data s h o w that we can already capitalize o n four
higher levels o f c o n v i c t i o n i n some quarters.
" A t the second level o f c o n v i c t i o n there is a perception a m o n g many
bishops t h a t the desired u n i t y does not presently exist and that something
has t o be done t o reinstate such unity.
" A t the next level, a smaller but srill appreciable number of bishops feel
rhar the desired u n i t y s h o u l d n o t be seen as rhe relationship between the
Pope and i n d i v i d u a l bishops, b u t between the Pope and the Regional and
N a t i o n a l Bishops Conferences. This is capiral f o r us; for a m o n g rhis
g r o u p , any failure i n the relationship can be reduced t o a question o f
bureaucratic g r i d l o c k .
" E q u a l l y p r o m i s i n g is a smaller g r o u p o f bishops w h o see the failure of
uniry as due ro a personality clash. Simply p u t , these bishops consider thar
the Slavic Pope's personality impedes the desired uniry f r o m flourishing.
" A n d t h a t brings us t o the highest level of perception, shared f o r the
m o m e n t by the fewest n u m b e r o f bishops. A rarefied level o f c o n v i c t i o n
rhat, f o r rhe sake o f u n i t y a n d in good papal conscience, the Slavic Pope
should resign and a l l o w rhe H o l y Spirit to choose a Pope w h o can pro-
mote and enhance that u n i t y . "
C a r d i n a l Pensabene raised his eyes f r o m rhe tabulated data. " N e a t l y
done, Eminence! You b r o u g h t order inro w h a r seems o n the surface t o be a
chaotic s i t u a t i o n a m o n g the bishops. A n d y o u have r i g h t l y pointed to that
fairly large n u m b e r a m o n g the bishops w h o see the failure o f episcopal
unity w i t h the papacy as a matter o f bureaucratic g r i d l o c k . Clearly, y o u r
o r i g i n a l I A C plan is doable. We k n o w where to starr in establishing o u r ad
hoc Inrernal A f f a i r s Commiirtees w i r h i n rhe bureaucratic machinery o f the
Conferences of Bishops."
" M y t h i n k i n g exactly, E m i n e n c e . " M a e s t r o i a n n i smiled. " N o r need we
be l i m i t e d for l o n g to those bishops w h o already see the unity problem i n
bureaucratic terms. For n o w a d a y s , the G o v e r n i n g Committees in each o f
these Regional and N a t i o n a l Conferences, together w i t h the Central C o m -
mittees, can make life miserable f o r any bishop w h o steps o u t of line.
N o w a d a y s , in other w o r d s , i n d i v i d u a l bishops are far less free than they
used t o be t o act a u t o n o m o u s l y . "
M a e s t r o i a n n i was o b v i o u s l y pleased w i t h himself. H e placed the setting
up o f the first a n d mosr influential I A C s as his team's p r i o r i r y w o r k . But
so, t o o , d i d he congratulate himself a l o u d o n his forerhought in having
 OF MICE AND M F. N 253

Paul and C h r i s t i a n G l a d s t o n e — " t h e t w i n A m e r i c a n a r r o w s , " as he de-

scribed r h e m — f i r r e d i n t o rhe b o w o f episcopal persuasion. W i r h Father
Gladstone canvassing the needs and the weaknesses of the bishops, and
w i t h his brother Paul in a p o s i t i o n t o help capitalize on that i n f o r m a t i o n
in a concrete manner t h r o u g h EC parronage, any number of otherwise
reluctant bishops w o u l d be moved to cooperate.

For the next couple of weeks. C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i inspired his little

team of central c o l l a b o r a t o r s to w o r k w i r h o u t letup.
W i t h " c o m p a r t m e n t a t i o n " as the rule, w i t h Pensabene's inrimare
knowledge of the various Bishops Conferences and w i r h his o w n long
experience as Secrerary o f Srate, Maestroianni's firsr rask was ro compile a
lisr of porenrial "change agenrs." T h e need was f o r prelates—clergymen
w i t h the r a n k of bishop and u p w a r d — w h o could be easily " f a c i l i t a t e d "
and then relied u p o n as " f a c i l i t a t o r s " themselves and as the secretaries of
the i n i t i a l ad hoc Internal A f f a i r s Committees i n key areas.
Even as rhat lisr was being f o r m e d , a schedule was esrablished according
ro w h i c h each of those chosen—some fifteen bishops, archbishops and
Cardinals to begin w i t h — w o u l d be conracred and invited to Rome for
w h a r w o u l d be billed as " a rheological c o n s u l r a t i o n . " Late October or
early N o v e m b e r was agreed o n as rhe rarger date for rhar meeting. After a
week of intensive " f a c i l i t a t i o n , " i t was safe to assume t h a t this core cadre
w o u l d deparr for rheir respective dioceses ready ro f o r m the first grid of
I A C s and t o use them t o broaden the p y r a m i d of new t h i n k i n g .
Inevitably, heated discussions arose concerning several names suggested
for rhis premier roster. A b o u r one name, however, rhere was immediate
and enthusiastic agreement. Cardinals M a e s r r o i a n n i , Pensabene and
Aurearini knew beyond question rhar rhe mosr excellent "change agent"
w o u l d be H i s Eminence the C a r d i n a l of Centuryciry.
Few A m e r i c a n ecclesiastical personages had ever marched rhe posirion
of p o w e r i n t o w h i c h the C a r d i n a l o f Centuryciry had " f a c i l i t a t e d " himself
over a period of less than t h i r t y years. Indeed, many o f his contemporaries
remarked on h o w efforrless H i s F.minence's rise had been. T h a r was espe-
cially n o t e w o r t h y considering t h a t he had no silver spoon in his m o u t h ,
and certainly no sacred stole a r o u n d his shoulders. There was no special
backing f r o m his family or any anrecedenr financial sinews. There had
been n o t h i n g astounding i n his intellectual performance as a theologian;
n o recognized o r r h o d o x y as a C a t h o l i c . N o r had he enjoyed a special
R o m a n connection in his early days. In the w o r d s of one of his colleagues
in the A m e r i c a n hierarchy, H i s Eminence of Centuryciry was an "ecclesi-
astical phenomenon on rhe o r d e r of a flamingo b o r n f r o m o r d i n a r y , r u n -
of-the-coop b a r n y a r d f o w l . "
M a e s r r o i a n n i , Pensabene a n d A u r e a r i n i k n e w their star American candi-
date. H e had started his meteoric career in earnest as chancellor of a
m i n o r sourhern diocese. A f r e r a Transfer ro an upper Easr Coasr see. H i s
 254 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Eminence had landed o n his feet as C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p o f C e n t u r y c i r y —

an archdiocese once famed f o r irs financial s o l i d i t y , irs papisr fidelity and
irs o v e r w h e l m i n g if sometimes r a m b u n c t i o u s R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m . W i t h i n
a shorr rime, he had eclipsed his A m e r i c a n f e l l o w Cardinals, and at this
critical m o m e n t occupied the c a t b i r d seat in the strangest o f all ecclesiasti-
cal creations: rhe N a t i o n a l Conference o f Carbolic Bishops—rhe NCCB;
and in its no-bones-about-it l e f t - w i n g p o l i t i c a l a r m , rhe United States
Catholic Conference—the U S C C . Never m i n d the q u i p o f one commenta-
tor that berween rhose t w o arms o f the American episcopate, the righr
hand d i d nor always k n o w w h a r the left was d o i n g . The Cardinal knew
w h a r b o t h hands were d o i n g ar all rimes. I lis Eminence o f Cenrurycity had
rhe entire M a c h i n e ar his disposal. H i s Eminence was rhe Machine.
W h i l e the personality o f rhis man seemed o r d i n a r y and even banal to
many w h o d i d n ' t k n o w h i m w e l l , three trairs stood o u t as exceptional. His
Eminence had always seemed ro be acceprable ro ecclesiastical leaders one
r u n g above his o w n place o n rhe ladder o f preferment. Surely, he must
have friends w h o had friends. Neverrheless, rhe basis o f his singular ac-
ceptability was severely unclear to the naked eye. Second was his a u t h o r i t y
w i t h i n the A m e r i c a n episcopal Establishment. A n a u t h o r i t y that was u n -
challenged and that seemed unchallengeable. C a r d i n a l O'Cleary of N e w
Orleans was k n o w n ro a d m i r e his tactics, b u t c o u l d n o t match them. The
East Coast Cardinals feared his connections i n C h u r c h and State. The
West Coast Cardinals f o u n d ir convenient to ride his coattails. Whether
inside or outside C e n t u r y c i r y , w i r h all the sanctions and inner discipline of
rhe M a c h i n e ar his velver fingertips, H i s Eminence could isolate a recalci-
trant cleric and strip h i m o f all real p o w e r in the Establishment.
The A m e r i c a n Cardinal's t h i r d t r a i t was a t u r n a b o u t o f the second. For,
as lerhal as he c o u l d be ro rhe careers o f orher clerics, he himself enjoyed
an i r o n c l a d i m m u n i t y f r o m any attempt to short-circuir his o w n standing
w i t h Vatican authorities a n d w i t h his A m e r i c a n ecclesiastical colleagues.
N o marter h o w many c o m p l a i n t s went ro Rome f r o m the Catholic C h u r c h
in rhe U n i t e d States—and n o matter whether those complaints came f r o m
a fellow C a r d i n a l or f r o m parish priests or f r o m l a y i o l k — s o m e h o w they
all ended up at the b o t t o m of an unattended pile of correspondence or in
one o f a rhousand " i n a c t i v e " Vatican files. A p p a r e n r l y the Cardinal's
chain o f friends o f friends exrended up t h r o u g h all levels righr to the papal
throne.
Understandably, then, the American C a r d i n a l became rhe standard by
w h i c h M a e s r r o i a n n i measured everyone o n his crucial lisr.

Ir was eight o'clock o n a c o l d m o r n i n g i n early O c t o b e r when Father

Sebastian Scalabrini's housekeeper, K i t t y M o n a g h a n , let herself i n t o the
apartment in the R o y a l M u n r o e B u i l d i n g in the Hillsvale suburb of Cen-
t u r y c i t y and f o u n d Father's body l y i n g full-length on the l i v i n g - r o o m car-
 OF MICE AND M E N 255

per i n f r o n t o f the Television. T h e priesr was morher naked, and rhere was
b l o o d all over his neck, upper rorso, belly a n d g r o i n .
As a f o r m e r p o l i c e w o m a n herself and rhe w i d o w o f a police sergeanr,
K i t t y had seen her share o f messcd-up dead bodies. But as a Catholic and a
g r a n d m o r h e r , she was s h a k i n g w i r h sobs as she dialed rhe police. W i t h i n
minutes o f her Telephone c a l l . Police Inspecror Sylvesrer W o d g i l a arrived
w i r h rhree derectives, a barrery o f crime-lab technicians and a half dozen
u n i f o r m e d officers. T h e city medical examiner arrived soon after.
I m m e d i a t e l y , W o d g i l a c o r d o n e d rhe b u i l d i n g o f f . N o one left or entered
before being questioned by h i m o r one of his m e n . T h e distraught K i t t y
M o n a g h a n was asked t o w a i t in the k i t c h e n ; she wasn't t o leave u n t i l the
i n i t i a l stages o f the investigation were completed. I n any c r i m i n a l case
i n v o l v i n g the clergy, the cast-iron rule laid d o w n by rhe M a y o r o f Cen-
ruryciry a n d rhe sTare G o v e r n o r was clear: T h e Commissioner o f Police
was auromarically i n charge. N o i n f o r m a t i o n about the case was t o be
given o u t . Especially n o t t o the media. By n o o n , w i t h all his data assem-
bled, Wodgila l i t his pipe, sat d o w n at the phone and dialed. As usual,
Wodgila's reporr was clear a n d o r d e r l y . T h e Commissioner listened ro i r
wirhour inrerrupring.
" W e have a male Caucasian, sir. A priesr o f rhe archdiocese by rhe name
o f Sebastian Scalabrini. Assistant pastor ar nearby Ploly Angels parish,
l orry-seven years o f age. D e a t h occurred abour m i d n i g h r . Found by his
housekeeper ar abour eighr this m o r n i n g . M u l t i p l e srab w o u n d s inflicted
w i r h a very sharp insrrumenr. Forefinger a n d r h u m b severed f r o m each
h a n d , b u t so f a r n o t f o u n d o n the premises. Casrrarion. Genitals stuffed i n
the m o u t h . N o signs o f a struggle. Personal papers seem t o be as Father
left t h e m . N o t h i n g o f note i n t h e m . Reputation as a quiet m a n . Little
contact w i t h his neighbors. Visited frequently by fellow clergymen. N o
one saw o r heard a n y t h i n g unusual yesterday—evening o r night. T h e
d o o r m a n w h o was o n dury says Farher had a guesr w h o left shortly after
m i d n i g h t . D i d n ' t get a name. A priesr by rhe l o o k of h i m , he says.
Y o u n g i s h . T h e precinct has a file o n Scalabrini. I have i t here n o w . "
T h e Commissioner had o n l y a few questions. " H o w o l d d i d y o u say
Scalabrini w a s ? "
"Forty-seven, s i r . "
" A n d h o w many stab w o u n d s in a l l ? "
"Forty-seven, s i r . "
" A r e the housekeeper and the d o o r m a n under w r a p s ? "
iessir.
" O k a y . T h e usual d r i l l . I ' l l make rhe phone calls to BOSI a n d the C h a n -
cery. You wair f o r rhem, a n d then tidy up the details."
'Yessir." W h e n Inspecror W o d g i l a h u n g u p , he k n e w his o w n part in
rhe Scalabrini case was almost done. T h e usual d r i l l meanr rhar rhe Bureau
of Special Invesrigarions w o u l d take over. T h e usual d r i l l meanr that the
city coroner w o u l d classify Father Scalabrini's m u r d e r as " d e a t h by misad-
 256 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

v e n t u r e . " T h e usual d r i l l meanr rhar rhe body w o u l d be cremated; and it

meant rhar Wodgila's o w n reporr and the autopsy findings w o u l d be
sealed i n BOSI's files a l o n g w i r h rhose of similar cases over rhe pasr eleven
years.
W h i l e he w a i t e d for rhe BOS1 boys ro arrive, Wodgila made one lasr
check of the a p a r t m e n t — h e w o u l d n ' t have another chance. A n d he leafed
again t h r o u g h the precinct file o n Father: M e m b e r of the Saturn G r o u p 7
for rwenty years. Pedophiliac activities confined to g r o u p rituals. T w o and
a half years as a police i n f o r m a n t . Advised one week ago by his BOSI
contact that his cover m i g h r have been b l o w n .
"Someone's d a m n s c r e w u p ! " W o d g i l a snapped rhe file closed and
warched angrily as Farher Scalabrini's mangled remains were zipped inro
rhe black body bag. Ir was always the same i n these cases. The number of
srab w o u n d s always corresponded ro rhe victim's age. A l w a y s the same
m u t i l a t i o n s , d o w n t o the last gruesome derail.
Inspector W o d g i l a was n o t fooled by the simple clerical clothes of the
cleric w h o accompanied the BOSI boys. L i k e any o f his professional col-
leagues. Wodgila was paid to recognize celebrities o n sight. In rhis case,
t h o u g h , it was easy. T h i s was also parr of the usual d r i l l . The cleric d i d n ' t
act as if he was in charge, o f course. But there was no misraking rhe
n a r r o w , b a l d i n g head, the r o u n d cheekbones in an otherwise gaunt face,
the a w k w a r d gait, the i m p e r i o u s gestures of the black-gloved hands. A l l of
that belonged to H i s Eminence the C a r d i n a l o f Cenrurycity.
T h e priestly blessing was a g r i m affair q u i c k l y done. H i s Eminence
d i d n ' t ask f o r rhe body bag ro be opened, and rhere was no a n o i n r i n g w i r h
h o l y oils and warcr. W i r h i n five minutes o f his a r r i v a l , and w i r h o u r a w o r d
ro anyone, i n c l u d i n g W o d g i l a , the cleric was gone. Scalabrini's body was
removed. W i r h her official sraremenr taken and sealed, K i t t y M o n a g h a n
w o u l d be released w i t h a w a r n i n g that she c o u l d endanger her o w n life
and jeopardize rhe invesrigarion if she were even ro whisper anyrhing of
whar she had seen. W o d g i l a w o u l d assemble his o w n men, remind them of
the dangers attendant o n d i e invesrigarion of rhis particular crime, and
order rhem ro keep hands off. It was BOSEs case t o handle.
Before he f o l l o w e d all rhe orhers our rhe d o o r of this sad place, Wodgila
t o o k a last, l o n g l o o k at the carpet where the priest had been f o u n d . Once
the b l o o d t h a t had been spilled there was gone, his o w n long memory
w o u l d be rhe o n l y accessible Testimony ro rhose murilared hands, ro that
ugly black-and-crimson stain of castration, ro rhe disgusr and supreme
agony etched a r o u n d the v i c t i m ' s stufled m o u t h .
W o d g i l a k n e w f r o m experience i t w o u l d be a l o n g t i m e before the i m -
ages o f r i t u a l death ceased to haunt his dreams. For weeks, w h e n his o w n
parish priest held the Sacred H o s t a l o f t at daily Mass, the Inspector knew
he w o u l d see Father Scalabrini's pathetic stumps. Wodgila looked for a
l o n g rime ar Scalabrini's b l o o d , and offered whar was i n all l i k e l i h o o d the
only hearrfelr prayer f o r rhe i m m o r r a l soul of rhat unhappy priesr. " Y o u
 OF MICE ANDMEN 257

p o o r bastard, Father, M a y G o d rake y o u r final pain a n d terror i n t o ac-

c o u n t w h e n H e judges y o u . . . . "

Inspecror Wodgila sent a c o p y o f his p r e l i m i n a r y report and all the d o c u -

m e n t a t i o n i n the Scalabrini case t o the Commissioner, rhe M a y o r o f C e n -
t u r y c i t y a n d the G o v e r n o r . Because n o r h i n g c o u l d be done w i t h o u t an
e x p l i c i t go-ahead, he indicated the lines o f investigation he wished t o p u r -
sue. W i t h i n days, W o d g i l a received official n o t i f i c a t i o n that the A t t o r n e y
General's office had decided t o leave the matter alone and rhar rhe Inspec-
ror was n o t t o pursue the investigation he h a d o u t l i n e d . O n professional
g r o u n d s , W o d g i l a felr he h a d t o proresr. T h e case was still wide open, he
insisted i n a responding d o c u m e n t ; and i f the past was any i n d i c a t i o n , they
c o u l d expect still m o r e cases o f a similar narure unless strong measures
were taken.
T h e final chapter o f Inspector Wodgila's official involvement w i t h the
Scalabrini rirual m u r d e r w a s w r i t t e n w i t h i n the m o n t h . T h e M a y o r h i m -
self called ro express his p r o f o u n d regret rhar rhe Inspecror's name was o n
the current roster o f men w h o w o u l d be given early retiremenr. Wodgila
w o u l d receive his full pension, o t course; a n d , i n recognirion o f his years
of superior service, he w o u l d be rewarded w i t h subsequent civil a p p o i n t -
ments as w e l l . A t the same t i m e , Flis H o n o r made ir clear rhar there was
n o redress f r o m the decision; a n d t h a t silence—Wodgila's i n c l u d e d —
w o u l d remain the order o f the day i n all such cases as that o f " p o o r Farher
Scalabrini."
The c r o w n i n g rouch to Inspector Wodgila's abrupr reriremenr came i n
the f o r m o f a lerrer a w a r d i n g h i m rhe Carholic H e r o M e d a l f o r rhar year.
The lerrer, w h i c h cited "Inspecror Sylvester Wodgila's u n s t i n t i n g loyalty t o
H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h i n rhe performance o f his civic d u t i e s , " was signed
by Flis Eminence rhe C a r d i n a l o f C e n r u r y c i t y .

C H R I S T I A N G L A D S T O N E felt like a parvenu in R o m e . L i k e a foorball

suddenly tossed i n r o a t u r b u l e n t river, b o b b i n g helplessly along w i t h n o
sure w a y t o keep his head above water. Fie h a d hoped ro get some early
advice f r o m Farher D a m i e n Slarrery. Bur rhe portiere ar rhe Angelicum
s w i r c h b o a r d scorched rhat hope. "Father-General w o n ' t be back u n t i l this
evening, Reverendo.'* There w a s n o getting a r o u n d i t , then. T h e imperious
summons at rhe t o p o f the small pile o f messages a n d m a i l a w a i r i n g h i m
on his a r r i v a l meanr rhar his first meeting w o u l d be w i t h H i s Eminence
Cardinal Maesrroianni.
 258 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

If such an early encounter w i t h M a e s t r o i a n n i w a s n ' t a pleasurable pros-

pect f o r C h r i s t i a n , neither was it a surprise. " Y o u have come ro rhe atten-
t i o n o f no less a figure than H i s Eminence C o s i m o Maesrroianni himself,"
O ' C l e a r y had said. Nevertheless, his early-afrernoon meering w i r h C a r d i -
nal M a e s t r o i a n n i d i d n ' t help h i m t o find his bearings.
Rather, f r o m the m o m e n t he srepped f r o m the elevaror o n t o the t h i r d
f l o o r o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace and was directed ro His Eminence's new suite
o f offices, rhe w h o l e m o o d o f rhe place seemed o d d l y changed. Even rhe
little C a r d i n a l himself seemed different. As he had at their firsr meering i n
M a y , H i s Eminence showed himself ro be a masrer o f condescending so-
ciabiliry and a r r o g a n t a s s u m p t i o n . But there was something new. Chris
w o u l d have expected t h a t , removed n o w f r o m the office o f Secretary o f
Stare, M a e s t r o i a n n i w o u l d have less an aura o f p o w e r abour h i m . W h a t he
f o u n d , however, was just the opposite. N o t exactly the sense of greater
p o w e r , b u t the sense o f p o w e r w i t h o u t the fetters o f office to impede i t .
A f t e r suffering his r i n g t o be kissed by the A m e r i c a n , Maesrroianni's
greeting was surely intended t o be w a r m ; but ir cur Gladstone like a barb.
" H o w pleasant it is t o see y o u back in R o m e so soon, Farher."
T h e n , as he sat d o w n b e h i n d his desk and waved his new protege i n t o
rhe nearest chair, the C a r d i n a l c o m p l i m e n t e d Gladstone on his mother's
srrong sense of rhe C h u r c h . " W e are all exrremely gratified for thar w o r r h y
lady's recenr c o o p e r a t i o n in rhe rarher sad affair of rhe B N L . " Completely
ar a loss, Chris c o u l d o n l y r e r u r n the Cardinal's smile and rhank h i m f o r
the intended c o m p l i m e n t . H e k n e w n o t h i n g more t h a n he had read in the
papers a b o u t the breaking scandal s u r r o u n d i n g Italy's Banca Nazionale di
L a v o r o . But it was u n t h i n k a b l e t h a t his m o t h e r c o u l d be involved in such
dealings.
" N o w , caro Reverendo"—Maestroianni was clearly done w i t h pleas-
a n t r i e s — " y o u t o o are being; asked to do a man's job for the g o o d o f the
C h u r c h . " Briefly, bur w i r h a patience he w o u l d n o t have s h o w n in other
circumstances. H i s Eminence gave Gladstone a general o u t l i n e o f the job
he had in m i n d . Chrisrian w o u l d begin his f u l l - t i m e R o m a n service as a
sort o f r o v i n g Vatican emissary t o a selected list o f bishops. M a e s t r o i a n n i
shoved a briefcase across his desk, but kept a hand o n i t . " H e r e you w i l l
find y o u r firsr rosrer o f bishops. You needn't rake rime ro l o o k t h r o u g h rhe
marerial n o w , of course. T h e r e w i l l be plenty of rime f o r rhar, Em sure. Ler
me simply say rhar y o u w i l l begin your w o r k f o r us i n France, Belgium, rhe
Netherlands and G e r m a n y . We have p r o v i d e d a dossier o n each b i s h o p —
personal and professional. A n d there is also an analysis of each bishop's
diocese. A l l the usual things are detailed—finances; demographics; media;
educational establishments f r o m kindergarten t h r o u g h universities and
seminaries. As I say, all the usual things.
" B e f o r e you leave R o m e " — M a e s t r o i a n n i raised his hand f r o m the
briefcase n o w — " y o u w i l l srudy rhis marerial and make ir y o u r o w n . You
are ro k n o w each diocese assigned ro y o u , and each bishop you w i l l meet,
 OF MICE AND M F. N 259

as well as y o u k n o w y o u r o w n name. D u r i n g each visit, you w i l l update

our basic demographic data. We are always interested in such questions as
the n u m b e r of Catholic families still residing in an area. The number o f
conversions and baptisms. T h e use and frequency of confessions, c o m m u -
nions, marriage annulments.. T h e number of births and the number o f
children attending diocesan schools. Vocations to the priesthood, books
used in religious i n s t r u c t i o n . It's all set o u t for y o u . A n d w i t h o u t d o u b t , a l l
such data as this w i l l be made readily available to y o u en bloc f r o m the
officials in each diocesan chancery.
" T h e r e are other data, however, that can o n l y be obtained by a trusted
Vatican emissary in c o n f i d e n t i a l , face-to-face conversation w i t h each
bishop. Data that w i l l help us t o overcome problems some of o u r bishops
appear to be encountering. D o I make myself clear, Reverendo?"
N o t by half, Chris t h o u g h t to himself, " U p to a p o i n t , Your Eminence. I
d o n ' t yet k n o w w h a t sort of c o n f i d e n t i a l data is i n v o l v e d , of course. But it
is unclear to me w h y any bishop w o u l d reveal a n y t h i n g of confidence t o
an o u t s i d e r . "
" M y dear Father!" H i s Eminence appeared shocked at such a basic
misapprehension. " Y o u are n o t an outsider. N o t any longer. You are one
of us n o w . Your visit t o each bishop w i l l be announced in advance by this
Chancery. By m y o w n staff, i n fact. A n d I assure y o u , the fact that y o u
w i l l carry the mantle of a Vatican emissary w i l l d o wonders to smooth
y o u r w a y . T h a t mantle w i l l assure y o u r right of entry even i n t o areas o f
i n f o r m a t i o n that are guarded f r o m o t h e r s . "
The more he listened t o M a e s t r o i a n n i , the more at sen d i d Gladstone
find himself. So foreign was t h a t idea to every sense he had of himself that
C h r i s t i a n let his guard d o w n . Fie asked a direct question. It was his only
mistake. " I f y o u w i l l p e r m i t , Eminence, w h a t is the main purpose of m y
f u l l - t i m e assignment to Rome? T h e w o r k Y o u r Eminence has o u t l i n e d
seems such a t e m p o r a r y t h i n g — t h e r e are o n l y so many bishops, after a l l .
A n d C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y d i d speak of f u l l - t i m e teaching duties at the
Angelicum."
Under the fire of a srraighir-our question, M a e s t r o i a n n i rerurned fire in
rhe f o r m of a w i t h e r i n g l o o k , a d i s a p p r o v i n g click of his tongue and a
velvet rebuke delivered i n a harsh tone. " F a t h e r dear! O f course we value
y o u r scholarly achievements. In that area, y o u have already garnered the
highest a p p r o v a l of R o m a n authorities. N o w , however, new undertakings
w i l l carry y o u i n t o fields w h e r e your a p p r o v a l w i l l be valued. As ro rhe
furure . . . " H i s Eminence gave Gladstone a full-eyed stare for an instant,
and then softened his expression. " A s t o the f u t u r e , w h o knows? We must
find God's w i l l daily anew. Isn't that r i g h t ? "
C h r i s t i a n f o u n d the C a r d i n a l ' s appeal t o God's w i l l to be vaguely repul-
sive. The rest ot his message, however, was s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d and clear.
O b v i o u s l y rhe C a r d i n a l had assessed h i m as a simple, scholarly priesr
given ro fideisric artitudes a n d a c h i l d l i k e rrust i n rhe aurhoriry of superi-
 260 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

ors. The only t h i n g that k e p t Gladstone f r o m c h u c k i n g the w h o l e idea of a

" R o m a n career" then and there was a sudden recollection of Farher A l d o
Carnesecca. Specifically, he recalled Father A i d e ' s passive, nonreactionary
c o n d u c t a n d his u n p r o t e s t i n g obedience in dealing w i t h men like Maestro-
i a n n i . Yet C h r i s t i a n k n e w Carnesecca t o be as independent-minded as any
man alive; and he had p r o b a b l y done more g o o d in his l o n g service t o the
C h u r c h than an a r m y of firebrands.
" N o w , Father G l a d s t o n e . " M a e s t r o i a n n i t o o k the y o u n g priest's silence
for obedienr assenr. " Y o u w i l l obviously be Traveling a grear deal o f rhe
time in rhe near furure. Y o u r way across—er—many borders w i l l be eased
if y o u carry a Vatican passport. Yes!" M a e s t r o i a n n i responded to the utter
surprise in Gladstone's eyes. " A rare privilege! Bur I myself have had a
w o r d w i r h o u r new Secrerary of Srate. C a r d i n a l Graziani has heen alerred
of y o u r visit here, and w o u l d deem it a pleasure t o p u t that valued d o c u -
ment personally i n t o your hands this very a f r e r n o o n . "
There ir was again, C h r i s t h o u g h t . T h a t sense of superiority, even over
rhe Secrerary of State. There was no Time f o r further reflection o n the
p o i n t , f o r the meeting was all bur over. Gladstone w o u l d be called for a
final briefing w i r h i n rhe week, Maesrroianni rold h i m . M e a n w h i l e , he
w o u l d master the i n f o r m a t i o n that h a d been prepared f o r h i m . Briefcase in
h a n d , rhen, H i s Eminence's; obedient new creature was packed o f f w i r h a
r u n - a l o n g - n o w Touch ro his second high-level meering of rhe day. To an-
other take-it-or-leave-it i n t e r v i e w , this rime w i r h rhe new Secrerary of
Srare.
C h r i s t i a n had ro a d m i t that C a r d i n a l Graziani seemed a prerty decenr
f e l l o w , even personable. T h e Secrerary d i d have a f u n n y way o f b l i n k i n g
his eyes. But his handshake was firm and sincere.
As t h o u g h he, t o o , was aware of the p o w e r M a e s t r o i a n n i had taken
w i t h h i m w h e n he had left rhis office, rhe C a r d i n a l Secrerary seemed more
inreresred in establishing a bond of his o w n w i r h rhe newcomer. " W e
share a milestone, F a r h e r . " The Secretary passed rhe n e w l y cur Vatican
passporr across his desk ro Gladstone. " T h i s is one o f rhe firsr 1 have
issued." T h e n , w i r h a smille: " E v e had occasion ro read rhe Gladsrone
f a m i l y file. Very impressive. Given such close ties t o the H o l y See, it is not
to be w o n d e r e d rhat y o u r esteemed mother has once again c o m e to the aid
o f the C h u r c h i n the sorry matter of the B N L . "
It was Gladstone's turn t o b l i n k n o w , and not w i t h the w i s d o m of
B u d d h a . T h i s was the second time in less than an h o u r that Cessi's n a m e
had come u p i n connection w i t h the i n t e r n a t i o n a l scandal s w i r l i n g a r o u n d
the Banca Nazionale d i L a v o r o . I'qually unsettling for Christian was the
realization that his f a m i l y ' s dossier w a s f l o a t i n g about in the upper reaches
o f the H o l y See. Perhaps that w a s just part a n d parcel of being associated
even i n a m i n o r w a y w i t h the p o w e r f u l C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . But he
sorely missed the protective cloak of a n o n y m i t y that had been his as a
p a r t - t i m e professor ar the A n g e l i c u m .
 Oh MICE AND MEN 261

" B e f o r e y o u g o , Farher." G r a z i a n i spoke w i r h c o m p e l l i n g sincerity n o w .

" L e r me assure you rhat if y o u ever need any special help, then please do
ask. I n this office, y o u w i l l have complete confidence, no matter w h a t or
w h o is i n v o l v e d . " The C a r d i n a l c o u l d n ' t come right o u t and say that any
intended henchman in M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s p o w e r game should k n o w where to
find the exit; o r that M a e s t r o i a n n i m i g h t be getting t o o big for his
britches. But he c o u l d p o i n t o u t that it was n o t Maestroianni's patronage
t h a t counted n o w , but his o w n as Secretary of State. A n d he could empha-
size his p o i n t by repeating his offer.
" A n y help at a l l , Father Gladsrone. You have only to ask." Graziani
stood up then and w a l k e d C h r i s t i a n to the door in a mosr amiable fashion.
" Y o u w i l l , o f course, pray f o r us a l l . Especially for rhe Floly Farher, rhar
he be guided i n his grave decisions."

Gladstone d i d n ' r have t o w a i t u n t i l evening t o find D a m i e n Slattery after

all. He ran i n t o the Master-General i n the upstairs c o r r i d o r as he rerurned
ro his r o o m ar rhe A n g e l i c u m . T y p i c a l l y , the first w o r d was Slartery's.
"Just the m a n I was l o o k i n g for. Eet\ have a w o r d i n y o u r quarters,
Father."
Berter late rhan never, C h r i s r i a n t h o u g h t as Father D a m i e n seared h i m -
self in a chair n o t b u i l t for his massive b u l k .
" Y o u r first day back and already busy in the vineyards, eh?" Slattery
watched C h r i s deposit his briefcase o n the w r i t i n g table a n d take his o w n
seat across the r o o m . " T h e message I have for y o u is a simple one. Father
Gladstone. Some days ago H i s Holiness expressed a desire ro have a few
minutes w i t h y o u . This is y o u r firsr day back, a n d you must be exhausted.
Still, are you free this evening? Say, ar abour eighr-fifreen?" W h e n rhere
was no answer f r o m rhe y o u n g A m e r i c a n , Slartery's antennae finally wenr
up. "Let's back up a step or t w o . Father. You've got something o n your
mind."
Christian's laugh was not pleasant. It was one t h i n g to be treated as a
mindless shuttlecock by the likes of M a e s t r o i a n n i and G r a z i a n i . But he
d i d n ' t much relish the same tactics f r o m Father D a m i e n . Yet here the
D o m i n i c a n was, just issuing orders and instructions w i t h n o explanations.
In fact, he was f a r i n g worse w i r h Slarrery. Ar leasr M a e s r r o i a n n i had given
h i m a w o r d of welcome, however disingenuous ir m i g h t have been. A n d
Graziani had at least offered his help, however backhanded his inrent.
" T h e o n l y rhing I have o n m y m i n d , Father-General," Chris replied
t r u t h f u l l y , "is a l o n g list of questions and n o answers."
Slattery crossed one t i m b e r l i k e leg over the other a m i d a sea of f l o w i n g
robes. " L e t ' s hear some of rhose questions, t h e n . "
In his d i s c o m f o r t , C h r i s t i a n began t o pace rhe f l o o r . For the first time he
tried to p u t i n t o w o r d s his feeling of having been tossed i n t o a river w i t h
n o terra firma for miles a r o u n d . " T h e real question is whether I belong
here at a l l . For the l o n g h a u l , I mean. M a y b e Em too far o u t of my depth.
 262 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

T h e more I ' m t o l d h o w m u c h a part o f things I a m , the more I feel like I've

landed a m o n g the little green men on M a r s . "
" H o l y M u r h e r o g a w d , G l a d s t o n e ! " In w h a t seemed a m i x t u r e of anger
and impatience, the giant D o m i n i c a n lapsed i n t o his Irish brogue. " W h e r e
d'yeh t h i n k yeh are? In some clerical kindergarren? W h a t yeh need is a
good dose o' g r o w i n ' u p ! A n d w h i l e yer ar ir, yeh better learn there is no
terra firma. N o t i n R o m e ! ! N o t n o w ! A n d yeh better learn that in the
t u r b u l e n t river yeh talk of., yer not b o b b i n ' about w i t h little green m e n !
Yer s w i m m m w i t h a pack o ' barracudas!"
T h o u g h stunned by Slavery's vehemence and stung by w h a t he recog-
nized as the t r u t h , C h r i s t i a n was at least relieved that Father Damien
wasn't t a l k i n g like some Vatican robor skilled ro rhe nines in romamta. He
stopped his pacing and sat d o w n . " I reckon I ' m as w i l l i n g and able to
learn as the next f e l l o w . But it d i d n ' t seem outlandish to hope that at least
some o f w h a t C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y told me i n N e w Orleans was true. W h e n
he said I ' d be teaching at the A n g e l i c u m , I wasn't d u m b enough to t h i n k
that was the w h o l e of i t . But academia does have a way of p u t t i n g order
into a man's life. Even in R o m e . "
" L i s t e n , F a t h e r . " Slattery had a better rein on himself n o w . Flis brogue
disappeared. " T h e l o n g a n d the short o f i t is n o t h i n g y o u r genius can't
encompass. I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t O'Cleary was t o l d a b o u t y o u r teaching at
the A n g e l i c u m . But the fact is, you're o n special assignment. In Vatican
j a r g o n , you're 'detached foir special duties at the requesr of the Secrerariar
of State.' W h a t you need, then, isn't a schedule of entrance exams and
lectures and seminars. W h a t you need is a r u n d o w n o n rhe barracudas.
" L e t ' s settle for rhe m o m e n t on the t w o y o u m e n t i o n e d . I gather you
spent time today w i t h C a r d i n a l G r a z i a n i . As a d i p l o m a r , he'll do well
enough. Bur like rhe o l d saw says, deep d o w n he's shallow. He's every-
body's f r i e n d , and n o b o d y ' s ally. N o r C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i , t h o u g h .
He's plausible a n d c u n n i n g . He has no ethics, but he plays by the r u l e s —
even i f he has t o make up his o w n . Em n o t surprised y o u ' l l be w o r k i n g
w i r h h i m . In fact, I half expected i t . A n d the best advice I can give you is to
say your prayers, listen to every w o r d and d o n ' t ask any questions. N o t
even obvious ones."
Despite the darkness o f w h a t Slattery was t e l l i n g h i m , Chris had to
chuckle. " I f o u n d that m u c h o u t for myself."
" A s k e d one t o o many questions, d i d y o u ? "
" I asked one question, p e r i o d . N e a r l y g o t my face scorched off. But Ell
ask y o u one. You k n o w this B N L t h i n g that's been breaking in rhe media?
W e l l , twice roday my mother's name was hauled i n t o that mess. I can't
figure it. 1 mean, do y o u k n o w a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t ? "
" I t ' s c o m p l i c a t e d , Padre." Slattery wasn't p u t t i n g Christian off. The
query was legitimate in his eyes. But he c o u l d only guess at the answer to
the y o u n g priest's concern for his mother. " H e r e it is in rhe k i n d of lan-
guage we financial pedestrians can understand. The Vatican Bank w o r k s
 OF MICE AND MEN 263

w i t h rhe B N L . The B N L w o r k e d w i r h Saddam Hussein, f a c i l i t a t i n g the

extension of up ro five b i l l i o n dollars in illegal loans and credirs ro help
h i m pay for his C o n d o r I I missile projecr. A n d w i t h the B N l . ' s connivance,
Saddam laundered money f o r the illegal purchase of straregic items. The
B N L w a s n ' t a lone o p e r a t o r , of course. Several other Western European
banks were i n v o l v e d in the j o i n t I r a q i - A r g e n t i n e - E g y p t i a n missile project.
Some of y o u r o w n U.S. banks were i n v o l v e d , roo. A n d some high officials
in the U.S. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . T h e Bush c r o w d . Big illegalities o n all sides.
" W h e n the t h i n g began to unravel in the media, a salvage operation was
necessary t o get the Vatican Bank o u t of any direct i m p l i c a t i o n . Exactly
w h a t y o u r mother had to d o w i t h all that I can only guess. But you
Gladstones are hardly paupers, after a l l . A n d you are prwilegiati di Stato.
So my conjecture is that she was called on to help financially in that
salvage e f f o r t . "
Gladsrone shook his head. W h e n d i d a f e l l o w ever ger ro k n o w his
morher? he w o n d e r e d . Cessi a b h o r r e d Rome's stand on the religious side
of things these days. But if Slattery was r i g h t , she had stood by the Pope's
bank. A l l at once, t h o u g h , another t h o u g h t struck Chris. A t h o u g h t that
was t o o c y n i c a l , t o o much o f a k i n d w i t h the insider view of Rome that
was piecing itself together i n his m i n d . A t h o u g h t that the H o l y L a t h e r s
wish to see h i m had s o m e t h i n g to do w i t h the Vatican Bank and his
family's financial usefulness.
N o sooner had Christian shared rhat idea w i t h Slattery than rhe Master-
General surged o u t o f his chair. H i s face irate and beet red, he bent nose to
nose over Gladstone, m a k i n g h i m a prisoner in his chair. " C a n you really
t h i n k thar, Father? We're i n a w a r w i t h Satan himself! M a y b e that w a r has
already been w o n for us. But r i g h t n o w , we have lost, are losing and w i l l
continue to lose battle alter battle! A n d y o u t h i n k the H o l y Father has
n o t h i n g better t o do t h a n b u t t o n h o l e you about money like some
ha'penny p o l i t i c i a n r u n n i n g f o r d o g catcher? W e l l , t h i n k again! Perhaps
you're t o o y o u n g to k n o w w h a t ' s g o i n g o n . But you're not t o o young t o
learn that what's going o n is far more complicated t h a n you have any
idea. Far more hellish, far m o r e d i v i n e , far more hazardous than you can
begin to i m a g i n e ! "
Slattery straightened to his f u l l , t o w e r i n g height and glared d o w n at
Chris w i t h blue-eyed ferocity. " I f y o u srop l o o k i n g for adolescent assur-
ances l o n g enough, maybe y o u can j o i n in this w a r . But I w a r n y o u , you
learn f r o m barrle t o battle. If all you w a n t is a little order in y o u r lirrle life,
and a little corner of academia is where you t h i n k you can find i t , then I
tell y o u , y o u ' l l be a l u m p o f garbage jusr r a k i n g up space. There are
hundreds of academics of t h a t ilk i n Rome. A n d d o y o u k n o w w h a t
they're really heading for? I ' l l tell y o u in one w o r d . Death. You c o u l d take
t h a t r o a d , t o o . A n d by the same t o k e n , y o u ' d be damned. . .
Slattery stopped in mid-sentence, his face twisted by the ugly and repul-
sive t h o u g h t he had begun t o express. By his knowledge as an exorcist,
 264 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

and by his firsthand experience o f the d a m n e d . H e stepped away f r o m

Gladstone and moved t o w a r d rhe w i n d o w . W h e n he spoke again his voice
was softer, b u t all the m o r e r i v e t i n g f o r that. " I n the w a r f a r e that's going
o n , there are quite a few o f us o n the side o f the angels. But we are not that
many c o m p a r e d to the mass o f camp f o l l o w e r s t r o t t i n g m e r r i l y along o n
rhe coattails o f those o u t t o destroy w h a r we are t r y i n g to salvage.
" I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t choices C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y p u t t o y o u , Padre. But
1*11 put y o u a choice, and 11*11 make i t very simple. Are you one of us o r
not? If the answer is yes, start m a r c h i n g f r o m battle to battle like rhe resr
o f us. I f rhe answer is n o , then ger our f r o m under o u r feer."
Chris held Slattery's stare f o r a long m i n u t e . The D o m i n i c a n had n o t
o n l y made the choice clear; he had pur ir in rerms rhar were eerily familiar.
" T e l l me, Father-General. Is Father Carnesecca one o f — e r , one o f us?"'
" W h y d o y o u ask?"
" I was just remembering. Y o u r talk about warfare and abour Saran
reminded me o f somerhing he said a long rime ago a b o u t our being in rhe
middle o f a global w a r f a r e of spirit. A n d a b o u t spirit being where true
victory or defear w i l l lie. H e said rhat the center o f rhe battle is i n Rome,
but that a siege has been raised against the Pontiff f r o m w i t h i n the Vatican
structure itself."
" T h e n in the name o f H e a v e n , G l a d s t o n e ! " Slattery let his full weight
d o w n i n t o his chair so heavily that something in its frame cracked f r o m
the sudden strain, " I f you can understand that m u c h , w h y can't you u n -
derstand the w h o l e p i c t u r e ? "
"Is Carnesecca one o f us?" C h r i s t i a n w o u l d have his answer.
" I n the sense y o u mean, the answer is yes. I n the larger sense, the an-
swer is that Father A l d o is special. He already belongs w h o l l y to G o d . But
the question o n the table isn't about Father Carnesecca." Slattery was
determined to have the issue decided one w a y or rhe orher. " T h e question,
Padre, is whether y o u are one o f u s ! "
" Y e s ! " H e shot his decision back as if he were discharging an explosive
device. " I a m ! "
"So! You w i l l meer w i r h H i s Holiness rhis e v e n i n g ! "
"Yes! 1 w i l l ! "
" W e l l ! W h y d i d n ' r you say so at the beginning, l a d ? " The Master-Gen-
eral rose f r o m the chair andl headed our rhe d o o r , leaving ir ajar. " T h e r e ' l l
be a car d o w n ar the d o o r ar e i g h t - f i f t e e n , " he called f r o m the c o r r i d o r .

W h e n M o n s i g n o r e Daniel led Christian i n t o rhe private papal srudy on rhe

f o u r t h floor o f rhe Apostoliic Palace that evening, any vestige o f cynicism
concerning the Slavic Pope that m i g h t have survived D a m i e n Slattery's
onslaught was dissipated l i k e smoke.
Seated in a p o o l o f l i g h t at his desk, the P o n t i f f lifted his head almost
imperceptibly at the slight sound o f entry. Pen still in h a n d , he met Chris-
tian's eyes w i t h a direct glance rhar changed immediately f r o m querying t o
 () I M I C F. A N D M K N 265

w e l c o m i n g . I t was more as i f , simply by appearing i n the r o o m , Christian

had captured the focus o f the H o l y Father's m i n d , pushing whatever had
engrossed h i m to the periphery o f his a t t e n t i o n . In simple movements,
rapid bur devoid o f any haste. His Holiness laid d o w n his pen and came
a r o u n d rhe desk, his hands outstretched, the smile i n his eyes softening his
features.
F r o m rhe m o m e n t he knell t o kiss rhe papal r i n g , Gladstone was certain
that even if he were never t o see this man again, he w o u l d be held none-
theless in that smiling glance., and i n the q u a l i t y of majesty that clothed the
papal persona. A l l of that was this PontifPs personal expression of a basic
connection that binds every Pope w i t h every priest o f g o o d faith. Gos-
samerlike in irs seeming insubsrantialiry, that connection w o u l d be more
lasting for C h r i s r i a n rhan a c o r d of tempered steel. A t h i n g as p r i m a l as the
feeling that once p r o m p t e d Paul rhe Apostle to cry o u t , " A b b a ! F a t h e r ! "
As refined as C a r d i n a l N e w m a n ' s c h i l d l i k e sigh as he was received inro the
C h u r c h : " I n c r e d i b l e — h o m e ar lasr!"
O n the face o f i t , rhis w h i t e - r o b e d i n d i v i d u a l w h o t o o k Chris's hand in
his and guided h i m to one o f t w o armchairs in a corner o f rhe study was
no different f r o m m a n y o t h e r men he had encountered. The Floly Father
was o b v i o u s l y ageing before his t i m e . Fie was gaunt-faced rather than f u l l -
cheeked. Fragile rather t h a n ebullient. I l l u m i n e d in himself rather than
intense in manner. H i s deep voice, his accenred I t a l i a n , the Slavic r h y t h m
o f his e n u n c i a t i o n m i g h t have belonged to any o f a thousand others. Yet
there was t h a t w i s p o f a difference. As a distant light implies a l a m p , as a
spoken w o r d implies a speaker, as a spent wave f a n n i n g o u t u p o n a shore
implies the deep ocean b e y o n d , so, t o o , everything about the Slavic
Pope—speech, gaze, gesture o f eye and h a n d — i m p l i e d some greater u n -
seen presence.
T h e first t h i n g o n the H o l y Father's m i n d was to thank his y o u n g A m e r -
ican visitor f o r his aid in securing the photos o f Bernini's Noli Me
Tangere. " I t is a blessing we w i l l always share, Father G l a d s t o n e . "
" I t was little enough t o d o , H o l i n e s s . "
" P e r h a p s . " T h e Pope pursed his lips. " S t i l l , as a priest y o u are reckoned
to be always a b o u t o u r Father's business, one way or another. T h a t means
His special grace is w i t h y o u . Yer Farher Slattery tells me you feel d i s o r i -
ented by o u r present Rome."
W i t h o u t m e n t i o n i n g C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's name. C h r i s t i a n answered
the H o l y Father's i m p l i e d question w i t h a m i l d c o m p l a i n t about the impe-
rious " p l u c k i n g and t u g g i n g " at his sleeves. T h e pressure, he confessed,
was d i f f i c u l t t o manage.
" I n d e e d . " T h e H o l y Farher shifted in his chair as i f the thought had
caused h i m some physical p a i n . " 1 understand t h a t , believe me. But it is
well t o remember. Father Gladstone, t h a t G o d does w a g the tail o f the
dog; and that by himself, the d o g can't d o even that m u c h ! "
 266 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Chris c o u l d n ' t suppress a smile at the image o f the m i g h t y , red-sashed

M a e s t r o i a n n i as a dog w a g g i n g its t a i l .
" T e l l me this, Father." T h e Pope seemed at ease again. " W o u l d y o u r
d i s c o m f o r r prevent y o u r sincere help t o us in b u i l d i n g the N e w Jerusalem?
In b u i l d i n g anew the Body o f O u r Savior? We are few. But Christ is the
M a s t e r Builder. A n d " — r h e Ponriff smiled jusr a little n o w — " H i s M o t h e r
is i n charge of o p e r a t i o n s . "
Chris never c o u l d recall exacrly rhe w o r d s he used ro assure H i s H o l i -
ness t h a t n o t h i n g shorr o f death w o u l d prevent h i m f r o m rendering w h a t -
ever service he m i g h t . N o r was he in any w a y clear a b o u t the Floly Fa-
ther's meaning. W h a t he d i d r e m e m b e r — w h a t conveyed a confidence
beyond his comprehension and remained a constant refrain in his m i n d
ever a f t e r — w e r e the exact w o r d s w i t h w h i c h the Slavic Pope welcomed
him i n t o the w a r . " T h e n c o m e . Father Gladstone! C o m e ! Suffer a little
w h i l e w i t h us a l l , and bear the present anguish for the sake of a great,
great h o p e ! "

" J e r u s a l e m ! " Secrerary-General Paul T h o m a s Gladsrone held rhe tele-

phone receiver away f r o m his ear for a second and srared ar ir in disbelief.
"Jerusalem, M r . G l a d s t o n e ! " The exasperation i n Cyrus Benthoek's
voice was as t h i c k as L o n d o n f o g . " D o we have a bad connection? I d i d
say Jerusalem. A private plane w i l l be w a i t i n g f o r y o u at the a i r p o r r in
Brussels Friday evening. We have booked a suite f o r y o u at the K i n g D a v i d
H o t e l . You w i l l be back h o m e in plenty o f t i m e f o r y o u r M o n d a y sched-
ule."
" W e , M r . Benthoek?" Paul k n e w better t h a n to cavil. But his question
seemed a fair one in the circumstances.
" Y e s . " Benthoek sounded his n o r m a l , imperious self again. " A n i m p o r -
tant associate of mine w i l l j o i n us. D r , Ralph C h a n n i n g . You may have
read some o f his m o n o g r a p h s . If y o u havcn'r, y o u s h o u l d . In any case, y o u
w i l l find rhis little p i l g r i m a g e ro be w e l l w o r t h y o u r w h i l e . Well w o r t h
y o u r professional w h i l e . " Elenthoek rang o f f , leaving Gladstone disgrun-
rled ar rhis i n r e r r u p r i o n i n Ihis heavy schedule ar rhe EC.
Paul had not experienced any o f his brother's difficulties in learning the
ropes o f his new j o b . He was p u t t i n g in fifreen-hour days in his offices ar
the Berlaymonr B u i l d i n g . A n d , rhough it was still early Ocrober, he had
already sar i n at his firsr plenary session of the EC C o u n c i l M i n i s t e r s . He
had yet t o finish reading the back records; and so a few o f the details that
had come u p f o r discussion a m o n g the M i n i s t e r s were beyond h i m . But
luck had favored h i m i n t h a t the m a i n issue had concerned rhe General
Agreemenr o n T a r i f f s and T r a d e .
T h a r meering had made ir plain t h a t the blockage in the so-called U r u -
guay R o u n d o f G A T T negotiations had far less ro d o w i r h rhe price o f
f a r m c o m m o d i r i e s rhan w i r h rhe c o n r e n t i o n berween Euro-Atlanticists and
 OF MICE AND Ml E N 267

Eurocentric*. Caul c o u l d n ' t sere the much vaunted goal of a politically and
m o n e t a r i l y unified Europe c o m i n g about by January 1 , 1993.
Wisely, however, Gladstone had kept quiet o n that p o i n t in the meeting
itself, and had f o l l o w e d the same cautious policy d u r i n g a small reception
given immediarely a f r e r w a r d by rhe M i n i s t e r s t o welcome the new Secre-
tary-General f o r m a l l y i n t o their midst. He had fit easily i n t o the company
of those r a n k i n g d i p l o m a t s , c h a t t i n g w i t h each in his o w n language.
T h a t reception had also p r o v i d e d Gladstone w i t h the o p p o r t u n i t y to
meet the EC members o f rhe ad hoc Selection Commitree w h o had elecred
h i m . As parliamenrary secreraries, they accompanied their Foreign M i n i s -
ters to any plenary meeting; a n d they had appeared as eager—or as c u r i -
ous, perhaps—to have a l o o k at this A m e r i c a n interloper as he was ro get
to k n o w each of t h e m .
Paul had f o r m e d a fair idea of w h a t to expect f r o m these twelve men
and w o m e n w h o had c o n n i v e d together to ease his w a y . He had shaken
hands w i t h each of t h e m . H e had discussed England's cross-Channel inter-
ests w i t h Feathersrone-Haugh. H e had commiserated w i t h C o r r a d o Dello
ludice over Italy's problems w i t h inflation and the M a f i a . H e had shared
an o p i n i o n or r w o w i r h Francisco dos Sanros abour Portugal's current
problems. W i t h Germany's c o m m i t t e d E u r o - A r l a n t i c i s t Emil Schenker he
had speculared abour rhe f u t u r e of Russia. W i t h a l l of t h e m , in fact, he had
exchanged pleasantries and had made arrangements t o see each of them
again w i t h i n the next several days. Even France's Nicole Cresson had
welcomed Gladsrone w a r m l y , and had agreed t o j o i n h i m and her good
friend Schenker for dinner i n the near future. But it was w i t h Belgium's
Jan B o r l i u t h that he had struck up an immediate and genuine friendship.
T h e o n l y real d i f f i c u l t y f o r Paul Gladsrone in rhe early going was ro find
a permanenr place to live. T h e a p a r t m e n t he had taken f o r himself and his
f a m i l y was ample enough i n size, and i t was w i t h i n w a l k i n g distance of the
B e r l a y m o n t . But i t s i m p l y w o u l d n ' t d o for any length of rime. H e and
Yusai b o t h abhorred apartment-house l i v i n g . A n d , fresh f r o m Liselton,
Declan was like a l i o n cub i n a cage. Even their n o r m a l l y irrepressible
housekeeper and c o o k , H a n n a h D o w d , was miserable. A n d the a l l - p u r -
pose domestic Maggie M u l v a h i l l , w h o had come a l o n g w i r h them t o Brus-
sels, was becoming d o w n r i g h r m o o d y . In the circumsrances, Paul had
sought the services of a local realtor and carried o n a weekend search for a
proper house. T h a t , in fact, was rhe rrue cause o f his dismay ar Benthoek's
imperious summons. I le w o u l d do a lor better, he g r u m b l e d ro himself, ro
have another go at the available real estate in the area than t o make a
pilgrimage t o Jerusalem.
It was forrunate rhar Paul's lunch rhar day was w i r h Jan B o r l i u t h . A
grandfather five rimes over, E o r l i u r h seemed n a t u r a l l y to assume a pater-
nal interest for anyone he met w h o was in need. Already he had been o f
considerable help to Paul in his advice a b o u t such practical sertlirtg-in
problems as b a n k i n g facilities., w o r k permits f o r his domestic help, identity
 268 W INDSWtPT H O II S I

cards, Declan's schooling and suchlike. A n d he had set aside the c o m i n g

weekend t o help in Paul's search for a house.
As rhey sar rogerher in rhe Berlaymont's canopied r o o f t o p restaurant,
the Belgian was crestfallen t o learn rhat Gladsrone w o u l d lose rhe week-
end o n rhar score. A n d he became all the more adamant in his offer of
help. " I f y o u r w i f e is w i l l i n g , and if y o u w i l l trust me w i t h your family
w h i l e y o u are a w a y , she a n d 1 w i l l carry o n the search this weekend as
planned."
Paul j u m p e d at the idea. He made a phone call to Yusai to explain his
predicament and Jan's o f f e r . A n d , i n her C o n f u c i a n w a y , Yusai agreed ro
the plan w i t h a m i x t u r e o f q u a i n t hope and t o u g h practicality. " H e a v e n
must smile o n us, Paul. O t h e r w i s e rhis simply w i l l n o t w o r k o u t for us."
" I t ' s settled, t h e n ! " B o r l i u t h raised a glass when Paul returned t o their
table. " W i r h any luck at a l l , y o u w i l l return ro Brussels on Sunday night t o
find y o u r p r o b l e m s o l v e d ! '
1

W h e n Paul Gladstone checked i n t o Jerusalem's K i n g D a v i d H o t e l shortly

after nine o'clock o n F r i d a y evening, he f o u n d a brief note in Benthoek's
hand w a i t i n g for h i m at the registry desk. " I f you are n o t too tired after
y o u r flight, do join D r . C h a n n i n g and myself for a light evening meal in
the d i n i n g r o o m . " T h i s was n o t a social i n v i t a t i o n , b u t a summons. He
folded rhe note, had his bag sent up to his suite and headed for rhe d i n i n g
room.
" H o w g o o d ro see y o u i n Jerusalem, P a u l ! " Benrhoek was rhe picture o f
octogenarian w i s d o m and fitness as he w e l c o m e d Paul t o his table. " D r .
C h a n n i n g here has been l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to o u r lirrle meeting for some
time n o w . "
" I n d e e d , M r . G l a d s r o n e . " Ralph C h a n n i n g smiled t h r o u g h his splendid
goatee and raised a glass o f Israeli w i n e . " W e l c o m e t o the Queen of C i t -
ies."
Paul was barely able to disguise his astonishment at Channing's toast.
H e h a d n ' t k n o w n w h a t t o expect of this so-called pilgrimage; b u t he had
not t h o u g h t i t w o u l d begin w i t h the w o r d s o f a prayer that was already
ancient in the day of D a v i d .
H e f o u n d C h a n n i n g sympathetic. T h e Professor obviously enjoyed the
academic t u r n of phrase. But he also showed himself to be a man accus-
t o m e d t o t h i n k in terms o f large horizons, and to be above any vulgar
prejudice o r crude partisanship. In the course of discussing Gladsrone's
w o r k i n Brussels, f o r example, Professor C h a n n i n g referred t o the F.C as
" t h i s conrinenral o r g a n i z a t i o n , " t o its goal as "Greater l u i r o p e " and t o the
sociery o f nations as " o u r h u m a n f a m i l y . " Paul f o u n d all o f that to be
most appealing.
As w i t h the y o u n g A m e r i c a n ' s w o r k , so w i t h his r e l i g i o n . " Y o u r o w n
t r a d i t i o n , M r . Gladstone,"' C h a n n i n g o f f e r e d , "has been rhe epitome of
g l o b a l i s m for quite a w h i l e . Despite some remnants of past idiosyncrasies,
 OF MICE AND MEN 269

rhe R o m a n Catholic t r a d i t i o n is surely o u r best ally in rhe final phase of

g l o b a l i z i n g our c i v i l i z a t i o n . W o u l d y o u n o t agree?"
Despite a slow and reassuring n o d f r o m Benthoek, Paul t h o u g h t i t best
to be reserved. Ir was simple enough ro be borh t r u t h f u l and vague in his
answer. " A n y lapse in m y o w n practice o f C a r h o l i c i s m , Professor, has
been precisely because o f certain idiosyncrasies. Especially in matters of
personal m o r a l i t y . "
C h a n n i n g was n o t t o be p u t o f f by such a cautious n o n - r e p l y . " I must be
f r a n k w i t h y o u . T i m e is r u s h i n g by us a l l . A n d there is so much f r u i t f u l
c o l l a b o r a t i o n possible ro m a k e rhis a better w o r l d . M a n y o f o u r friends in
Rome t h i n k it is pasr high t i m e for a change. A n d they are h o p i n g that a
s o l u t i o n m a y be f o u n d . " A r the same t i m e , Professor C h a n n i n g had to
confess that the situation was a little c o m p l i c a t e d . " W h e n the Vatican is
i n v o l v e d , the situation is always c o m p l i c a t e d . Bur as far as y o u r limited
role is concerned, the matter can be p u t s i m p l y . "
Surprise number t w o for Paul was that he should have any role at a l l ,
l i m i t e d or otherwise, in V a t i c a n matters.
T h a t was understandable, D r . C h a n n i n g a l l o w e d . But perhaps G l a d -
stone was conversant w i t h the career o f the renowned C a r d i n a l Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i , recently retired as Vatican Secretary of State. . . . No?
W e l l , no matter. T h e p o i n t w a s that H i s Eminence was n o t o n l y one o f
Cyrus Benthoek's most valued friends b u t a friend of Channing's as w e l l .
A n d the p o i n t was that, w h e n i t came to the Europe t h a t must be, His
Eminence was o f the same m i n d as the three men gathered at this very
table. H i s Eminence w o u l d be d e v o t i n g his retirement years to the welfare
and w i d e r education o f R o m a n Catholic bishops in the affairs o f the
Greater European C o m m u n i t y .
" I d o n ' t m i n d saying that such education is badly needed," Benthoek
added. " R C bishops are w o e f u l l y lacking in a real s p i r i t of cooperation
w i t h that grand ideal of a Europe greater than i t ever was before. You
s h o u l d be very pleased rhat your brother w i l l be w o r k i n g in the most
intimate collaboration w i t h Cardinal Maestroianni."
"Christian?" Paul d i d n ' t even rry t o disguise his consternation. So far as
he k n e w , Chris was as a n x i o u s as ever t o finish his d o c t o r a l thesis on the
Isenheim alrarpiece and q u i t R o m e for g o o d . In facr, this was rhe time of
year for Christian t o be teaching at the N e w Orleans Seminary.
" I see we have taken y o u o f f g u a r d , M r . G l a d s t o n e . " Professor C h a n -
ning was a s m o o t h n u m b e r . " B u t I assure y o u , y o u r brother is Rome-
based n o w . I believe y o u and Father Gladstone w i l l n o w have many o p -
p o r t u n i t i e s t o get together."
Surprise number rhree p r o d u c e d t o t a l confusion in Gladstone. But Paul
c o u l d n ' t see h o w his older b r o t h e r ' s association w i t h C a r d i n a l Maestro-
ianni's educational projecrs had a n y r h i n g t o d o w i r h himself. H e was
happy i f C h r i s had landed o n his feet somewhere near the rop of the
Vatican heap. But . . .
 270 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

C h a n n i n g was a b o u t t o f o l l o w up o n Gladstone's surprise when a cau-

tionary f r o w n f r o m Cyrus Benthoek w a r n e d h i m off. For all his brilliance,
the g o o d D o c t o r was n o t c u n n i n g about t i m i n g and finesse. As a connois-
seur o f m e n . Therefore, a n d as a master at leading t h e m i n t o his o w n plans,
Benthoek turned a s m i l i n g and benign face to his perturbed y o u n g pro-
tege H e aimed a f r o w n at C h a n n i n g , and a smile at Gladstone. " L e t us all
remember. We have t w o full days ahead o f us. We w i l l go i n t o greater
detail t o m o r r o w , w h e n w e are a little m o r e rested. Suffice ir t o say for rhe
m o m e n t that in this intended pilgrimage ot ours, we are f o l l o w i n g in the
f o r w a r d f o o t p r i n t s of h i s t o r y . "

Paul passed a fitful night d u r i n g w h i c h he was assailed anew by those

nevermore-demons rhat had beset h i m after his i n i t i a t i o n interview w i t h
Benthoek in L o n d o n . But Saturday m o r n i n g f o u n d h i m rested and eager to
take up the conversation t h a t had been left d a n g l i n g the night before. To
his f r u s t r a t i o n , however, Benthoek and D r . C h a n n i n g had other ideas.
" W e have booked a l i m o u s i n e , M r . G l a d s t o n e . " C h a n n i n g cooed that
bit of i n f o r m a t i o n over his coffee and eggs.
" I n d e e d ! " Benthoek gave his enthusiastic benediction t o the plan. i k

promised y o u a p i l g r i m a g e . A n d today ir w i l l begin. Wc have planned a

t o u r o f the archaeological sights rn the H o l y C i t y . "
So began an excursion t h a t had obviously been meticulously planned.
Paul had seen it all before, o f course, o n his earlier travels a b o u t the
w o r l d . Nevertheless, w i t h Channing's professional c o m m e n t a r y as con-
stant b a c k d r o p , and w i t h Benthoek as a one-man Greek chorus, Gladstone
g r a d u a l l y began t o l o o k at everything in this ancient place w i t h a more
refined understanding.
In the c o m p a n y o f these t w o u n c o m m o n m e n , he all but relived A b r a -
ham's visit t o M o u n t M o r i a h , where God's Covenant had been given to
the Patriarch t w o t h o u s a n d years before C h r i s t ; and under their guidance
he e x a m i n e d the remains o f K i n g David's C i t y w i t h a liberating freshness
of m i n d . H e stood beside them at the W a l l o f the ancient Temple; peered
w i t h t h e m i n t o K i n g Hezekiah's famed water t u n n e l carved t h r o u g h rhe
rock of M o u n t O p h e l ; p o r e d w i t h them over the Dead Sea Scrolls in the
Shrine o f rhe B o o k ; w o n d e r e d w i t h them at the blocked and mysterious
G o l d e n Gate o f the O l d C i t y , t h r o u g h w h i c h — a s C h a n n i n g e m p h a s i z e d —
m a n y believe rhe Messiah w i l l enter Jerusalem at the End o f Days.
"So y o u see, M r . G l a d s t o n e , " D r . C h a n n i n g said as the t r i o headed
t o w a r d the w a i t i n g l i m o u s i n e , " i n the e n d , perhaps we all l o o k t o the b i r t h
o f a N e w Heaven and a N e w E a r t h . "
" T o a t i m e , " Benthoek supplied the chorus, " w h e n nations w i l l beat
their swords i n t o p l o u g h s h a r e s . "
T h o u g h such observations were p l e n t i f u l , and t h o u g h they seemed per-
fectly designed to reopen the d o o r to the discussions of the night before,
Paul f o u n d to his bafflement and d i s a p p o i n t m e n t thar he c o u l d n o t turn
 OF MICE AND MEN 271

the conversation to matters o f present interest. Even when they sat d o w n

to a late luncheon at the h o t e l , Benthoek and C h a n n i n g refused to be
sidetracked f r o m their p i l g r i m a g e . " I only r e g r e t , " C h a n n i n g confided to
his t w o c o m p a n i o n s , " t h a t o u r time together w i l l n o t p e r m i t us to visit
other places o f deep interest t h a t s u r r o u n d u s . "
T h e Professor made up f o r the lack o f time by l a u n c h i n g i n t o a verbal
excursion. As Paul listened, lie began t o let go of his d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . H e
a l l o w e d his m i n d to be engaged instead by a new reverence, a sense of awe
and respect that was u n l i k e the o l d piety of his days at W i n d s w e p r House.
T h i s land was h o l y , he felt, because of something more than its sacred
hisrory. Because of something Benthoek and C h a n n i n g were t r y i n g t o
show h i m .
N o r was C h a n n i n g content to be merely a guide o n this verbal t o u r . H e
w a n t e d Paul's comments, his; questions, his observations, his reflections,
his memories. He wanred Paul Gladstone's m i n d .
" E v e n t h o u g h 1 a m no C h r i s r i a n believer, M r . Gladsrone"—Professor
C h a n n i n g laid his f o r k across his empry luncheon p l a r e — " 1 have ro admir
t h a t this Jesus of history was the greatest teacher this earth has ever held.
H e literally w e n t a r o u n d d o i n g g o o d t o all people w i t h o u t d i s t i n c t i o n , as
y o u r Bible clearly relates. Surely he was senr by a divine providence. A n y
man o f spirit must see that. W i t h thar i n m i n d , Cyrus and 1 w o u l d like you
ro come w i r h us t o make one m o r e visit o n this first day of o u r private
little p i l g r i m a g e . To a place each of us has seen before, bur t h a t all three of
us s h o u l d see t o g e t h e r . "
Paul was n o t astounded to find himself next, w i t h his t w o companions,
at the C h u r c h of the H o l y Sepulcher. There, at the spot where rhe body of
Chrisr had been placed in irs r o m b after the C r u c i f i x i o n , Paul was moved
by the sadness in D r . C h a n n i n g ' s voice as he remarked on rhe partisan
a n i m o s i t y that so obviously held sway a m o n g the different Christian de-
n o m i n a t i o n s charged w i r h rhe care of rhe H o l y Sepulcher. " I s it not an
u n w o r t h y spectacle, M r . Gladsrone? Even here, R o m a n C a t h o l i c Francis-
cans, Eastern O r r h o d o x priests, C o p t i c prelates and ail the others vie to be
rhe most i m p o r t a n t c u s t o d i a n s . "
" S h a m e f u l , " Benrhoek agreed r u e f u l l y . " I t really is time we all got t o -
gether."
O n the drive back to the h o t e l , as C h a n n i n g reflected o n the force of
t r a d i t i o n and o n the need felt by all religious-minded people to relive w h a t
he called " t h e f o u n d a t i o n a l happenings of their t r a d i t i o n , " Gladstone felt
a true sense of belonging. A sense of privilege. A sense of camaraderie, and
o f shared ideals and symparhies. A l l the surprise and consternation of the
p r i o r evening had been replaced by a welcome, t h o u g h t f u l peace.
It was o n l y after the three companions came together again at the d i n -
ner h o u r that things t u r n e d t o the specific purpose of these t w o remark-
able men in regard to Paul Gladstone. T h e Professor t u r n e d t o Paul w i t h
an imperious lifr of his head. " W e had h o p e d , " he began w i t h a sympa-
 272 W I NDS W E P 1 HOUSE

theric air o f concern, " t h a r rhis Pope w o u l d expand the universalism of

y o u r C h u r c h o n r o a t r u l y global plane. Tell us, M r . Gladstone. H o w do
you assess the presenr P o n t i f f ? "
" 1 see h i m i n a c o n t r a d i c t o r y Iighr. In some ways, he seems to be the last
of the o l d - t i m e Popes. But he has some traits of w h a t we can expect of
future Popes. O n the w h o l e , I suppose I see h i m as an i n t e r i m figure."
" A most interesting v i e w . " C h a n n i n g ran a hand over his shiny pate.
" N o t u n l i k e o u r o w n t h i n k i n g . But tell me, y o u n g m a n . W h a t about your-
self o n rhat score? D o y o u , t o o , still have one f o o t in the past?"
" S i r ? " Paul knew he was being led in this conversation every bit as
m u c h as he had been led a r o u n d Jerusalem. H e d i d n ' t m i n d that so much
n o w . But he w a n t e d some a d d i t i o n a l d i r e c t i o n .
" L e t me c l a r i f y rhe q u e s t i o n , " C h a n n i n g obliged. " A s far as Cyrus and I
have ascertained, y o u have q u i c k l y masrered the essentials of the post o f
Secretary-General. O v e r a l l , the Foreign M i n i s t e r s and the EC C o m m i s -
sioners h o l d you in high regard. The issue, therefore, is this. Are you
prepared t o transit t o another plane o f understanding? D o you feel ready
to grapple w i t h the real issues at stake in o u r efforts to move f o r w a r d t o
the goal of a globalized civilization? O f course, you can discharge your
duties i n Brussels perfectly w e l l w i t h o u t m a k i n g such a t r a n s i t i o n . M a n y
of y o u r predecessors have done just t h a t , and have passed on t o greener
pastures. O r d i n a r y , but greener."
In p o i n t o f fact, such pastures were precisely w h a t Paul had in m i n d .
But he k n e w better than t o say so.
" O r , " C h a n n i n g c o n t i n u e d , " y o u can enter i n t o an area o f privileged
k n o w l e d g e and c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h those w h o w a t c h over the w h o l e globat-
ist movement. T h a t w o u l d require a certain detachmenr on y o u r part. A
cerrain independence o f j u d g m e n t . Cyrus and I do n o t w a n t to influence
y o u u n d u l y . " D r . C h a n n i n g lied o n rhar p o i n t w i t h practiced ease. " B u t
f r o m all I have seen y o u have all those qualities and m o r e . "
" Q u i r e r i g h t ! " Benthoek smiled handsomely at this p o i n t . " Q u i t e right!
But is i t n o t t i m e t o set things o u t a little more clearly f o r our y o u n g
associare?" Cyrus rurned t o Gladstone as a c o n d u c t o r ro an orchestra.
"Jusr as y o u r abiliries are held in such esteem at the EC, so, t o o , your
brother's abilities as a scholar and a c h u r c h m a n are h i g h l y appreciated by
his Vatican superiors. N o v / , as fate w o u l d have i t , m y good friend C a r d i -
nal M a e s r r o i a n n i has conveyed a mission o f delicacy and importance t o
Father Gladstone. A mission in w h i c h many p o w e r f u l men have a vital
interest."
There was no d o u b t t h a t Benthoek included himself and Professor
C h a n n i n g a m o n g such p o v / e r f u l men. T h e w o n d e r o f i t for Paul, however,
was thar he, t o o , seemed t o be included; and his brorher as w e l l .
A w a r e o f his advantage—indeed, h a v i n g come all the w a y to Jerusalem
to secure i t — C y r u s leaned f o r w a r d . In a mosr confidential rone, he ex-
plained t h a t in the course o f his w o r k in Europe, Farher Christian G l a d -
 OF MICE AND M EN 273

stone w o u l d need t o ask Paul's assistance f o r certain bishops. " F a c i l i t a t i o n

in hank loans and mortgages, consultation in questions a b o u t landed
p r o p e r t y , t a x reductions and so o n . N o w , let me put a scenario to y o u . A
vision I have i n w h i c h y o u r o w n intimate connections w i t h the C o u n c i l o f
European M i n i s t e r s w i l l enable Farher Gladsrone to accommodate rhe
bishops in these marrers. A v i s i o n in w h i c h , w i t h those favors done, the
bishops themselves w i l l surely be favorably inclined t o w a r d rhe Minisrers.
M o r e favorably inclined t o w a r d a true spirit o f cooperation w i t h o u r
grand ideal o f rhe Greater European C o m m u n i t y . M o r e f a v o r a b l y inclined
ro bring rhe C h u r c h irself t h r o u g h w h a t y o u have r i g h t l y called the interim
phase currently presided over by the present P o n t i f f . "
Gladstone listened c a r e f u l l y . T h o u g h he noted a number o f gaps and
omissions in Benthoek's account o f his v i s i o n , he was pleased that Chris-
tian was apparently so m u c h more artuned rhan he had imagined ro rhe
g l o b a l i z i n g t r e n d o f w o r l d affairs. Still, Paul had his doubrs. Thar rhe
Foreign Minisrers o f rhe EC nations had a high o p i n i o n o f h i m as Secre¬
tary-General was one t h i n g . But it d i d n ' t seem likely that such p o w e r f u l
men w o u l d lightly render such favors as Benrhoek had o u r l i n e d to a new-
comer. At least, n o t o n such a regular basis as this conversation i m p l i e d ;
and above a l l , n o t for the benefit of Rome. Such doors d i d not open just
like thar, w i l l y - n i l l y .
W i t h his clear statement o f those objections, Paul Gladstone opened the
d o o r , w i l l y - n i l l y , to his o w n final seduction. The w a y was clear for the
c u l t i v a t i o n in h i m o f a spirit w e l l adapted to the exigencies o f his active life
as Secretary-General o f the European C o m m u n i t y .
Cyrus Benthoek starred the ball r o l l i n g o n a seemingly new theme that
was as surprising f o r Gladstone as hearing himself addressed familiarly
now by his first name.
" D r . C h a n n i n g and 1 have asked you to join us, Paul, precisely to open
many doors t o y o u . D o o r s o f cooperation and rrust and concern and
shared inrerests. A n d we have asked y o u to join us at this particular
t i m e — a n d in this p a r t i c u l a r p a r t o f the world—because here at this m o -
ment is a gathering o f a most prestigious Lodge. Are you aware, Paul, that
many h i g h - r a n k i n g prelates iin the Vatican belong t o the L o d g e ? "
Paul t o o k a m o m e n t t o reply. "Yes. Bur rhere is still some official disaf-
fection as regards Freemasonry."
Dr. C h a n n i n g was quick r o supply a corrective. " T h e o n l y i m p o r t a n t
source o f disaffection rhat remains is rhe present H o l y Farher. But—as you
have observed so w i s e l y — i n some ways he is rhe last of the o l d - t i m e
Popes."
Benthoek pressed f o r w a r d again w i t h a paternal smile. "Professor
C h a n n i n g and I have decided t o make y o u a parr o f o u r little enclave. For
you are f a m i l y , m y boy. T h a t is w h a t we have become t o d a y , isn't it?
M e m b e r s o f the same f a m i l y . "
W i t h t h a t , and w i t h m a n y a graceful flourish ot phrasing, Benthoek
 274 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

congratulated Paul o n his g o o d f o r r u n e i n having been invired t o appear

before rhe G r a n d Lodge o f Israel. C y r u s w o u l d rake care rhat Gladstone
w o u l d learn more in the c o m i n g weeks. It was enough this evening,
t h o u g h , for the y o u n g m a n t o k n o w t h a t , w h i l e this Lodge was y o u n g — i t
had begun o n l y in 1 9 5 3 — i t flourished nonetheless as a G r a n d O r i e n t , and
w o r k e d the Y o r k Rite under the Supreme Chapter of the Royal A r c h w i t h
its allied degrees. Further, i t had the Supreme Counsel o f the A A A Scottish
Rite Lodges o f Perfection, Chapters, Areopags and Consistories.
The f l o o d o f names was new t o Gladstone. Still, he was taken by
Benthoek's subtext. For w h a t d a w n e d w i t h i n the inner reaches o f Paul's
easily captivated soul was the realization t h a t he had been summoned to
this ancient city n o t for the purpose o f l o o k i n g to the dusty past, but to
enter fully i n t o a new w a y o f l i v i n g . To j o i n the privileged company o f men
who were engaged in b u i l d i n g the N e w Jerusalem. To j o i n a restricted
n u m b e r o f i n d i v i d u a l s w h o always c o u l d and always d i d open doors for
one another, f o r t h a t noble purpose. To enter i n t o rhe hearr o f his o w n
success.
Everything Benthoek said confirmed Gladstone's understanding.
" T h r o u g h o u r this d a y , Paul, we have been reminded o f the importance of
fraternal love a m o n g all men o f g o o d w i l l . Thar is Bethlehem's message,
and Calvary's message. But at the very foor o f the Cross—ar the Church o f
the H o l y Sepulcher—we have also been reminded h o w elusive that mes-
sage is f o r rhe citizens o f this w o r k a d a y w o r l d .
" W h a t makes me p r o u d to be associated w i r h y o u — a n d I k n o w D r .
C h a n n i n g joins me in this—is the universalist o u t l o o k you have displayed
t o us. For rhar is the essence o f o u r o u t l o o k ; the essence of o u r life's w o r k .
You have come very far, my y o u n g f r i e n d . I t was o n l y last m o n t h in
L o n d o n t h a t we spoke together of w h a t it means to leave the valley floor
and t o w a l k u p o n the m o u n t a i n t o p . Yet already you are being called to the
heights where there is no clash o f r i v a l faiths. N o petty claims to p r i o r i t y ,
or ro special privileges, or to religious exclusivism. T o m o r r o w , D r . C h a n -
n i n g a n d I w i l l b r i n g y o u t o the c r o w n i n g event of this pilgrimage. We w i l l
take y o u t o t h a t m o u n t a i n where all acknowledge the same divine power
a n d a u t h o r i t y a m o n g m e n . We w i l l usher y o u i n t o a w o r l d o f perfect
ecumenism." C y r u s paused for a brief instant, then leaned f o r w a r d as
t h o u g h the w o r l d he had just described depended for all its hopes on
Paul's response. " W i l l you come w i t h us to the m o u n t a i n t o p ? "
Paul felt no t u g o f neverrnore-demons n o w . N o r was there a trace o f the
panic or self-reproach he had felt in L o n d o n . Rather, he felt like shouting
his assent. H o w e v e r , Paul Gladsrone simply gave the answer that w o u l d
bind h i m w i t h his brorher in u n w i r t i n g bur essential cooperation to elicit
f r o m the bishops o f his C h u r c h a C o m m o n M i n d against the Slavic Pope.
" I w i l l come w i t h y o u , M r . Benthoek. M o s t w i l l i n g l y . "
_i j j j
 OK MICE AND MFN 275

T h e i n v i t a t i o n t o the mountctiinrop turned o u t t o be m o r e rhan a figure o f

speech.
" A m i n a d a b , " Ralph C h a n n i n g explained t o Paul as the three Americans
left their hotel Together the f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g , " i s one o f the highest
points in the environs o f Jerusalem."
" T o o bad the weather is t u r n i n g against u s . " Benthoek scanned the sky.
" W e w o n ' t have a view d o w n t o rhe Sinai, or over t o the Jordan o r the
M e d i t e r r a n e a n . But w e w i l l have an expert driver t o b r i n g us safely t o o u r
destination a n d home a g a i n . "
The expert d r i v e r — a n Israeli w h o spoke English w i t h an O x f o r d accent
and w h o inrroduced himself as H a l — w e l c o m e d his passengers into his
four-wheel-drive Jeep w i t h a w o r d o f advice. "Fasten your seat belts, gen-
tlemen, we're g o i n g t o be c l i m b i n g at an acute angle most o f rhe w a y . "
A n i n i t i a l low-grade ascent brought the pilgrims t o a steeply inclined
dirt r o a d . Given the c o n d i t i o n o f the road and rhe worsening weather,
there was no question o f a t t a i n i n g any great speed. As they climbed higher
and ran inro swatches o f dense, s w i r l i n g gray mist that hid the way ahead,
it seemed to h i m that some p r i m a l force had m o l d e d rocks and boulders
into the shapes o f ruined temples and c r o u c h i n g mastodons and unnamed
monsters petrified w i r h age. O n l y n o w and again, w h e n the mist broke f o r
a time, d i d he catch glimpses o f the valley receding i n rhe distance below.
As they headed up the final approach t o A m i n a d a b , the f u l l force o f the
s t o r m broke a r o u n d t h e m . T h e heavy veils o f mist, the sharp reports o f
thunder a n d the m o m e n t a r y brilliance o f l i g h t n i n g slashing over the gray-
black face o f the landscape created an impression o f some ancient resident
god angered at their a p p r o a c h , and i n i m i c a l t o all that was human and
pleasant a n d a c c o m m o d a t i n g . T h e n , suddenly, just as the road flartened
out t o an almost level plane, the sun broke t h r o u g h , splaying irs gold-red
banners across rhe sky.
"See!" Cyrus laughed i n e x u l t a n t g o o d h u m o r . " T h e very heavens smile
upon us at A m i n a d a b ! It w i l l a l l be very g o o d ! "
A t rhar magical m o m e n t , H a l rounded his Jeep past a corner o f rock,
ascended f o r another three h u n d r e d yards or so, a n d b r o u g h t them all
safely i n t o the small hamlet o f A m i n a d a b perched in t r a n q u i l l i t y o n the
mountaintop.
Paul looked about i n some disappointment. Afrer the wonders o f Jeru-
salem, this was nor an i n s p i r i n g spot. There were some half dozen cinder-
block houses g r o u p e d a r o u n d a few more impressively consrructed b u i l d -
ings. Except f o r some rhirty o r f o r t y vehicles i n the car park adjacent t o
the largest b u i l d i n g , the place seemed deserted.
It was i n f r o n t o f that b u i l d i n g rhar H a l d r e w t o a halt. Gladstone
clambered o u t o f the Jeep a n d f o l l o w e d C h a n n i n g a n d Benthoek t o the
d o o r , where rhe Professor called his attention to a plaque above the entry-
way.
" A s y o u see, the Star o f D a v i d and the C h r i s t i a n Cross and the Crescent
 276 WINDSWEPT II O U S E

M o o n are all framed w i r h i n rhe Square and Compass o f Freemasonry.

N o w , come w i t h Cyrus a n d me t o see rhat very h u m a n miracle in rhe
flesh."
C h a n n i n g led the way u p a staircase rhat gave o n t o an open, wide,
sparsely furnished r o o m o c c u p y i n g the f u l l extent o f the b u i l d i n g . A t the
center o f the r o o m had been placed whar appeared to be a m i n i a t u r e ark.
Solidly b u i l t , abour t w o feet h i g h , r w o feet w i d e and perhaps rhree feet in
length, i t rested o n a r o y a l - b l u e cushion and was surrounded by pedes-
taled standards, each bearing a lighted taper. A n enormous Bible lay open
on the a r k and covered its upper surface.
T h e r w o end walls o f the chamber were covered almosr f r o m floor ro
ceiling by black velvet currains, rhe one emblazoned in silver thread w i t h
the emblems o f Judaism, C h r i s t i a n i t y and Islam; rhe other, w i r h the
Square and Compass o f the C r a f t . Ranged along each o f the long side
walls were three r o w s o f pews f r o m w h i c h , as Paul stepped f o r w a r d
flanked by C h a n n i n g and Benthoek, silent men turned to inspect the new
arrivals. A gentle-faced m a n w i r h a great shock o f w h i t e hair came for-
w a r d , his hands outstretched.
" W e l c o m e , B r o t h e r s . " Fie addressed C h a n n i n g first, and then Benrhoek.
"Please welcome Paul T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . " D r . C h a n n i n g ruined sol-
emn eyes upon Paul. " M r . Gladstone, I have the h o n o r ro present Shlomo
Goshen-Gortstein, Sovereign G r a n d C o m m a n d e r . "
" Y o u are mosr welcome here, M r . G l a d s t o n e , " rhe G r a n d C o m m a n d e r
responded generously. "Please come, all o f y o u , and rake y o u r seats w i r h
us."
F r o m his place ar rhe center of the r o o m beside the m i n i a t u r e a r k , the
G r a n d C o m m a n d e r began w i r h a little address to Paul. " A s you may
k n o w , o u r Lodge was f o u n d e d in 1953, jusr five years after the f o u n d i n g
o f the Srare o f Israel itself,, We presently have seventy-five Crafr Lodges
w o r k i n g i n three different rituals a n d in eight languages—Hebrew, A r a b i c ,
English, French, G e r m a n , R o m a n i a n , Spanish and T u r k i s h . These men y o u
see sitting here are united i n rheir efforts t o spread the message of Freema-
sonry. T h e message o f B r o t h e r l y Love, Relief and T r u t h . T h u s d o they
b u i l d bridges o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g a m o n g themselves and their peoples."
In u n h u r r i e d succession, a half dozen men representing as many t r a d i -
tions rose, each in his o w n place, ro extend a most solemn i n v i t a t i o n ro
Paul t o become a d u l y i n d u c t e d Brother.
" 1 a m Lev N a t a n y a h u , " the first man announced. " T h e G o d o f Israel is
One G o d . Accept o u r fraternal embrace, Paul T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . "
" 1 am Hassan E I - O b e i d i . . " T h e second m a n rose to his feet. " T h e r e is
but O n e G o d and M u h a m m a d is His Prophet. Accept our fraternal em-
brace, Paul T h o m a s G l a d s t o n e . "
" I a m Father M i c h a e l L a n n a u x , priest and m o n k o f the Benedictine
Fathers." A t h i r d man s t o o d t o face the neophyte. " G o d so loved the
 Or MICE AND MEN 277

w o r l d as ro send H i s Son ro f o u n d H i s C h u r c h a m o n g men. Accept our

fraternal embrace, Paul T h o m a s Gladsrone."
T h e scales fell away f r o m rhe eyes o f Paul Gladstone's inner m i n d . H e
felt almost light-headed as, i n that calm and c a l m i n g m o m e n t , he came t o
undersrand the oneness o f a l l religions. H e came ro undersrand rheir rea-
sons f o r diversity. A n d , yes, even f o r their t r a d i t i o n a l o p p o s i t i o n to each
other. A t t h a t u l t i m a t e m o m e n t o f his seduction, Paul had n o w o r d s o r
menral images w i r h w h i c h t o clothe his new understanding. But for n o w
he had been lifred as high above all rhe particularisms of C a t h o l i c , Protes-
t a n t , Jew and M u s l i m as A m i n a d a b was raised above rhe H o l y C i t y o f
Jerusalem. Never had he felt so acceptable to G o d and his fellow m a n .
Never had he k n o w n such a safe haven for his m i n d and being.
W h e n rhe last solemn f o r m u l a o f i n v i t a t i o n had been extended, Paul
responded firmly and w i r h gladness. " Y e s ! " He rose in his place beside his
r w o mentors. "Yes! I d o accept y o u r frarernal e m b r a c e ! "
T h e bargain, offered and accepted, was sealed w i t h a final brief r i t u a l .
T h e G r a n d C o m m a n d e r called u p o n rhe congregation ro answer a single
question. " I s there any reason w h y Paul T h o m a s Gladsrone should n o t be
a d m i t t e d as one o f o u r n u m b e r ? "
" N o . " T h e congregation answered as one. " T h e r e is no reason againsr
him."
" M r . G l a d s t o n e . " The C o m m a n d e r gesrured for Paul ro srep f o r w a r d .
" I n a p p r o p r i a t e rirual and at a suitable time, a m o r e f o r m a l i n d u c t i o n w i l l
be accomplished. But come f o r w a r d n o w . Kneel, lay y o u r hands on rhe
Book o f the W o r d and repeat o u r simple o a t h . "
Paul saw t h a t one side o f the a r k l i k e structure was embossed w i t h rhe
seal o f the G r a n d Lodge o f Israel. The Bible lay open so that its left-hand
page showed Scripture, w h i l e the r i g h t hand page displayed rhe lerrer G
framed w i t h i n the M a s o n i c Square and Compass. W i t h one hand resting
o n each o f those pages, Paul repeared the w o r d s o f the oath administered
by the G r a n d C o m m a n d e r .
" L Paul T h o m a s Gladsrone, remembering always ro m a i n t a i n affinity to
the sons o f l i g h t , d o solemnly attest m y acceptance o f rhis i n v i r a r i o n . So
help me G o d , rhe Father o f a l l m e n . "
" A n d W i s d o m is His n a m e ! " T h e C o m m a n d e r b o w e d his head.
"So mote it b e ! " The chorus came again.
Ir remained o n l y for the G r a n d C o m m a n d e r ro c o n f i r m the young Secre-
tary-General in the role he h a d taken u p o n himself i n Jerusalem, and to
c o n f i r m t h a t those h a r d - t o - o p e n doors he had spoken o f n o t t w e n t y - f o u r
h o u r s earlier w o u l d be no bairrier. " O n this day, Brorher Gladstone, when
the dust seems to fall so heavily u p o n the hearts o f m e n , y o u shall w a l k in
peace. For y o u have entered i n t o the b u i l d i n g oi the Temple o f Under-
standing a m o n g all m e n . "
• J J u)
 278 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

A l o n e in his suire ar rhe K i n g D a v i d H o t e l , his bag already packed and

w a i r i n g for h i m i n the l o b b y , Cyrus Benrhoek t o o k a few moments to dial
t h r o u g h t o C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s private number ar the Collegio
M i n d i n a o in Rome.
H i s Eminence was delighted t o learn whar a splendid weekend his o l d
friend had passed in Jerusalem. Delighred ro learn thar rhe second o f his
A m e r i c a n a r r o w s was in place.
A l o n e in his suite ar the K i n g D a v i d H o t e l , his bag already packed and
w a i r i n g for h i m i n the l o b b y , Paul Gladstone t o o k a few minutes to dial
t h r o u g h t o his w i f e in Brussels.
" P a u l , d a r l i n g . W o n d e r f u l n e w s ! " Yusai was not in any m o o d f o r under-
statement. "Jan has t u r n e d o u t t o be o u r o w n private a n g e l ! "
" J a n ? " Paul laughed at the t h o u g h t o f that b i g Belgian s p r o u t i n g cherub
wings.
" Y o u ' l l see for y o u r s e l f ! " Yusai was laughing, t o o . " W e can hardly w a i t
to show you the house he has f o u n d for us! O h , Paul, it's a marvelous
place. It's called G u i d o h u i s after an early-nineteenth-century member of
Jan's f a m i l y . The finest lyric poet Flanders ever p r o d u c e d , he says. A n y -
w a y , G u i d o h u i s is o u t in G h e n t . W e l l , really, it's in a little t o w n s h i p called
Deurle. We arrived there iin no time on the autostrade, so y o u needn't
w o r r y about the c o m m u t e . "
Yusai made rhe place sound irresistible. She described a 150-year-old
farmhouse w i r h endless r o o m s and a gaily riled r o o f and almost as many-
nooks and crannies as rhey had ar Liselton. G u i d o h u i s sat o n t w o acres of
land encircled by rhe most beautifully slender birch trees. A n d there was
an ample o r c h a r d beyond., and five acres o f f a r m l a n d besides. She was
almosr in rears w i r h happiness. " Y o u should have seen Declan! Fie ran like
a deer in rhe o r c h a r d , c l i m b i n g trees a n d p i c k i n g apples. H a n n a h D o w d
can h a r d l y w a i t t o Starr b a k i n g pies and puddings and d u m p l i n g s and
srrudels!"
" Y o u mean we have o u r o w n private angel, and an apple o r c h a r d , t o o ? "
" I s n ' t it exciting? A n d there's an inrernational elemenrary school. A l l
rhe grades are raughr in English, French and G e r m a n . A n d ir's practically
in o u r backyard . . . "
A glance ar his w a t c h t o l d Gladstone he w o u l d have to r i n g o f f i f he
were to get to the Tel Aviv a i r p o r r in t i m e .
" B u t , P a u l , " Yusai c o m p l a i n e d , " I have so m u c h t o tell y o u ! Where are
y o u rushing o f f ro n o w ? "
" I ' m rushing home ro y o u , m y sweetest! I ' m c o m i n g home f r o m rhe
mountaintop."

A l o n e in his r o o m ar the A n g e l i c u m , his bag already packed, Chrisrian

Gladsrone read again rhe nore t h a t had come in the nick o f time f r o m
Father Angelo Gutmacher.
C h r i s reckoned he was ready to embark on the maiden voyage of his
 OF M I C E A N D M E N 279

work for Cardinal Cosimo Maesrroianni. He had memorized all the data,
and had heen briefed by Cardinal Aurearini on rhe finer points of interro-
gating bishops in a way that would secure their confidence and buoy their
hopes. The memory of his audience with the Slavic Pope had remained
wirh Chrisrian and had calmed rhe worst of his Roman jitters. Chris knew
now that Rome was where he belonged.
Yer in another sense he was as perplexed as he had ever been. He knew
in his bones that there was a subplot going on under his nose, bur he had
no clue as to what he had got himself into. He had managed to find time
for a char wirh Aldo Carnesecca. But since he, too, was about to leave on
a two-week mission for His Holiness in Spain, there hadn't been nearly
enough time to explore such puzzles as what the Pope might have meant
when he had talked about building the New Jerusalem and building anew
the Body of Our Savior.
Such questions apart, though, Chrisrian had hoped to spend some time
with his old friend and confessor, Farher Angelo, before he plunged inro
the thick of things. Fresh from Galveston himself, Gurmacher was as new
to the Roman insider game as Chris. Neverrheless, rhere was no man who
understood better how to find one's way along uncharted terrain. And
there was no man in Christian's life whose judgmenr he trusted so com-
pletely. Try as he mighr, however, Chris hadn'r been able ro raise Father
Angelo in Rome. He had left a succession of messages for him ar rhe
Collegium Teutonicum, where he knew Gurmacher was billeted; but ro no
avail.
Finally, rhough, this short nore had come in the post. Brief as Farher
Angelo's words were, and however quickly rhey had been scribbled, rhey
provided the best direction Christian could have asked. They brimmed
wirh priesrly purpose. They supplied rhe compass he had wanted for his
soul.
"Forgive me." Chris read Farher Angelo's note aloud to himself one last
time before his departure for France. ' l had hoped to see you upon your
v

rerurn to the Eternal City. At the Holy Father's request, however, and on
shortest notice. I find myself in the land of my birrh. Beginning ar Konigs-
berg, and then in other cities., I am to establish Chapels dedicated to Our
Lady of Fatima. Do give that news to your mother, for I will nor have rime
ro wrire her. Perhaps it will ease her anguish for rhe Church, and for you
as her son, ro know how serious the Pontiff is about such work. Pray for
me, as I do for you. Serve Peter, Chrisrian. In all you do, serve him faith-
fully. Serve Peter in Christ, and Chrisr in Perer. For that is why you have
returned to Rome."
 280 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

XXVII
I N SPITE O F Cessi Gladstone's tame f o r having taced d o w n Cardinals,
bishops, priests and e r r a n t politicians, she had never seen herself as an-
other H i l d e g a r d , say, w h o scolded Popes and emperors in rhe t w e l f t h
century; o r as a late-twentieth-century version o f Catherine o f Siena, w h o
rhrew herself w i r h such passion i n t o the affairs o f papal governance in rhe
Great Schism o f the 1300s. For all o f her o w n complaints a b o u t the pres-
ent c o n d i t i o n o f the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , in other w o r d s , Cessi had
never r h o u g h t seriously o f r a k i n g on the Pope.
N o t l o n g after C h r i s t i a n ' s departure for R o m e , however, seemingly u n -
related events d u r i n g one h a r r i e d week in early O c t o b e r focused her atten-
tion o n Vatican affairs in a new w a y .
T h e visit of T r a x i Le Voisin t o W i n d s w e p t Flouse m a r k e d the beginning
o f the change. Just as he had spearheaded the f o r m a t i o n o f the Chapel o f
St. M i c h a e l the Archangel in D a n b u r y over t w e n t y years before, and jusr
as he had secured Farher A n g e l o Gutmacher as its pastor, so T r a x i had
again t h r o w n himself i n t o the frustrating w o r k o f finding a new priest for
Sr. Michael's after Father Angelo's a b r u p t summons i n t o Vatican service.
T r a x i ' s d i f f i c u l t y w a s n ' t in finding applicants. A single advertisement
placed in a m i l i t a n t l y t r a d i t i o n a l i s t C a t h o l i c p u b l i c a t i o n had attracted
more responses than he c o u l d handle. T h e d i f f i c u l t y was t h a t , despite the
surprising n u m b e r o f priests o u t there w h o hankered afrer t r a d i t i o n a l Ro-
man Sacraments and observances, and despite the tact that many of t h e m
had been shunted o u t o f their parishes by bishops u n w i l l i n g ro p u t up w i t h
their r r a d i t i o n a l i s r l e a n i n g s t o date T r a x i h a d n ' t f o u n d a single man w h o
came near the practiced priestliness, the solid theology, the pastoral expe-
rience and the zeal o f G u t m a c h e r .
" I tell y o u , C e s s i " — T r a x i paced the study at W i n d s w e p t H o u s e — " i f
this Slavic pretender o f a Pope lets things go m u c h f u r t h e r , i t w o n ' t be long
before w e ' l l be left w i t h no priests at a l l ! " T r a x i remained a sede vacantist,
as convinced as ever rhat the C h u r c h had not had a true Pope since 1958.
Cessi a l l o w e d herself to t h i n k he was just being his usual overdramaric,
o v e r e m o t i o n a l self.
Once she wenr over some o f the applicants' dossiers he had brought
w i t h h i m , however, she began to see another dimension o f rhe ecclesiasti-
cal tragedy against w h i c h she had battled for so l o n g ar W i n d s w e p t
House. She began to have some i n k l i n g o f the numbers o f g o o d and w i l l -
ing priests w h o had been dismissed by their o w n bishops. Branded as
Troublesome clerics, and Therefore unable to find a bishop w i l l i n g ro take
 OF MICE AND M EN 281

them i n , they had been left w i t h no means o f f u l f i l l i n g their sacred voca-

tions. Sadly Cessi had to a d m i t that she had no s o l u t i o n to the p r o b l e m .
Even the news that the P o n t i f f had sent Father Angelo o f f to establish
Chapels dedicated to O u r Lady of Fatima failed t o ease rhe anguish
Gurmacher k n e w she felr f o r the C h u r c h . For i t made no sense t o Cessi
rhar any Pope w h o professed such fervenr dedicarion ro Farima should
also a l l o w priesrs o f o b v i o u s faith t o be inadequately trained in the first
place, and then h u n g o u t t o d r y by their o w n bishops, w i t h no protest or
protection f r o m Rome.
As disrurbed as Cessi was by these developments, a sudden crisis in
Tricia's health forced her to p u t everything else aside for a few days. She
was recommended to a specialist in T o r o n t o w h o had had some success in
trearing ar leasr rhe s y m p t o m s o f keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Because his
trearmenr involved drugs n o t licensed by the American Food and D r u g
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , Cessi and T r i c i a set o f f together for Canada.
Immediately o n their r e t u r n home, however, Cessi's thoughts were fo-
cused o n the Vatican w i t h a vengeance, by an urgent call f r o m her N e w
York financial advisor, Glenn Roche V , He had proved his w o r t h many
times over. Under his guidance, the Gladstone fortune o f some $143 m i l -
l i o n that had been left by o l d Declan o n his dearh i n 1968 had m u l t i p l i e d
handsomely. T h a t , plus the fact rhar rhe Roches were one o f N e w York's
leading Catholic families, made Cessi's trust in h i m all but unshakable.
" P m glad I f o u n d y o u at h o m e . "
" I t sounds serious." Cessi responded more t o the tension i n Roche's
voice than to his w o r d s .
" I t ' s another crisis at the I R A , Pm a f r a i d . "
" G o o d L o r d , G l e n n ! " W h e n she heard the a c r o n y m for the Vatican's
Institute o f Religious Agencies, Cessi c o u l d h a r d l y believe her ears. " T h e
Vatican Bank again? The i n k is h a r d l y d r y o n m y signature a u r h o r i z i n g
rhat loan to help bail t h e m o u t o f the s t u p i d mess the B N L got us all i n t o
ovet Saddam Hussein's C o n d o r C a n n o n , or whatever ir was. They can'r
have gotten i n t o another j u m b l e so soon a g a i n ! "
" L o o k s that w a y , Cessi."
" W h a t ' s up w i t h the I R A anyway? These crises have been g o i n g o n for
nearly t w e n t y years. In 1974., rhey came t o us f o r help in connection w i t h
the b i l l i o n dollars M a r c o Sautanni managed to siphon f r o m rheir ac-
counrs. T h e n i n 1982 rhey had ro cover another b i l l i o n or so that disap-
peared in connection w i t h that other Italian financier—what was his
name?"
" R o d o l f o S a l v i . " Roche filled in the blank in Cessi's m e m o r y . " I n facr,
y o u could say we're dealing w i t h the r e t u r n o f S a l v i . "
T h o u g h she h a d n ' t remembered the man's name, there was no need to
r e m i n d Cessi o f the m a i n p o i n t s o f the brouhaha he had created. A n
eminent i n t e r n a t i o n a l financier, R o d o l f o Salvi had headed up rhe Banco
Finanziario o f T u r i n . L i k e rhe B N L , the Finanziano was an i n s t i t u t i o n in
 282 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

w h i c h m a j o r equity was held by the Vatican Bank. A n d i t seemed that

Salvi had used I R A letrers of credit ro lend over a b i l l i o n dollars o f inves-
t o r s ' money ro persons or institutions u n k n o w n .
Suddenly, Salvi had fled T u r i n , r a k i n g w i t h h i m a suitcase c o n t a i n i n g
$ 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 . Also in the suitcase, h o w e v e r — o r so ir was surmised—was
d o c u m e n t a t i o n on the destination of the embezzled funds; and possibly
some evidence t o e x p l a i n the reason f o r his o w n miserable ending. The
embezzlement scandal that had been triggered w h e n Salvi had t u r n e d up
dead, suspended at the end of a rope f r o m a bridge over the river Thames,
had been a m a j o r calamity f o r Varican b a n k i n g . A f r e r bitter l i r i g a t i o n , the
I R A had agreed ro reimburse some of the o r i g i n a l investors w i r h a token
sum o f $ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 — n o t as a tacit admission o f g u i l t , b u t as a g o o d w i l l
gesture. T h a r was where Cessi had come i n .
" L e t me guess, G l e n n . " Cessi resred her head against the back o f her
chair. " S o m e b o d y has come up w i r h Salvi's suitcase at last, and n o w
there's rhe Devil ro p a y . "
" Y o u ' r e only half r i g h t , " Roche correcred her. " N e w s o f the suitcase
has surfaced, b u t n o t the suitcase itself. It seems there was a conversation
in w h i c h a bishop was i n v o l v e d . A j u n i o r member o f the IRA and an
expert on Eastern European finances by the name o f K a r o l Novacy.
N o v a c y hasn't revealed the names of the other men involved. But he felt
under such pressure ro geir his hands o n the Salvi suitcase that, after a
hasty telephone call t o R o m e , he wrore his interlocutors a cashier's check.
Financial circles got w i n d o f i t . Once that happened, the net resulr was
rhar the check was cashed, and everyone ran ro g r o u n d . A complete blan-
ket o f secrecy d r o p p e d a r o u n d N o v a c y and rhe suircase."
The story was i n t r i g u i n g . Still, w h a t w i r h her w o r r y over T r i c i a , her
concern for Chris's welfare and T r a x i Le Voisin's incessanr phone calls,
she saw no reason w h y she should be involved.
" I t h i n k you've already guessed rhe reason, Cessi," Roche countered.
" N o v a c y himself is safe a n d sound in the sovereign sancruary o f Vatican
C i t y . The w h o l e w o r l d s t i l l wants to get h o l d o f Salvi's suitcase. A n d
they'd love to get their hands o n N o v a c y , roo. But the crisis for the Vati-
can Bank is t h a t N o v a c y ' s check has placed a dangerous srrain o n the
IRA's liquidity."
Roche was r i g h t . Cessi had guessed. Once again it was a question o f
succoring the I R A .
Even in o r d i n a r y circumsrances Cessi had no qualms abour a p p r o v i n g
the financial moves G l e n n proposed. Bur the concrete circumsrances
w i t h i n w h i c h rhe Vatican's calling for renewed Gladstone intervenrion
began ro lend a sudden n e w fascination t o the m o m e n t . I t dawned o n her
rhar if the Gladstone m i l l i o n s had been useful over the years ro the I R A ,
she m i g h t reasonably t h i n k o f speaking her piece in r e t u r n . Afrer a l l , she
reasoned, she n o w had a son permanently stationed in the Rome o f the
Popes. A n d things had come t o such a sorry pass at home thar, for all of
 OF MICE AND MEN 283

his sede vacantist fervor, T r a x i Le Voisin was p r o b a b l y r i g h t . I t w o u l d n ' t

be l o n g before the f a i t h f u l w o u l d be left w i t h no priests at a l l .
" I ' l l tell you w h a t , G l e n n . " There was no m i s t a k i n g the mischief in
Cessi's response. ' T i l sign the new documents. But this t i m e , I w a n t t o do
it i n Rome. A n d this time I w a n t t o sit face to face w i t h D r . G i o r g i o
M a l d o n a d o . A n d w i t h C a r d i n a l Amedeo Sansrefano." A lay banker, M a l -
d o n a d o was D i r e c t o r o f the I R A . A n d , as head o f the Vatican's Prefecture
of Economic A f f a i r s — t h e fabled P E C A — C a r d i n a l Sansrefano managed all
rhe economic and financial holdings o f rhe H o l y See, and wielded extraor-
dinary influence in and outsiide o f Rome.
" D o y o u t h i n k rhey'll see m e , G l e n n ? " Cessi t h o u g h t it best to confronr
rhe quesrion head-on.
"See y o u ! " Roche laughed w i r h surprise ar rhe question. " I n the mess
they're in n o w , if you were r o appear ar rheir d o o r ar rhree i n rhe m o r n i n g
rhey'd rush f r o m their b e d s . "
" I t ' s settled, t h e n . Y o u ' l l have to give me some coaching, o f course, if
Pm to speak intelligently to the I R A officials. I ' l l go to N e w York on the
way to the Vatican, if that's necessary."
Roche f o u n d the proposal w o r r i s o m e . " D o n ' t be birten by the Roman
b u g , " he w a r n e d . " M a n y have blue-skied abour intervening in the hidden
w o r k i n g s o f the I R A . But there's something more over there. Something
more than clever b a n k e r s . "
" I f they had clever bankers, G l e n n , " Cessi objected, " w e w o u l d n ' t be
having this conversation so soon afrer rhe B N L debacle. Bur we agree
about one t h i n g . There is s o m e t h i n g more over there. O r rhere should be.
M a y b e ir's time they were reminded o f that. W i l l you make the necessary
arrangements w i t h the I R A ? "
Roche had no idea w h a t p l a n Cessi m i g h t be hatching; but he knew he
had little choice. He w o u l d make the necessary arrangemenrs. He w o u l d
even accompany her. But he h a d a c o n d i t i o n o f his o w n . " I ' v e made scores
o f visirs like rhis ro o u r foreign associates, Cessi. I mean, highly confiden-
tial visits ro deal w i t h matters o f grave i n t e r n a t i o n a l i m p l i c a t i o n s . A n d rhe
Salvi suitcase affair ranks r i g h r up there w i t h the most sensitive. For y o u r
o w n sake and for rhe Vatican's, our visit w i l l have t o be secret and short.
In p r i n c i p l e , no one must k n o w what's g o i n g o n . T h a t means no visit w i t h
Chrisrian w h i l e you're there, n o t even a phone call to say hello. We go i n .
We d o the needful for the I R A . A n d we get o u t . A l l in one R o m a n h o u r .
Agreed?"
" A g r e e d . " Cessi p u r r e d i n r o the phone. " W e do the needful f o r rhe I R A .
A n d maybe just a lirrle bit f o r the C h u r c h . "

Cessi Gladsrone was nor rhe o n l y one impelled by urgenr circumstances to

focus w i t h a lively interest o n Vatican affairs. N o r was she a n y t h i n g like
the most p o w e r f u l . In rhe d r a m a o f rhe w o r l d ' s rush t o w a r d a new eco-
nomic and p o l i t i c a l order a m o n g rhe nations, all the m a i n proragonisrs
 284 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

understood that the c o m i n g t w o t o f o u r years w o u l d be seminal ro rhe

c o m p e r i n g plans o f the U n i t e d States, Europe and rhe sociery o f nations.
By rhe fall o f the year, one o f those proragonists—the ad hoc Presidential
C o m m i t t e e o f Ten i n W a s h i n g t o n — h a d faced up to the need f o r a clarifica-
t i o n o f the policies o f the H o l y See, w i t h specific and pointed reference to
the Pontiff's near-term policies regarding rhe Sovier U n i o n and irs chang-
ing role in the w i d e r w o r l d . The man appoinred to carry t h a t decision
f o r w a r d was the C o m m i t t e e ' s senior executive direcror, A d m i r a l Bud
Vance. A n d the man a p p o i n t e d t o do the l e g w o r k — r h e man assigned ro
the required no-nonsense meeting w i r h the Slavic Pope—was the j u n i o r
executive direcror. C o m m a n d e r Gibson A p p l e y a r d .
In official W a s h i n g r o n , where undersranding concerning Vatican p o l i -
cies runs abour as deep as a rain p u d d l e , rhar procedure made sense.
A p p l e y a r d , afrer a l l , n o t o n l y had ample Soviet experience as a onetime
N a v y Intelligence officer. H e had also been the one tapped by Cvrus
Benrhoek t o sit i n o n t h a t strange antipapal meering in Strasbourg. A n d ,
after he had heard the Pope's " p o o r , p o o r E u r o p e " letter read at the EC
meeting in Brussels, G i b had been rhe first one t o raise serious questions
a b o u t rhe Pontiff's policies concerning Europe. T h a t was enough to q u a l -
ify G i b A p p l e y a r d as a r a n k i n g expert.
T h e meeting at w h i c h A d m i r a l Vance gave A p p l e y a r d his orders was
specific in irs m a i n purpose and fairly w i d e - r a n g i n g i n its scope. " W e both
k n o w the s i t u a t i o n in the Soviet U n i o n , G i b . " Bud Vance settled himself
behind his desk in his D . C . office, and t o o k a s w a l l o w of black coffee. I le
w a s n ' t m u c h f o r sunrise briefings. " S t i l l , Eve been instructed to lay i t all
o u t f o r y o u ; so here i t is in a nutshell.
" W e k n o w the shaky p o s i t i o n o f M i k h a i l Gorbachev f o l l o w i n g thar
bogus c o u p artempr i n A u g u s t . We k n o w rhe a m b i t i o n s o f Boris Yeltsin.
We k n o w the pcrsistenr strengrh o f w h a t the Western press calls 'the r i g h t , '
or 'the conservative p a r r y — a n d we k n o w rhose are euphemisms for the
1

leftover elemenrs o f rhe C o m m u n i s t Party, complete w i t h the still surviv-

ing armed c i v i l i a n apparatus o f the Leninist Parry-Srate. We k n o w rhe
economic dishevelmenr o f the U.S.S.R. We k n o w h o w a m b i t i o u s , volatile
and unreliable the officials of the Russian O r t h o d o x C h u r c h are in the
p o l i t i c a l m i x . A n d we k n o w t h a t the p o p u l a t i o n at large—nearly ISO
m i l l i o n people—have no idea w h a t the West means by 'democratic lib-
e r t y ' ; a n d t h a t they d o n ' t even k n o w w h a t rhey themselves w a n t , much
less h o w t o go a b o u t g e t t i n g i t .
" I n the face o f a l l t h a t , the C o m m i t t e e o f Ten k n o w s i t can only be a
matter o f time before rhe personal dislike and political rivalry berween
Gorbachev and Yeltsin flares u p . I n other w o r d s , they've k n o w n that a
policy decision w o u l d have to be made about the leadership over rhere."
A p p l e y a r d smiled ar his senior officer. As a man w h o liked rising early,
he was in a sprightlier m o o d than his boss. " Y o u ' l l p a r d o n m y saying so,
B u d . But i t doesn't take a C o m m i t t e e o f Ten genius to figure rhar Yelrsin
 OF MICE AND MEN 285

w o n ' t forget he was bounced by Gorbachev as M o s c o w Party chief, and

then deprived o f his membership in rhe M o s c o w P o l i t b u r o . "
"Be t h a t as it m a y , " Vance conceded the p o i n t . "Since the failure of thar
pseudo c o u p d'etat, the relations between those t w u men has deteriorared
visibly. As l o n g as G o r b a c h e v remains i n p o w e r , Yelrsin can't feel safe. As
long as Yeltsin continues t o amass p o p u l a r i t y and p o w e r , Gorbachev w i l l
be foiled. U n t i l n o w , the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n has been able t o dance a r o u n d the
p r o b l e m . O n rhe one h a n d , we backed Gorbachev in an obvious w a y . As
leader a m o n g the Europeans, H e l m u t K o h l o f Germany d u t i f u l l y f o l l o w e d
suit. A t the same t i m e , we also courted Yeltsin. I t was all very discreet, o f
course. For example, there were those a m o n g the inner circle of p o w e r
brokers w h o entertained Yeltsin handsomely enough t h r o u g h the auspices
o f the Esalen Institute in C a l i f o r n i a ' s Big Sur a r e a . "
G i b A p p l e y a r d k n e w rhe w a f f l i n g A m e r i c a n policy as w e l l as Vance d i d .
Well enough so thar hearing; some of the details this m o r n i n g made h i m
i m p a t i e n t . " L e t ' s be f r a n k . T h e fact is t h a t o u r people can't agree on w h a r
sorr o f a p o s t - C o l d War w o r l d they really w a n t , or on w h a r role they w a n t
the U n i t e d States to play in that w o r l d .
" F i r s t they came up w i t h a position paper placing us as rhe w o r l d ' s so-
called g l o b o - c o p . T h e n rhey came up w i r h a new position f o r rhe United
States as a d i p l o m a t i c super-maven, insisting on a policy of collective ac-
t i o n by the nations, and leaving little r o o m for us ro rake unilareral action.
If we f o l l o w rhat course, w e ' l l become one w i t h the c o m m u n i t y o f nations
all r i g h t ; b u t o n l y one.
" I n a w o r d , B u d , our people are at sixes and sevens. Some are in the
Gorbachev c a m p , and some favor Yeltsin. But w h a t we d o about those
t w o men matters in the w i d e r scheme o f things. It matters f o r rhe EC, for
instance. Yet even there, we d o n ' t seem t o have a clear policy. W i t h i n the
A d m i n i s t r a r i o n — a n d in rhe State D e p a r t m e n t , r o o , for t h a t m a t t e r —
there's something close to a s h o o t i n g w a r between rhose w h o love the EC,
those w h o hate i t , and those w h o laugh at i t . "
" O k a y , G i b . " Bud Vance sighed. " W e ' r e in a mess over here. But n o w
that you've b r o u g h t it u p , let's make the l i n k between the Soviet U n i o n
and the EC. Specifically, let's talk about the Committee's decision t o p u t
o u r muscle behind Paul Gladsrone.
"Despire Gladstone's influence or maybe because of i t , that's one o f the
questions we need answered—the EC's new spirit o f conquest and expan-
sion t h a t threatened us before has redoubled. W h e n rheir planners speak
nowadays o f a Greater E u r o p e , rhere's no d o u b r rhat they mean t o include
not o n l y the o r i g i n a l EC states but all the European states not yet a part of
the EC, plus the n e w l y liberated Soviet satellites, and eventually some if
not most o f the Soviet states.
" I n other w o r d s , we're s t i l l faced w i t h the possibility o f a c o m p e t i t o r
too big f o r rhe Unired Srates to handle at this stage. We're still faced w i t h
 286 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

rhe EC's race t o f o r m a Greater Europe rhat w i l l include rhe entire Eastern
bloc."
A p p l e y a r d c o u l d o n l y agree. " W e ' r e righr where we were lasr spring. We
w a n t the EC, b u t n o t quite y e t . "
" N o t quite y e t . " Vance latched o n t o Gib's t h o u g h t . " N o t until
Gorbachev is ready f o r his n e w p o s i t i o n . O u r o n l y w a y o f c o n r r o l l i n g this
new Europe o f rhe EC is t h r o u g h rhe Conference o n Securiry and Cooper-
a t i o n i n Europe. Thar is, r h r o u g h the CSCE w i t h Gorbachev as its h e a d . "
A p p l e y a r d was raken aback ar Vance's casual announcement that the
U n i t e d States intended t o concentrare irs geopolitical eggs, and G o r b a -
chev, r o o , in the CSCE basket. A t the same t i m e , t h o u g h , he was relieved
that the h i g h - m u c k - a - m u c k s had come up w i t h a Soviet policy at last. "So
if it's Gorbachev for the long; r u n in Europe, then it has to be Yeltsin inside
Russia. A t least f o r the m o m e n t . W h a t I d o n ' t see, t h o u g h , is where a face-
ro-face meering w i r h rhe Slavic Pope comes inro rhe plans o f the C o m m i t -
tee o f Ten. They t h i n k the P o n t i f f is an i d i o t . W h a t ' s m o r e , rhey just plain
d o n ' t like h i m . "
" T h e y d o n ' t exactly love Yeltsin e i t h e r . " Vance f r o w n e d . " B u t that's n o t
the p o i n t . The Slavic Pope—and I underline rhe w o r d Slavic—has s h o w n
rhat he is a geopolitical gambler o f rhe firsr order. A n d in Eastern Europe
and Russia, his personal experience is so deep, so extensive and so de-
t a i l e d , that he can p r o b a b l y r u n rings a r o u n d the best o f us. In o u r strategy
to back Yeltsin inside Russia, then, we can't just bypass the Pope. Like i t
or nor, he's a player. So we need t w o things.
" W e need t o k n o w where the Pontiff w i l l stand—where he's likely to
t h r o w his w e i g h t — w h e n it comes to the i m p e n d i n g changes in the Soviet
U n i o n . A n d we need to let h i m k n o w t h a t the U n i t e d States w i l l n o t b r o o k
any real interference by the H o l y See in the disposition o f G o r b a c h e v . "
A p p l e y a r d groaned. " A l l r o be done in clear bur d i p l o m a t i c fashion, no
doubt."
" N o d o u b t . But there's a little more to the m i s s i o n . "
T h a t figured, G i b rhoughit. Ir made little sense to send an intelligence
officer o n w h a t a m o u n t e d t o n o t h i n g more rhan a d i p l o m a t ' s mission.
Vance swiveled his chair a r o u n d and p u l l e d a file o u t o f the cabinet
behind his desk. " O u r people have come up w i t h a n u m b e r o f intercepts
lately t h a t suggest the H o l y See has an active finger in a lor o f pies. Take
our friend Paul Gladstone, f o r instance. D o y o u recall the data we i n -
cluded i n his dossier a b o u t r h a t brorher o f his?"
G i b remembered. " A priest by the apt name o f C h r i s t i a n , if Pm nor
mistaken. Does a p a r t - t i m e s t i n t as a professor in R o m e . "
A d m i r a l Vance t h u m b e d t h r o u g h the file u n t i l he came to the pages he
w a n t e d . " I t seems he's n o t a professor a n y m o r e . He's suddenly been
tapped as a f u l l - t i m e r attached to the Vatican's Secretariat o f State. He's
begun t r a v e l i n g a r o u n d Europe at a fast pace. A n d he's taken to seeing a
lot o f his brother o n some sort o f official Varican business.
 OF MICE AND MEN 287

" W e ' d like t o k n o w more a b o u t what's g o i n g on there. Aside f r o m that,

t h o u g h , another name has popped up i n o u r intelligence intercepts. A
priest by the name o f A n g e l o Gutmacher. I t seems he's a close personal
friend o f the Gladstones. A n d i t seems t h a t , like C h r i s t i a n Gladstone, he,
t o o , has recently been inhaled for f u l l - t i m e service to the H o l y See.
" I d o n ' t believe in coincidence. His link w i t h the Slavic Pope on the one
hand and w i t h the Gladstones o n the other is too curious to o v e r l o o k . We
d o n ' t k n o w w h a r to make o f h i m exactly. Like this Father C h r i s t i a n , he
travels a lor. Sets up Fatima chapels. But we d o n ' t t h i n k that's the w h o l e
t h i n g . Gutmacher goes f r o m Germany t o L i t h u a n i a t o Russia t o the
U k r a i n e . He stays a short w h i l e in each place. Preaches. (Blesses statues.
I hat sort o f t h i n g . Then he moves o n and Starrs all over a g a i n . "
A p p l e y a r d f o l l o w e d Vance's logic w i r h o u t d i f f i c u l t y . "So you t h i n k
these t w o arc papal couriers of some sorr? O r perhaps they're into
h u m i n t — i n f l u e n c i n g m i n d s , t u r n i n g spies, laying d o w n n e r w o r k s . "
" M a y b e a b i t o f b o t h . " Vance n o d d e d . " W e d o k n o w f r o m inrerceprs
thar the Pope is in c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h Gorbachev, t h o u g h . A n d that's
obviously capital for us just n o w . We k n o w rhey talk by letters; but they
d o n ' t use the d i p l o m a t i c p o u c h or any o r d i n a r y means. F l o w , rhen? If rhe
answer t o t h a t question is A n g e l o G u t m a c h e r , then we're nor dealing w i r h
some s m a l l - f r y irineranr p r i e s t . " Vance t u r n e d rhe pages o f rhe intelligence
folder w i t h a sudden show o f impatience. " T o tell you the t r u t h , G i b , Pm
nervous a b o u t this w h o l e idea of a p p r o a c h i n g the Pope. We jusr d o n ' t
k n o w enough a b o u t h i m , o r t he people a r o u n d h i m . I keep c o m i n g back ro
rhat Strasbourg meeting y o u attended last s p r i n g . If t h a t g r o u p is serious
a b o u t an in-house i n s u r r e c t i o n against this Pope, then a l o t o f things w i l l
be up f o r grabs. But we can'ir get a line o n any o f i t . I t doesn't seem to be
going anywhere. We've t r a c k e d rhe Vatican huskies w h o were t h e r e —
C a r d i n a l Pensabene and C a r d i n a l Aurearini and rhe Jesuir Farher-General
and rhe resr o f t h e m . But i t looks to me like they're all just going about
their n o r m a l business. C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i has been retired as Secrerary
o f State, so he may be o u t o f that l o o p altogether. A n d rhe Pope himself
has made this f e l l o w called G r a z i a n i a C a r d i n a l and b u m p e d h i m up t o be
the new Secrerary o f Stare.
" A s for M a e s r r o i a n n i ' s pal Cyrus Benthoek, he's got more connections
in high places over here than you can shake a stick at. A n d they all vouch
for h i m a h u n d r e d percent. Everyone seems to be straight, in other w o r d s .
The o n l y real mystery man at that Strasbourg gathering is O t t o Sekuler.
We're still o n ir, bur so far w e can't make head or tail o f h i m . Y o u ' l l see
w h a t we've g o t w h e n you study the data f o r y o u r s e l f . "
A p p l e y a r d lisrened t o Vance's t r o u b l e d musings w i r h a symparhetic ear.
1 le d i d n ' r like unexplainable siruations d a n g l i n g over his head any more
than the A d m i r a l d i d . Surely he had been invired ro rhar Srrasbourg meet-
ing t o receive an o f f - t h e - r e c o r d message. Still, i f Bud was r i g h t — i f n o t h i n g
more had come o f the Strasbourg plor in the several m o n t h s since M a y —
 288 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

then the message simply was t h a t daggers were d r a w n inside the Vatican
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . T h a t was interesting; b u t it applied to just a b o u t any ad-
m i n i s t r a t i o n in the w o r l d these days.
" L i s t e n . B u d . " G i b finally intervened in his partner's speculations. " T h e
fact t h a t we k n o w t r o u b l e m a y be b r e w i n g a r o u n d the Pope puts us rhat
m u c h ahead o f where we were before. We k n o w enough to be o n the
l o o k o u t . But this Pontiff's in the driver's seat f o r the m o m e n t . So the
C o m m i t t e e is righr. He's the m a n we have t o deal w i t h . Let's just have o u r
man i n R o m e set the meeting w i t h the Pope. Pll go t o Rome a few days
early and try to ger a line om those t w o w a n d e r i n g priesrs, Gladstone and
G u t m a c h e r . W h o knows? If we keep d i g g i n g long enough, one t h i n g may
lead t o a n o t h e r . "
" L e t ' s hope s o . " Slim pickings t h o u g h it was, Vance shoved his i n t e l l i -
gence file across his desk r o his colleague. "So, C o m m a n d e r . " The mis-
chievous g l i n t in Bud's eye b r o k e the tension. " T h a t leaves just one more
question t o answer this m o r n i n g . A r e y o u up t o a face-to-face meeting o n
Soviet p o l i c y w i t h the man w h o b r o u g h t the Berlin W a l l t u m b l i n g d o w n ? "
" U p t o i t ! " G i b g r i n n e d . " I can h a r d l y w a i t ! "

A p p l e y a r d c o u l d n ' t believe his l u c k . It wasn't only the Strasbourg meeting

that had piqued serious inrcrest i n the Slavic Pope. Ever since that day in
Brussels w h e n England's fussy Herberr Feathersrone-Haugh had read rhe
Pope's enigmatic personal letrer ro the EC's ad hoc Selection C o m m i t t e e —
ever since he had heard the Pontiff's w o r d s t h a t had echoed his o w n
t h o u g h t s a b o u t " p o o r , p o o r E u r o p e " — G i b had longed f o r a chance to
probe the papal m i n d . To find o u t if he was in fact an independent geo-
p o l i t i c a l t h i n k e r . To find o u r i f he, t o o , was unconvinced by Europe's
c u r r e n t fervor t o remake itself i n t o the g u i d i n g force in b u i l d i n g the N e w
World Order.
A p p l e y a r d hadn'r expecred an o p p o r r u n i r y like this, of course. So he
had decided ro get at the papal m i n d t h r o u g h a srudy o f the Pontiff's
m a j o r speeches and published w r i t i n g s . A n d the more he had read, the
more i n t r i g u e d he had become.
Given his o w n bent o f m i n d , colored as ir was by the mystical elements
o f his Rosicrucian M a s o n r y , A p p l e y a r d c o u l d n ' r help but be encouraged
by some o f w h a t he discovered. N o r d i d he feel he was being in any way
unprofessional in such an ap>proach. A n y f o o l c o u l d see rhat some c o o r d i -
n a t i o n berween rhe Pope's policies and rhose of the United States w o u l d be
enhanced if the same goals—at least, the same near-rerm goals—were
shared by rhe H o l y See a n d rhe Lodge. There was only so m u c h to be
gleaned f r o m the p u b l i c statements of any world-class official. Bur A p -
pleyard had managed ro f o r m a fairly specific picture i n his m i n d of the
Slavic Pope. There was no d e n y i n g rhat the P o n t i f f was a highly educated
m a n ; an intellectual o f unusual caliber. H e was a m o d e r n leader, and as
w i d e l y experienced as any secular head o f srate. There were even signs rhat
 OF MICE AND MEN 289

he m i g h r secretly have taken a step across the v o i d f r o m i r r a t i o n a l attach-

ment t o p r i m i t i v e beliefs a n d o n t o the t e r r a i n o f h u m a n reason.
The t r o u b l e was that there were also conrradicrions involved w i r h this
Pope that baffled G i b . H e f o u n d documented evidence, for example, that
the Slavic Pope saw all religions as rrue avenues ro spiritual salvation.
Even such things as A f r i c a n v o o d o o , Papuan a n i m i s m and the m i l l e n a r i a n -
ism o f Jehovah's Witnesses v/ere included in this Pope's m i n i s t r y . But the
practical p o i n t f o r the A m e r i c a n was that the P o n t i f f showed none o f the
usual insistence t h a t a l l men and w o m e n become R o m a n Catholics.
O n the secular side, there was evidence that the Slavic Pope was way
ahead o f all the O n e - W o r l d e r s , all the Bilderburgers, all rhe N e w Agers.
Signs rhar he was w a y ahead o f the Global 2 0 0 0 stuff o f J i m m y Carrer and
the C l u b of Rome.
Neverrheless, A p p l e y a r d f o u n d plenty o f evidence w i t h i n the Pope's
published wrirings o f rhe stark and radical differences thar had set the
C h u r c h at loggerheads w i t h the Lodge in m o d e r n rimes. A n d ar logger-
heads w i t h U.S. policy as w e l l . Like the L o d g e — a n d like the C h u r c h itself
for all irs h i s t o r y — r h e Slavic Pope refused ro observe any boundaries o f
Territory or peoples or cultures. Inherently universalist, rhe Pontiff i n -
cluded all lands, all nations a n d all i n d i v i d u a l s in his a m b i t i o n s . He m a i n -
rained rhe c l a i m of his C h u r c h t o be of transcendental characrer. To be
able ro n o u r i s h and develop the spiritual and m o r a l nature o f h u m a n k i n d .
To be best and prime ar teaching m a n k i n d h o w ro live rogerher, to develop
spiritual and ethical values a n d thus to establish peace on earth and t o
prosper. A l l of rhat the Slavic Pope shared w i t h the Lodge. But as he
c o m b e d the Pope's wrirings a n d speeches, A p p l e y a r d ran up against one
p r o f o u n d difference rhar oveirshadovved all rhe similarities.
T i m e and again rhe Ponriff harped o n the R o m a n Catholic purpose t o
help all men and w o m e n achieve a goal above and distinct f r o m human
nature and n a t u r a l capacities, He harped on t h a t goal as the supernatural
life of rhe soul, w h i c h is finally achieved o n l y w h e n physical death sets in
and the i n d i v i d u a l is translared inro another dimension by a graruitous act
o f G o d . It was t h a t super-nature aimed ar by R o m a n Carholics, and ap-
parently by rhis Pope, rhar s i m p l y d i d nor square w i t h the modern M a -
sonic ideal o f perfecting man's nature w i r h i n the observable and attainable
boundaries o f rhe cosmos.
O n e o f rhe many reasons A p p l e y a r d valued M a s o n r y a n d rhe Masonic
w a y o f life was irs h u m a n l y beautiful t h o u g h t and language. M a s o n r y was
not a metaphysical system. N o t a dogma. N o t a definitive mystical revela-
t i o n o f a u n i q u e , unchangeable t r u t h . It was a w a y o f life by w h i c h the
i n d i v i d u a l was i n i t i a t e d i n t o the indispensable symbolic instruments for
his becoming consranrly m o r e perfecr i n t r a c k i n g a n d i d e n t i f y i n g rhe Su-
preme Intelligence present behind rhe facade of rhe cosmos.
By contrast, and f o r all o f rhe beauty and marvelous h u m a n i s m of its
t r a d i t i o n , R o m a n C a r h o l i c i s m retained and even depended u p o n discor-
 290 W1NDSWF. PI HOUSC

danr strains nor ro be f o u n d in M a s o n r y . There was a baby shivering in a

manger w i t h his homeless a n d indigent parents. There was a C r u c i f i x w i r h
rhe twisted body o f a m a n d y i n g in his o w n b l o o d . There was a resurrected
Chrisr disappearing beneath a golden halo i n t o rhe clouds. A n d there was
that absolutist dogma a b o u t w h a t some o f Appleyard's more vulgar
friends called " p i e i n the sky when we d i e . "
A p p l e y a r d himself neither spoke n o r t h o u g h r in such l a m p o o n i n g rerms.
His empathy a l l o w e d h i m n o such conrempr. Bur he knew that the M a -
sonic w a y s i m p l y made m o r e sense. I t was this r a t i o n a l , unheated, clear-
m i n d e d confidence in man's crearion o f a peaceful, jusr and fraternal soci-
ery o f nations t h a t gave M a s o n r y irs beauty and humanistic c h a r m . Even
w h e n he was dealing w i r h rhe srarkesr necessities and demands o f U.S.
policy, G i b had always l o o k e d t o w a r d the ideal of the Temple. A n d he had
always kept the solemn o a t h that had marked his o w n i n d u c t i o n i n t o the
30th Degree o f Scottish M a s o n r y , the Knights K a d o s h , some t w e n t y years
before. T h e oath to " s t r i c r l y obey the Statutes and Directives of this
Dreaded T r i b u n a l . . . w h i c h I hereby acknowledge as m y Supreme
Judge."
Ir was supremely i m p o r t a n t for A p p l e y a r d , as a man and as a M a s o n , ro
find whar appeared to be a k i n d r e d a t t i t u d e in the w r i t i n g s of the Slavic
Pope. There was a d i m e n s i o n to this m a n that clicked in Appleyard's m i n d
like tumblers in a l o c k . A p u r i t y o f o u t l o o k and a dedication o f purpose he
had f o u n d in no other w o r l d leader.
W h a t was as surprising as it was appealing for a man as idealistic as
A p p l e y a r d was this Pope's constant professional care n o t o n l y for geopo-
litical strategy b u t for the strategic necessities o f life. T h i s P o n t i f f con-
cerned himself w i t h e v e r y t h i n g . W i t h wantonness o f agriculrural policies.
W i r h the responsibilities a n d values of democratic society. W i t h scientific
irresponsibility, w a t e r rights;, labor unions, housing, medical care, genet-
ics, astrophysics, arhlerics, opera. The sheer impact w i t h w h i c h his w o r d s
were Tailored ro suit the cultures o f over eighry narions was something to
admire.
So impressed was A p p l e y a r d as the day approached for his departure
for R o m e that he had t o r e m i n d himself t h a t , w i t h o u t good and sufficient
reasons o f state, it w o u l d bt; o u t o f the question in his conversarion w i t h
the H o l y Farher to raise rhe question o f the antipapal meering ar Srras-
b o u r g . Still, he c o u l d n ' t help b u t w o n d e r h o w the prelares he had met
there c o u l d fail ro realize w h a t a giant o f a leader they had in the Slavic
Pope. A n d he c o u l d n ' t help b u t anticipate his o w n meeting w i t h the Pon-
t i f f in rhe mosr sanguine terms.

U n l i k e the m a i n protagonists in the global push to a N e w W o r l d O r d e r ,

rhe C a r d i n a l o f Cenruryciry d i d nor l o o k ro Rome for a n y t h i n g . Beyond a
certain level o f m u t u a l p r o t e c t i o n , in fact, the o n l y t h i n g H i s Eminence
 O I- MICE AND MEN 291
wanted f r o m the Vatican was to be left t o r u n his well-oiled Machine
w i t h o u t interference.
N a t u r a l l y , exceprions had t o be made f r o m rime to time. A t that special
theological consultation t o w h i c h he had been invited in Rome, f o r exam-
ple. H i s Eminence's good friends C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i and Cardinal
Pensabene had made a persuasive case f o r his close cooperation w i t h rhem
in the f o r m a t i o n o f a new ad hoc Internal Affairs C o m m i t t e e w i t h i n the
N a t i o n a l Conference of C a t h o l i c Bishops.
The idea o f rhe plan was appealing for rhe C a r d i n a l of Centuryciry. In
rhe very heart of rhe N C C B , H i s Eminence's new I A C w o u l d be funda-
mental to the f o r m u l a t i o n of the C o m m o n M i n d o f U.S. bishops, and of
bishops t h r o u g h o u t the C h u r c h , abour the a l l - i m p o r t a n t issue of Apostolic
unity between themselves a n d the Slavic Pope.
His firsr order o f business u p o n his return t o Centuryciry had been to
f o r m the f o u n d a t i o n a l elements of his new I A C . T h a t is, t o induct those
bishops w h o w o u l d serve as the Cardinal's p r i n c i p a l "upper-level facili-
r a r o r s . " Each o f rhe five residential bishops chosen k n e w w h y he had been
tapped by H i s Eminence. T h e first consideration in each case was moral
character. H i s Eminence k n e w the weakness of each bishop, and felr n o
c o m p u n c t i o n abour using rhait i n f o r m a t i o n . The second consideration was
rhe mind-set o f each man regarding C h u r c h marrers.
The prime example of the desired type was the bishop f r o m Connecti-
cut, Kevin R a h i l l y . H i s Celtic frankness, animated by his unmitigated g a l l ,
had qualified h i m early as a leader in rhe e f f o r t to de-Romanize, and to
Americanize, rhe churches in his diocese. A capiral f e l l o w , then. Equally
desirable was N e w Y o r k State's Bishop M a n l e y M o t h e r h u b b e , w h o had
l o n g been recognized f o r his. dedication t o r i d the C h u r c h of w h a t he
called " i t s deplorable, outdared R o m a n i s m and superstitions."
A second man f r o m N e w Y o r k State, Primas Rochefort, was inrense in
his glad-handedness. The m a j o r q u a l i t y that recommended h i m was a joie
de vivre nourished ar rhe fleslfipors of rhe sweer life.
M i c h i g a n ' s influential Bishop Bruce L o n g b o r t h a m seemed a more sub-
stantial figure. He kept up a constant refrain o f public apologies for " r h e
sexist and patriarchal sins" of his C h u r c h , and was given ro sporting
designer slacks and pigeon-blue rurtlcneck sweaters. The Cardinal's core
g r o u p was rounded our by rhe most eye-catching of his "upper-level
change agents." A r c h b i s h o p C u t h b e r t Delish o f L a c k l a n d C i t y , Wisconsin,
w h o appeared ro be n o t h i n g less rhan a w a l k i n g adverrisemenr for justice
and p r o b i r y .
The r a p i d i t y w i t h w h i c h Hiis Eminence of Centuryciry was able ro edu-
cate these five f o u n d a t i o n a l members of his fledgling Inrernal A f f a i r s C o m -
mittee was w o n d e r f u l . A d m i t t e d l y , rhe C a r d i n a l was ar his besr when
presiding w i t h a sreel hand sheathed in a velvet glove over miscreant cler-
ics of subordinate grade. T h e frost was barely o n the p u m p k i n , then,
before the C a r d i n a l traveled t o St. OlaPs parish in the diocese of Rosedale,
 292 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

M i n n e s o t a , for a final operations briefing w i t h his handpicked episcopal

" f a c i l i t a t o r s . " Immediately f o l l o w i n g the briefing, he w o u l d lead his col-
laborators inro rhe firsr full meering o f his n e w l y f o r m e d Internal Affairs
C o m m i t t e e , set ro take place in St. O l a f ' s basement hall.
T h o u g h the choice o f this o u t - o f - t h e - w a y site for their gathering was
unusual, it was also wise. Certainly ir could nor have been held ar the
Washington headquarrers o f rhe N C C B , where media arrenrion w o u l d
have been artracred as a matter o f course. Indeed, for all o f irs life span,
rhe I A C w o u l d g u a r d irs inner proceedings as strictly confidential.
The C a r d i n a l was a d a m a n t that his core collaborarors be clear on rhe
methods o f operarion ro be used in order ro affecr rhe menral attitude o f
every Unired States bishop. C l a r i t y was essential to success. T h e firsr p o i n t
to be reviewed, rhen, was rhe need f o r srricr c o m p a r r m e n r a r i o n . Maestro-
i a n n i and Pensabene had been emphatic abour rhar; and so, r o o , was the
Cardinal of Centurycity.
' T h i s I A C w i l l operate at: the episcopal l e v e l . " His Eminence looked at
each o f the five bishops in t u r n . " A l t h o u g h y o u w i l l have t o keep higher
ranks i n f o r m e d , no one above rhe grade o f bishop is ro be meaningfully
involved—presenr c o m p a n y excepted. The bishops themselves must be
t a u g h t — i n u r e d , r a t h e r — t o t h i n k as K e v i n Rahilly does. They must learn
to t h i n k in an A m e r i c a n w a y . In essence, all of o u r I A C operations w i l l be
designed t o this end. A n d al ways, crucial ecclesiastical and d o c t r i n a l issues
w i l l be i n v o l v e d . For instance, one o f y o u r a u x i l i a r y bishops w i l l w r i t e an
article declaring in g o o d , egalitarian American style that it's high time
w o m e n were ordained to the priesrhood. Immediarely, he must be backed
up by a f l o o d o f s u p p o r t i n g sraremenrs in diocesan newspapers, public
conferences and the general media. The bishop o r i g i n a t i n g the article w i l l
have to w i t h d r a w his sraremenr—Temporarily, o f course—due ro pressure
rhar is sure ro come f r o m rhe papal office. We do nor m i n d thar. Ir does
not count for much.
" W h a t w i l l c o u n t w i l l be irhe effect o n the N C C B . Because that proposal
w i l l have come f r o m a b i s h o p , and because o f a f l o o d o f supporr f r o m rhe
grass-roots level, rhis I n t e r n a l A f f a i r s Commirree w i l l be forced ro adduce
rhe weighty considerations that have been raised. As an official Commirtee
o f the N a t i o n a l Conference of Catholic Bishops, w e c o u l d n o t be expected
to d o otherwise.
"Now, some o f o u r bishops do srill have a Tendency ro be u n d u l y
swayed by insrructions f r o m rhe papal office. A n d I w a n t to r e m i n d y o u
that we can expect a steady drizzle o f such R o m a n interference as we
proceed w i t h o u r operations; over the c o m i n g year. Therefore, I emphasize
that the p r i o r i t y o f this I n t e r n a l A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e is precisely w h a t its
name declares i t to be: Internal A f f a i r s . W i t h i n the b o u n d a r y limirs of the
United States, we are the C h u r c h . Rome is nor based w i r h i n o u r borders
and has no place here. The general membership o f rhe N a t i o n a l Confer-
 OF MICE. AND MEN 293

ence of Catholic Bishops w i l l rely o n this new I A C of ours t o determine

the official attitude of agreement or disagreement w i t h the H o l y See."
A l l heads t u r n e d as H i s Eminence's personal secretary, rhe attractive
Father O s w a l d A v o n o d o r , p o k e d his face i n t o the r o o m and announced
rhar all w h o had been i n v i t e d ro the general I A C meeting were assembled
and w a i r i n g . The call was a t i m e l y one. H i s Eminence k n e w he had said all
that was needed.
The bishops were happy enough to t r o o p downsrairs behind the C a r d i -
nal i n r o rhe basemenr hall, w h e r e the bite o f the cold weather was offset
less by St. Olaf's meager heating p l a n t than by the intensity of rhe t h i r t y -
o d d i n d i v i d u a l s w h o greered r h e m . For, one and a l l , rhey were animated
by the fervor o f crusaders, o f trailblazers, of an elire vanguard. Indeed, by
the fervor o f insiders at p r i v a t e plannings for grear events. A t least on the
central p r o p o s i t i o n o f this m e e t i n g — o n the p r o p o s i t i o n that the Slavic
Pope had ro go for rhe good of rhe C h u r c h — a l l hearts beat as one.
Technically speaking, all p r e s e n t — i n c l u d i n g Flis Eminence of Cen-
t u r y c i r y — w e r e guests of Rosedale's Bishop R a y m o n d A . L u c k e n b i l l . A n d
ir was o n l y ro be expecred rhat the easygoing Bishop w o u l d be surrounded
by some half dozen of his easygoing parish priests and the easygoing
Chancellor of his diocese. St i l l , no one had any illusions as to w h o was
r u n n i n g this s h o w . Srill, as if to underscore the p o i n t , H i s Eminence of
Centurycity was accompanied not o n l y by Father O s w a l d A v o n o d o r bur
by rhe Cardinal's well k n o w n hatchet m a n . A u x i l i a r y Bishop Ralph E.
G o o d e n o u g h , a husky, b a l d i n g , double-chinned b u l k o f a m a n w i t h the
small, calculating eyes o f a b a r r o o m bouncer.
The procedure was o r d e r l y . As H i s Eminence called our rheir names, the
three most p r o m i n e n t leaders of the U.S. feminist movement a m o n g
w o m e n religious s t o o d , each in her o w n place, to be recognized tor her
notable c o n t r i b u t i o n s ro rhe A m e r i c a n C h u r c h . Sister Fran Fedora f r o m
the West Coast was resplendent in her black-and-purple liturgical vest-
ments. Sister Helen H a m m e n r i c k of N e w Orleans paled by comparison in
her severely cut business suit. Sister Cherisa Blaine o f Kansas C i t y , already
famous for m i x i n g Wicca practices i n church w o r s h i p .
Introduced next were a representative f r o m America's largest group of
men w h o sryled themselves as " e x - p r i e s t s , " and a p r o m i n e n t member of
D i g n i r y , rhe R o m a n Catholic organizarion for homosexually acrive clerics
and l a y f o l k . Once rhe special guesrs had been recognized and welcomed,
Sisrer Fran Fedora was i n v i t e d ro open rhe proceedings w i t h a prayer. She
invoked marriarchal blessings f r o m M o r h e r Earth and f r o m Sophia, rhe
goddess o f w i s d o m .
W i r h a p e r f u n c t o r y A m e n to Sister's i n v o c a t i o n , Flis Eminence rurned
his artention to the full g a t h e r i n g of residential and a u x i l i a r y bishops f r o m
twenry or so dioceses a r o u n d the n a t i o n . Each had been handpicked for
charter membership in this I A C by the C a r d i n a l himself o r , w i t h his u l t i -
mate a p p r o v a l , by one or another of his core g r o u p of five. " W e l c o m e ! "
 294 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

H i s Eminence greeted t h e m all w i t h a businesslike smile. " W e l c o m e / * he

began again, " m e m b e r s a n d guests of the I A C o f the U . S . A . " Applause.
" A t m y request"—the C a r d i n a l waved an imperious hand t o w a r d his
distinguished associate f r o m Lackland C i t y — " A r c h b i s h o p Delish has pre-
pared a b a c k g r o u n d r e p o r t rhar you w i l l all find u s e f u l . " Archbishop
Curhberr Delish rose f r o m bis chair like justice itself, ready ro separare rhe
goars f r o m rhe sheep. " W e can safely assume r w o r h i n g s , " he announced.
" F i r s r , rhere is c u r r e n t l y a small m a j o r i t y o f bishops i n this c o u n t r y w h o
have doubrs about the possibility o f any t r u l y effective u n i t y between
themselves a n d the present Pope. Second, rhose w h o disagree openly w i t h
rhis m a j o r i r y are few. T h a r is rhe strong basic f o u n d a r i o n u p o n w h i c h we
begin o u r w o r k . " It was t r u e , of course, as Delish pointed our, thar "a
certain q u o t a o f dissidenrs is a healthy s i g n . " Neverrheless, ir only made
sense to read our a short list o f the most troublesome o f rhose dissidents,
and a considerably longer list o f those w h o m he described as "fence-
sitters."
T h a t b r o u g h t the A r c h b i s h o p to the second p o r t i o n o f his background
report. " U p u n t i l n o w , each o f us has had some success at the skillful
nourishmenr and development ot new customs and attitudes a m o n g clergy
and laity. N o w , however, they must all be habituated as never before to
hearing us disagree w i t h instructions c o m i n g f r o m the papal office. It must
become a n o r m a l t r a i r o f C a t h o l i c life that o u r local churches disagree
w i t h R o m a n direcrives, and o p t t r a n q u i l l y insread to go t h e i r o w n w a y . "
A r c h b i s h o p Delish expanded o n rhis principle w i r h examples o f ser-
mons that m i g h t be preached, articles that m i g h t be published, interviews
that m i g h t be g i v e n , public encounter groups that m i g h t be f o r m e d , media
outlets to w h i c h they m i g h t make themselves readily available. " T h e p o i n t
t o keep i n m i n d is t h i s , " Delish summed up neatly. " O n c e faced w i t h
customs already established and w i t h attitudes already ingrained, there is
n o t m u c h Rome can d o , is there?"
The response was a restrained bur confident ripple o f laughter. O n l y
Bishop Rahilly o f Connecticut felt the need t o a m p l i f y Delish's remarks.
" T h e p o i n r I make is rhis: We d o n ' t announce a n y t h i n g as new or innova-
tive. We jusr go ahead a n d d o w h a r w e w i l l . That's h o w I arranged rhings
in m y o w n diocese w i t h the m o d e r n i z a t i o n o f rhe Mass We d i d n ' r rell rhe
people we were g o i n g ro change, bur we jusr w e n t ahead and d i d i t . The
people fell i n t o line like obedient dominoes. As simple as t h a t . "
A r c h b i s h o p Delish gave a n o d o f a p p r o v a l ro Rahilly for his c o n r r i b u -
r i o n . Addressing rhe I A C s special guests, he gave his r e c o m m e n d a t i o n for
" q u i e r persisrence i n a c t i o n " and his assurance o f support f r o m rhis new
Internal A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e of the N C C B . To the permanent members and
"change agents" o f the I A C , he gave a copy of his list o f dissident bishops.
Never a m a n to g i l d the l i l y , His Eminence o f Centuryciry srood u p
a b r u p t l y , clapped his hands; once as the seal o f c o m m o n resolution a n d ,
w i r h Farher O s w a l d A v o n o d o r at his heels, carried himself our rhe d o o r .
 OF M I C E A N D M E N 295

The Cardinal's auxiliary bishop, Ralph Goodenough, remained behind

jusr long enough ro run his lirtle hatchet-man eyes speculatively over each
arrendee. The three visiting nuns stared him down as best they could.
Bishop Luckenbill gave him an easygoing smile. The claque of bishops pur
up with the implied threat as an unnecessary bit of icing on the cake. It
was only a minute or rwo before Bishop Goodenough rraced His Emi-
nence's footsteps out of St. Olaf's and into the waiting limousine. Every-
thing was under control.

" D i d you not assure us that everything was under control, Eminence? ' 1

Angry bur helpless at the obvious displeasure in rhe Guardian's voice,

rhe Cardinal of Cenrurycity tightened his grip on rhe red telephone re-
ceiver until his knuckles showed whire. Once back in his residence, he had
relaxed from rhe strain of his rrip ro Rosedale over a quier dinner and rhen
had serried down in his study for a little catch-up paperwork. The last
thing he needed was to have his peace of mind shattered by rhe red secu-
rity phone jangling in its special case on his desk. In the dark about what
might have raised the Guardian's dander, and unwilling to cop a plea in
any case, His Eminence made no reply to what was obviously meant as an
accusation and a reproach.
"You assured us," the Guardian supplied the missing clue, "that your
handling of the Scalabrini case was secure. As I recall, your exact words
were 'All's well that ends well.' "
Elis Eminence felt the blood drain from his face.
"Unforrunarely," rhe Guardian continued, "rhe matter is not ar all tidy.
Our information is that the man who took care of Scalabrini may be ready
to rurn,' just as Scalabrini did. You must clean up this affair, Your Emi-
l

nence. Definitively this time. Otherwise, ir could be troublesome. Trouble-

some for us a l l . "
The Guardian's voice was replaced by a click and the sound of rhe dial
tone.
His Eminence frowned. Then, as the tumblers dropped inro place in his
mind, he buzzed for Farher Michael Avonodor. By the time the young
priest roused himself from bed and appeared in pajamas and robe at the
study door, the Cardinal knew exactly what had to be done.
" C a l l Bishop Ralph Goodenough," he ordered, ' i want to see him here
first thing tomorrow morning."
"Right away, Eminence."
" A n d one more thing. Tell Goodenough to pack an overnight bag. I
want him on an early flight to Detroit."
 P A R T T W O

Papal T w i l i g h t
 XXVIII

T H A T G I B S O N A P P L E Y A R D had managed ro glean even a meager sense

of a consisrenr papal policy should have given him an advanrage over
every orher geopolirical srraregisr in Washington and around rhe world,
nor to mention every experr in rhe Vatican as well. And yer, perhaps his
main advanrage was rhar he understood rhar ir was evening rime for rhe
Roman papacy, jusr as surely as ir was evening for rhe N A T O alliance, for
the European Community, for rhe Anglo-American Establishment, for
U.S.A. world hegemony and for rhe Marxist-Socialist U t o p i a n dreamers of
rhis almosr spenr rwenrieth century. A long and tedious and agonizing day
was drawing ro a close over rhe heads of the nations now. The clear
reliable perspecrive of dayrime was yielding to twilight. Accurate percep-
tion even of the most familiar objects was becoming difficult. Fears of
dissolution, awareness of mortal enemies as yet unidentified, ignorance of
the near future, growing discomfort with present conditions—now began
to rustle and rise free from the darkening byways of the nations.
Thus an Appleyard would categorize the volatility in the wills of nations
faced with a Bosnia and a R w a n d a : the ethical clarity achieved in the glare
of World War II had faded. Thus also he would classify the on-again, off-
again papacy of the Slavic Pope: utter and obstinare firmiry on sexual
moraliry varying wirh an apparenr looseness of former dogmatic tenets
about who could be saved for Heaven and who had rhe lasr word on
earth. Twilight over his papacy hastened to enshroud him, playing games
with everyone's perception and making progress more dangerous by the
minute. Thus the papal twilight enveloped all those—friends, collabora-
tors, enemies—involved in his papacy. At the heel of the hunt, when the
darkness of night fell upon this papacy, it would be difficult to decide who
cut the most pathetic figure: The masses of faithful Roman Catholics?
Those who had served the Slavic Pope at grear personal cosr? O r rhe Slavic
Pope himself?

O f course, rhere were rhose in rhe Vatican and the world ar large who
welcomed twilight as a happy companion on their own journey of ex-
tremes. Indeed, as far as Cardinal Cosimo Maesrroianni and his growing
cadre of collaborators could see, the sun seemed already to be rising on
their plans. After all, rhe Pope was unable to govern the Church Universal
in any effective way.
 300 W I N D S W KPT HOUSE

Further, the machinery designed t o pressure the Pope to resign for the
sake o f C h u r c h unity and for his o w n peace o f m i n d was all bur t a k i n g o n
a life o f its o w n . T h e new ad hoc Internal A f f a i r s Committees being estab-
lished w i t h i n the N a t i o n a l and Regional Conferences o f Bishops a r o u n d
the w o r l d were shaping up as the biggesr and most perfect flywheel i n the
a n t i p a p a l machinery.
N o one understood better than M a e s t r o i a n n i that F'urope had ro be rhe
l i n c h p i n in the antipapal mechanism. Carholicism in this ancient heartland
o f C h r i s t i a n i t y carried a special prestige t h a t w e n t far beyond theology
and d e v o t i o n , and reached deep i n t o social life, culture and politics. I n -
deed, rhere never had been a time when the European hierarchies were n o t
h i p deep in p o l i t i c s — n a t i o n a l , European and universal.
In p r i n c i p l e , therefore, i t should be easy t o b r i n g the N a t i o n a l and Re-
g i o n a l Bishops Conferences o f Europe into line in the matter o f the C o m -
m o n M i n d Vote. Play into their divisions, and at the same time lever rhem
i n t o a p o l i t i c k i n g s i t u a t i o n , and the European bishops w o u l d react predict-
ably. Once Europe had been w o n , the C o m m o n M i n d Vote elsewhere
w o u l d be one o f the few certainties in an uncertain w o r l d . H i s Eminence
o f C e n t u r y c i r y w o u l d oversee things in the United States because the N a -
t i o n a l and Regional Conferences o f Bishops in the U.S.A. all bur belonged
t o h i m . As f o r the Canadians, i t was rhe general Vatican o p i n i o n that they
c o u l d be counted on t o t r o t along a b o u t six m o n t h s b e h i n d the Americans.
In L a t i n A m e r i c a , rhe ravages o f l i b e r a t i o n theology had combined w i t h
post-Vatican II s p i r i t u a l i t y and liturgies t o d i g a deep fissure between the
Slavic Pope and the N a t i o n a l and Regional Conferences o f Bishops. As f o r
Asia and A f r i c a , the Bishops Conferences o n those continents w o u l d fall
i n t o step readily enough. For, like the Americans, the Africans and Asians
h a d a f o l l o w - m y - I e a d e r history w i r h regard t o Europe.
I f it was true t h a t the European bishops were the key t o a successful
C o m m o n M i n d Vote a r o u n d the w o r l d , it was d o u b l y true t h a t Cyrus
Benthoek's inspired idea t o deliver the European Economic C o m m u n i t y as
a m a j o r f u l c r u m o f episcopal persuasion was the key t o the European
bishops. N o t many even a m o n g the most retrograde bishops w o u l d long
resist the political and practical advantages t h a t c o u l d be b r o u g h t t o bear.
N o t m a n y w h o w o u l d w i s h t o be left behind by the new Greater Europe
being fashioned by the EC. N o t many w h o w o u l d long doubr rhe w i s d o m
o f being one w i r h rhe C o m m o n M i n d o f rheir f e l l o w bishops. W i r h Father
Chrisrian Gladstone w o r k i n g rhe European bishops under Maesrroianni's
d i r e c t i o n , and w i t h Secretary-General Paul Gladstone's easy access to the
EC's Commissioners and its C o u n c i l o f European Foreign M i n i s t e r s , the
table was set for the feast.
Wisely, H i s Eminence M a e s t r o i a n n i began ro t h i n k a b o u t bolstering the
roster o f suirable candidares ro replace the Slavic Pope. Surely it was rime
f o r M a e s t r o i a n n i t o have a w o r d w i t h C a r d i n a l Secretary G i a c o m o Grazi-
ani a b o u t securing rhe red har for Father-General C o u t i n h o . A n d for a few
ROMAN SERVICE 301

others besides. N o r was it t o o soon t o see the last o f a man like the
Master-General o f the D o m i n i c a n O r d e r , for one. Father Damien Slattery
was more rhan a personal annoyance for C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . He was
one o f the few stalwarts o f any rank at the side of the Slavic Pope.
H o w f o r t u n a t e , t h e n , that the next General Chapter o f the Dominicans
was due t o take place in M a r c h o f the c o m i n g year. O n e such Chapter had
voted Slattery in as Master-General o f the O r d e r . I f Maestroianni's clout
counted f o r a n y t h i n g , the c o m i n g Chapter w o u l d vote h i m i n t o perpetual
exile f r o m Rome. A f t e r rhar, Slattery w o u l d be fair game.

M a e s t r o i a n n i w a s n ' t the o n l y C a r d i n a l w h o had ideas about Vatican per-

sonnel. H i s Eminence Silvio Aurearini was becoming deeply edgy a b o u t
Father A l d o Carnesecca. Ever since rhat October day i n 1978 w h e n he and
Carnesecca had sar w i r h rhe then C a r d i n a l Secretary o f Srate, Jean-Claude
de Vincennes, at the triage of documents for t w o dead Popes, he had
realized t h a t evidence t o u c h i n g o n the ceremony of the Prince's I i n t h r o n e -
menr w i r h i n the Citadel m i g h t have been discovered and s h o w n t o rhe
September Pope. Aurearini's suspicions had fallen squarely on Aldo
Carnesecca.
A u r e a r i n i had never progressed f r o m suspicion t o cerrainty. T h e o f f e n d -
ing evidence had remained buried in the Vatican Archives, and no w h i f f o f
ir had surfaced. Neverrheless, he felt it w o u l d n ' t d o any longer t o w a i t for
Carnesecca ro die a n a t u r a l death. A more p r u d e n t way was needed to tidy
the matter, a rask H i s Eminence carried our w i r h silken ease one afternoon
in his office ar rhe Secretariat.
T h e sharp-nosed C a r d i n a l explained t o Carnesecca rhar rhe A r c h b i s h o p
o f Palermo and the other bishops o f Sicily had decided to cooperate w i t h
the Italian police and the intelligence services o f the Italian armed forces in
an a l l - o u t assault on the Sicilian M a f i a . T h e Vatican w o u l d serve as the
clearinghouse f o r all c o m m u n i c a t i o n s between the bishops, the police and
the intelligence operatives. One person i n the Vatican w o u l d be designated
as overall c o o r d i n a t o r o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n s and operations. The most sensi-
tive link in the setup, as the C a r d i n a l was sure Father A l d o w o u l d see,
concerned c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . Everyone k n e w that telephones and the mails
were unreliable. A courier was needed, therefore. Someone w h o had been
engaged in clandestine w o r k before and w h o c o u l d travel back and f o r t h
unnoticed f o r as l o n g as necessary to secure all c o o r d i n a t i o n points be-
tween the c o l l a b o r a t i n g agencies and the bishops.
T he timetable was still loose, o f course. U n t i l the courier system was
r u n n i n g w e l l , it w o u l d not be possible to p i n p o i n t the exact strike dare; the
day w h e n a general r o u n d u p o f all active mafiosi w o u l d be carried o u t by
units o f Italy's Special Forces. But o n the m o r n i n g o f that near-future day,
the bishops themselves w o u l d issue the go signal in the f o r m o f a pastoral
letter c o n d e m n i n g and e x c o m m u n i c a t i n g all mafiosi. A n d television and
 302 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

r a d i o w o u l d be coordinated to make this double b l o w o f open condemna-

t i o n and mass arrest devastating for the c r i m i n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n .
A u r e a t i n i decided to w h e t the good Father's appetite w i t h a detailed
overview o f the projected move against the M a f i a . H e t o o k o u t a sheaf o f
briefing papers, and the t w o men went over everything. M a p s , names,
dates, contact points, passwords, statistics, personnel outlines, recognition
signals, telephone numbers. Carnesecca made some recommendations
based o n past experience, and H i s Eminence adopted them w i t h o u t hesita-
t i o n . " I ' m y o u n g at this stuff, Father." He smiled in self-deprecation. " I r s
another case o f the o l d d o g for the l o n g r o a d , but the p u p for the p u d d l e . "
Carnesecca laughed. But he knew A u r e a t i n i was already a trained
b l o o d h o u n d . A n d he k n e w in his bones that something was w r o n g . I n -
stinct t o l d h i m that buried somewhere was a lethal gap, a dangerous p r o -
viso, an innocuous detail that w o u l d leave his back exposed. Yet n o t h i n g
seemed a w r y i n AureatinPs explanations, or in the details of the plans they
reviewed together. H e c o u l d discover no plausible reason t o back up his
w o r r y , and no reasonable excuse to extracr himself f r o m rhe situation.
" N o w , " C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i w r a p p e d up his sales p i t c h . " I f you consent
t o the mission, y o u w i l l have no cause f o r concern a b o u t the Vatican end
of things. I shall be the overall c o o r d i n a t o r at this end. So, w h a t do you
say, Father? Is i t a g o ? "
Father Carnesecca cringed almost visibly at the news that Aurearini
w o u l d be the Vatican c o o r d i n a t o r ; and he d i d n ' t like the n a r r o w t i m i n g
thar had been left ro h i m . H e remained silent abour rhe firsr poinr, but not
about the second. " I f everyrhing is poised ro begin, Eminence, my prepara-
tions w i l l be rushed. Plasre and hurry are the parents o f fatal mis-
takes . . . "
U n w i l l i n g to hear any such t h o u g h t , A u r e a r i n i cur in w i t h a hasty dis-
claimer. " T h e r e ' s no w o r r y abour rhat, Father. You've seen all rhe plans.
Your backup is professional. Srrictly state-of-the-art."
" . . . B u t , " Carnesecca continued as if the C a r d i n a l h a d n ' t spoken,
" g i v e n the pressure o f events, Your Eminence, I shall undertake this mis-
sion f o r the H o l y See."
The C a r d i n a l slapped the desk w i t h the palm o f one h a n d . W h a t a pity,
he t h o u g h t , that C a r d i n a l Secretary Vincennes h a d n ' t lived t o savor this
day.

D u r i n g his first few m o n t h s spent at the heart o f fundamental confusion in

this t w i l i g h t R o m e o f the Slavic Pope, i t was difficult for Chrisrian G l a d -
stone t o sorr our the d i f f e r e n t sectors o f the Varican rhar reached o u t to
engulf h i m . Each one seemed ro have an agenda f o r h i m . Despire his
insrinctive anripathy f o r C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i , the very s i m p l i c i t y of His
Eminence's insrrucrions fascinared rhe y o u n g scholar-priesr. A n d ir was a
d o w n r i g h r blessing f o r h i m thar the M Project—for so C h r i s had dubbed
his mission for M a e s t r o i a n n i — w a s grueling in its demands.
ROMAN SERVICE 303

In the early g o i n g , the C a r d i n a l assigned a new rosrer o f European

bishops for Gladstone t o visit every few weeks, and each schedule came
w i t h a m o u n t a i n of background data to be digested beforehand. The pur-
pose of every visit was to enable Christian to complete a simply w o r d e d
questionnaire. N o n e of the bishops saw that document, of course; nor d i d
they even k n o w o f its existence. But in the questions he asked all across
rhe C o n t i n e n t , Gladstone was guided by the items o n that questionnaire.
C h r i s f o u n d rhat most bishops he visited opened up to h i m w i t h a
candor he f o u n d d i s t u r b i n g . Perhaps ir was rhat mantle of Vatican author-
ity M a e s r r o i a n n i had spoken of. Wharever ir was, Gladstone got an eccle-
siastical earful wherever he traveled. He f o u n d a m o n g rhe bishops of Eu-
rope a universal feeling o f a great lack in the C h u r c h . A general feeling
rhat the uniry of the C h u r c h irself was ar risk. Still such sentiments came
across to Chrisrian as no more rhan rhat; as no more t h a n sentiments. He
f o u n d no real clarity of t h o u g h t , no crispness of vision. Even rhe desire for
closer papal uniry itself was vague. Everyrhing was expressed in terms of
" p e r h a p s . " Perhaps the bishops w o u l d find again rhe solidity rhey had
once enjoyed. Perhaps the H o l y Spirit w o u l d inspire the papal m i n d to a
new understanding of their difficulties in dealing w i t h a new w o r l d rhat
was defining itself in terms of finance and commerce. Perhaps . . . Per-
haps . . .
A t the same t i m e — a n d despite their o w n laments over their bygone
uniry w i t h the H o l y Eather—what also came across to Gladstone was the
strengrh of the N a t i o n a l and Regional Bishops Conferences that had been
f o r m e d everywhere f o l l o w i n g the Second Vatican C o u n c i l . Every bishop
he met appeared to give more practical weight ro those Conferences than
to rhe H o l y See. Rome was no longer the hub of a u t h o r i t y ; it figured n o w
as o n l y one o f many hubs.
A m o n g all of his discoveries, however, Christian never f o u n d any trace
o f love or any sense of deep respect for the Slavic Pope.
D i s t u r b i n g t h o u g h it was for h i m , the p o r t r a i r of the C h u r c h that
f o r m e d in Christian's m i n d caused h i m t o hope that this assignment had
been designed t o d o exactly w h a t H i s Eminence had said at the o u t s e t —
" t o help us overcome problems some of o u r bishops appear t o be encoun-
t e r i n g . " W i r h that t h o u g h t as his spur, Chris was able t o manage as many
as three or f o u r episcopal visits at a single regional s w i n g . After each
exhausting foray, he w o u l d h u r r y back to Rome, where he w o u l d c o m -
plete the required questionnaires and prepare himself for t h o r o u g h per-
sonal debriefings by C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i and orher members of rhe
upper echelons of rhe Vatican a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
Those debriefing sessions gave h i m his first direcr glimpse inro rhe
p o w e r structure of rhe Eloly See. There were even isolated moments when
he was tempted to a gentle hope that he was on his w a y i n t o the heart o f
Rome. M o m e n t s w h e n he almost t h o u g h t that Rome as the Eternal Ciry
m i g h t open up to h i m as the best in beauty, the most ancient in w i s d o m ,
 304 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

rhe most fatherly in sentiment. M o m e n t s w h e n he felt he m i g h t glimpse its

high gates accessing rhe universe, God's i m m o r t a l i t y and the lambent
glory c l o t h i n g the Rock o f Ages. Yet each such m o m e n t gave w a y soon
enough to reality. There was always something to r e m i n d Christian that
he was a p y g m y outsider, an impersonal cog in an unheeding machine, a
gofer w h o w o u l d never penetrate beyond those gates o f privilege or bathe
in that g l o r y .

A f t e r a m o n t h and more o f intensive w o r k , one debriefing session opened

a day t h a t was to provide Gladstone w i t h a perfect p a r a d i g m of those t w o
extremes rhat defined his early tenure in R o m a n service. Summoned w i t h -
o u t w a r n i n g t o an e a r l y - m o r n i n g conference i n rhe Vatican Secretariat, he
was presented by H i s Eminence M a e s t r o i a n n i to no fewer than seven
r a n k i n g Cardinals as " o u r valued new associate." C a r d i n a l Silvio Aurea-
t i n i and C a r d i n a l Secretary G i a c o m o G r a z i a n i were present, and Graziani
smiled his welcome t o Gladstone, blinked o f t e n , said little and listened
w e l l . T w o v i s i t i n g prelares—England's C a r d i n a l Eionel Boff and His Emi-
nence Schuytteneer o f Belgium—confined rhemselves ro m i n o r roles in the
debriefing session, so Chris c o u l d n ' t tell w h a t to make of t h e m . By con-
trast, C a r d i n a l Azande o f Africa's G o l d Coast had many w i d e - r a n g i n g
questions to p u t to Gladstone. C a r d i n a l N o a h Palombo was d o u r to the
p o i n t o f a c i d i t y , but his m i n d was incisive and his interest encompassed
everything. H i s Eminence Leo Pensabene had a curious habit of emphasiz-
i n g each o f his questions by p o p p i n g a bony finger inro rhe a i r — a n i d i o -
syncrasy rhar seemed to annoy rhe sharp-featured A u r e a t i n i no end. As
i n q u i s i t o r s , however, Pensabene and A u r e a r i n i were every bit as penetrat-
ing and all-inclusive in rheir p r o b i n g as Palombo or Azande or Maesrro-
ianni himself.
W i t h o u t exception, those Cardinals showed a lively interest in Chris-
tian's assessment of the bishops he had seen so far in France, Belgium,
P l o l l a n d , A u s t r i a and G e r m a n y . A l l appeared w o r r i e d rhar rhe H o l y Fa-
rher was nor understood by some o f his bishops. So satisfied d i d they
seem, i n fact, w i t h Christian's answers rhat w h e n rhe m o m e n t came for
h i m to leave rhem ro rheir privare deliberations. C a r d i n a l Azande rose ro
shake the American's hand and give h i m a generous w o r d of appreciation.
" ' W e l l done, r h o u good and f a i t h f u l servanr.' The Shona people in my
A f r i c a say, T h e sugar is over. Bur y o u , Farher Gladsrone, have sweerened
1

life f o r us. T h a n k y o u ! "

Ir w o u l d n ' t have been half enough rrue ro say t h a t Christian was elated as
he left the A p o s t o l i c Palace that m o r n i n g . W i r h Azande's sentiments fresh
in his ears, Chris was h a l f w a y across Sr. Peter's Square w h e n he heard his
name called in rhe unmisrakable Irish baritone rhat belonged to Farher
D a m i e n Slarrery.
 ROMAN SF R VICL 305

" H a v e y o u had lunch yet, l a d ? " The Master-General forced a smile as

he fell i n t o stride beside C h r i s t i a n .
A l l d u r i n g rhe cab ride t o Springy's eatery and t h r o u g h most o f lunch
Slattery was regaled w i t h a r u n d o w n o f rhe heavyweighr Cardinals w h o
had so earnestly sought Chris's advice that m o r n i n g . D a m i e n was alarmed
rhat Chris had been swept o f f his feet by the Cardinals w h o had shown
such an intercsr in his w o r k f o r M a e s r r o i a n n i . It was clear that the y o u n g
A m e r i c a n was becoming disillusioned all over again w i r h whar he saw as
the H o l y Father's disregard for the d e c l i n i n g state o f the i n s t i t u t i o n a l
Church.
" L o o k , Padre/' The Master-General t o o k advantage o f the first signifi-
cant pause in Gladstone's excited m o n o l o g u e . " I d o n ' t w a n t t o prick your
b a l l o o n . But those huskies you met w i t h rhis m o r n i n g c o u l d have ser a lot
o f things right i n the C h u r c h before n o w , if rhar was whar they were
after."
Gladstone shook his head. " T h a t ' s just i t , Father D a m i e n . N o one is
more surprised than I , I ' d give my life in service ro rhe papacy if it came to
rhar. Bur fair is fair; and as far as I can see, M a e s r r o i a n n i and the others
are ar least t r y i n g to get a handle o n things. It's the H o l y Father w h o
should answer f o r the w a y he lets things slide o u t o f c o n t r o l . "
Slattery had no answer f o r w h a t was essentially a c o m p l a i n t about a
papal policy he himself d i d n ' t understand. T h e best he could do was to air
his o w n complaints a b o u t the brace o f Cardinals w h o had t u r n e d Chris-
tian's head w i t h their civilized pursuit o f r o u g h games. " N o w , let me get
this straight, G l a d s t o n e . " Damien weighed in f u l l bore. " T h e w a y you
have it figured, M a e s t r o i a n n i and his cronies are l o o k i n g t o restore equi-
l i b r i u m ro the C h u r c h . Have 1 gor that m u c h r i g h t ? "
C h r i s t i a n cocked his head to one side i n g r u d g i n g admission.
" A l l r i g h t , then. Just for rhe sake o f argurnenr, let's say rhis is Cardinal
M a e s t r o i a n n i . " Slattery p l u n k e d his untouched water glass d o w n i n the
m i d d l e o f the table. " A n d let's pretend this is C a r d i n a l P a l o m b o . " Damien
d r a n k the w i n e r e m a i n i n g i n the second glass before p u t t i n g it i n t o the
breach. " H i s face may n o t be pretty to l o o k at, but a lot of Vatican heads
t u r n w h e n he passes by. Pensabene h e r e — " The D o m i n i c a n c o m m a n -
deered Christian's water glass f o r his symbolic circle o f Vatican power.
"Pensabene is unchallenged as rhe leader o f rhe m a j o r faction o f C u r i a l
Cardinals. A n d then there's A u r e a t i n i . " Christian's wine glass served the
purpose rhis rime. " H e may nor measure up ro rhe orhers yet. Bur
M a e s t r o i a n n i has m a r k e d h i m o u t as a rising star; and his w o r k for C A R R
in d e - C a t h o l i c i z i n g C a t h o l i c r i t u a l has set the p a t t e r n , and given h i m a
g o o d deal o f c l o u t in the upstart Conferences of Bishops i n every p a r t of
the w o r l d . Unless he trips over his o w n red sash, he could be a papal
contender somewhere d o w n the line.
" T h a t brings us t o o u r o l d friend C a r d i n a l G i a c o m o G r a z i a n i . " The
Master-General chose a w i n e c o r k to stand i n f o r rhe fifth m a n . " A s Secre-
 306 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

t a r y o f Stare, he's about as useful to the Pope as this bit of flotsam. He

doesn't care w h i c h w a y the tide f l o w s , as l o n g as he pops up w i t h the
w i n n e r . " Slartery had r u n our o f glasses and corks; bur ir d i d n ' t matter. As
far as he was concerned, rhey c o u l d forget men like Boff and Schuyrreneer.
" A n d forget Azande, t o o , " he added. " F l l g r a i n y o u , he srarred o f f differ-
ently; and he's a likable man if ever there was one. Bur he's become a
t o a d y . L i k e so many others, rhose rhree w i l l eat whatever Maesrroianni
dishes u p .
" N o w . " Father Damien reached for the salt shaker and ser it d o w n w i t h
a t h u m p in the circle he had f o r m e d . " H e r e ' s the H o l y Father, flanked on
every side by the men y o u fell in love w i r h rhis m o r n i n g . "
C h r i s t i a n tried to protest, but the Master-General rapped each of rhe
t u m b l e r s sharply w i t h a f o r k in a s t r i k i n g , off-key little concert, ' i f these
five Vatican powerhouses t r u l y wanted h a r m o n y and e q u i l i b r i u m in rhe
C h u r c h , rhen 1 promise y o u rhar Boff and Azande and Schuyrreneer w o u l d
j o i n rhe chorus in a m i n u t e . In fact, there isn'r a soul you've met on all
your rravels over the past couple o f months w h o w o u l d dare ro sing a sour
note."
" N o w , let me get this straighr, Slattery." Chris flung rhe Dominican's
challenge back at h i m . " T h e w a y you have it figured, rhe H o l y Farher is
ringed a r o u n d by some sort o f cabal. Have I got that m u c h righr? The man
we have as Pope—rhe man w h o ' s Traveled a m i l l i o n miles a r o u n d rhe
w o r l d ; rhe man w h o k n o w s every p o l i t i c a l and religious leader rhere is,
and w h o is p r o b a b l y recognized on sighr by more people in more places
t h a n all the famous headliners you can name rolled inro one—rhat man is
as hemmed in and as helpless as this salt shaker."
The D o m i n i c a n sar back in his chair. For all rhe g o o d ir m i g h t d o , he
had gor his m i n d across.
" 1 don'r buy i t , Father D a m i e n . For openers, I d o n ' t see w h a r w o u l d be
in ir for M a e s r r o i a n n i and the others t o tie the Pope's hands w h i l e the
C h u r c h falls inro such a sorry srate. I d o n ' t pretend to have the answer to
the papal r i d d l e . Bur y o u r theory doesn'r w a s h . " The t r o u b l e for Chris ar
that m o m e n t was that he c o u l d n ' t ask the ultimate questions about his
o w n mission for the Secretariat o f State w i t h o u t breaching the compart-
m e n t a t i o n edict he'd been given. The t r o u b l e for Slattery was that he
w o u l d n ' t have k n o w n the answers in any case. M a e s t r o i a n n i was a master
at h o l d i n g his cards close t o his chest. D a m i e n had no idea w h a t was in i t
for rhe w i l y lirtle prelare.
In rhe end, rherefore, he figured the m o s t useful t h i n g w o u l d be t o give
Gladstone the k i n d o f advice he w o u l d be likely to remember when the
g o i n g called for i t . " L i s t e n , l a d . " The w h i t e - r o b e d cleric sighed. " I ' v e t o l d
y o u w h a t I t h i n k a b o u t rhe people you're w o r k i n g w i t h these days in the
Secretariat. N o w let me tell y o u just t w o things about w o r k i n g w i t h rhe
H o l y Father. T h e first r h i n g is t h i s — a n d remember it w e l l : H i s Holiness
trusts y o u . A n d second, there's no i n r r o d u c t i o n t o papal w o r k .
ROMAN SERVICE 307

" Y o u c o m p l a i n a b o u t the p i d d l i n g assignments t h a t have come your

way since y o u r meeting w i t h rhe Pope, and I can understand your i m p a -
tience to get y o u r teeth i n t o things. You're nor alone in t h a t , believe me.
But the fact is that he'll call o n you w h e n he t h i n k s you can help. When he
does—if he does—the answer is up t o y o u . Purely v o l u n r a r y . A n d once
you're called o n , i t may be the first of many t i m e s — i n w h i c h case you
learn as y o u go. O r i t may be the last and only t i m e . "
Chrisrian l o o k e d across ar his c o m p a n i o n in stunned silence. I t wasn't
that Slattery's advice was so unexpected; or even t h a t i t had broughr him
up short in w h a r he suddenly saw as pride in his h a n k e r i n g ro be given a
papal assignment. Rather, ir was rhar Damien's w o r d s came across like a
dose o f p a r t i n g w i s d o m ; as somerhing in the nature o f a bequesr. G l a d -
stone w a s n ' t m u c h for gossip; bur nor even an alien f r o m outer space
c o u l d have avoided the incessant rumors that the head honcho of the
D o m i n i c a n O r d e r was o n his w a y o u t . Was it true, then?
Father D a m i e n w a s n ' t a man t o coat the p i l l , even w h e n he was the one
w h o had to s w a l l o w i t . " T h e r u m o r m i l l has ir righr, Padre. The General
Chaprer meers next M a r c h in M e x i c o C i t y . W h e n it's over, there'll be a
new Master-General o f the O r d e r . "
" A n d t h e n ? " Chrisrian k n e w rhe answer, bur he had ro ask.
" A n d rhen I expecr I ' l l be Transferred o u t of here. A few monrhs f r o m
n o w , I ' l l be as far away as my enemies can fling me. Probably in some
hellhole t h a t o n l y c o r r u p r sons o f St. D o m i n i c can c o n c o c r . "
" Y o u c o u l d be w r o n g , Farher." Chris was aghasr. Gone f r o m h i m was
every sense o f genrle hope, every t h o u g h t o f Rome as the most ancient in
w i s d o m or the most fatherly i n sentiment.
" D r e a m o n . " Slartery's pain was obvious in his eyes as he surveyed rhe
mute circle o f water and w i n e glasses that still stood where he had ar-
ranged t h e m . " Y o u k n o w the way Father Carnesecca always says that the
enemy is w i t h i n the gates? W e l l , he's seen it a l l ; and he's called it just the
way it is. They h o l d the levers o f power. A n d if rhey have their way for
much longer, we're all g o i n g to be e l i m i n a t e d . We never amounred ro
m u c h in this place a n y w a y . You k n o w that, s u r e l y . "
Chrisrian f o u n d himself shaking w i r h i n d i g n a t i o n . " B u t y o u must have
some say. Father. There must be something you can d o . W h a t a b o u t ap-
pealing directly t o the Floly Father . . . " Gladstone almost choked on his
w o r d s as, in his t u r n , he l o o k e d again at the tableau o f papal impotence
Slarrery had arrayed o n the table.
Father D a m i e n watched Christian's inirial disbelief r u r n to i n d i g n a t i o n
a n d then to anger. H e warched until he felt he c o u l d n ' t bear m u c h more.
A b r u p t l y , then, he signaled to Springy ro i n i t i a l his rab for h i m . " C o m e
o n , l a d . " T h e Masrer-General clapped a ham hand on Gladstone's shoul-
der as rhey w o u n d their w a y a m o n g the c r o w d e d rabies and our the door
i n t o the t h i n sunlight o f w i n t e r . " I ' v e gor a bir o f time left, d o n ' t forget.
Rome hasn't seen the last o f me y e t . "
 308 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

J J J J

There was to be no balm for C h r i s t i a n i n labor that day, however. For

once, the scholarly discipline o f his m i n d failed h i m . T i m e and again, his
concentration was b r o k e n by the m e m o r y o f the pain he had seen in the
Master-GeneraPs face. T i m e and again he f o u n d himself t r y i n g to imagine
w h a t i t must be like for a man to k n o w he was g o i n g t o be stripped of
e v e r y t h i n g — o f the most i n t i m a t e fabric o f his life. T h a t was w h a t it came
d o w n t o . E v e r y t h i n g t h a t was i m p o r t a n t for Father Damien c o u l d be de-
fined in terms o f his life as a D o m i n i c a n priesr and his w o r k for rhe H o l y
Farher. N o w , R o m e had reached our ro brutalize h i m in a w a y Christian
had never imagined possible. N o r was Slarrery rhe only one ro be b r u t a l -
ized. In the space o f a few hours, Rome had yanked Gladstone f r o m the
heights o f his silly e x h i l a r a t i o n . One o f the beacons o f his o w n life was
a b o u t to be extinguished. One o f his few anchors to stability w o u l d be
gone.
Chris flung his pen d o w n and shoved the near sracks o f papers on his
desk inro a j u m b l e o f disarray. D a m i e n was right, N o one amounred ro
m u c h in this place in the end. I f a m a n o f Slattery's stature was expend-
able, then a man like C h r i s t i a n Gladstone was about as valuable as the
shift key on a t y p e w r i t e r .
W i t h a dozen Cardinals expecting a sustained i n p u t f r o m h i m , and w i r h
bishops all over Europe p r i m e d ro welcome h i m inro their privare en-
claves, he had begun ro fancy himself as somebody. Bur n o w he had ample
reason ro berate himself both f o r his pride and for his puniness. He was
somebody, all r i g h t ! A n obedienr, unquestioning mule a m o n g Thousands
of orher equally obscure mules o c c u p y i n g thousands o f obscure niches i n
rhe giant bureaucratic machinery o f rhe Vatican. Somebody w h o had been
fooled like some starry-eyed t o u r i s t by Rome's architectural grandeur and
dazzled by its antiquities.
Chris was startled o u t of his bleak thoughts by the sound o f the tele-
phone f r o m somewhere under the m o u n d s o f papers scattered across his
desk. Ir wasn't u n t i l the t h i r d r i n g t h a t he laid his hand o n the receiver and
heard the welcome voice o f Father Carnesecca. Gladstone's pleasure was
s h o r t - l i v e d , however. H i s friend was c a l l i n g f r o m a phone b o o r h , he said,
ro rake a rain check o n rhe w a l k rhe r w o had arranged for rhe f o l l o w i n g
Sarurday. " E m on m y w a y our o f Rome right n o w , Chris. I've been t r y i n g
to reach y o u since this m o r n i n g to let y o u k n o w . "
Despite his o w n foul m o o d — o r perhaps because o f i t — C h r i s picked up
at once o n the undertone o f strain in the other man's voice, ' i s everything
all r i g h t , F a t h e r ? "
" N o t h i n g a l l t h a t u n u s u a l . " In the circumstances. Father A l d o c o u l d
only reveal t h a t he was already o n a mission. The rules o f security meant
he w o u l d be i n c o m m u n i c a d o u n t i l he had completed the first leg o f his
mission.
ROMAN SERVICE 309

" I see. I understand all about c o m p a r t m e n t a t i o n and the rules of secu-

rity."
It was Carnesecca's t u r n to w o n d e r i f things were all r i g h t . " I s some-
t h i n g u p , Padre? Y o u d o n ' t sound like y o u r s e l f . "
" D o n ' t listen t o me, A l d o , " Chris apologized. ' T i l survive, old friend.
A n d do y o u also survive, please."
' T i l do w h a t I can t o o b l i g e . "
N o sooner had Chris put the receiver o n its h o o k t h a n Cardinal
M a e s t r o i a n n i rang r h r o u g h . By conrrasr ro Christian's frame of m i n d , His
Eminence sounded f u l l o f beans, ' i f you can spare the t i m e , Reverendo"—
M a e s t r o i a n n i purred his besr r e n d i t i o n o f h u m i l i t y — " p e r h a p s y o u w i l l
d r o p by m y office T o m o r r o w m o r n i n g . Bur let me n o t keep y o u entirely o n
renrerhooks. 1 have raken rhe liberty o f asking one of my associates to
contact the Secrerary-General o f the European C o m m u n i t y . . . "
"Paul?" The surprised exclamarion was our of Chris's m o u t h before he
could t h i n k .
" I k n e w y o u w o u l d be pleased." For once, H i s Eminence d i d n ' t seem to
m i n d being i n t e r r u p t e d . " I t is rare that o u r arduous labors for the H o l y
See b r i n g us i n t o the embrace o f o u r loved ones. You are indeed fortunate,
Father Gladstone. Shall we say eight o'clock t o m o r r o w morning? You're
booked o n a m i d d a y flighr ro Brussels. T h a t should leave us plenty o f time
to go over the d e t a i l s . "
Christian stared at the phone for a long time after M a e s t r o i a n n i had
r u n g o f f . It seemed that H i s Eminence had his hands in Paul's new career
as Secretary-General o f the EC. W e l l , Chris sighed to himself, he m i g h t
w o r r y a b o u t the state of Paul's religious life, but never a b o u t his indepen-
dence o f m i n d . For better or worse, Paul had even managed t o distance
himself f r o m Cessi. N o w that he had obviously landed squarely on his
o w n r w o feet, he wasn't likely to become anybody's unquestioning mule.
Paul was a man w h o c o u l d take care o f himself.

Cessi Gladstone k n e w as m u c h as C h r i s t i a n about i n d i g n a t i o n and unex-

plainable forebodings. Indeed, her o w n l i g h t n i n g visit to Rome w i t h Glenn
Roche was m o t i v a t e d by her anger ar rhe deplorable srare of the priest-
h o o d that had left Sr. Michael's Chapel in D a n b u r y w i t h o u t a pastor, and
by her constant f o r e b o d i n g for rhe future o f the C h u r c h at large.
Still, Cessi enjoyed a n u m b e r o f advantages over her son. Her first ad-
vantage was that she w o u l d be in and o u t o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace w i t h i n a
few hours, just as she had promised Roche w h e n he had phoned her at
W i n d s w e p t House. Second, the Institute o f Religious Agencies—the V a t i -
can Bank—needed a w h o p p i n g loan f r o m her in the a f t e r m a t h o f the Salvi
suitcase affair. T h i r d , she was clear-minded about the limited objective she
wanted t o achieve in return for her c o o p e r a t i o n . A n d f o u r t h , she had spent
a day in M a n h a t t a n so that Glenn could coach her in advance about the
terrain she w o u l d be treading.
 310 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" A l l I w a n t , " Cessi had reminded her financial advisor, " i s enough
coaching so that 1 w o n ' t sound t o o stupid w h e n wc w a l k i n t o the Vatican
Bank."
Roche made sure Cessi understood t h a t the Vatican Bank was a real
hank. The p o r t f o l i o o f the Institute f o r Religious Agencies, he told her,
was right up there w i t h the m a j o r financial institutions the w o r l d over.
There was h a r d l y any sector o f h u m a n life in w h i c h the I R A hadn't i n -
vested Vatican funds.
O f course, Roche hastened to a d d , the fact that his bank was a real
bank d i d n o t mean that the P o n t i f f was a real banker w h o micromanaged
the financial affairs o f the Vatican and the H o l y See. Glenn had provided a
fair r u n d o w n o f key I R A personnel and the impressive scope o f their
operations, w i t h detailed emphasis o n the t w o men Cessi w o u l d be visit-
i n g , D r . Pier G i o r g i o M a l d o n a d o and canny o l d C a r d i n a l Amedeo San-
srefano, w h o , as head of the Prefecture o f Economic A f f a i r s , answered
directly t o the H o l y Father f o r all economic and financial dealings o f the
Vatican, i n c l u d i n g those o f the I R A .
Nonetheless, Glenn observed, the P o n t i f f had more c o n t r o l over the
Institute o f Religious Agencies than over mosr of the other Vatican m i n i s -
tries. T h e I R A , it seemed, had a special charter that c o u l d n ' t be tampered
w i t h by anybody except the Pope. A n d t h a t fact was basic to his indepen-
dence o f a c t i o n , was the essential u n d e r p i n n i n g o f his freedom f r o m i n -
house constraints and external pressures.
A l l o f that was simple enough for Cessi t o grasp. Bur Glenn had insisted
she see just w h a t a m a j o r financial p o r r f o l i o looked like these days. A n d
that had required an excursion t o a bleak b u i l d i n g in m i d t o w n M a n h a t t a n
where they had been escorted by a t r i o o f guards t h r o u g h a w a r r e n of
locked rooms m o n i t o r e d at every t u r n by television scanners.
Finally, they had f o u n d themselves standing a m i d the components o f a
massive c o m p u t e r . " T h i s is the brain t h a t organizes and makes possible
the globalized financial dealings o f o u r brave new w o r l d . " Roche bowed
in m o c k politeness.
" T h i s electronic d o o d a d ? " Glenn explained that something approach-
ing a t r i l l i o n dollars passed t h r o u g h this u n t h i n k i n g brain each day; a sum
that was more than the entire money supply o f the United States.
'"Remember y o u r shares in the Racol-Guardata C o r p o r a t i o n , Cessi?
W e l l , that's the o u t f i t that makes this electronic d o o d a d . These black
boxes you see here and a pair of Unisys A-15J m a i n f r a m e computers
manage coded orders t h a t come i n t h r o u g h one h u n d r e d and t h i r t y - f o u r
dedicated telephone lines f r o m everybody w h o is anybody i n the financial
w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g rhe Gladstones."
i n c l u d i n g the C h u r c h o f G o d ? "
" I n c l u d i n g the Pope's b a n k , " Roche c o n f i r m e d as he signaled the guards
they were ready to leave.
Glenn's little crash course in w o r l d finance w a s n ' t finished yet. Once
R O M A N S E R V I C E 311

back in his office at Glenn Roche Securities, he pulled a t h i n volume f r o m

the bookshelves behind his desk and flicked its pages u n t i l he came to the
passage he w a n t e d t o read a l o u d to Cessi. " 'Since 1 entered polities' " —
Glenn settled i n t o his chair as he r e a d — 11
i have chiefly had men's views
confided to me privately. Some o f the biggest men i n the U.S., in the field
o f commerce and m a n u f a c t u r i n g , are afraid of somebody, are afraid of
something. They k n o w that there is a power somewhere so organized, so
subtle, so w a t c h f u l , so interlocked, so complete, so pervasive that they had
betrer n o t speak above their breath w h e n they speak i n condemnation of
ir.' "
Roche snapped rhe little book shut. " W o o d r o w W i l s o n w r o t e those
w o r d s in 1 9 1 3 . "
Cessi got the p o i n t . Those black boxes and the Unisys A - I 5 J were ex-
actly w h a t she had said. Electronic doodads. Somebody engineered them,
p r o g r a m m e d t h e m , m a n i p u l a t e d them. " S o . " She spoke softly as if to
herself, or perhaps t o her guardian angel. " T h e Devil is w i r e d to the w o r l d
at last."

As arranged, Cessi and Glenn Roche arrived ar Rome's F i u m i c i n o a i r p o r t

on an e a r l y - m o r n i n g flight. A t a c i t u r n Vatican guard met them at the gate
and rushed them t o a w a i t i n g limousine. A n equally t a c i t u r n chauffeur
sped them t o the Apostolic Palace. A n d there, a smile was bestowed on
them at last by a y o u n g priest-banker w h o waited f o r them just outside the
entrance to the Secretariat. The I R A m a n was f u l l of apologies. Ordi-
n a r i l y , no marter w h a t the business at h a n d , any visiting privilegiato di
Stato such as Francesca Gladstone w o u l d be expected t o pay a brief cour-
tesy call o n the Secretary of State. H o w e v e r , H i s Eminence G i a c o m o
Graziani was away o n business for the day.
" H o w u n f o r t u n a t e ! " Cessi tried n o t t o l o o k t o o relieved as she and
Roche f o l l o w e d their guide t h r o u g h c o r r i d o r s that connected the Apos-
tolic Palace to the sixteenth-century t o w e r that housed the central offices
of the I R A . A n d she tried nor ro sigh as they were ushered past banks of
c o m p u t e r screens and c l i c k i n g keyboards. Surely, she t h o u g h t w i t h a
glance at Roche, these R o m a n electronic doodads were in constant contact
w i t h the Racol-Guardata doodads she had seen in M a n h a t t a n .
There was no rime for reflection o n the p o i n t ; for their escort opened
the d o o r to a spacious office o v e r l o o k i n g the Vatican gardens, where they
f o u n d themselves in the presence of the t w o men Cessi had traveled nearly
5 , 0 0 0 miles t o meet. So exact had Roche been i n his descriptions that
Cessi w o u l d have recognized rhose men anywhere. There was n o t h i n g to
distinguish Pier G i o r g i o M a l d o n a d o as Director-General of the I R A . He
was dressed like any other banker she had ever met, and appeared every
bit as personable w h e n the occasion called for i t . But H i s Eminence A m e -
deo Sanstefano was another k i n d of m a n . As he turned his head to study
 312 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

her advance i n t o the r o o m , Cessi t h o u g h t he looked the w a y Cardinals

s h o u l d . Redoubtable was the w o r d that came t o m i n d .
The A m e r i c a n w o m a n was barely t h r o u g h the d o o r before D r . M a l d o -
n a d o fairly leaped f r o m his chair and rushed f o r w a r d t o greet her. " Y o u
are most w e l c o m e , Signora. A l l of us are extremely grateful for y o u r coop-
eration in this t o o sad affair o f the unforrunate M r . Salvi. Extremely grate-
f u l , arc we n o t , Y o u r Eminence?" M a l d o n a d o guided Cessi across his
office and presented her ro the C a r d i n a l .
H i s Eminence remained seated and silent for a m o m e n t . But his face was
wreathed in smiles as Cessi knelt t o kiss his r i n g . " W e are g r a t e f u l , indeed,
Signora G l a d s t o n e . " The Cardinal's English was hard t o grasp at first. But
his eyes were radiant w i t h expression as he hobbled t o his a r t h r i t i c feet
and escorted Cessi t o a chair beside M a l d o n a d o ' s desk. " I r is t r u l y gratify-
ing in these t r o u b l e d rimes t o find a daughter of the C h u r c h w h o is so
devoted, and so w e l l endowed by G o d w i t h material w e a l r h . We k n o w you
are m o t i v a t e d by the deepest concern f o r the C h u r c h and for the salvation
o f souls.
" A n d y o u , Signor R o c h e . " H i s Eminence t u r n e d his attention ro Cessi's
c o m p a n i o n . " I t is always g o o d t o welcome you here."
" I am Y o u r Eminence's servant." Glenn responded in k i n d to the sincer-
ity o f the greeting.
Cessi was surprised at the ease she felt i n this very strange place. Per-
haps it was the confidence she had gained f r o m Glenn's expert coaching.
O r , after so many battles w i t h so many d r o o p i n g prelates f o r so many
years back home, perhaps it was her delight at finding herself face to face
w i t h a C a r d i n a l w h o t r u l y was a Prince of the C h u r c h . Whatever the
reason, she held her o w n quite nicely t h r o u g h o u t the small talk that is a
prelude t o any civilized meeting. O f course, the m o m e n t came for D r .
M a l d o n a d o t o m e n t i o n the document he had prepared for the Signora's
signature. Perhaps she w o u l d care t o take a few moments t o read it over.
" P m sure it is quite in order, Professor." Cessi t o o k the t w o sheets o f
paper M a l d o n a d o held o u t t o her and passed them over f o r Glenn t o
peruse.
" I n d e e d . " Glenn read the agreement q u i c k l y t h r o u g h and then placed it
on the desk in f r o n t o f Cessi. " E v e r y t h i n g is in order as usual. D r . M a l d o -
nado."
" W e l l , then . . . " The Director-General offered his pen across the desk.
To his surprise, however, Cessi made no move t o sign. Instead, she placed
the pen atop the papers that were the focus o f everyone else's a t t e n t i o n ,
and turned w i t h that consummate grace o f hers t o the C a r d i n a l .
" Y o u r E m i n e n c e . " She smiled. " I w o u l d make a small request o f y o u . "
M a l d o n a d o t u r n e d a desperate eye t o Roche. Was this t o be a bargain-
ing session, then? Roche could only shrug his shoulders and listen; he
k n e w the technicalities o f such dealings as this, but Cessi was operating
out o f his range n o w .
ROMAN SERVICE 313

O f the three men in the r o o m , the C a r d i n a l was the o n l y one not per-
t u r b e d by Cessi's unexpected detour. Sanstefano had spent half his life
bartering deals for the H o l y Sec. He and Cessi were t w o hard-nosed peo-
ple w h o had bargained often w i t h life, and w h o had liked each other on
sight. " I a m at y o u r service, Signora. 11

" I t is a small request, Eminence. I w o u l d be so pleased if the H o l y

Father w o u l d give me some moments o f his time in a private audience in
the near f u t u r e . "
Flis Eminence smiled at Cessi w i t h great g o o d h u m o r . I le k n e w a good
bargain when he saw one. " A small request, indeed, Signora Gladstone.
A n d a most fitting one. O f course, these things do not happen overnight.
His Holiness* schedule is a very full one. The more so as he is so often
away o n his papal travels. A t this very m o m e n t , in fact, the H o l y Father is
in A f r i c a . "
Cessi felt a t r e m o r f l o w t h r o u g h her spine. Was this Sanstefano's Vatican
d o u b l e - t a l k for: G o fly a k i t e , signora?
The C a r d i n a l decided not t o p r o l o n g the situation for l o n g . He had
good reason t o k n o w the Gladsrone file. A n d unless his eye had failed h i m ,
rhis w o m a n was a Gladstone t o rhe core. " N e v e r t h e l e s s / ' H i s Eminence
broke rhe rension. " I have no d o u b t that an audience can be arranged for
y o u . I t w i l l o n l y be a question o f t i m e . "
It wasn't Cessi but D r . M a l d o n a d o w h o sighed w i t h relief as, at last, he
saw the Gladstone name etched o n yet another document t h a t w o u l d save
rhe Vatican Bank another embarrassing episode. I f just a few men o n his
staff c o u l d match this w o m a n ' s m i x t u r e of guile and g u m p t i o n , M a l d o -
nado mused to himself, the IRA m i g h t not have gotten itself i n t o this Salvi
suitcase mess in the first place. W h a t w o u l d n ' t he give, then, to k n o w w h a t
the c h a r m i n g Signora Gladstone had in m i n d for the H o l y Father!

XXIX
" C A R D I N A L R E I N V E R N U N F T has come over f r o m the Congregation
for the Defense of the Faith, Holiness. H e asked me to be sure Your
Holiness k n o w s he's here." M o n s i g n o r e Daniel Sadowski eyed the Pontiff
w i t h ill-disguised concern as he recapped the day's heavy schedule. " C a r -
dinal Secretary Graziani k n o w s his usual briefing session w i l l be a bit
delayed. He w i l l come by at n i n e - t h i r t y . T h a t w i l l leave an h o u r before the
consistory o f Cardinals at t e n - t h i r t y . . . "
" R e i n v e r n u n f t is ahead o f his t i m e . " The Slavic Pope glanced at his
w a t c h as he t u r n e d f r o m the w i n d o w of his t h i r d - f l o o r study. " H e was t o
come at eight o'clock as I recall. It's barely seven-thirty."
 314 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

"Yes, Holiness. . . . " M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l caught his breath at the sight

o f sudden pallor o n the P o n t i f f s face. I f he had his w a y , the day's schedule
w o u l d be scrubbed in favor o f a t h o r o u g h and long-overdue checkup w i t h
the Pope's internist, D r . G i o r g i o Fanarote. The H o l y Father, and many
w h o had traveled w i t h h i m , had all come d o w n w i t h the same symptoms
f o l l o w i n g the recent papal visit to the I v o r y Coast: severe fatigue, a b d o m i -
nal pains, breathing problems and a soreness o f eyes and t h r o a t . Medical
o p i n i o n was that they had doubtless fallen v i c t i m t o the effects of the
clogging red dust o f the region and that the symptoms w o u l d pass. But
Sadowski d i d n ' t accept that diagnosis, however. H e was convinced that
H i s Holiness had never f u l l y recovered f r o m the effects o f the assassina-
t i o n attempt o f 1 9 8 1 . A t the very least, i n t e r i o r scar tissue had surely b u i l t
u p after the o p e r a t i o n . A n d there was that still unidentified megalovirus he
had contracted f r o m the contaminated b l o o d transfusion he had received.
Flad the doctors really got r i d o f that virus, o r had it flared up all over
again n o w that the Pontiff's physical defenses were at a l o w ebb?
" I t ' s just a t w i n g e . " Intent on getting d o w n to business, the P o n t i f f
brushed aside a l l t h o u g h t o f doctors and checkups.
As usual, the Slavic Pope's schedule was c h o c k a b l o c k . He never made
any secret of the "issues w e i g h i n g o n my m i n d and h e a r t , " as he often p u t
i t , and t o o k every o p p o r t u n i t y to reach o u t f o r solutions to the specific
problems pressing in o n the w o r l d w i t h increasing urgency. A n d w h e n he
was in R o m e , so, t o o , d i d he use every t u r n of the papal day to c o n f r o n t
v i r t u a l l y every p r o b l e m o f the day w i t h candor, persistence and in the
clearest possible terms.
The Pope moved a little t o o s l o w l y f r o m the w i n d o w to his desk and
scribbled a few notes to himself. " T h a t should keep us all busy, M o n s i -
g n o r e . " He laid his pen aside.
"Yes, H o l y Father. But a b o u t D r . Fanarote . . . "
" S o o n , M o n s i g n o r e . For the m o m e n t , however, we mustn't keep C a r d i -
nal R e i n v e r n u n f t w a i t i n g t o o l o n g . "
T h o u g h he had suffered a m i n o r stroke three months before, Cardinal
Johann R e i n v e r n u n f t had lost none o f his deadly logic or his acuity o f
expression. As Prefect o f the C D F , the subject that most concerned His
Eminence this m o r n i n g was rhe need to issue a directive ro the bishops
concerning the civil rights o f declared homosexual men and w o m e n . Pre-
d i c t a b l y , he said, the matter had come to a head in the United States,
Canada a n d several countries in Europe where legislation had been p r o -
posed o n the issue, and in some cases already made i n t o l a w . N o t so long
, h

a g o , " R e i n v e r n u n f t observed, "there w o u l d have been little need t o discuss

the Church's response to such governmental legislation, much less t o issue
a C D F directive to the bishops concerning homosexual behavior. Bur these
days . . . " T h e C a r d i n a l managed a sad little smile.
The Slavic Pope glanced u p sharply at H i s Eminence's reference t o times
gone by. But he picked up o n another o f the Cardinal's phrases instead.
ROMAN SERVICE 315

" Y o u r Eminence k n o w s and I k n o w t h a t , if left t o themselves, a m i n o r i t y

o f bishops w i l l do n o t h i n g at all to counter the effects of such legislation.
A still smaller m i n o r i t y w i l l oppose i t . A n d the great m a j o r i t y w i l l endorse
ir."
T h a t was as fair an assessment as the C a r d i n a l himself c o u l d have given.
But the Slavic Pope w a s n ' t prepared t o leave it at that. " I n fact. E m i -
nence"—the Pontiff rested his hand on a thick folder resting o n his desk—
" 1 have been p a r t i c u l a r l y concerned w i t h a n u m b e r o f reports sent to me
privately about the spread o f active h o m o s e x u a l i t y in N o r t h American
seminaries and a m o n g the clergy at large. Have we any reliable idea of
how bad the p r o b l e m is in t h a t region? D o we have any figures?"
The C a r d i n a l shook his head. " S h o r t o f sending a special investigator to
A m e r i c a , 1 see no way o f c o m i n g up w i t h hard d a t a . "
The H o l y Father had t h o u g h t more than once a b o u t sending an investi-
gator o n just such a f a c t - f i n d i n g mission. For n o w , he wished Rein-
vernunft t o send a papal directive to the bishops. There was to be no
change, he said, in episcopal insistence that homosexual activiry is an
intrinsic evil that must not be endorsed by the C h u r c h .
His Eminence had a question: " H o l i n e s s , supposing the bishops trear
this directive as they do y o u r other papal directives. T h e n w h a t ? "
"You are quire right to ask the question, Eminence." The Pontiff rose
f r o m his chair and began t o pace the study. " I have been puzzled by a
sudden surge i n the already abysmal unwillingness a m o n g the bishops to
cooperate w i t h rhe H o l y See. Lately, and no matter h o w great our efforts,
the gap seems to w i d e n between Pope and bishops; between papal Rome
and the provinces o f the C h u r c h . But the p r o b l e m doesn't end there. There
seems no end t o the decline in priesthood and religious life. The decline in
Catholic practice o f the faith seems o n l y t o accelerate. A n d rhe failure in
evangelization is n o t h i n g less than d i s m a l .
" I n a w o r d , Eminence." The Slavic Pope sropped his pacing a b r u p t l y .
" I n a w o r d — a n d whatever measure you a p p l y — w e are recording such
failures in evangelization t h r o u g h o u t the C h u r c h Universal that I have
s l o w l y become convinced that there must be some specific reason t o ac-
count for i t . Some new element has entered a m o n g us. It is laying waste in
the p r i e s t h o o d , a m o n g my bishops, a m o n g my C a r d i n a l s , in monasteries
and o u t a m o n g the C a t h o l i c p o p u l a t i o n .
"Just t h i n k a m i n u t e . Even the picture of decline I've just summarized
doesn't encompass the e n o r m i t y . We've barely touched o n the vogue o f a
newly active homosexual w a y of life a m o n g l a y f o l k and clergy. A n d we
haven't even m e n t i o n e d the e x t r a o r d i n a r y surge in Satanism o f a ritualistic
kind."
The C a r d i n a l l o o k e d somberly at the Pontiff. U p along the ladder o f his
career, he had heard vague r u m o r s , unreliable reporrs, whisperings that
his belly t o l d h i m were the o u t w a r d mask o f i m p o r t a n t things. Things that
 316 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

you d i d n o t retail t o a reigning Pope, however, unless you were w i l l i n g to

put everything o n the line.
The P o n t i f f returned Reinvernunfr's somber gaze. This was not the first
time he had reached o u t to the C a r d i n a l Prefect w i t h w h a t amounted to an
i n v i t a t i o n for his decisive c o o p e r a t i o n . I n the past, w h e n it had come to a
choice between f u r t h e r i n g his ecclesiastical a m b i t i o n s and the need for
rrenchant a c t i o n . H i s Eminence had p l u n k e d himself squarely o n the
fence. Like so many w h o m i g h t have made a difference in rhe Vatican, he
had made a career o f compromise instead. W h e n the C a r d i n a l chose not t o
respond, therefore, the Pope decided t o w i d e n his i n v i t a t i o n .
" W h a t new factor has entered the e q u a t i o n , Eminence? For some time
n o w , I have been asking myself that question. Personally, I a m convinced
that something e x t r a o r d i n a r y has happened that has given the ancient
Enemy o f o u r nature a terrible freedom. I can be certain o f n o t h i n g , E m i -
nence," the Pope conceded. " B u t if I am correct, then it is something that
must be undone. . . . "
The buzz o f the i n t e r c o m o n his desk inrerrupted the P o n t i f f s specula-
t i o n a n d , to C a r d i n a l Reinvernunfr's relief, ended the conversation.
"Yes, iMonsignore D a n i e l ? " The H o l y Farher betrayed no sign o f his
d i s a p p o i n t m e n t as he w a l k e d back to his chair and lifted the receiver.
" T h e C a r d i n a l Secrerary is on his w a y . H o l i n e s s . "
" G o o d . " The Pope's open glance at his visitor underscored his w o r d s .
" H i s Eminence and I were jusr w r a p p i n g things u p . A n y t h i n g else?"
" O n e t h i n g of note, Holiness. The U.S. Ambassador t o the H o l y See
called t o alert Your Holiness confidentially that his government is sending
a special emissary t o discuss the question o f papal policy vis-a-vis the
Soviet U n i o n . One o f the Presidents men, I garher, by the name of Gibson
A p p l e y a r d . Pve penciled h i m in for mid-December, subject to c o n f i r m a -
tion."
Sadowski had barely r u n g o f f w h e n , w i t h a tap at the study d o o r ro
announce himself, Secretary o f State Graziani came i n t o the papal srudy
and, armed w i t h folders and smiles, held the d o o r open for C a r d i n a l Rein-
vernunfr to make his exit.

Once urgent Secrerariar matters had been dealt w i t h , the Pontiff cur short
any lengthy discussions w i t h C a r d i n a l Secretary G r a z i a n i . He discussed
briefly his w i s h and intent t o make a papal pilgrimage t o the Soviet U n i o n .
Pope and Secretary knew that H i s Holiness' friend M i k h a i l Gorbachev
w o u l d be o u t o f p o w e r — a n d p r o b a b l y o u t o f Russia—by year's end. Boris
Yeltsin w o u l d be the p r e d o m i n a n t figure; and Yeltsin was no friend of this
Pope.
" W e must seek the right time f o r m y Russia pilgrimage. M e a n w h i l e " —
he shuffled t h r o u g h the papers and documents o n his desk—"has Your
Eminence seen t h i s ? "
A suddenly tense Graziani t o o k rhe document the Pope held o u t to h i m .
ROMAN SERVICE 317
T h o u g h he had n o t been privy t o its p l a n n i n g , he had read i t . A l l the
Cardinals had read i t . It bore no signature, but there was no m i s t a k i n g the
hand o f H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l Silvio A u r e a t i n i .
The brief text began w i t h a question: W h a t mechanism o f governance
w o u l d take over i f the Pope were t o t a l l y incapacitated for a foreseeably
l o n g period? W h a t if His Holiness were incapacitated in his vital powers
o f mind? The document proposed no s o l u t i o n t o the fabricated p r o b l e m .
" W h a t d o y o u make o f i t . Eminence?"
" I have never had the impression that Your Holiness envisaged the pos-
sibility o f papal r e s i g n a t i o n . " Graziani waved a hand as if t o brush such
an absurd thoughr o u t o f the air. H e suggested that H i s Holiness consult
the Cardinals in this m o r n i n g ' s consistory a b o u t the matter,
" A t i m e l y t h o u g h t , Your Eminence." The P o n t i f f tapped a finger on his
w a t c h . " T h e Cardinals must be w a i t i n g f o r u s . "
As the pair ser o u t for the conference r o o m o n a l o w e r f l o o r , the H o l y
Father opted to take the stairs instead o f the elevator. By the time he
reached the l a n d i n g below, he stopped f o r a m o m e n t t o lean one shoulder
against the w a l l .
" A r e you all r i g h t , Holiness?" Graziani was taken aback by the Pope's
bloodless pallor and by his need ro catch his breath. " D o you w a n t to
postpone the consistory?"
" N o , n o ! " H i s Holiness forced himself t o stand erect. " T h e years have
taught me. Eminence, t h a t g o i n g downstairs can be just as strenuous as
c l i m b i n g up t h e m . " He tried t o smile. " T h e p o o r o l d body is p r o t e s t i n g . "

Secret consistories—or, plainly p u t , private meetings between Pope and

members o f the College o f Cardinals present i n Rome—have been a much
used i n s t r u m e n t o f papal government for over a thousand years. W h i l e the
Pope is e n d o w e d by law w i t h absolute a u t h o r i t y and is empowered t o take
decisive actions by himself, the Cardinals have always had a consultative
role.
T o d a y , many o f those advisors had grouped themselves a r o u n d the con-
ference table i n predictable little cliques.
Cardinals Pensabene, A u r e a t i n i , Palombo and Azande were seated w i t h
t w o o r three m i n o r Cardinals, i n c l u d i n g O n o r i o F i z z i - M o n t i , whose red
hat had more t o do w i t h o l d money t h a n w i t h personal abilities or muscu-
lar f a i t h . C a r d i n a l R e i n v e r n u n f t o f the C D F f o r m e d the center o f another
g r o u p that included o l d C a r d i n a l G h i s l a n i , Prefect of the Congregation for
the D i v i n e L i t u r g y . T h e y and a few more were supportive o f the papacy
after their fashion. W h i c h was to say t h a t , w h i l e they belonged to the large
Vatican contingent t h a t was n o m i n a l l y propapist, they spent much o f their
time h i d i n g their loyal heads complaisantly in rhe sand.
As usual, there were a few strays in attendance. The p o w e r f u l C a r d i n a l
Sansrefano o f PECA chatted easily w i t h H i s Eminence Odile Cappucci.
C a p p u c c i , a veteran o f five papacies, had allied himself w i r h no political
 318 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

g r o u p . As a bred-in-the-bone t r a d i t i o n a l i s t , he was o u t o f step w i t h many

o f that stripe w h o had isolated themselves f r o m the H o l y See and the
C u r i a . As a papist, he yearned f o r the k i n d o f overt leadership that was
not f o r t h c o m i n g f r o m the Slavic Pope. A n d as a s u r v i v o r , he h u n g on the
hope that he m i g h t yet get a chance t o do some g o o d . A t the far end o f the
table. C a r d i n a l Alphonse Sabongo had taken a sear apart f r o m all the
groups. Prefect o f the Congregation f o r Saintly Causes, and the o n l y black
A f r i c a n present besides Azande, Sabongo was a t o u g h - m i n d e d man and a
solid papist w h o seemed to be b i d i n g his time w h i l e he tried t o figure o u t
w h a t this Pope was d o i n g .
T h e Pontiff made his w a y s l o w l y to the head of the conference table,
exchanging greetings w i t h each o f the prelates as he moved past t h e m . His
movements seemed still t o require a certain e f f o r t ; t o lack the accustomed
ease. In the m a i n , however, the H o l y Father was in c o m m a n d o f himself
again. W i t h all greetings d u l y exchanged, His Holiness recited a prayer to
the H o l y Spirit, t o o k his chair and lost no time in i n t r o d u c i n g the first of
rhe ropics that weighed most heavily on his m i n d and heart this day: the
n o w urgent question o f an early papal visit ro the East that w o u l d rake
h i m beyond Poland and i n t o Russia and three more key states of the CIS.
A n u m b e r o f Cardinals expressed their w o r r y that the Pontiff's physical
strength was precarious and that such a pastoral t r i p w o u l d endanger it to
an unacceptable degree; but C a r d i n a l Leo Pensabene spoke up o n the
p o l i t i c a l dimension o f the proposed t r i p , ' i n the current charged a t m o -
sphere berween Gorbachev and Y e l t s i n " — H i s Eminence poked a couple ot
his bony fingers in the air t o represent the t w o rivals as he named t h e m —
" a visit by Your Holiness w o u l d be taken as an endorsement o f
Gorbachev. A n d then, i f Gorbachev is ousted—and that's the betting these
days—where does that leave the H o l y See?"
C a r d i n a l Ghislani seemed impatient w i t h the w h o l e discussion. Since
H i s Holiness had always envisaged such a papal visit w i t h i n the frame-
w o r k o f w h a t the three Farima children had said abour the Blessed V i r -
gin's intentions, w h y was the H o l y Father consulting his Cardinals ar all?
The P o n t i f f responded to Ghislani's frank question w i t h an answer that
struck many as enigmatic, and that raised eyebrows up and d o w n rhe
table. " I consulr y o u o n rhe issue, Eminence, because that f r a m e w o r k is
n o t so simple as Y o u r Eminence assumes. A c c o r d i n g to those instructions,
I am to collaborate w i t h the Virgin's intentions t h r o u g h the advice o f my
Cardinals. A t this t i m e , apparently she is saying no to me. U l t i m a t e l y ,
however, she w i l l let us k n o w in her o w n way about the Russian v i s i t . "
W i t h that matter settled f o r the m o m e n t , and w i t h an unobtrusive little
nod to C a r d i n a l G r a z i a n i , the H o l y Father moved o n t o the t r i a l balloon
that had been floated a n o n y m o u s l y concerning, as he put i t , "some legal
disposition to be put i n t o place to deal w i t h an incapacitating papal i l l -
ness."
" W h a t is t h i s ! " I n d i g n a n t at the mere t h o u g h t o f such a move, C a r d i n a l
ROMAN SERVICE 319

O d i l e Cappucci rose in his place beside C a r d i n a l Sansrefano. " A r e we

l o o k i n g at a blatant e f f o r t to force a resignation? Does anyone here t h i n k
such situations haven't arisen in the past w h e n the H o l y Father was inca-
pacitated? T h i s is d i s g u s t i n g ! "
If anyone was up t o r e t u r n i n g Cappucci's icy stare, it was Cardinal
Palombo. " N o t at a l l , Your Eminence. It is no more than realistic. Life for
w o r l d leaders has become d u b i o u s , and p l u n g i n g i n t o c r o w d s all a r o u n d
the globe c o m p o u n d s the danger. I t seems high time that some legal dispo-
sition was t a k e n . "
A u r e a t i n i was quick to second the t h o u g h t . " A t any event, should the
H o l y Father ever undertake the proposed visit to Russia and the other CIS
srates, simple prudence w o u l d suggest that some p r i o r legal arrangements
must be m a d e . "
C a r d i n a l Cappucci was n o t m o l l i f i e d . " I f simple prudence were ar w o r k
here," he shot back, " s u c h a question w o u l d never have arisen." It was
perhaps o u t o f simple prudence that everyone else at the table chose to
keep his silence. W i t h o n l y Cappucci w i l l i n g to speak o u t against i t , f o r all
practical purposes the matter o f a possible papal resignation was left to
simmer.
N e x r , the P o n t i f f again tackled the idea o f a possible investigation into
homosexual a c t i v i t y a m o n g the clergy.
T h i s t i m e , it was the n o r m a l l y laconic C a r d i n a l F i z z i - M o n t i w h o rose to
the b o i l i n g p o i n t . H e began by w a r n i n g against w i t c h - h u n t s and latter-day
inquisitions; those buzzwords always w o r k e d . A n d he pointed out that at
least some residential Cardinals were already t a k i n g their o w n active steps
in the matter. " H i s Eminence o f C e n t u r y c i r y is one good example. His
Eminence is considering the need o f a special diocesan reviewing c o m m i t -
tee to handle all cases o f pedophiliac c l e r g y . " F i z z i - M o n t i was not the
cleverest f e l l o w ; but when his enthusiasm for rhe C a r d i n a l o f Centuryciry
fell flat a m o n g most o f his colleagues, he retreated to his cry against unjust
and divisive w i t c h - h u n t s . " T h e day we in Rome must investigate each
local bishop, that w i l l be the day o f real c r i s i s . "
Frustrated beyond telling w i t h the Vatican's paralysis, C a r d i n a l
Sabongo countered F i z z i - M o n t i to his face. " I n case y o u haven't noticed,
Eminence, such a day of crisis is already u p o n us. A n d diocesan reviewing
committees are nor the a n s w e r ! " A p a r t f r o m that single heated exchange,
reactions to the topic o f homosexuality a m o n g the clergy were predictably
guarded.
T h e P o n t i f f b r o u g h t the consistory to a close. " W o u l d y o u a l l , Venerable
Brothers, please pray for the light of the H o l y S p i r i t ? " W i t h that and no
more t o sum up his m i n d , Flis Floliness blessed all present and left the
conference r o o m .

" A w o r d , Holiness?"
C a r d i n a l Sansrefano o f PECA f o l l o w e d the Pope o u t the d o o r as q u i c k l y
 320 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

as his a r t h r i t i c feer w o u l d a l l o w . Ar any consistory, the agenda belongs

strictly t o the H o l y Farher. As rhe P o n t i f f h a d n ' t opened the discussion t o
financial matters, Sansrefano hoped t o snatch a few minutes o f u n -
scheduled t i m e .
The P o n t i f f t u r n e d back w i t h a smile. " H a v e you ever heard such srerile
bickering i n a consisrory, Eminence? I d o n ' r k n o w abour y o u , bur as I
listened ro the Cardinals this m o r n i n g , 1 c o u l d n ' t help but remember a
lirrle r h y m e M a r g a r e r Tharcher used f r o m rime ro rime. 'Give me six good
men and t r u e , ' she used ro say, 'and I w i l l get the policy t h r o u g h . ' M y
p r o b l e m seems to be t h a t t o o many good men i n the Vatican are no longer
true; and rhat t o o many true men are afraid ro acr o n the good they k n o w
they s h o u l d d o . But forgive me. Eminence. You have PECA matters ro
discuss, I rake i r ? "
" A few decisions t o be finalized. Holiness. A n d a p r o b l e m or r w o for
Your Holiness' c o n s i d e r a t i o n . "
Once seated at his desk, the Pope approved a few I R A staff a p p o i n t -
ments i n accordance w i t h H i s Eminence's advice; a n d , finally. H i s Emi-
nence addressed rhe Pope's concern over the homosexual question.
" A s the discussion this m o r n i n g w a s n ' t a financial one, I d i d n ' t raise rhe
p r o b l e m i n rhis m o r n i n g ' s consisrory. Bur I a m alarmed at the number o f
appeals c o m i n g in for H o l y See a p p r o v a l ro make o u t - o f - c o u r t settlements.
The n u m b e r and variety o f transgressions is unprecedented. The money
paid o u t is a p p r o a c h i n g one b i l l i o n dollars. I have to agree w i t h Cardinal
Sabongo rhar we are facing a crisis."
" I rake i t , t h e n , t h a t Your Eminence favors an invesrigarion?"
" T h e sooner rhe better, Holiness. B u r " — H i s Eminence b r i g h r e n e d —
" s p e a k i n g o f g o o d men and t r u e , H o l y Father, Eve been asked by a grear
supporter o f the C h u r c h to requesr a privare audience w i t h Your Floliness.
Signora Francesca Gladsrone paid a visir ro the Vatican Bank a few weeks
ago . .
" A h ! " T h e Pope had every reason to recall the name, and t o respond ro
it w i t h a smile. Father Chrisrian Gladstone was s h o w i n g early signs of
promise as a c h u r c h m a n o f subsrance. A n d , like earlier members of her
f a m i l y , Signora Gladsrone had come ro rhe financial aid o f rhe H o l y See
more rhan once.
" A n d she has done so again, most h a n d s o m e l y . " Sanstefano encouraged
rhe t h o u g h t .
" I take it t h e n , Eminence, thar your advice is p o s i t i v e . "
" A s the lady said t o me. H o l y Father, the requesr is a small one. W i r h
Your Holiness' permission, perhaps M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski can squeeze
some rime f r o m rhe papal calendar early in rhe c o m i n g year."
W i r h rhe Pope's consent w i l l i n g l y given, C a r d i n a l Sanstefano set o f f t o
have a w o r d w i r h Sadowski before heading back to his o w n offices and his
o w n busy schedule. A l l rhe w h i l e , and even as rhe day w o r e o n , rhe sim-
plistic little Thatcher rhyme rhe H o l y Farher had q u o t e d t o h i m pricked at
ROMAN SERVICE 321

his m i n d like a t h o r n . T h e more he thoughr abour i r — r h e more he consid-

ered rhe Pontiff's constant accessibility and frankness, say, or his geopolit-
ical acumen; a n d the more he stacked those and other qualities against the
talents o f a M a r g a r e t T h a t c h e r o r o f any orher w o r l d leader—the more rhe
C a r d i n a l was convinced rhar rhe Pope had pur his finger o n rhe righr
b u r t o n , b u t for rhe w r o n g reason.
Even if ir was rrue rhar His Holiness c o u l d n ' t find six good men and true
ro ger his policy r h r o u g h , the u n d e r l y i n g cause o f rhar p r o b l e m was whar
counred. A n d rhar cause was rhar rhere p r o b a b l y weren't six men i n all the
w o r l d , true or orherwise, w h o had yet been able t o make o u t w h a t the
Slavic Pope's policy m i g h t be.
For all o f his o w n experience, Sansrefano a d m i t t e d t o himself w i t h a sad
and t r o u b l e d sigh, rhar was a p r o b l e m f o r w h i c h he c o u l d find no parallel
and no j u s t i f i c a t i o n i n papal hisrory. A n d f o r all o f his o w n g o o d w i l l , it
was a p r o b l e m for w h i c h he c o u l d see no s o l u t i o n .

E A R L Y O N T H E E V E N I N G of December 17, Father Angelo Gurmacher

enrered rhe H o l y Farher's private study on the f o u r t h floor o f rhe Apos-
rolic Palace. Bone tired afrer one o f his consranr trips as papal courier ro
the East, he carried w i r h h i m as usual a clusrer o f highly confidential
w r i t t e n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s f o r the Slavic Pope. As usual, t o o , he sat in si-
lence w h i l e the Pontiff read each lerrer. In rhe h o u r o f uninrerrupred con-
versation rhar ensued, Gurmacher answered rhe questions His Holiness
pur ro h i m a n d , w h e n called u p o n ro d o so, gave his o w n opinions f r a n k l y .
T h e n , w i r h new insrrucrions in hand rhar w o u l d have h i m deparr early rhe
next m o r n i n g — t h i s rime for Poland—he ser o f f ro ger a few hours o f much
needed sleep.
For some time, rhe Pope remained ar his desk. As he read again rhe
correspondence Gurmacher had d e l i v e r e d — p a r t i c u l a r l y the t w o letrers
wrirren ro h i m o n differenr dares by M i k h a i l Gorbachev—his rhoughrs
were p r i m a r i l y o n change. In rhe first, the Soviet President confided that he
w o u l d have to resign o n the c o m i n g December 25. " I have lost the p a t r o n -
age o f the West," he had w r i r r e n . " T h e y w a n r ro p u t me o n h o l d . Boris
Yeltsin w i l l succeed me. The Soviet U n i o n w i l l be legally dissolved, w i l l
cease t o exist, w i t h i n some weeks. O n l y this w i l l satisfy my patrons in the
West. The Soviet U n i o n as such does n o t figure in their alignment o f srates
i n rhe N e w W o r l d O r d e r . A n d rhis h o l d i n g s i t u a t i o n w i l l be sustained u n t i l
sometime after January 1, 1 9 9 6 . "
T h e second o f Gorbachev's letters was an a m p l i f i c a t i o n o f his thoughts
 322 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

on the c o m i n g a l i g n m e n t o f states in the N e w W o r l d O r d e r , w i t h emphasis

o n his expectation t h a t his so-called patrons in the West w o u l d foster a
w o r k i n g relationship between the Soviet Republics and the U n i t e d States
thar w o u l d be closer by far rhan Gorbachev himself had envisioned.
Was rhar rhe e x p l a n a t i o n , then? Was t h a t w h y Gorbachev had been
passed over, ar leasr for n o w , as a leading figure in rhe new machinery?
" P a r t o f the e x p l a n a t i o n , " rhe H o l y Farher dialogued w i r h himself in his
m i n d . " O n l y p a r t of the e x p l a n a t i o n . "
Gorbachev's m e n t i o n o f rhe Unired Srares led h i m ro a review o f his
o w n currenr a n d specific concerns in rhat region. H e w o u l d be meering
w i t h the A m e r i c a n President's special emissary t o m o r r o w . T h a t hefty
folder o f reporrs concerning homosexual acriviry a m o n g rhe A m e r i c a n
clergy was never far f r o m his m i n d . T h e dara was anecdotal and far f r o m
complete. But i t l o o k e d as t h o u g h the clergy in N o r t h America was i n a far
worse m o r a l c o n d i t i o n than anyone had realized. Far worse than Europe.
A n d rhar was ro say a great deal by way of change.
As l o n g as he was t h i n k i n g o f the tenor and t e m p o o f change these days,
it was w e l l to remember rhe a n o n y m o u s lerrer t h a t had been circulared
a m o n g the in-house Cardinals. Ar the very leasr, such a naked move ro
s t u m p for new and specific legal machinery covering a possible papal res-
ignation signaled a change in m o o d a m o n g rhe antipapal contingents
w i t h i n the Vatican. I n the same vein, i t was nor inconsequential that Fa-
ther D a m i e n Slarrery, one o f rhe P o n t i f f s closest personal advisors for
m o r e rhan a decade, w o u l d soon be our as Masrer-General of rhe D o m i n i -
can O r d e r .
Come ro r h i n k o f ir, perhaps a good session w i r h Slattery and his other
advisors w o u l d b r i n g some crucial light to bear o n rhings. A conference
w i r h rhose advisors was likely ro yield more f r u i t by far t h a n a dozen
consistories w i t h his C a r d i n a l s .

M o n s i g n o r e Daniel Sadowski's telephone summons caught Father D a m i e n

D u n c a n Slattery just as he emerged f r o m rhe A n g e l i c u m Chapel after Ves-
pers. T h e H o l y Farher wished ro see rhe Masrer-General srraighraway, and
he was to b r i n g Farher Chrisrian Gladsrone along.
Since rhere was no discernible reason f o r his sudden inclusion in a c o n f i -
dential papal meering, Gladsrone c o u l d only reason rhat once again Father
Damien's advice ro h i m had been o n rarger. There is no i n t r o d u c t i o n to
papal w o r k , Slattery had t o l d h i m . T h e P o n t i f f w i l l call you when he
t h i n k s y o u can help, and w h e n he does, y o u r response is purely v o l u n r a r y .
By rhe t i m e he f o l l o w e d Slattery i n t o the Pope's f o u r t h - f l o o r study, f o u r
o f the six high-backed chairs d r a w n inro a semicircle facing rhe Pope were
already occupied. M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski was rhere, o f course. A n d , ro
Chris's surprise, so was A l d o Carnesecca. T h e r w o men w h o flanked
Carnesecca were strangers t o C h r i s r i a n . He k n e w G i u s t i n o Lucadamo by
name and by repurarion as chief of Vatican security. T h e f o u r r h member
ROMAN SERVICE 323

o f the g r o u p , however, was nor a Vatican m a n . H i s brogue pegged h i m as

an I r i s h m a n . A n d , ro judge by his clothes, he belonged to the teaching
order of C h r i s r i a n Brothers. Augusrine, as everyone called h i m , looked ro
be in his late rhirries or early forties.
" I have a few decisions t o m a k e , my b r o r h e r s . " The P o n t i f f brought the
pair o f larecomers q u i c k l y inro rhe discussion by repeating the essentials o f
the firsr o f Gorbachev's letters. He made it clear t h a t he was n o t startled
by any of the news Gorbachev had c o m m u n i c a t e d . N o t by his c o m i n g
resignation, or by the i m p e n d i n g dissolution of the Soviet U n i o n , or by rhe
involvemenr o f rhose Gorbachev called his " p a r r o n s i n the W e s t " i n that
coming dislocation.
" I expect no one here needs to be reminded rhar Boris Yelrsin is nor a
friend o f the papacy or the C h u r c h . O r rhar Yeltsin's m i n d has been
strongly colored by all rhat strange s p i r i t u a l i t y he d r a n k i n as a guest of
the Esalen center i n C a l i f o r n i a . O r that one o f Yeltsin's strongesr allies is
rhe new Russian O r t h o d o x Patriarch o f M o s c o w , K i r i l , w h o has been a
mole f o r rhe K G B all these years and no more a friend o f ours rhan Yeltsin
himself. G i v e n t h a t s i t u a t i o n , my pastoral visir ro rhe Easr comes inro
question. N o r the fact o f the visit, m i n d y o u ; b u t o n l y the t i m i n g . If we
have any i n d i c a t i o n f r o m Heaven, i t is that the real conversion o f Russia,
as rhe Blessed M o r h e r called ir, w i l l originate f r o m rhe U k r a i n e , and rhat it
w i l l rake place o n the occasion o f my pilgrimage ro rhe East.
" T h e question I p u t to you n o w is whether to force rhe t i m i n g of my
visit, despite M r . Gorbachev's resignation in favor o f Boris Yelrsin."
In rhe t w e n t y minutes or so o f give-and-rake thar f o l l o w e d , Gladsrone
was the o n l y one w h o remained silenr. H e barely f o l l o w e d rhe deeper
Threads o f the conversation, and he recognized o n l y a few o f the names
t h a t cropped u p . Srill, as rhe analysis garhered sream and everyone had his
say, Chris realized rhar w h e n rhese men ralked abour Gorbachev's patrons
in the Western w o r l d , p o l i t i c a l figures d i d n ' r h o l d a candle ro indusrrialists
and financial leaders o f a global k i n d . Ir was enough t o give new meaning
ro the o l d saying t h a t money talks.
W h e n c o m m e n t turned ro rhe siruarion Gorbachev expecred to see after
the dissolution o f the Soviet U n i o n , and that he expected t o stretch u n t i l
after January 1 , 1996, ir was Brorher Augusrine w h o had rhe firsr w o r d .
" W e can t h r o w that date o u t the w i n d o w , my f r i e n d s . " He flashed a
t o o t h y g r i n . " I f rhe European C o m m u n i t y achieves monetary and political
unity by January o f 1996, I ' l l ear M r . Gorbachev's f e d o r a ! "
" G o r b a c h e v doesn't wear a fedora, you Irish o a f ! " Slartery laughed.
" B u t y o u raise an interesting poinr. T h e H o l y Father's visit to the East
isn't g o i n g to take place in a sealed chamber. If rhings are g o i n g ro be kepr
up in rhe air pending EC u n i r y , there are real logistics ro consider in rhe
papal visir. S h o u l d n ' t we ask ourselves w h a r ' s g o i n g ro happen to the
fifreen Republics of rhe U.S.S.R.?"
G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o j u m p e d i n q u i c k l y . " L e t ' s confine ourselves ro rhe
 324 WINDSWEPT HOUSl

Republics that w i l l be included in the papal pilgrimage. To U k r a i n e , Be-

larus and Kazakhstan. A considerable p o r t i o n o f the Soviet nuclear arsenal
is based in rhose srares. U n r i l rhe p r o b l e m o f h o w ro secure rhar arsenal is
solved, rhere isn't a c o u n t r y i n the w o r l d t h a t w o n ' t be w a t c h i n g those
Republics."
It was interesting f o r C h r i s that Father Carnesecca was the first to see
Lucadamo's p o i n r . H e had t h o u g h t of Carnesecca as one w h o never r o o k a
public initiative.
' i f I undersrand y o u , G i u s t i n o , you're r e m i n d i n g us rhat Heaven has a
l o n g m e m o r y . So is it n o t providenrial rhar rhe V i r g i n pointed to the
U k r a i n e as rhe epicenter f o r the conversion o f Russia? A n d I mean ro use
rhe w o r d ' p r o v i d e n t i a l ' i n o u r classic C h r i s t i a n sense. In the sense of God's
all-wise plan f o r rhe universe a n d H i s a l l - l o v i n g f u l f i l l m e n t o f that plan. I
granr rhar rhe w o r l d ' s p o w e r brokers are roo raken up w i t h other consid-
erations these days t o pay much attention t o Heaven's predictions. But
you can bet t h e y ' l l get the p o i n t that the papal mission to the East isn't t o
some o u t - o f - t h e - w a y sheep station o n the Russian steppes. They m i g h t
even get the p o i n t that more than seventy years ago rhe Farima mandate
targered an area that has since become one o f the most i m p o r t a n t geo-
political h o t spots in the w o r l d .
" T h a t being so"—Carnesecca sat back i n his chair again—"1 expect
that the H o l y Father's Easrern pilgrimage w i l l rake place before Farher
D a m i e n has an answer to his question. Before the status o f the fifteen
Soviet Republics is settled."
" T h a t still leaves a w i d e berth o f t i m e , Father A l d o . " The Pope pressed
for more precision. " G o r b a c h e v ' s assessment is realistic. A n d so is Brother
Augustine's. The h o l d i n g pattern w i l l stretch for a period o f years once the
U.S.S.R. is dissolved. So my question remains. Should 1 press Yeltsin for an
early dare? O r should 1 w a i r for some sign, some i n d i c a t i o n in w o r l d
evenrs?"
Carnesecca's reply this rime was n o t an answer, b u t a question. " W h a t
did Angelo Gutmacher counsel, Holiness?"
Gladsrone gaped i n astonishment. To be ar sea i n geopolitics was one
t h i n g ; b u t to be at sea a b o u t such a l i f e l o n g i n t i m a t e friend as Angelo
Gutmacher was something else. As far as he k n e w , Father Angelo was
d o i n g the pious w o r k o f an itinerant priest, just as he had said in the
scribbled note he had sent over t o the A n g e l i c u m back i n October. Was
n o t h i n g i n Rome w h a t it appeared ro be, then?
W i t h an interesred eye o n rhe y o u n g A m e r i c a n cleric, rhe Ponriff an-
swered Carnesecca's question. " F a t h e r A n g e l o t h i n k s we should sit t i g h t
for n o w . In his v i e w , indications are that Gorbachev is the chosen i n s t r u -
menr o f real change, and rhar we should w a i r Yelrsin o u t . " T h e n , w h i l e
Gladstone's consternation was still p l a i n o n his face—catch a man at such
an instant and y o u w i l l likely catch the true mettle of his m i n d — t h e Slavic
ROMAN SERVICE 325

Pope rurned rhe question over ro h i m . " A n d y o u , Farher. W h a r d o you

Think?"
" I a m no g e o p o l i r i c i a n , Your H o l i n e s s , " Chris a d m i t t e d . " I n fact, I am
learning things I never guessed at before. So 1 can only c o m m e n t o n the
basis o f m y reading o f c o n t e m p o r a r y hisrory. O n rhe basis of public
k n o w l e d g e . As far as Boris Yelrsin is concerned, rhar reading tells me he
may be rhe m a n o f rhe momenr for a lor o f Russians w h o live in pigsry
apartments and get seventy percenr o f rheir daily calories f r o m potatoes,
sugar, bread and vast quantities of v o d k a . For rhose Russians, Yeltsin is a
national hero.
" B u r he doesn't strike me as anorher M i k h a i l Gorbachev. In facr, based
on w h a r I've heard r o n i g h t a b o u t Gorbachev's rrearmenr ar rhe hands of
rhose Wesrern patrons o f his, my judgmenr has ro be rhar Yelrsin w i l l fare
no berter. Once he's served rheir purpose, wharever rhar may be, h e i l
doubrless pass inro obscuriry ar besr. As ro rhe r i m i n g o f Your Holiness'
visir ro rhe East, I w o u l d take Father A l d o ' s observation as rhe rouchsrone
for my o w n judgmenr. We're nor dealing w i r h coincidence, bur w i t h p r o v i -
dence. By any h u m a n r e c k o n i n g , Gorbachev should have perished in rhar
Augusr coup againsr h i m . . . "
" H e ' s righr, H o l i n e s s . " Brorher Augustine broke i n . " O n e side i n that
c o u p was after Gorbachev's life, and no mistake a b o u t i t . "
" T r u e . Bur go o n , Farher Gladsrone. Your reasoning, I rake i r , is rhar ir
was n o t coincidence b u t providence rhar came ro Gorbachev's a i d . "
" A n d , Holiness, ir was providence rhar Gorbachev gor back ro M o s c o w
on Augusr 2 2 — r h e feast day o f the Queenship o f M a r y . It seems to me
that the Blessed M o t h e r watches over Gorbachev in some special w a y , and
for some special reason. In rhe logic of fairh, Holiness, I can make rhe
argument that if the Russians have a n a t i o n a l hero f o r the m o m e n t i n
Yeltsin, the Floly V i r g i n has some sorr of inrernarional pupper in
Gorbachev. A n d I can make rhe argument t h a t , w h e n the right m o m e n t is
at h a n d , he is the agent w h o w i l l be used to facilitate Your Holiness'
Eastern p i l g r i m a g e . "
There was an o b v i o u s s t i r r i n g a m o n g his c o m p a n i o n s as Chris fell into
silence.
" I t is decided t h e n . " T h e Slavic Pope had heard all he needed. " W e
w o n ' r force rhe timing o f m y Easrern p i l g r i m a g e . " T h e n , w i r h a r w i n k l e in
his eye f o r Carnesecca, and a n o d ro Gladsrone, " I f G o d i n H i s providence
sees fir ro prorecr M r . Gorbachev, surely H e w i l l see fit to give a little nod
to H i s Vicar w h e n rhe rime is righr.
" I n f a c r — " His Holiness rose f r o m his chair and w a l k e d the few paces
to his desk. "Speaking o f providence in o u r classic Christian sense, we
have grear need o f p r o v i d e n t i a l guidance in another matter I w a n t t o
discuss this e v e n i n g . "
T h e P o n t i f f placed the Gorbachev lerter in a f o l d e r a n d , fingering rhe
m u c h rhicker file o f reporrs t h a t had come t o h i m concerning homosexual
 326 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

activity a m o n g the clergy i n N o r t h A m e r i c a , launched i n t o a somber, no-

holds-barred s u m m a r y or those reporrs. A f u l l - b l o w n p o r t r a i t of clerical
homosexualiry and pedophilia seemingly r u n a m o k . A p o r r r a i t of deep
m o r a l crisis.
" I do nor r h i n k that the m a j o r i t y o f m y Cardinals—especially my i n -
house Cardinals here in Rome—realize rhe extent of w h a t is happening.
Indeed, part of the tragedy is that they live behind office doors in their
o w n w o r l d . T h a t doesn't excuse t h e m . A n d it cerrainly does n o t h i n g to
mitigate the catastrophe for the R o m a n Catholics w h o are being battered
and d r o w n e d by rhe tides of homosexuality and pedophilia a m o n g their
clergy.
'"Bur even that isn't the total o f the disaster. A l l over the C h u r c h — b u t
again, the epicenter appears to be i n N o r t h A m e r i c a — r i t u a l Satanism is
more and more rife, a m o n g b o t h clergy and laity. I t h i n k i t is Brorher
Augustine w h o can make it clear jusr h o w deadly serious that s i t u a t i o n ,
t o o , has become i n the United States. The organized Satanist activity going
on in America seems t o b r i n g us i n r o a furrher dimension of u n b r i d l e d
evil.
A t a n o d f r o m the Pope, Augustine supplied a brief r u n d o w n of rhe
derailed w r i t t e n reporr he had given ro rhe H o l y Father. " M i n e - j o o — "
The prelate's e m o t i o n b r o u g h t his brogue ro rhe fore. " M i n e - j o o , I was
o n l y d o i n ' a b i t o' spot r e p o r t i n ' . But it's a bad business. There's the case
of a certain Father Sebastian Scalabrini, a member o' the Archdiocese o f
C e n t u r y c i r y , w h o was m u r d e r e d in his apartment some months ago. The
police treared the case w i r h sensiriviry, and rhe w h o l e marrer was kepr
quiet. T h e n , a shorr time ago, another priest member o ' the same A r c h d i o -
cese was m u r d e r e d . A n d i n the same brutal f a s h i o n . " Augustine ran
t h r o u g h a s h o r t h a n d version of rhe derails of b o t h homicides.
" T h e clincher ro all this was that b o t h o' these priesrs had been t a l k i n '
t o officers in Centurycity's Bureau o f Special Investigations. Seems there's
a w h o l e nest o' filth and c o r r u p t i o n in that Archdiocese, but there's a l i d
been put o n the entire mess."
D a m i e n Slartery was astounded rhat Augustine had been able to get a
line o n that k i n d of activity and still come o u t alive.
Augustine gave D a m i e n a mirthless little smile. " T h e t r u r h is that I
stumbled o n t o the w h o l e t h i n g . One o* m y couriers is a fire chief in Cen-
t u r y c i t y . He's m a r r i e d to the sister of a recently rerired police inspecror.
One o ' those f u n n y A m e r i c a n names. I have ir d o w n somewhere in my
report . . . "
" W o d g i l a ! " T h e Pope groaned i n mock exasperation. "Inspecror Sylves-
ter W o d g i l a ! It's a Polish-American n a m e . " The little wave o f laughter at
Augustine's expense t o o k the worsr edge f r o m the tension, but the respire
was over in a few seconds.
" I ' v e made ir plain that this p r o b l e m is c r i t i c a l . " The H o l y Father got to
the specific matter o n his m i n d . " T h e fact remains that spontaneous re-
ROMAN SERVICE 327

porrs are nor always reliable. They are nor sysrematic. Brother Augustine's
discovery shows t h a t they d o n ' t begin t o cover rhe w h o l e p r o b l e m . A n d I
a m n o t certain in every case o f the trustworthiness o f the i n f o r m a n r s . "
Everyone undersrood by n o w where rhe Ponriff was headed. Bur Gius-
t i n o L u c a d a m o p u t the p r o b l e m p l a i n l y . " T h e o n l y w a y to satisfy those
deficiencies, Holiness, and to a v o i d a w i t c h - h u n t , is to send an investigator
y o u can rely o n ro canvass rhe siruarion in rhe Unired Srares."
" C o r r e c t i o n , G i u s t i n o . " D a m i e n Slattery spoke as an exorcisr. " W h a t ' s
needed is t w o investigations. Every ritual Satanist may be engaged in
p e d o p h i l i a . But n o t every pedophiliac belongs ro a Saranisr c u l t . There are
p r o b a b l y any n u m b e r o f men w h o c o u l d r u n a sysrematic check o n h o m o -
sexual behavior of a general k i n d . A l l you w o u l d need is a good man w i t h
a strong stomach w h o k n o w s h o w t o follow leads. But w h e n you talk
a b o u t rirual w o r s h i p o f Saran, you're i n t o an area where y o u need some
experrise. Brorher Augusrine has made ir p l a i n rhat investigating organized
Saranic w o r s h i p means r a k i n g y o u r life m y o u r h a n d s . "
H i s Holiness knew Slarrery was righr. " D o I cake ir, then. Father
D a m i e n , rhar y o u w o u l d l i m i t early investigations ro w h a r y o u call h o m o -
sexual behavior o f a general k i n d a m o n g rhe A m e r i c a n clergy?"
D a m i e n nearly popped our of his whire robes ar such a r h o u g h t . " W h a t
P m saying, H o l y Father, is rhar Pm your man for the Saranisr end o f
rhings. I k n o w a bona fide case o f possession w h e n I see ir. Pve had
enough experience w i t h cults to k n o w t h a t w h e n you deal w i t h Satan
w o r s h i p , you're i n t o demonic possession w i t h both feet. A n d , once m y
D o m i n i c a n brothers h o l d their General Chaprer nexr M a r c h , Pll be l o o k -
ing for w o r k . "
Slattery's reasoning made sense. But it left t w o practical questions. First,
h o w t o persuade rhe Dominicans t o post h i m to the States once he had
been replaced as Master-General. A n d , second, given the m o r t a l danger of
the mission, h o w to arrange rhe posting w i t h o u t t i p p i n g anyone to the fact
that a papal invesrigarion was in rhe o f f i n g .
" I r h i n k I can manage rhar parr o f r h i n g s , " Lucadamo offered. " A s head
of Vatican security, 1 can tell you that n o t all o f Father Damien's D o m i n i -
can brorhers are lily w h i r e . " T h o u g h he chose n o t t o say so in the Pope's
presence, he was sure rhar a bir o f judiciously applied b l a c k m a i l in a good
cause w o u l d d o rhe r r i c k . G i u s t i n o rurned ro Slarrery. " I may not be able
t o find a friendly base o f operations for you i n rhe Unired Srares. But I can
get y o u rhere. A n d I can promise w e ' l l come u p w i r h a good cover for y o u r
work."
It was the less dangerous side o f the papal mission to the United States
that posed the bigger p r o b l e m . His w o r k elsewhere for the H o l y See put
Augustine o u t o f the r u n n i n g . Carnesecca w o u l d have been ideal, but no
one yet k n e w for sure w h e n he w o u l d come free f r o m his presenr mission.
A n d the security chief was dead set against Gladstone o n the grounds thar
he was roo green. " A n d a n y w a y . Padre C h r i s r i a n , C a r d i n a l Maesrroianni
 328 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

is keeping y o u busy h o p p i n g a r o u n d Europe. I d o u b t he'd rake k i n d l y ro

the idea o f sending y o u Stateside."
" D o n ' t be t o o sure of r h a r . " Gladstone w a s n ' t w i l l i n g t o be counted o u t
so easily. " T h e r e ' s been t a l k of my heading i n that direcrion at some p o i n t .
N o dates or a n y t h i n g like rhat. N o t h i n g definite at a l l , in fact. But it's not
necessarily our o f the question. M a y b e I c o u l d even push i t a I i r t l e . "
Brorher Augustine came d o w n in Gladstone's f a v o r . " M a y b e we should
serrle f o r maybe, G i u s r i n o . If ir w o r k e d o u t that w a y , it w o u l d n ' t be h a l f
bad to have an A m e r i c a n digging our rhe t r u t h . Father Christian's w o r k
for C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i w o u l d be the perfecr cover. Green he may be.
Bur he k n o w s rhe t e r r i t o r y , and we k n o w h i m . "
" 1 suppose you're r i g h r . " L u c a d a m o t o o k the suggestion w i t h o u t e n t h u -
siasm. " F o r the time being, let's settle for m a y b e . "
" T h e h o u r is late, my b r o r h e r s . " T h e Ponriff k n e w his security chief well
enough to sense his unease. A p p a r e n t l y L u c a d a m o wasn't ready to take
the A m e r i c a n as a k n o w n q u a n t i t y w i t h o u t r u n n i n g a more t h o r o u g h
check o n h i m . " W e have made a g o o d start. As Father D a m i e n w i l l n o t be
available u n t i l M a r c h , I suggest we make t h a t o u r targer date for both
missions. T h a t w i l l leave us some time for final decisions and for needful
preparations. Agreed?"

Afrer a session like rhat, rhere was no heading straight f o r home. There
was t o o m u c h t a l k i n g our ro d o . Too m u c h lefr up i n rhe air abour rhe
Ponriff and his concerns. A b o u r Yelrsin and U.S. policy. A b o u r Gorbachev
and Fatima. A b o u r rhe morass in A m e r i c a . A n d besides, w h a t better m o -
ment w o u l d there be f o r a lirrle p o l i t i c k i n g on Christian's behalf? The five
papal advisors charred for a rime in rhe c h i l l December air o f Sr. Peter's
Square before rhey decided to carry o n their conversation in the w a r m r h of
a cafe o n rhe Via M a z z i n i . As rhey ser o f f , Slattery and Brother Augustine
had a private w o r d or r w o w i r h L u c a d a m o . W a l k i n g a few paces behind,
Chris rook rhe o p p o r t u n i t y to invite Father A l d o t o an old-fashioned
Christmas gathering.
" I ' l l be visiring my brorher and his f a m i l y i n Belgium. They have a mosr
ample house in a lirrle s u b u r b o f Ghenr called Deurle. If you're o f a m i n d ,
Father, y o u ' d be most w e l c o m e . "
It was a t e m p t i n g offer, Carnesecca said; and he meant i t . But he ex-
pected to be spending this Christmas season a t t e n d i n g to business as Car-
dinal A u r e a r i n i ' s gofer i n Sicily. So he c o u l d o n l y say thar his rime
w o u l d n ' r be his o w n u n t i l sometime early i n rhe new year. " I f all goes
w e l l , perhaps we can meer for d i n n e r in J a n u a r y . "
Carnesecca's c o n d i t i o n a l " i f a l l goes w e l l " wasn'r losr o n C h r i s r i a n . Yer
he c o u l d n ' t help but brighren ar rhe prospect o f a w i d e - r a n g i n g ralk w i t h
his g o o d friend again. " A f r e r Deurle, I ' l l be d o i n g some w o r k in Belgium.
Then o f f ro H o l l a n d and Liechrensrein. Bur I figure ro rerurn by January 5
or 6 . "
R O M A N S E R V I C E 329

"Well, rhen." Carnesecca looked back toward the still lighted windows
of rhe papal srudy. "Ler's see if providence will give rhe nod ro a couple of
itinerant priesrs ro celebrare rhe Epiphany rogerher in Rome."

The abdominal pains the Ponriff srill suffered had lessened over rhe pasr
week, but fatigue showed in his movemenrs as he worked wirh Monsi-
gnore Daniel ro clear his desk,
"Tell me, Monsignore." The Slavic Pope handed over rhe folder con-
raining Gorbachev's correspondence first, and rhen rhe file of worrisome
reporrs from America. "Tell me. Do you think our five visirors this evening
understand whar I am abour?"
" A l l rhe goodwill Your Holiness needs is in rhose five men." Daniel gave
an honest answer. "Bur real undemanding of papal policy, let alone rhe
reasons behind ir? No, Holiness. I don't think so."
" I expect you're right." The Pontiff strolled ro rhe window and caughr
sighr of rhose five visirors heading off rogerher across rhe square. "And
yet, lack of understanding didn't prevent them from giving rheir full mea-
sure of cooperation ronighr. More, rhey responded ro each question 1
raised in rhe lighr of its moral dimensions. Everyrhing had rhar deeper
dimension ro it. And each of them had solid Catholic reasons for rhe
advice he gave.
"Obviously, rhose five haven'r followed the rrend ro subsrirure dialogue
for their sacred vows of obedience. And they haven't abandoned their
allegiance to the basic, binding moral preceprs of rhe Church in favor of
carnal convenience."
"Far from it!" Sadowski was adamant in his agreement. "Father
Damien has even volunteered to risk his life."
"And nor Farher Damien alone." The Holy Father warched as, side by
side with Gladstone, Aldo Carnesecca turned his steps toward the Via
Mazzini. " H o w different such men are from my venerable colleagues in
rhe Sacred College of Cardinals. Surely I am nor wrong to place my
hope—the hope of the Church—in the fidelity of those men. And in the
fidelity of orher men and women like rhem, wherever rhey are ro be found.
" I wanr you to promise me one rhing, Monsignore Daniel." The Pope
ler rhe curtains fall back against the window and turned full face ro his
secretary.
"Anyrhing, Holiness."
"So many men change so much once rhey ger the purple. If ever 1 am
rempted to make any of rhose five a Cardinal, srop me. Do 1 have your
word on it?"
"You have my word, Holy Farher." Daniel grinned. "Counr on ir."
 330 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

XXXI
BY T H E T I M E the Slavic Pope met w i t h his confidential advisors o n the
evening o f December 17, Gibson A p p l e y a r d had been in Rome f o r some
days, had settled himself i n t o the Raffaele and had set a b o u t preparing for
his audience w i t h the H o l y Father.
Fucked a w a y discreetly o n the Piazza della Pilotra o n the periphery of
O l d R o m e , the Raffaele c o u l d n o t have been more convenient, more ex-
pensive o r better suited to the needs o f its exclusively foreign clientele o f
g o v e r n m e n t emissaries and d i p l o m a t s . Aside f r o m its excellent cuisine, it
offered such unique fare as scrambler Telephones and a f u l l range o f elec-
t r o n i c facilities, secretarial help of rhe most c o n f i d e n t i a l k i n d , special cou-
riers, w e l l - t r a i n e d bodyguards and b u l l e r p r o o f limousines driven by chauf-
feurs w i t h unusual qualifications.
T h e real d r a w at the Raffaele, however, was its p r o p r i e r o r , G i o v a n n i
Bartista L u c a d a m o . Possessed o f an e x t r a o r d i n a r y vvealrh o f classified i n -
f o r m a t i o n derived f r o m his f o r m e r A r m y comrades w h o n o w occupied key
positions in governmenr offices, rhis L u c a d a m o — u n c l e o f G i u s r i n o L u -
c a d a m o , and rhe i d o l o n w h o m the head of Vatican security services had
modeled h i m s e l f — w a s a glorified version o f rhe Traditional " f i x e r . " He
could solve mosr difficulties f o r his guesrs, provided his o w n symparhies
wenr a l o n g . W h e n rhose symparhies were crossed, however, he w o u l d
reject any requesr for help w i t h a peremprory lack o f interesr. "Non
e'entra" he w o u l d say. " T h e matter is n o t r e l e v a n t . " A n d that w o u l d be an
end to it.
A p p l e y a r d and rhe elder L u c a d a m o had been friends since the early
seventies, w h e n G i b had cur his reeth o n rhe a n t i - A m e r i c a n i s m r a m p a n t in
a Europe menaced by an increasingly desperare Sovier U n i o n . Forrunarely
for the rangy Yankee operative, L u c a d a m o wasn't a man ro go along w i r h
docrrinaire fads. In rhe t w e n t y o r so years of rheir f r i e n d s h i p , he had never
rebuffed G i b w i t h so m u c h as a single Non e'entra.
Given the m u l t i l a y e r e d nature of preparations for his presenr mission,
rhe Raffaele was rhe ideal base of operations f o r A p p l e y a r d rhis Decem-
ber. As chief on-the-spor p r o b l e m solver f o r rhe Presidents ad hoc C o m -
mittee of Ten, he never lost sight of the fact t h a t his m a i n objective this
time a r o u n d was ro p i n d o w n — a n d , if possible, ro influence—rhe Slavic
Pope's policy intentions t o w a r d the U.S.S.R. But that d i d n ' t mean he
w o u l d be content to get himself a slot on the papal calendar and then w a l k
i n t o the A p o s t o l i c Palace just like that.
A p p l e y a r d had l o n g since learned to value, and had adapted to his o w n
ROMAN SERVICE 331

c r a f t , w h a t French farmers call gout de terre, an indefinable but indispens-

able taste o f the land that makes the difference berween success and f a i l -
ure. For A p p l e y a r d , that meant a f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h people. A n d that was
w h y Bud Vance had been right to p o i n t o u t h o w little was k n o w n a b o u t
the men w h o w o r k e d closely w i t h the P o n t i f f . Whatever the details of the
H o l y Father's Soviet policy m i g h t be, it stood to reason t h a t some general
k n o w l e d g e o f rhat p o l i c y , a n d perhaps some means o f influencing i r ,
w o u l d come w i r h a berter u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the individuals w h o served in
the papal entourage.
A n d yer, all rhe names rhar had come up in Gib's Washingron briefing
w i r h Vance were lirrle m o r e rhan ciphers. T hey d i d n ' t k n o w if C a r d i n a l
C o s i m o M a e s r r o i a n n i was really o u t o f the l o o p , as Vance had surmised.
T h e y d i d n ' r have any idea w h a t Vatican business the seemingly innocent
priesr-professor C h r i s r i a n Gladstone m i g h t be discussing w i t h his b r o t h e r
at the EC. T h e newcomer to the scene, Farher Angelo Gurmacher, was so
t o t a l l y u n k n o w n rhat he was all b u t faceless. A n d rhey k n e w next t o
n o t h i n g a b o u t the u b i q u i t o u s Flerr O r t o Sekuler—about w h y he should
have rurned up f o r rhe a n t i p a p a l doings ar Strasbourg and rhen at the EC
Selectors meeting ar Brussels in September.
W h i l e rhey were excellenr f o r r a k i n g care of visiting firemen, A p p l e y a r d
had learned ro disrrust any c l a i m rhe t w o U.S. Embassies in Rome m i g h t
m a k e t o accuracy. T h e y relied o n secondary sources even f o r i n f o r m a t i o n
o n the Pope a n d his r a n k i n g Vatican officials. N o t surprisingly, rhey had
norhing ro offer on such seemingly m i n o r players as Gladsrone or
Gutmacher.
Well before he ser o f f for R o m e , Therefore, and even as he d i d w h a r
l e g w o r k he c o u l d i n W a s h i n g r o n , G i b had taken advanrage o f rhe Raf-
faele's secure facilities to p r o v i d e G i o v a n n i Bartista L u c a d a m o w i t h an
advance requesr for dara on rhose figures and on orhers w h o mighr have a
bearing o n U.S. inreresrs. Because the requesr was d i f f i c u l t even for G i o -
vanni L u c a d a m o , A p p l e y a r d prepared himself for d i s a p p o i n t m e n t as the
r w o men serried d o w n in rhe high-tech c l u t t e r of his o l d friend's office o n
the second floor of the Raffaele.
I n e v i t a b l y , the session began w i t h a little catch-up chatter. Ib Gib's
d e l i g h t , the Italian had aged little since their last meeting. Like the w o n -
d e r f u l o l d C h u r c h o f the Twelve Apostles that stood nearby, G i o v a n n i
seemed a permanent p a r t o f Rome. H i s aquiline nose was as sharp as ever.
A n d his big ears still caught every nuance o f r u m o r and gossip.
Once rhe personal ralk was over, L u c a d a m o pulled a couple o f piles o f
folders f r o m a d r a w e r and began a merhodical r u n - t h r o u g h of the i n f o r -
m a t i o n A p p l e y a r d had asked f o r . " L e t ' s start w i t h H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l
M a e s r r o i a n n i . " G i o v a n n i handed rhe firsr a n d farrest folder ro G i b . " A lor
o f things i n Rome srarr w i r h h i m , as y o u ' l l see w h e n y o u read rhis dossier.
H e m a y be retired as Secrerary o f Srate, bur y o u can be sure he's nor o n rhe
shelf.
 332 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" A m o n g other things, in fact, he's the key t o y o u r y o u n g American

priesr." L u c a d a m o t h u m b e d the next in his piles o f folders. "Farher Chris-
tian Gladstone has been attached t o Maestroianni's office. As you said, he
does a lor o f t r a v e l i n g . A n d he's g o o d ar w h a r he docs. Bur it's all o n rhe
square. Even r o u t i n e , y o u mighr say. He visits bishops w i t h a view to
assembling a profile o n the c o n d i t i o n o f the C h u r c h in Europe. W h e n he
has a spare m o m e n t , he likes t o study local church paintings. Y o u ' l l find a
complete r u n d o w n of his acriviries."
" A n y r h i n g o n Farher Gladstone's visits ro his brorher ar rhe EC?"
" N o t h i n g y o u w o u l d n ' t expect. As Secretary-General o f rhe EC, Paul
Gladsrone is i n a position ro fix a few m i n o r problems some bishops get
themselves i n t o . It's jusr one o f rhose c o m m o n lirrle conveniences o f Vati-
can life rhar, as Paul's brorher, Chrisrian is nicely placed ro ease rhar
process a l o n g . "
" A s innocent as t h a t ? " G i b cocked an eyebrow.
" N o one said a n y t h i n g a b o u t innocence, o l d f r i e n d . " L u c a d a m o
laughed. " N o t in this city. Still, b o t h Gladstones come up as clean. N o
w o m e n — l e a v i n g aside Paul Gladstone's w i f e , that is. N o boys. N o g o l d .
A n d the same t h i n g goes for rhe next m a n y o u asked a b o u t . I grant y o u ,
it's o d d that such a l o n g t i m e a n d i n t i m a t e friend of the Gladstones as
Father A n g e l o Gurmacher rurned up in rhe H o l y See ar rhe same m o m e n t
Father C h r i s t i a n opted for a R o m a n career. He's a friend o f rhe G l a d -
stones, b u t there's no professional connection between those t w o . N o con-
tact at a l l , in fact, since they arrived here lasr f a l l . "
A p p l e y a r d c o u l d n ' r argue w i t h rhe facts. H e was less interested in
Gutmacher's connection w i t h Gladstone t h a n w i t h Bud Vance's theory
t h a t the East G e r m a n refugee m i g h t be a m a j o r courier for the H o l y Fa-
ther.
T h i s time, ir was L u c a d a m o w h o cocked an eyebrow. The question was
inreresring enough ro tuck away for future use. " M a y b e s o , " he conceded.
" B u r there's no trace o f any activity like t h a t i n the data I have,
Gutmacher shapes u p as a pathetic figure, really. Lives our o f a suircase. A
regular t r a v e l i n g salesman o f a priesr. Take his mosr recent t r i p , f o r exam-
p l e . " The k a l i a n glanced ar rhe final pages i n rhe r h i r d o f his folders.
" A f t e r a brief sropover i n K r a k o w , Poland, he set o f f to M o s c o w c a r r y i n g
prayer books and fifty rhousand plastic Rosaries. Recited the Rosary in
Red Square. Prayed in all rhe cathedrals o f rhe K r e m l i n . Spoke over the
Russian O r r h o d o x Radio Sophia and the R o m a n Catholic R a d i o
Blagovest. Are ar rhe Pizza H u r on Tverskaya . . . " Lucadamo w r i n k l e d
his nose.
" N e x t stop: L v o v in U k r a i n e . Prayed there w i t h the R o m a n Catholic
Primate in L v o v ' s Cathedral o f St. George. T h e n i t was o n to the island
monastery o f V a l d a i , h a l f w a y between M o s c o w and St. Petersburg, where
he was accompanied by Eparch Lev o f N o v g o r o d . That's the story o f
A n g e l o Gutmacher's life for rhe m o m e n t . He's due back in Rome a n y t i m e .
ROMAN SERVICE 333

But he'll be o f f again before anyone even k n o w s he's been here. I can even
tell you where he's g o i n g next, i f y o u w a n t to k n o w , and w i t h w h o m he'll
be t a l k i n g , "
" N o t Gorbachev, by any chance?"
L u c a d a m o tucked a second interesting question i n t o his newly formed
mental file o n G u t m a c h e r . " N o . N o t Gorbachev. H e ' l l head for Poland
again. T h e n ro Sr. Petersburg ro see rhe M e t r o p o l i r a n Russian O r r h o d o x
Primate, Joan. A f t e r t h a t , it's back to M o s c o w and another char w i r h
Patriarch K i r i l . T h e y ' l l ralk some more abour the V i r g i n , and abour shrines
and saints and Rosaries, T h a t sort o f t h i n g . For w h a t it's w o r t h , he doesn't
even visit the Pope's m a n in M o s c o w , M o n s i g n o r e Colasuono. N o r rhe
R o m a n C a t h o l i c Bishop o f M o s c o w , Tadeusz K o n d r u s i e w i c z . "
A p p l e y a r d shook his head. A l t h o u g h Gutmacher spent a l o t o f time in
the U.S.S.R., his activities there poinred t o n o t h i n g useful. N o t h i n g more
rhan the H o l y Father's interest in the Fatima predictions, in all l i k e l i h o o d ;
and t h a t was no r a t i o n a l policy base for a man as intelligent and as deeply
engaged i n w o r l d affairs as rhis Pope.
" I t ' s a puzzle, isn't i r ? " L u c a d a m o was sincerely apologetic. " I ' v e c o m -
piled dossiers for y o u on orhers w h o are close ro rhe H o l y Farher. Bur for
y o u r purposes, it's more o f rhe same."
" F o r instance." A p p l e y a r d stretched his long legs in fronr of h i m .
" F o r instance, y o u may have heard o f the Master-General of rhe D o -
minican O r d e r . Farher D a m i e n D u n c a n Slartery. He's been one o f rhe
Pontiff's close confidanrs f o r years. A confessor ro H i s Holiness, in fact.
Heads u p a ream o f exorcisrs for rhe H o l y See, and has quite a reputation
in rhar field. H e has lors o f friends and lors o f enemies. B u t rhe w o r d is
rhar his enemies have g o t rhe better o f h i m . A n y w a y , he's on his w a y our
as M a s r e r - G e n e r a l . "
A p p l e y a r d saw a ray o f hope. " T h a t ' s t o o bad for Farher Slarrery. Bur if
he's angry enough to d o a b i t o f t a l k i n g , i t may be a break f o r me. A n y
chance I can meet w i t h h i m ? "
" E v e r y chance in the w o r l d . He's a most affable fellow. Very approach-
able. T h e only t r o u b l e is that he'll talk to y o u a b o u t everything—except
w h a t y o u really w a n t t o k n o w . A n d I w o u l d n ' t be t o o sure o f his grasp on
papal policy. H e may be a p r o w h e n it comes t o exorcism, but geopolitics
isn't his field."
A p p l e y a r d waved his hands in frusrrarion. " T e l l me, G i o v a n n i . Isn't
there one m a n in Rome w h o can shed some lighr o n rhings? One man w h o
can make some sense w h e n ir comes ro Vatican policies i n the East?"
" W e l l . " L u c a d a m o smiled. " T h e r e is one m a n w h o c o u l d probably an-
swer all y o u r questions. A priesr—a gofer, r e a l l y — b y the name o f A l d o
Carnesecca. He's been here forever. W o r k s in rhe Secretariar and a r o u n d
rhe place i n general. He k n o w s all rhere is t o k n o w abour R o m e . Bur he's
mostly away these days in Sicily. A n d — I hate ro tell y o u this, G i b s o n — I
d o n ' t t h i n k he'd talk t o y o u i n a m i l l i o n years."
 334 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

A p p l e y a r d w o u l d spend rime before his papal meering g o i n g over all rhe

i n f o r m a t i o n L u c a d a m o had c o m p i l e d f o r h i m . Bur, convinced by n o w rhat
n o t h i n g in rhis m o u n t i n g pile o f dossiers w o u l d lead ro a n y r h i n g useful as
far as rhe Pontiff's Russia policy was concerned, he rurned ro rhe riddle
posed by rhe Schuman Day meering he had attended at Strasbourg.
Here again, L u c a d a m o had assembled a number o f files for his f r i e n d . I n
rhe m a i n , however, rhey added lirrle to w h a r G i b already k n e w . T h e only
exception was the material on O r r o Sekuler. Bur even rhere rhe data was
sparse.
A n erhnic G e r m a n b o r n in Kiev, Sekuler had escaped rhe N a z i German
sweep inro rhe U k r a i n e and had lived w i r h the partisans u n t i l war's end.
Educared ar the Free University i n West B e r l i n , he had joined the culrural
section o f rhe Easr G e r m a n governmenr and had eventually secured a
place w i r h U N E S C O . H i s U N E S C O career appeared o r d i n a r y and undis-
tinguished, bur ir had led ro his current posting w i t h the Conference on
Securiry and C o o p e r a t i o n i n Europe. One w a y and another, he had trav-
eled exrensively i n Europe and N o r r h A m e r i c a . Specifically, as Lucadamo
poinred o u t , he had had some dealings w i t h the G r a n d Orienrs of France
and Italy; a n d , more p a r t i c u l a r l y , his dealings w i r h the G O in Italy often
involved rhe G r a n d Master himself, B r u n o Iramar M a s e l l i .
Neirher rhe dara on Sekuler n o r rhe inrelligence concerning any o f rhe
others in the Strasbourg cabal served ro answer Appleyard's m a i n concern.
Specifically, he wanted to k n o w i f the plans at thar meeting to oust the
Slavic Pope and change the g o v e r n i n g structure o f rhe C h u r c h were seri-
ous. " I f rhey are, rhat w o u l d change the w h o l e c o m p l e x i o n o f t h i n g s . "
" T h e y ' r e serious, all r i g h t , " L u c a d a m o c o n f i r m e d . " A t rhe level where ir
counts, the game is so private y o u c o u l d say it's hermetically sealed. Bur
rhey w a n r h i m o u r . "
"Who?"
" W h o what?"
" D o n ' t t u r n cure on me, G i o v a n n i . * A t the level where it counts, y o u 1

said. Should I assume, then, t h a t it doesn't stop w i t h the men w h o were at

rhe Strasbourg meering?" L u c a d a m o shifted his eyes t o w a r d rhe w i n d o w s
and the piazza b e y o n d .
" N a m e s , G i o v a n n i , " A p p l e y a r d persisted. " I f m y guess is righr, I need
names."
" Y o u need m o r e than names, G i b s o n . " L u c a d a m o turned back t o rhe
A m e r i c a n . " B u t 1 can't give y o u even t h a t m u c h . "
"Can't? Or w o n ' t ? "
" I t comes t o the same t h i n g . T h a t Strasbourg list y o u sent me has clues
enough. Y o u ' l l be more apr ro ger a line o n things in L o n d o n or N e w York
rhan i n circles close t o the Pope here i n R o m e . " I t w a s n ' t exactly Non
c'entra, but L u c a d a m o was clearly done w i t h any further discussion o f a
plot to force a papal resignation. I n facr, he was already m o v i n g o n .
" N o w , G i b s o n , abour rhar meering you asked me ro set up for y o u w i t h
ROMAN SERVICE 335

G r a n d Master Bruno M a s e l l i . 1 t h o u g h t a b o u t a r r a n g i n g f o r you ro meet

h i m at the G r a n d Orienr offices o n rhe Via G i u s r i n i a n i . But it's t o o close to
the Vatican. You m i g h t be observed. A meering there m i g h r prejudice rhe
outcome o f y o u r audience w i r h His Holiness. It's never wise to be too
blatant.
" A n y w a y , I've arranged f o r y o u ro see Maselli at his privare residence."
Lucadamo scribbled an address in the Parioli disrrict o f Rome and handed
it across the desk.

Gibson Appleyard's decision ro pay a visit to G r a n d Master Bruno Itamar

Maselli had been p r o m p r e d by Gib's extensive study o f the Slavic Pope's
speeches and published w r i t i n g s . H e had a sense that the near-rerm, prac-
tical policies of this obviously o p e n - m i n d e d , intellectual P o n t i f f m i g h t n o t
be so d i f f e r e n t f r o m rhose of Rosicrucian M a s o n r y ; and he hoped to test
that possibility in a meeting w i t h no less an a u t h o r i t y o n the subject than
the head o f the Scottish Rite Supreme C o u n c i l and G r a n d O r i e n r o f Italy.
A p p l e y a r d d i d have ro a d m i r rhar rhe exercise mighr prove pointless. If
the p l o t t o force rhe Pope f r o m office was serious enough ro make even
G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o flinch ro ralk about i t , maybe the P o n t i f f s policies
t o w a r d the Soviet U n i o n w o u l d be m o o t e d , and the w h o l e geopolitical
game was a b o u t to change. O n the other h a n d , his w o r d s to Bud Vance
still held. Whatever a b o u t the future, rhe Slavic Pope was the man to deal
with now.
By the time he settled himself i n t o the rear seat of one of Lucadamo's
b u l l e r p r o o f limousines and ser o u r for rhe Parioli district, A p p l e y a r d had
decided his rheory was srill w o r r h resting. A n d , besides, he had looked
f o r w a r d ro his meering w i r h G r a n d Master Maselli as more t h a n a profes-
sional d u t y . As a spiritual pleasure, in facr. As onetime C o m m a n d e r - i n -
Chief o f rhe Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, N o r t h w e s t N e w York Srate,
G i b relished rhe chance ro discuss C r a f t marrers w i t h the man ar rhe rop o f
rhe Scortish Rire Supreme C o u n c i l and G r a n d Orienr founded by Giuseppe
G a r i b a l d i himself. Despite the fact that Italian M a s o n r y was rhe mosr
secrerive i n rhe M a s o n i c w o r l d , Maselli himself was a k n o w n personality.
As far back as 1966 and 1967, as a srill y o u t h f u l member o f rhe Grand
Central C o u n c i l , he had helped ro pull Italy's G O o u t o f a slump when
some A m e r i c a n G O s had w i t h d r a w n recognition f o l l o w i n g a series o f po-
litical scandals. T h e n , as G r a n d Masrer, he had done rhe same rhing again
in 1980 afrer a bogus M a s o n i c Lodge, rhe infamous P-2, was implicated i n
a national scandal i n v o l v i n g billions o f lire and such dark doings as assas-
sinations and " s u i c i d e s . "
A p p a r e n t l y , a n t i c i p a t i o n o f tonight's meeting was m u t u a l . When his
driver pulled up ar Maselli's residence, A p p l e y a r d f o u n d his s m i l i n g hosr
w a i r i n g ar rhe d o o r ro welcome h i m as a distinguished guesr and honored
Prarer. A pharmacisr i n civic life, Bruno Itamar Maselli was a well-fed
m a n whose intelligence was obvious in his wide-set eyes. As the Grand
 336 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Master led A p p l e y a r d t h r o u g h his hillside home to an enclosed veranda

o v e r l o o k i n g the river T i b e r , G i b was struck by the contrast between
Maselli's open smile and the l u g u b r i o u s , almost funereal rone of his voice.
The Italian invited his visitor ro take a c o m f o r r a b l e chair, splashed ex-
cellenr brandy i n t o a couple o f snifters and rurned his p l u m p face t o the
American Frater as if ro ask w h a r he m i g h r have o n his m i n d . FLvidently
M a s e l l i w a s n ' t m u c h for small ralk.
G i b was nor coy. H e had one m a i n question for his hosr, and he pur ir
srraighr o u t . " I n dealing w i t h rhis Pope, a m I dealing w i r h an enemy of
Masons and M a s o n i c ideals? O r is all thar Carholic a n r i - M a s o n r y sniff
over and done w i r h ? "
Maselli lifted his glass to savor rhe a r o m a before he rook a firsr sip.
" T r u t h f u l l y , this Pope is an enemy o f no m a n . "
T h i s was more like i t , G i b rhoughr. N o r o n l y d i d rhis man k n o w about
the Slavic Pope b u t his assessment seemed to fit w i t h the picture A p p l e y a r d
had f o r m e d in his o w n m i n d .
" H o w e v e r , " Maselli w e n r o n , " M a s o n i c ideals are something else again.
You must take this Pope's b a c k g r o u n d i n t o account. A n d above a l l , you
musr rake i n t o account the radical difference i n ideals berween his C h u r c h
and rhe L o d g e . "
Gib's satisfaction faded. O f course he k n e w about the bad b l o o d be-
tween C h u r c h and Lodge d a t i n g f r o m rhe early-eighreenrh-century begin-
nings o f rhe Masonic O r d e r in irs m o d e r n f o r m . Bur surely all rhar was
acqua passata. Warer l o n g gone under rhe bridge by n o w .
"Acqaa turbolente w o u l d be more like i r , " M a s e l l i offered a polite cor-
rection. " I n the Slavic Pope's homeland in p a r t i c u l a r , friction and enmity
have always m a r k e d rhe relationship between Masons and the Catholic
C h u r c h . The Pontiff's grear friend and menror, rhe late C a r d i n a l Primate
o f his c o u n t r y , always rreared Masons as the archirecrs o f an a n t i - C h r i s -
tian force. So it's o n l y t o be expected t h a t churchmen rhere are nor pleased
rhar, jusr since rhe collapse o f rhe Stalinist government, no fewer than
t h i r t y - e i g h t new Lodges have opened i n their c o u n t r y . They see in that a
new e f f o r t by M a s o n r y t o undermine religious f a i r h . "
A p p l e y a r d rhoughr about t h a t f o r a m o m e n t . He w a s n ' t about to chal-
lenge such an a u t h o r i t y as G r a n d Master M a s e l l i . Bur he decided nonethe-
less t o set o u t his o w n m o r e o p t i m i s t i c view of the Slavic Pope's attitudes.
M a s e l l i listened patiently. Perhaps tolerantly was more like i t . Either
w a y , he was n o t impressed. "Surely y o u k n o w , m y dear A p p l e y a r d , h o w
we have fared w i r h rhis Pope. A l l o u r efforts to establish a w o r k i n g rela-
t i o n s h i p have failed. We even w e n t public w i t h o u r i n v i t a t i o n to c o m i t y
between C h u r c h and Lodge. B u t " — h e swept the air w i t h one hand as if to
brush away a g n a t — " a l l to no a v a i l . "
" W h a t happened precisely? Was the i n v i t a t i o n rebuffed?"
'Precisely?" M a s e l l i smiled as he echoed the w o r d , but there was no
ROMAN SERVICF 337

change in his funereal voice. "Precision is nor always easy t o come by in

these matters. Rur let me refresh your m e m o r y .
" There has been a convergence o f views between the Fratres and many
C h u r c h officials. You w i l l recall, for instance, the Bible of Concord p u b -
lished in 1968 by the I t a l i a n G r a n d Master at the t i m e , G i o r d a n o Gamber-
i n i , w i t h the i m p r i m a t u r o f the C h u r c h itself! Yes! There was a great
convergence!'*
The G r a n d Master went o n to put things i n t o a w i d e r context. " I t has
always been k n o w n that there have been a steady number o f clerics of all
rhree m a i n ranks—priests, bishops and C a r d i n a l s — w h o have become ac-
tive Lodge members. T h e venerable G r a n d O r i e n t o f France rhar dates
f r o m 1773, by the w a y , and n o w boasts over five hundred C r a f t Lodges,
published an exhaustive list o f R o m a n Catholic clerical members rhat i n -
cluded priests, bishops and members o f such major Religious Orders as
rhe Benedictines, rhe D o m i n i c a n s and the Jesuits.
" A t least once in the history o f papal conclaves—specifically, in the
Conclave o f 1903—a Masonic C a r d i n a l received a sufficient number o f
votes to become Pope. Flis election t o the papacy was quietly nullified, o f
course. The o f f i c i a l R o m a n reaction of fear was explicated in C a n o n Law
2 3 3 5 : A n y C a t h o l i c whose name was included in the rosrer o f any M a -
sonic Lodge w o u l d i n c u r immediate and a u t o m a t i c e x c o m m u n i c a t i o n ,
even i f he had never artended a meeting o f the Fratres. The new Code o f
Canon L a w p r o m u l g a t e d in 1983 wiped o u t the ban of e x c o m m u n i c a t i o n
contained i n the o l d Code.
" T h e n — " The G r a n d Master's d i s a p p o i n t m e n t became more evident as
he d r e w matters u p ro rhe present m o m e n t . " T h e n there was another
sudden and unexpected development. The name B u g n i n i — A n n i b a l e
B u g n i n i — m a y nor mean m u c h ro y o u , Signor A p p l e y a r d . " Maselli leaned
f o r w a r d t o replenish Appleyard's glass.
" N e v e r heard rhe n a m e , " G i b replied.
"Jusr as w e l l , m y f r i e n d . " Maselli gave a short laugh. " A c t u a l l y , this
M o n s i g n o r e Bugnini was a member o f the Lodge. A n d actually he d i d
persuade the then Pope t o t r y and eliminate the R o m a n Catholic Mass.
W h e n this present P o n t i f f heard about Bugnini's Masonic identity, he
hardened in his attitude to the Lodge, and thus he turned his back on our
approaches. This is the o n l y possible answer t o your question w h y this
Pontiff rebuffed o u r i n v i t a t i o n . A f t e r a l l , he has welcomed everybody
else—atheists, animists, agnostics, fanatics, schismatics. But nor rhe Fra-
tres!"
"So y o u put the rebuff d o w n t o fear?" A p p l e y a r d was not convinced by
the G r a n d Master's reading o f the Slavic Pope. H e was prepared t o agree
that the Pontiff was no man's enemy. But i t seemed u n l i k e l y that a man
w i t h his record w o u l d be shocked by any c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h M a s o n r y .
After a l l , this Pope had survived the Nazis. As priest and prelate, he had
faced d o w n the Stalinists f o r years in his h o m e l a n d . A n d w i t h i n his first
 338 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

year as head man in the Vatican, he had risked his person and his p o n t i f i -
cate, and w o n , in his astonishing face-off w i t h the Soviet U n i o n .
" Y o u r d o u b t is understandable, I suppose." Maselli eyed his visitor w i r h
impatience. "Especially as you have had t o rely on books and speeches t o
f o r m y o u r idea of this Pope."
" I t ' s not d o u b t , e x a c t l y , " A p p l e y a r d offered, ' i t ' s just that we heard
r u m o r s that some Fratres or some Crafr Lodges had indulged in Satanist
rituals. We t h o u g h t that m i g h t have m o t i v a t e d the papal r e b u f f . "
Maselli srared i n utter disbelief. " Y o u can scour rhe official records in
all o u r C r a f r Lodges in rhis j u r i s d i c t i o n , A p p l e y a r d ! You w o n ' t find a trace
of such goings-on. Such w i c k e d r u m o r s begin in the Vatican, surely. This
Pope is obsessed w i t h Satan or Lucifer or wharever he calls this m y t h i c a l
being. W i c k e d , vicious r u m o r s , M r . A p p l e y a r d ! "
Gibson was astonished. H i s o w n remarks m i g h r have been clumsy, but
they h a d n ' t been intended as a personal accusation. It was a moment
w o r t h remembering; bur for n o w , it w o u l d be betrer simply ro change the
subject.
" [ w o n d e r . . . " As s m o o t h l y as the situation a l l o w e d , A p p l e y a r d set
o f f in a new and more benign d i r e c t i o n . " I n my recent travels about Eu-
rope, Eve come across a character called O t t o Sekuler. I believe he belongs
to some Lodge in G e r m a n y . He appears to have some international mis-
sion t h a t brings h i m i n t o your j u r i s d i c t i o n . Perhaps you k n o w h i m . "
" Y o u have an interest in t h i s — w h a t was his n a m e ? "
" S e k u l e r . " G i b h a d n ' t expected a game of cat and mouse over such a
simple query. " H e r r O t t o Sekuler."
The G r a n d M a s t e r stood up a b r u p t l y and led the way i n t o his study,
where he t o o k a thick volume f r o m a bookshelf. " L e t me see n o w if I can
be of some help. Sekuler . . . Sekuler, O t r o . . . A h ! Yes, here it i s . "
W h e n Maselli raised his eyes again, his face was a perfecr mask o f compo-
sure. " H e appears here as a p r o m i n e n r member of the Leipzig Lodge.
N o t h i n g unusual a b o u t h i m . H e w o r k s for some of U N E S C O ' s nongov-
ernmental committees. N o t h i n g at all o u t s t a n d i n g . "
T h e D e v i l y o u say! G i b spat the w o r d s silently in his m i n d . W h e n
Maselli made no move to head back t o w a r d rhe veranda, Gibson was
ready enough ro rake the h i n t . " I fear I've oversrayed my welcome, Fra-
ter,"
" N o r ar a l l ! " In a contrast of m o o d that struck A p p l e y a r d as c h i l l i n g ,
rhe G r a n d Master was back ro his s m i l i n g self. " N o t at a l l ! A l w a y s feel
welcome ro come or c a l l . A n y t i m e . A n y r i m e y o u l i k e . "

The more A p p l e y a r d reviewed rhings d u r i n g his ride back t o the Piazza

della Pilotta, rhe more somber his thoughts became. H e remained con-
vinced that there was n o r h i n g hidden or M a c h i a v e l l i a n about the Pontiff.
Yet he was equally convinced that no one he had spoken to undersrood
eirher the H o l y Father or his policies. Despire the advance w o r k L u -
ROMAN SERVICE 339

cadamo had done f o r h i m , A p p l e y a r d had learned only t w o rhings. N o

one w h o c o u l d be described as a papal i n t i m a t e seemed to be accessible in
any w a y that mattered. A n d no one w h o was accessible c o u l d offer any-
r h i n g more rhan the most r o u t i n e knowledge o f this Pontiff.
T h e n , t o t o p it a l l , his meering w i t h Maselli had been worse rhan a dead
end. G i b had hoped t o establish a relationship o f a m i t y w i t h the Italian
G r a n d Master. Indeed, he had expecred tonight's encounter to be r a t i o n a l ,
unheated and clear-minded; for such was rhe h u m a n l y beautiful advantage
of M a s o n r y and rhe M a s o n i c way o f life. Instead, he had come away w i t h
a sour taste in his m o u t h . He d i d n ' t like the c o n t r a d i c t i o n between
MascIIPs sunny-day smile and his dead-of-night voice. He wondered at the
r a w nerve he had touched at the m e n t i o n o f Satanism. A n d he was just
plain baffled over Ma^elli's charade concerning O r t o Sekuler.
A c c o r d i n g ro L u c a d a m o , Maselli and Sekuler had met face to face. A n d
if i t came to a choice between the proven reliability o f Lucadamo's sources
and Maselli's professed ignorance o f even so m u c h as the German's name,
L u c a d a m o w o u l d w i n . W h y rhe rericence, rhen? W h y deny even rhe slight-
est personal knowledge of Sekuler? It was enough to t h r o w d o u b t over the
entire conversation, i n c l u d i n g Maselli's judgments concerning the H o l y
Father.
By rhe time his d r i v e r deposited h i m at the Raffaele, G i b had more
questions than w h e n he had arrived i n Rome, and his m o o d was positively
f o u l . T h i s was n o t the besi way ro end rhe evening before his papal a u d i -
ence. G i b glanced ar his w a r c h . M e m o r i e s o f good rimes gone by t o l d h i m
that G i o v a n n i p r o b a b l y had his feet up by n o w , w i r h his collar open,
something by M o z a r t o n his rape deck and a glass o f the best Marsala
w i n e in his h a n d .
T h a t was the ticket, he t o l d himself as he headed f o r the second d o o r . If
anyone c o u l d help take the ragged edge o f f his m o o d , the levelheaded,
w o r l d l y - w i s e p r o p r i e t o r o f rhe Raffaele was the m a n .

O n the chill but sunny m o r n i n g o f December 18, rhe Vatican p r o t o c o l

welcomed G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d as a distinguished emissary o f rhe President
of the U n i t e d States. A y o u n g freshly scrubbed monsignore greeted h i m
w i r h f o r m a l c o r d i a l i t y at the door of his limousine and escorted h i m t o the
t h i r d - f l o o r office of C a r d i n a l Secrerary of Stare G i a c o m o G r a z i a n i . His
Eminence b l i n k e d his w a y t h r o u g h a p r o forma conversation, d u r i n g
w h i c h a score o f nice rhings were said by borh men and n o t h i n g of conse-
quence was addressed by either. T h e n the C a r d i n a l himself led A p p l e y a r d
ro rhe papal study, presented h i m w i r h smiles ro rhe H o l y Farher and
retired.
As rhe Slavic Pope rook his visiror's oursrretched hand in b o t h o f his
o w n in welcome, A p p l e y a r d was impressed w i r h rhe resident srrengrh o f
rhe Pontiff's broad chest and solid shoulders. Bur w h a t struck h i m — h e l d
h i m , in facr—were the Pope's eyes. N o t h i n g c o u l d have prepared h i m for
 340 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

those eyes. Clearest b l u e — n o t hostile or anxious o r i n d i f f e r e n t , but smil-

i n g — t h e y were the eyes o f a man w h o has no fear. Eyes t h a t carried a
message t h a t was n o t unpleasant b u t was t o o subtle t o read at first sight.
T h e H o l y Father made a few w e l c o m i n g remarks as he w a l k e d his visi-
t o r t o a pair o f facing armchairs near one o f rhe study w i n d o w s . A p -
pleyard responded i n k i n d t o the P o n t i f f s generous welcome. Fie extended
the g o o d wishes o f his government. H e c o m p l i m e n t e d H i s Holiness o n his
journeys earlier i n the year to France, Poland, H u n g a r y and Brazil. A n d he
c o m m e n t e d w i t h unfeigned sincerity that he k n e w o f no other w o r l d
leader, religious or p o l i t i c a l , w h o c o u l d have attracted 1.3 m i l l i o n y o u n g
people t o Fatima, as rhe Pontiff had done in M a y , and another \ .S m i l l i o n
t o Czestochowa in Poland. " I t was t r u l y impressive leadership, Your H o l i -
ness. M o s t i n s p i r i n g . M

T h e Slavic Pope responded w i r h a modest smile o f his o w n , and then

i n q u i r e d by name a b o u t a few people he k n e w in the State Deparrment.
T h o u g h their exchanges were leisurely, there came a m o m e n t w h e n , by
some indefinable gesture, the Pope invited A p p l e y a r d to speak his m i n d .
" I have some specific subjects t o discuss w i r h Your Holiness o n behalf
o f m y g o v e r n m e n t . " A p p l e y a r d felt a sense o f ease as he responded to the
i n v i t a t i o n . " B u t , as just one o r d i n a r y h u m a n being, I must confess rhar I
have so m u c h more w e i g h i n g on m y m i n d and heart, as P m sure Your
Holiness has. There is so m u c h misery a m o n g o u r fellow h u m a n beings.
Your Holiness' heartfelt interventions a b o u t the tragic c o n d i t i o n o f the
Sudanese Christians, the East T i m o r people, the Somali people and the
h o r r o r u n f o l d i n g presently in Yugoslavia have given a voice ro the univer-
sal feelings o f all men and w o m e n o f g o o d w i l l . "
For an instant, the Pope focused o n the m i d d l e distance as t h o u g h he
could see there w h a t he had seen in those death-infested lands. " E v i d e n t l y ,
M r . A p p l e y a r d , you and I — a n d the bodies we represent—are fearful o f
w h a t o u r Supreme Judge and L o r d A r b i r e r of o u r fate w i l l say about
man's i n h u m a n i t y to m a n . "
A sudden, a n n o y i n g m e m o r y plucked at A p p l e y a r d ' s m i n d . A fleeting
recollection o f his M a s o n i c i n d u c t i o n so long ago, and o f those K n i g h t
Kadosh ceremonial w o r d s a b o u t " t h i s dreaded t r i b u n a l . . . my Supreme
J u d g e . " But the m o m e n t passed q u i c k l y in the unspoken c o m m o n a l i t y o f
sentiment he had discovered in himself f o r this man in the w h i t e robe.
" A n d " — t h e H o l y Father's eyes were on his visitor a g a i n — " w e are c o n -
cerned a b o u t i m p e n d i n g matters in Europe and in the U.S.S.R. o f M r .
G o r b a c h e v . " As easily as t h a t , the P o n t i f f b r o u g h t A p p l e y a r d ro the focus
of his visit.
T h e principal subject o f his R o m a n mission having been opened for
h i m , A p p l e y a r d inquired whether the Pope was aware o f rhe i m m i n e n t
change in the t o p echelons of Soviet leadership t h a t w o u l d see Boris Yelt-
sin take over f r o m M i k h a i l Gorbachev. Yes, H i s Holiness indicated by a
R O M A N SERVICE 341

nod o f his head. H e was aware. T h i n g s had to come t o a head, given the
dynamics o f the s i t u a t i o n .
T h a t was t o o interesting—too i n v i t i n g — f o r A p p l e y a r d t o let pass w i t h -
out e x p l o r a t i o n . " T h o s e dynamics being w h a t , in Your Holiness' ap-
praisal?"
The answer was unhesitating and remarkably direct; but somehow its
stark realism d i d n o t h i n g t o lessen rhe t o t a l empathy thar m i g h t have been
shattered by a lesser m a n . " O n c e the top-level decision was taken rhat the
C o l d War w o u l d end, and that rhe Soviet bloc w o u l d move actively i n t o
the economic and financial sphere o f rhe Western nations, the leadership
change we b o t h k n o w w i l l come w i t h i n a few days was i n e v i t a b l e . "
His Holiness paused briefly at rhe m i l d bur open surprise w r i t t e n o n rhe
emissary's face. He had shifted rhe focus o f conversation only slightly. In
effect, he was saying t h a t i t was something other than mere b l i n d and
i r r a t i o n a l forces o f nature that was at w o r k in the U.S.S.R. But he w o n -
dered i f the A m e r i c a n had raken rhe p o i n t f u l l y .
" W e both k n o w , M r . A p p l e y a r d , rhat there was no spontaneous 1989
r e v o l u t i o n a m o n g rhe peoples of the f o r m e r Soviet satellites or a m o n g the
peoples o f the U.S.S.R. T h e Soviet system d i d n o t i m p l o d e , as it were, and
fall i n t o its o w n ruins. There was no sudden failure o f Sovier nerve. Some-
t h i n g unpredictable and unpremeditated by men d i d nor suddenly break
over o u r heads. A n y such analysis as rhar is a h o a x . It's at least a m y t h , i f
not a f a b r i c a t i o n , foisted o n the p r i n r - r e a d i n g and television-viewing a u d i -
ences o f the w o r l d .
" S o m e t h i n g far more significant in rhe m a k i n g o f history t o o k place.
The w i l l o f m a n — o f m e n — w e n t i n t o a c t i o n . There was an 'arrangement,'
wasn't there? Let's forger for the m o m e n t by w h o m and for w h a r motives.
Agreed?"
T h e P o n t i f f s questions were obviously rherorical, for he w e n t o n to
speak o f rhings other men only whispered. " W h a r rhere was, concrerely
speaking, was a series o f telephone calls f r o m K r e m l i n offices telling C o m -
m u n i s t dictators and strongmen in the satellite countries t o make t h e m -
selves scarce, ro get our. Ir was under Presidenr Gorbachev's direction all
rhar was done. Bur we a l l realize, d o n ' t w e , M r . A p p l e y a r d , rhar he was
not acting o n his o w n personal initiative, b u t in obedient concert w i t h the
real men o f p o w e r w h o decide life and death in the society o f nations; a n d ,
if it comes t o thar poinr o f macromanagement, in rhe c o s m o s . "
A p p l e y a r d d r e w a l o n g brearh. H e was stunned rhat this Pope, w h o
seemed so enigmatic to the w o r l d , had opened his m i n d so readily. " W e
had h o p e d , " he offered gingerly, " r h a t Presidenr Gorbachev's desperate
a t t e m p t to h o l d the states o f the U.S.S.R. together w o u l d succeed."
" B u r i t c o u l d n ' t have succeeded." H i s Holiness held both hands o u t as if
to present the gift o f his l o n g experience in the matters under discussion.
M believe o u r planners realized early on t h a t if, by some w i l d fluke, it had
 342 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

succeeded, we w o u l d a l l have ended up w i t h a mere change o f name in the

U.S.S.R. The o l d ideological status of rhings w o u l d emerge in a new garb.
" N o , M r . A p p l e y a r d . Gorbachev's Federarion o f Socialist Soviet Srares
was a m u s h r o o m g r o w r h . Born ar m i d n i g h r , ir was dead at sunrise. M i d -
night came for M r . Gorbachev, I t h i n k , w i r h the somber realism rhar
reigned at the meeting o f the G-7 in L o n d o n last July, where he met w i t h
the heads o f the seven most industrialized nations. T h e seven Wise M e n
had heard the message conveyed by the June election o f Boris Yelrsin as
Presidenr o f the Gorbachev Federarion in a universal vote by rhe Sovier
peoples. A n d m i d n i g h t passed for Gorbachev d u r i n g the bogus coup
staged rhe f o l l o w i n g Augusr. F r o m then u n t i l n o w , ir was a matter o f time
u n t i l he w o u l d step aside and let Yelrsin t r y his l u c k / '
Appleyard's astonishment had given way t o something else by n o w . Fie
no longer had t o w o n d e r w h a t sort o f intelligence lay behind the " p o o r ,
p o o r E u r o p e " letter rhe Ponriff had sent to rhe EC Selectors meeting in
Brussels. Instead, as he l o o k e d i n t o those steady blue eyes, he read rhe
subrle message t h a t had escaped h i m earlier. N o r o n l y d o I have the benefit
o f H o l y Water and Agnus Deis and beautiful L , i t i n hymns, that message
said; 1 also have state-of-the-art i n f o r m a t i o n and c o m m u n i c a t i o n ar my
fingertips, as you d o . I a m a Slav, that message said. A n d as a Slav, the
Slavic c o m m u n i t y f r o m the Oder ro the Sea o f Japan is my heritage. I am
Pope, t h a t message said. A n d as Pope, all nations are my b a i l i w i c k .
A p p l e y a r d was a q u i c k learner. " I see. Your H o l i n e s s , " he said. A n d
w i t h those w o r d s , he accepted n o t only the premises o f the PontifPs state-
ments b u t all that passed unspoken between t h e m . He n o w felt free to
move o n t o the C o m m i t t e e of Ten policy concerns that had b r o u g h t h i m
here. " W h a t actually preoccupies my governmenr. Your Holiness, is the
fare o f rhe c o m p o n e n t states o f the U.S.S.R. once the red flag is lowered
f r o m rhe K r e m l i n at m i d n i g h t o n this c o i n i n g C h r i s t m a s . "
Again the Pope responded w i r h the basic fact o f the s i t u a t i o n . " T h e o l d
official K r e m l i n policy o f sliyanie, m e l d i n g all ethnic groups inro rhe g l o r i -
ous homogeneity o f the Leninist Parry-State, t h a t was always a mirage. In
spire o f M o s c o w ' s economic and m i l i t a r y pressures, rhe Baltic States have
already declared rheir i n t e n t i o n to secede. So, t o o , U k r a i n e . A n d so, t o o ,
Belarus' Popular F r o n t , the Adrad/.enie. I needn't m e n t i o n M u s l i m states
such as T a j i k i s t a n , Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzsran; in the next five years or so
rhey may d r o p o f f rhe edge o f significance. But the same spirit o f secession
flows a m o n g the Tartars, rhe Bashkirs, rhe C h u v a s h , and a m o n g Chechens
in rhe N o r t h Caucasus."
By n o w , A p p l e y a r d wondered if rhe State D e p a r t m e n t experts assigned
t o m o n i t o r the East k n e w as m u c h as this Pope. " D o u b t l e s s the remaining
Sovier states w i l l go the same route. But they are n o t viable by themselves.
N o t those Your Holiness has m e n t i o n e d . A n d n o t Estonia or Latvia or
L i t h u a n i a or any o f the rest of them. We are heading inro a period of
f r a g m e n t a t i o n , c o n t e n t i o n and experimenrarion. A n d d u r i n g rhat t i m e —
ROMAN SERVICE 343

the dangerous p e r i o d o f t r a n s i t i o n — B o r i s Yeltsin seems t o us to be the

safest s h o r t - t e r m man t o back. H e w i l l be dogged by h y p e r i n f l a t i o n and by
huge drops i n p r o d u c t i o n and income. But he should survive f o r a couple
o f years. Perhaps even longer.
" W e are aware o f Your Holiness' w a r m relationship w i t h President
Gorbachev . . . " T h e Pope's raised eyebrow t o l d A p p l e y a r d he had mis-
stepped. *'We are aware,*' he began again, " o f the unusual exchange that
has taken place between Your Holiness and President G o r b a c h e v . " A little
shrug o f the papal shoulder indicated acceptance o f the modified remark.
" S t i l l , H o l y Father, we w o u l d like ro feel t h a t we have Your Holiness'
s u p p o r t — a n d , if the need arises, Your Holiness' collaborarive e f f o r t s — i n
m a k i n g the Yeltsin regime as successful as possible."
"But o f course. I have collaborated with U.S. policy d u r i n g the
Gorbachev p e r i o d . I reestablished the R o m a n Rite hierarchy in Belarus. I
have incurred the displeasure o f Premier Stanislav Suskievic ro such a
degree that he vented i t publicly i n the Parliament and on television. But I
acted i n accord w i t h M o s c o w ' s wishes, n o t the wishes o f the very patriotic
Belarus populace. As in the past, so in the future. We intend t o fulfill o u r
obligations as co-signatory to the H e l s i n k i Accords.
" Y e t , M r . A p p l e y a r d , 1 must r e m i n d y o u o f the H o l y See's disillusioning
experience in this century vis-a-vis the Western powers. I n W o r l d War I I
and d u r i n g rhe t r y i n g years o f the C o l d War that f o l l o w e d , this H o l y See
made m o r e than w h a t you have called collaborative efforts to achieve the
m i l i t a r y o u t c o m e and rhe peace sought by Western-based forces." The
Slavic Pope t o l d o f the unusual lengths to w h i c h the Pope o f W o r l d War I I
had collaborated secrerly w i t h the Western Allies. " T h a t Pope and his
services were used by all the Allies, M r . A p p l e y a r d . Yer the H o l y See was
a l l o w e d no effective say in postwar agreements."
In the C o l d W a r , the Slavic Pope had o n l y t o recall h o w Solidarnosc—
organized w i r h the blessing o f the H o l y See—had been used by the West-
ern powers in the seventies and eighties to create a firsr breach in w h a t
some had called the " e v i l e m p i r e " o f rhe Soviets. " A g a i n there was full
c o l l a b o r a t i o n by the H o l y See. N o w that the 'evil e m p i r e ' is no more,
however, the H o l y See, w h i c h I n o w e m b o d y as Pope, has been and is
excluded f r o m the p l a n n i n g o f Western leaders about the p o s t - C o l d War
w o r l d . You may nor k n o w t h a t , t o w a r d the end o f W o r l d W a r I , B r i t a i n ,
France, Italy and y o u r U n i t e d States made the secret Treaty o f L o n d o n ,
explicirly t o exclude the H o l y See f r o m any and all peace negotiations.
" I n other w o r d s , M r . A p p l e y a r d , there is a fixed principle observed by
those w h o make m a j o r geopolitical decisions: t o exclude this H o l y See, no
matter h o w cooperative i t may prove t o be. T h a t is a brute fact of o u r
t i m e , M r , A p p l e y a r d . You w i l l understand that as Pope I have no intention
o f being used yet another t i m e w h i l e that p r i n c i p l e is still o p e r a t i v e . "
A p p l e y a r d d i d understand. H e c o u l d n ' t have asked for greater candor,
 344 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

i n facr. But rhe Slavic Pope had blocked any further progress t o w a r d iden-
tifying papal aims in Eastern Europe, m u c h less influencing rhose aims.
H a v i n g cur the d i p l o m a t i c g r o u n d f r o m under his visitor's feet, rhe Pon-
t i f f began t o construct a little bridge o f hope. " M i n d y o u , s i r " — i t seemed
no m o r e than an a f t e r r h o u g h t — " m y statements do n o t mean we w i l l n o t
continue to extend the usual d i p l o m a t i c courtesies. It was a C h u r c h -
o w n e d M o s c o w r a d i o station that alone made it possible for Yeltsin to
broadcast to the Soviet peoples d u r i n g the August coup. I myself gave
permission f o r that. A n d doubtless you also k n o w o f o u r c o l l a b o r a t i o n in
financial and d i p l o m a t i c matters d u r i n g y o u r invasion of Panama. A n d
also before and d u r i n g rhe G u l f War. T h e lisr c o u l d be e x t e n d e d . "
A p p l e y a r d had t o w o n d e r i f it had been such a good idea after all f o r rhe
C o m m i t t e e o f Ten t o send a spy o n a d i p l o m a t ' s mission. So far, the Slavic
Pope was r u n n i n g rings a r o u n d h i m . Still, he decided t o make a feint
across the Pontiff's bridge o f hope.
" W e have no d o u b r a b o u t the friendly and courreous attitude o f the
H o l y See," A p p l e y a r d began speculatively. " T h a r being so, there are natu-
rally a few aspects o f the presenr siruation on w h i c h we w o u l d appreciate
Your Holiness' estimation. Your Eloliness alluded a few moments ago ro
the reestablishment o f rhe R o m a n Rite hierarchy in Belarus. Your Holiness
also reestablished the R o m a n Catholic L a t i n Rite hierarchy o f bishops in
Russia and Kazakhsran. A n d we have also heard rhar Your Holiness w i l l
shorrly n o m i n a t e five new bishops f o r A l b a n i a .
" O f course, we realize rhat these moves are apostolic. Yet Your Holiness
must be aware that they d o not sit w e l l w i t h the Patriarchate o f M o s c o w .
M a y 1 ask Your Holiness, then, the general policy o f rhe H o l y See t o w a r d
the Russian O r t h o d o x C h u r c h ? "
A p p l e y a r d ' s e f f o r t t o use a query concerning R O C and the M o s c o w
Patriarchate as his entree i n t o the Pontiff's Eastern policy evoked an u n -
equivocal reply. N o one understood better rhan the Slavic Pope that M o s -
cow's Patriarch K i r i l was one o f Yeltsin's allies, and that the interest o f the
Western governments in R O C had t o d o w i t h helping t o stabilize Yeltsin's
regime. " Y o u r government k n o w s the long-standing c o m m i t m e n t of the
M o s c o w Patriarchate t o the cause o f the o l d Leninist Parry-Stare. As w i t h
the upper-echelon membership o f t h a t n o w o f f i c i a l l y dead system, so w i t h
the Russian O r t h o d o x authorities. They may change their c o m m i t m e n t , or
they may n o t . I t may be that b o t h the O r t h o d o x authorities and the upper-
echelon Leninists may yet m e l l o w . But that is n o t the issue. The issue is
camouflage! For, despite their new nomenclature, rhe same c r o w d is still
at the center of p o w e r . A n d , in very r r u r h , isn't this rhe c r u x o f the d i f f i -
c u l t y w i t h the present f r a c r u r i n g o f the U.S.S.R.? T h a t eventually the t r u t h
may out? Y o u have o n l y t o ask yourself: W h a t has changed really?
" H a v e w e seen any settling o f accounts for genocide? For deception?
For perpetuating the Great Lie? For u n t o l d m i l l i o n s w h o lived lives o f
agony and died s l o w , excruciating deaths? Are we to believe that rhe
ROMAN SERVICE 345

Leninist system w i t h its spymasters and spies, its propagandists, its con-
centration-camp c o m m a n d a n t s , its jailers and wardens and t o r t u r e r s — t h e
entire apparatus o f the malevolent, lying Big Brother State—has all ceased
to exist?
" W e have all been w a t c h i n g a sleight-of-hand o p e r a t i o n , M r . A p -
pleyard. Presto! N o w you see the U.S.S.R. led by M i k h a i l Gorbachev.
Presto! N o w you see the Gorbachev Federation. Presro! N o w you see the
Yeltsin-governed Russia. Should this H o l y See collaborate in preserving
that sleight o f h a n d ? "
A p p l e y a r d sat a little straighter in his chair as a show o f his d i p l o m a t i c
resolve. " I n view o f all this, Holiness, should my government take it that
this H o l y See w i l l find it d i f f i c u l t t o be in unison w i t h the other signatories
o f the H e l s i n k i Accords? A t least on certain p o i n t s ? "
The Slavic Pope's rejoinder was immediate, s m o o t h and u n s m i l i n g . He
had been at this crossroads o f d i p l o m a t i c negotiation t o o many times to
accept the choice t h a t had been put t o h i m . " M r . A p p l e y a r d , rhose Ac-
cords p r o v i d e escape clauses o f w h i c h any signatory can avail irself when
irs o w n narional interesr is i n v o l v e d . You have already had my answer,
therefore. T h i s H o l y See w i l l n o t find i t difficult to f u l f i l l its o b l i g a t i o n s . "
In absolute terms, there was no need to say more. Silence itself was an
i m p l i c i t question. If ir pleased the A m e r i c a n ro do so, he c o u l d end all
discussion right here.
Gibson A p p l e y a r d t u r n e d aside f r o m t h a t alternarive. Perhaps i t was the
m o o d o f c o m m o n a l i t y that had been created at the outset o f this meeting;
o r the picture he had f o r m e d in his m i n d o f rhis Slavic Pope as a man of
some enlighrenment bade h i m p r o l o n g rhe discussion.
" H o l i n e s s , u l t i m a t e l y we are all a i m i n g ro make o u r w o r l d as peaceful
and prosperous a habitat as possible. O n this, surely we agree."
The Floly Father had no d i f f i c u l t y in f o l l o w i n g the shift in t h o u g h t . H e
had such men as A p p l e y a r d w i r h i n his o w n Vatican. Prelates w h o m he
described privately as " g o o d M a s o n s . " M e n o f g o o d faith w h o were true
innocents. U n a w a r e or unconvinced o f deeper w o r k i n g s and a deeper i n -
tent w i t h i n the elements o f M a s o n r y , they saw no d i f f i c u l t y in c o m b i n i n g
their C a t h o l i c i s m w i t h Masonic ideals. "Yes, M r . A p p l e y a r d . In view o f
our eternal home w i t h G o d , yes. Agreed. But n o t in view o f m a k i n g this
w o r l d the exclusive, u l t i m a t e temple o f man's existence."
A glance was enough f o r A p p l e y a r d ro k n o w he had n o t been entirely
mistaken in his reading o f this Pope. The H o l y Father understood and
accepted h i m for w h a t he was. H e was encouraged, therefore, ro a further
e x p l o r a t i o n o f parallel interests between his governmenr and rhe H o l y See.
" O u r pluralistic system, Holiness, has standards t h a t can be accepted by
all. By those w h o aim at the eternal home o f w h i c h Your Holiness speaks;
and by those w h o a i m at the ideal earthly temple o f m a n k i n d . "
A g a i n , rhe P o n t i f f t o o k the c o m m o n g r o u n d offered as the entry to his
answer. " I n absrracr p r i n c i p l e , such standards are fine. Separation o f
 346 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

C h u r c h and Srate is a cornerstone of y o u r A m e r i c a n social conrracr ro

pursue life, liberty and happiness as the u l t i m a t e ideal. T h a t conception is
Utopian, o f course. A l w a y s aimed a t , never achieved. You yourself o b v i -
ously share that Utopian ideal; y o u have f a i t h in that ideal. H o w e v e r , there
are others w h o place the achievement o f t h a t ideal under a banner i n this
cosmos t h a t does n o t and w i l l n o t tolerare rhose w h o , like rhis H o l y See,
aim a t the eternal h a b i r a t . "
T h e l o o k o n the American's face was more like perplexity than surprise.
But it was enough ro tell the Pope that he had gone as far as he c o u l d w i t h
this m a n o f g o o d f a i t h .
A p p l e y a r d had o b v i o u s l y reached the same conclusion, f o r he used a
personal requesr t o break o f f f r o m rhe conversation. H e asked for access
to some archival marerial for his o w n reference; and he mentioned a col-
league o f his at Stanford Universiry w h o needed an i n t r o d u c t i o n t o the
Pontifical Academy o f Sciences o f the Vatican.
" H a p p i l y , M r . A p p l e y a r d / ' T h e Slavic Pope crossed rhe study t o his
desk and w r o t e o u t a m e m o d i r e c t i n g immediate facilitation o f the A m e r i -
can's requesrs. T h e n the H o l y Father p u t a requesr o f his o w n . H e was
concerned w i t h rhe investigations rhat were m u s h r o o m i n g i n t o alleged
U.S. g o v e r n m e n t illegalities connected w i t h rhe Vatican Bank a n d the
Banca Nazionale d i L a v o r o . " I may be overstepping rhe given boundaries
o f o u r discussion," H i s Holiness a c k n o w l e d g e d . " B u r on the Vatican side
in this B N L a f f a i r , ir w o u l d be a help t o the Prefecture o f Economic Affairs
if rhese financial matters c o u l d be cleared u p . "
" N o d i f f i c u l t y , Holiness. Your PECA was of service ro rhe U n i t e d States.
The m o m e n t 1 r e r u r n , I shall attend t o i t . "
T h e H o l y Father rose and rerrieved a small package f r o m a nearby side
table. C a r e f u l l y , he removed the w r a p p i n g t o reveal an icon depicting the
M o n a s t e r y o f Czesrochowa under siege by Swedish armies i n the seven-
teenth century. " I t ' s an early-eighteenth-century piece, M r . A p p l e y a r d . "
There w a s n o m i s t a k i n g the p r i d e i n rhe papal voice. " A privare a n d
personal g i f t f r o m m e t o y o u and y o u r f a m i l y . "
A p p l e y a r d accepted the g i f t f r o m the Pope's hands w i r h genuine plea-
sure. " T r u l y a beautiful w o r k o f a r t , H o l i n e s s . " A p p l e y a r d understood
fully rhe e m o t i o n t h a t lay behind the treasure he held so gently i n his
hands. A n e m o t i o n based on an a b i d i n g love o f h o m e l a n d . " Y o u r Holiness
has been most generous w i t h . . . "
T h e Slavic Pope raised a hand as i f ro objecr ro such finality i n their
p a r t i n g . "Perhaps providence w i l l b r i n g us rogerher again, M r . A p -
p l e y a r d . " T h e Ponriff w a l k e d s l o w l y beside his visitor as far as the eleva-
tor. "Perhaps w e w i l l have anorher o p p o r r u n i r y ro discuss rhese grave
marrers."
" F o r my part, H o l i n e s s , " A p p l e y a r d responded w i t h sincerity, " I relish
the hope that this w i l l nor be rhe lasr rime we w i l l meer."
J d Q J
ROMAN SERVICE 347

G i b A p p l e y a r d changed i n t o slacks and a sweatshirt and ambled i n t o the

l i v i n g r o o m o f his suite at the Raffaele. H e had a lot o f sorting o u t to d o
before he w o u l d be ready to make his p r e l i m i n a r y telephone report to Bud
Vance. H e had learned a l o t o f lessons this m o r n i n g . But he still k n e w next
to n o t h i n g about the H o l y See's policy w i t h respect to the East.
G i b spent a solid hour c r i t i q u i n g his papal audience. A t the most objec-
tive level, he reflected, he had been dealing w i t h a w o r l d leader of a differ-
ent k i n d f r o m any orher he had met. In a w o r l d where democratic capital-
ism had become the first and indispensable ticker o f entry into the new
society o f nations, the Pope still reigned p o l i t i c a l l y , d i p l o m a t i c a l l y and
religiously as an absolute m o n a r c h .
Neverrheless, rhe Pontiff was a man o f these times. H e headed a global
organization unique i n the depth o f its contact w i t h other leaders, and in
rhe d e p t h o f its influence a m o n g hundreds o f m i l l i o n s of people of the
w o r l d . A n d he had made ir plain rhat he had at his fingertips—and k n e w
h o w t o use—all the advantages o f the oldest and most experienced p o l i t i -
cal chancery on earrh. M o r e o v e r , rhe Slavic Pope had s h o w n rhat he was
not an enemy o f democratic capitalism. T r u e , he clearly doubred capital-
ism's tolerance o f a religious base for irs m o r a l judgments. He had d e m o n -
strated reservations a b o u t capitalist m o r a l i t y itself, in fact. But at least he
favored the Western sysrem over any M a r x i s t or socialist stance.
A t a more subjective level, m e a n w h i l e , there was no need for A p p l e y a r d
to temporize his first face-to-face impression. Those eyes had said it all for
h i m , because they had been able to see beyond all the deep differences that
m i g h t have been a barrier rhis m o r n i n g , and ro esrablish insread a peculiar
d e p t h o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . T h e eyes o f a m a n w h o w a n t e d n o t h i n g less than
peace and the betterment of life for all m a n k i n d .
Come t o t h i n k o f i t , G i b mused a little w r y l y , the H o l y Father appeared
to be one up on h i m w h e n ir came ro rhe behind-rhe-scenes factors that
had caused the a b r u p t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the U.S.S.R. f r o m C o l d War
superpower o p p o n e n t t o petitioner for inclusion in the economic and fi-
nancial life o f Western Europe and the U.S.A. T h e Pope had talked about
Gorbachev acting i n obedient concerr w i r h rhe real men o f p o w e r in rhe
society o f nations. Gibson k n e w that orders and decisions came d o w n
f r o m above. H e had spent his professional life in that atmosphere. But he
w a s n ' t foolish enough to t h i n k the Slavic Pope had been t a l k i n g about
statecraft in the o r d i n a r y sense.
A p p l e y a r d russled again w i r h the p r o b l e m o f the Strasbourg plot to
force rhis Slavic Pope to resign. T h e men at that gathering had spoken o f a
radical change in the t o p m o s t level o f leadership in the C h u r c h and o f the
need for a papacy that w o u l d c o n f o r m to today's reality. Bur the more he
had come ro k n o w a b o u t the Slavic Pope, the less sense any o f that made.
H e c o u l d n ' t imagine a more radical change in papal leadership than had
already been effected by the present P o n t i f f . A n d h a v i n g met the H o l y
Father n o w , he was at a loss to f a t h o m the reasoning behind such a cabal.
 348 WINDSWEPT HOUSE
Surely the man he had met this morning could not be more attuned to
present reality. He could not be accused of oppression or heresy or of any
crime. Nevertheless, Gibson had to credit Giovanni Lucadamo's judg-
ment. "They're serious," his old friend had said. " A t the level where it
counts . . . they want him out."
" W e l l , " Appleyard told himself, "whatever the who and the why of that
plot, according to Lucadamo I won't find the answers in Rome." That
being so, and the hour having come around, he reached for the scrambler
phone and dialed through to Bud Vance in D . C . "What have you got for
me, G i b ? " The Admiral sounded sprightly, but clearly he was all business.
" H o w did it go at the Palace?"
" I think Pve got what I came for." Appleyard was ready to boil things
down to a few words. " T h e Holy Father didn't spell out his policies. But if
any man knows the score, he does. As far as I can make out, he has an
accurate picture of what plans have been made and of what our U.S.
planners expect to happen. In fact, he gives the impression of strength in
his convictions and surety of foresighr. In the long term—say, over four or
five years—I can't predict a definitive papal stance. But he will avoid em-
barrassing the United States."
" S o he'll back our pro-Yeltsin policy?"
" H e can't be quoted as backing Yeltsin. He's benign. Salutary, even. But
he hasn't put his eggs in one basket the way we have. Still, that's not to say
he won't cooperate if necessary, at least on a temporary basis."
"You're beginning to sound like a Vatican ambassador yourself, Gib.
Speak English. What does that mean?"
Appleyard could almost see the Slavic Pope's eyes again as he laid it out
for Vance. " I t means, Admiral, that if it comes to a matter of securiry
interests, "this Holy See will not find it difficult to fulfill its obligations.' "
"We can sertle for that." Vance sounded pleased. "But it leads to an-
other question. Pm still concerned about Strasbourg. Did your sources in
Rome give you anything more on that?"
" N o t a lot, Bud. It's serious enough ro be a worry, though. The institu-
tion is useful to us as it stands. If somebody manages to change the way
it's governed—and that's what Strasbourg was about, after all—you can
bet it would jigger our normal mode of access to a lot of things."
" M y thinking exactly. Let's keep on i t . "
"1 plan ro." Appleyard's assurance ro his boss seemed almost glib, but it
came from his heart. " I practically promised the Holy Father I'd come
back to see him. Ed like to think he'll be here when I d o . "
Unthinkable
Realities
and Policies
of Extremes
 XXXII

W H E N C H R I S T I A N A R R I V E D at his brother's home at Deurle fully a

week before Christmas, Flanders was blanketed in snow. The song of the
northwest wind swept deep blue skies clear of clouds and piped a melody
of cozy contentment around the eaves of the house. It was a wordless
chant composed by angels to increase the quiet of the placid land and to
sequester Chris for a time from the moil and toil of the world.
He had slept over at Guidohuis several times during his various visits to
different dioceses in Belgium and Holland. But he had spent most of his
time with Paul at his E C offices in Brussels, attending to what Cardinal
Maestroianni called "easements" for various bishops. By contrast, these
would be family days for Christian. " D a y s of blessing beneath the broad
palms of Heaven's h a n d , " Yusai said as she hugged him in welcome.
This was his first real chance to savor the wonders of housekeeping
Yusai had accomplished. Like Cessi, she had an instinct for the tradition
of wonderful old houses. Most of the rooms had already been restored to
their original homeyness. She had scoured Ghent for furnishings that were
as attractive as rhey were fitting and serviceable. And the quarters she had
set aside for her brother-in-law—a bedroom and an adjoining room where
he could say Mass each day of his firsr true visit here—were already
known in the family as Christian's Retreat.
On Chris's first evening among them, as the family sat down before a
blazing fire to steaming bowls of black-bean soup served with tartine fla~
mande, Paul announced that he had managed a few days off from his
schedule at the E C . Then he proceeded to lay out the plans he and Yusai
had devised for his brother's stay. The adventures would begin the next
day, and would include a visit to Ghent's Gothic Cathedral of St. Bavon.
" T h a t place is right up your alley." Paul beamed ar his older brother. "St.
Bavon took over rwo hundred years to build, and it was finished back in
the early 1500s. The Dean of the Cathedral is looking forward to meeting
you. And my friend, Canon Jadot—Monsieur le Chanoine, le Directeur, as
he's called officially—has a surprise for you. A special treat!"
" B u t that's just the beginning," Yusai chimed in. "We have sights to see
and Christmas shopping to do and presents to wrap and a tree to decorate
with all the trimmings."
"Lights, too?" Declan urgently wanted to know about that. " W i l l our
tree have lights?"
 352 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" L i g h t s , t o o . D e c k e l ! " Yusai scooped her son i n t o her arms and t o o k

h i m o f f to get ready f o r bed.
Paul and Chris moved into the large f a m i l y r o o m , where they settled in
before another o f the m a n y fireplaces o f G u i d o h u i s . H a n n a h D o w d
b r o u g h t some b r a n d y she had w a r m e d f o r them a n d , almost before they
k n e w i t , the brothers were deep in reminiscences o f holiday seasons gone
by. T h e y talked o f b o y h o o d days at W i n d s w e p t House and the heritage
that had begun there w i i h O l d G l a d . They remembered outings w i t h
G r a n d f a t h e r Declan a n d marveled at the patience o f dear o l d A u n t Dotsie.
T h e y t h o u g h t together of a younger Cessi* and o f Tricia in rhe days before
she had become so p a i n f u l l y and dangerously i l l .
So v i v i d and so f u l l o f joy were such memories for Chris t h a t he decided
to p u t a call t h r o u g h to W i n d s w e p t . H e wanted t o hear Cessi's voice and
T r i c i a ' s , and to share w i r h t h e m the happiness o f this m o m e n t . But i t was
Beulah w h o answered the phone in Galveston. Cessi had taken Tricia o f f
o n still another medical pilgrimage in the hope o f finding some relief, i f
not a cure, for her daughter's w o r s e n i n g c o n d i t i o n .
T h o u g h Paul was as saddened as Chris at Tricia's p l i g h t , he felt a selfish
relief t h a t he h a d n ' t had t o chat w i t h Cessi. Memories were fine; b u t the
r i f t between them was still w i d e , and rhe w o u n d s each had inflicted o n the
other were still r a w . Yusai rejoined the men and enlivened the conversa-
t i o n again. C u r l e d up i n a chair and happy i n their c o m p a n y , she listened
t o their memories, shared w o n d e r f u l stories o f her o w n c h i l d h o o d in her
native M e i l i n g and t o l d o f the c o l o r f u l year-end celebrarions there.
It was nearly m i d n i g h t w h e n Chris remembered a special gift he had
b r o u g h t w i t h h i m . It was a h o u s e w a r m i n g g i f t really, he said; a reminder
o f the C a t h o l i c roots that were so much a part o f the Gladstone heritage at
W i n d s w e p t House. W i t h t h a t , he retrieved a package he'd left in the entry
h a l l , and displayed a handsomely framed p h o t o - p o r t r a i t o f the Slavic Pope
bearing a personal i n s c r i p t i o n . " T o the Gladstone f a m i l y , " the H o l y Fa-
ther h a d w r i t t e n , " f a i t h f u l sons and daughters o f the C h u r c h . "
N o t w a n t i n g to d i s t u r b rhe w a r m ambience t h a t embraced t h e m , Paul
t o o k the p o r t r a i t , joked a b o u t the high c o m p a n y his brother was keeping
these days and reminded everyone, i n c l u d i n g himself, t h a t they had better
get to bed if they were t o make an early start o f it the next m o r n i n g .

T h e days leading u p to Christmas were everything Paul had p r o m i s e d , and

Chris entered i n t o it all w i t h gusto. Plach m o r n i n g the foursome set o f f
together, little Deckel c l u t c h i n g his uncle's h a n d like a new prize and
a d d i n g to his pleasure. They visited every srreet and lane and square in rhe
p r o u d medieval and Renaissance ciry o f G h e n t , all o f them filled w i t h
reminders o f its ancient f a i t h , its exploits a n d fame, its past heroes and
heroines. They e x p l o r e d churches that dated f r o m medieval and H i g h Re-
naissance times—places like St. Nicholas a n d St. Jacques, St. M i c h e l and
Sr. Pierre—whose stained-glass w i n d o w s g l o w e d w i t h magnificent colors.
IN T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 353

They t o o k Declan t o see the gaily decorated s h o p w i n d o w s . They stood in

the cold t o listen t o c a r o l singers and w a r m e d themselves w i t h b o w l s o f
hot soup in pleasant little restaurants. They even spent some time g o i n g
t h r o u g h the deserted ruins o f the Beguinage o f rer Ployen, where, w i t h
Yusai listening in rapt fascination, Chris t o l d Declan all a b o u t places like
this—enclosed beguinages where lay sisters once had lived lives o f prayer
and charitable w o r k s , and had earned their keep by their needles and
crafts, u n t i l c o r r u p t i o n and Napoleon's r e v o l u t i o n laid waste t o it a l l .
A t rhe Cathedral o f St. Bavon the Dean was w a i t i n g to greet them w i t h
all the considerable c h a r m at his c o m m a n d . But it was Paul's friend C a n o n
Jadot w h o t o o k the Gladstones i n t o his special care. Dressed elegantly in
regulation clericals, Jadot invited the foursome ro j o i n h i m f o r a t o u r o f
the place, i n c l u d i n g the t h r e e - h u n d r e d - f o o t - h i g h belfry rhat stood apart i n
the center o f the city. " O n Christmas n i g h t , Father G l a d s t o n e , " Jadot was
pleased t o tell his Vatican-connected visitor, " o u r fifty-two-bell c a r i l l o n
w i l l peal o u t music ro delight the soul. T h e air o f Ghent w i l l be filled w i t h
themes and variations o f o u r j o y f u l c e l e b r a t i o n . "
T h e special treat Paul had promised was saved f o r last: t h a t was a
private v i e w i n g o f St. Bavon's p o l y p t y c h altarpiece, the Adoration of the
Mystic Lamb by H u b e r t a n d Jan van Eyck. But as Jadot showed o f f every
detail o f the great m a s t e r w o r k t o h i m , Chris began t o feel u n c o m f o r t a b l e .
It d a w n e d o n h i m t h a t Jadot felt in this great w o r k less reverence for w h a t
was depicted than pride t h a t his cathedral possessed such a priceless trea-
sure.
T h i n k i n g back o n it later, C h r i s t i a n w o n d e r e d i f the change that came
over h i m as he listened to Jadot's erudite irreverence h a d n ' t begun much
sooner. Perhaps the trigger had been all rhe questions Declan asked o n
their t o u r o f sacred places. Questions t h a t made i t clear h o w lirtle rhe boy
k n e w o f his r e l i g i o n . M o r e rhan likely, t h o u g h , the real trigger had been
the emptiness o f all those o l d churches and chapels he and his f a m i l y had
visited. A l l those places t h a t should have evoked the unforgettable awe o f
the miracle they w o u l d celebrate at Christmas. Instead everything he
saw—the empty churches; rhe deserted chapels dedicated to O u r Lady o f
Flanders; the v o t i v e offerings o f past generations left to lie in the dust; the
desolation o f the beguinage b u i l d i n g s — e v o k e d a p o i g n a n t remembrance.
N o t l o n g ago Ghent had been ardently C a t h o l i c . Its holy places had
overflowed w i t h w o r s h i p p e r s , and were filled w i t h the smell o f incense, the
cadence o f chants at Mass and benediction and the m u r m u r o f prayers in
the confessionals. N o w , however, i n Ghent as everywhere else, parents no
longer rook their c h i l d r e n t o manger scenes erected in churches and chap-
els, or marveled w i t h them at the w o n d e r t h a t the Christ C h i l d had been
b o r n f o r t h e m . They went to shops and malls, and marveled at the w o n d e r
o f the computers a n d high-tech toys and electronic gadgets t h a t had been
m a n u f a c t u r e d for t h e m .
To Chris's relief, little Declan wasn'r entirely taken w i t h the craze o f rhe
 354 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

season. H e loved rhe excitement and the lights and the carols, and he
c o u l d h a r d l y w a i t t o help decorate the f a m i l y tree and open all the
presents. But, w h e n Paul and Yusai w a n t e d to d o a bit o f shopping w i t h -
o u t h i m , Deckel was happy as c o u l d be to take his uncle's hand and
chatter a b o u t the new friends he had made at the I n t e r n a t i o n a l School
near Deurle a n d a b o u t the excitement t h a t life in general holds for a brighr
and adventuresome five-year-old. One o f Deckel's new friends—the one
w h o had t r u l y captivated the b o y — w a s a y o u n g professor by the name o f
De Bleuven. " H e isn't stuffy like some o f the others, Uncle C h r i s , " Deckel
said p r o u d l y . " H e shows us caves and things, and tells us all a b o u t t h e m . "
It w a s n ' t l o n g before Chris gathered t h a t this De Bleuven had organized
a J u n i o r Spelunkers Sociery, and every week, weather p e r m i t t i n g , he
plunged w i t h his pint-sized enthusiasts i n t o the local maze of caverns f o r
w h i c h Deurle was famous. Concerned t h a t Declan was t o o y o u n g for the
dangers of s p e l u n k i n g . C h r i s t i a n t h o u g h t he m i g h t have a cautionary w o r d
abour ir w i t h Paul and Yusai.

T h e weekend before Christmas m a r k e d a change of pace in the life of

C h r i s t i a n and Paul Gladstone.
Saturday afrernoon was the opening bell; the time for everyone t o pitch
in and prepare i n earnest for the h o l i d a y . W i t h Maggie M u l v a h i l l t o help
her, H a n n a h D o w d set a b o u t b a k i n g for the c o m i n g feast, and the house
was filled w i t h the aroma o f the breads a n d cakes and cookies rising fresh
in her oven. C h r i s , Yusai and Declan began t o decorate rhe tree, w h i l e
Paul, w h o was all t h u m b s a b o u t these things, p o i n t e d o u t the bare spots
that needed a t t e n t i o n .
H o l i d a y preparations came ro a Temporary halt w h e n Jan B o r l i u t h
stopped by t o deliver a few gifts for Deckel. Proud grandfather that he
was, Jan had three o f his grandsons in t o w , and in no t i m e at all they were
r o m p i n g outside w i t h Declan, b u i l d i n g snow castles and defending them
against i m a g i n a r y invaders w i t h stout cries and squeals of delight.
H i s g r a n d c h i l d r e n w e r e n ' t the only visitors B o r l i u t h had b r o u g h t along.
"Say hello t o G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d . He's in Brussels for a few days after a bit
o f business in R o m e . We're o f f t o the a i r p o r t after we leave here, so he can
get back t o hearth and home i n time for C h r i s t m a s . "
" A n y friend o f Jan's will always find a welcome here, M r . A p p l e y a r d . "
Paul's w o r d s were nor mere f o r m , [an was practically a member of the
family by n o w . T h e conversation was easy and f a m i l i a r as they sipped
p i p i n g - h o t mugs o f coffee and devoured an early batch o f H a n n a h D o w d ' s
chocolate-chip cookies, and even G i b A p p l e y a r d seemed like an o l d f r i e n d .
He had an advantage i n the conversation, o f course. H e made no m e n t i o n
o f the behind-the-scenes role he had played i n Paul's election as Secretary-
General; o r o f his k n o w l e d g e a b o u t C h r i s t i a n . But neither d i d he disguise a
lively interest in b o t h brothers. H e liked Paul at once and a d m i r e d his
quickness o f m i n d . H e was charmed by Yusai and pleasantly surprised ar
UNTHINKABLE REALITIES 355

her u r b a n i t y . I t was the priest, t h o u g h , w h o impressed h i m mosr. Me

recognized in C h r i s t i a n a genuine a n d uncomplicated sincerity. Here, he
felr, was a Vatican m a n he could talk r o , i f only he c o u l d devise rhe
occasion. As he had a plane t o catch, however, i t w o u l d have t o be enough
for the m o m e n t t h a t an i n i t i a l bond h a d been established.
T h e holiday preparations were completed by the time Chris celebrated
Mass f o r the entire household o n Sunday m o r n i n g . Accustomed t o the
Noi/us Ordo M a s s — " t h e newfangled, heretical M a s s , " as Cessi always
insisted—Paul listened for the firsr rime i n years t o rhe sounds o f the L a t i n
Mass t h a t h a d been so m u c h a parr o f his y o u r h . G u i d o h u i s wasn't W i n d -
swepr House, o f course; a n d Christian's Retreat was a far cry f r o m O l d
Glad's T o w e r Chapel. Still, he was filled w i r h a rush o f bittersweet mem-
ory as he w a t c h e d Chris i n his Roman vestments. T h e m o m e n t came for
Christian t o h o l d the sacred Host i n his left hand a n d srrike his breast as
he repeated the w o r d s o f unworthiness and faith once spoken t o Jesus by a
pagan c e n t u r i o n . "Domine, non sum digitus . . . " Three times Paul heard
those w o r d s repeated over rhe consecrated Chalice c o n t a i n i n g the Precious
Blood o f rhe Savior. " L o r d , I a m nor w o r t h y . . . "
Once n o t so long ago, Paul had desired t o h o l d t h a t H o s t as a priesr and
to say those w o r d s o f repentance a n d faith. But n o w he c o u l d n ' t b r i n g
himself t o take C o m m u n i o n f r o m his brother's h a n d o r say even so much
as a silent prayer. H e a d b o w e d , his hands covering his face, he had all he
c o u l d d o t o deal w i t h the unexplainable sting o f tears at the back o f his
eyes. W h e n Paul l o o k e d u p again, Chris was kneeling at the altar. A f t e r
listening t o a f e w prayers o f t h a n k s g i v i n g , o n l y Paul stayed behind in his
place, t h o u g h t f u l a n d silent as he watched his brother clear the altar a n d
fold his vestments away.
" E v e r y t h i n g is still the same for y o u , isn't i t , C h r i s ? " Christian c o u l d
only l o o k at his brorher i n puzzlement. " I mean, the w h o l e idea o f the
Cradle a n d rhe C r o s s , " Paul clarified his t h o u g h t . " T h e idea o f h u m i l i t y
and holy poverty a n d sacrifice a n d all rhat. It's all still the same f o r y o u ,
isn'r i r ? "
" T h e C h u r c h doesn't change in its essentials, P a u l . " Chris closed the
doors o f the w a r d r o b e where he h a d p u t rhe vestments. " A n d I a m a
priest, after a l l . "
" B u t the C h u r c h does change. I t has changed, i n fact. It's n o t us-and-
them a n y m o r e . Everywhere you l o o k , the C h u r c h is reaching o u t as never
before. Even the Pope sees that. H e embraces Jews a n d M u s l i m s and
Hindus and . . . "
Chris straddled one o f the w o o d e n prie-dieu chairs. " W h a t ' s really o n
your m i n d , Paul?"
T h e younger Gladstone had t o smile. C h r i s t i a n always had been able t o
see t h r o u g h his little deceptions. T h o u g h he supposed there w o u l d be a
c o n f r o n t a t i o n over i t , w h a t he really w a n t e d was t o get the matter o f his
recent i n d u c t i o n i n t o the Lodge o f f his chest. " I t ' s n o t just any Lodge,
 356 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

m i n d y o u , " Paul defended himself in advance. " C y r u s Benrhoek and one

o f his associares—an impressive character by the name o f D r . Ralph
C h a n n i n g — a r r a n g e d f o r my acceptance i n t o n o t h i n g less than the G r a n d
Lodge o f Israel itself." A n d w i t h t h a t , he launched i n t o an enthusiastic
description o f his excursion t o Jerusalem, o f his voyage t o the m o u n t a i n -
t o p o f A m i n a d a b , o f h o w he had been made t o feel so close to G o d and t o
his f e l l o w m a n in that place. " D o n ' t y o u see, Chris? We're all after rhe
same t h i n g , really. It's n o t membership i n the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h
that's the i m p o r t a n t t h i n g , b u t membership in the h u m a n f a m i l y . "
C h r i s r i a n listened q u i e t l y . W h e n his brother had finished, he had only
one quesrion to ask h i m . " W h a t a b o u t salvation, Paul?"
T h e younger Gladstone c o u l d o n l y stare at h i m . Surely no one—and
especially n o t Paul's o w n b r o t h e r — c o u l d be so medieval in these modern
times. Surely he must understand that even his o w n special privilege as a
priest was d i f f e r e n t n o w ; that everyone had a share in priesthood. A n d
surely Chris must realize by n o w , afrer all rheir w o r k rogerher over rhe
past few m o n t h s , that the aims o f the Lodge were a n y t h i n g but i n c o m p a t i -
ble w i t h the aims o f the C h u r c h . " T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g — t h e C h r i s t - l i k e
t h i n g — i s to b u i l d bridges o f understanding. You d o n ' t have to be a priesr,
or even a C a t h o l i c , to do that. A n d that's n o t just me t a l k i n g , Chris. I
mean, all y o u have to d o is l o o k ar the m a j o r documents o f the Second
Vatican C o u n c i l t o k n o w Pm r i g h t .
" O h , I k n o w — " Paul held up a hand to fend o f f his brother's objec-
tions. i k n o w . I left the Seminary, and I ' m n o t the theologian y o u are. But
s

even I k n o w a b o u t the d o c u m e n t they call Gaudium et Spes. A n d I k n o w it

c o u l d n ' t have a better name. Joy and H o p e . Joy at the new spirit o f reach-
ing o u t t o non-Catholics and n o n - C h r i s t i a n s . H o p e that all the o l d b a r r i -
ers o f distrust can be w i p e d o u t and replaced by a new u n i t y . In fact,
Gaudium et Spes has a t h i n g o r t w o to say about s a l v a t i o n , since y o u
b r o u g h t the matter up. I t says that Chrisr achieved salvation for every-
b o d y . I t says G o d wants everyone t o be saved, and t h a t n o b o d y is ex-
c l u d e d . Isn't t h a t so, big b r o t h e r ? "
"Yes, but . . . "
" N o buts a b o u t i t . You k n o w Pm r i g h t . A n d y o u k n o w rhat Gaudium et
Spes also insists that there's grear value i n all religions. We're rold we
should respect them a l l , especially as that's w h a t G o d has a l l o w e d de-
velop.
" T h a t d o c u m e n t emphasizes exactly w h a t I agreed to d o at A m i n a d a b .
It speaks n o t o f the C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , b u t o f the people o f G o d . As Chris-
tians, we're all supposed to j o i n i n b u i l d i n g m a n k i n d ' s habitat; in b u i l d i n g
prosperity for all people. I n other w o r d s , C h r i s , we're n o t to he separate
any longer. A t l o n g last, all the o l d prejudices are t o be d r o p p e d . I n c l u d i n g
our differences w i t h the Jews. We're finally t o accept the importance o f the
Jewish people in Salvation. It wasn't the Jews w h o were responsible for
the C r u c i f i x i o n o f Christ. O u r sins d i d thar.
UN'I HINKABLE REALITIES 357

" T h e o v e r r i d i n g idea behind the C o u n c i l — t h e s p i r i t of Vatican I I — i s to

j o i n w i t h the whole h u m a n race for a better w o r l d . A n d whether you like
it or n o t , C h r i s , m y membership in the Lodge has opened up doors that
a l l o w me to be more a p a r t o f that than 1 c o u l d ever be o n my o w n . "
C h r i s t i a n studied his brother's face for a m o m e n t , flushed w i t h excite-
ment o f the Utopian vision he had just shared w i t h such passion. It was all
so a l l u r i n g , Chris t h o u g h t . W h a t he had t o offer i n return was not attrac-
t i v e — a n d . w i t h o u t the grace o f G o d , never w o u l d be—to those whose
lives were suffused by the credo Paul had just set o u t . Still, there was
n o t h i n g for it except t o face i n t o the issue. " L o o k , Paul! We b o t h k n o w
that there is not one e x h o r t a t i o n i n C h r i s t i a n i t y t o b u i l d a material para-
dise. H u m a n l y speaking, that's a bleak statement. But it's a fact. A n d even
worse f r o m y o u r p o i n t o f view is t h a t there w i l l never be peace between
Chrisrianiry and rhe w o r l d . We have God's w o r d o n rhat. The w o r l d is the
d o m a i n of the Prince, Jesus t o l d us. H e t o l d us that o u r reason for being
on this earrh isn't ro b u i l d a paradise here, but t o earn salvation in
Heaven. H e t o l d us t h a t the o n l y w a y t o d o that is to cooperate w i t h H i m .
W i t h the merits H e w o n for us, and that H e convinced us o f by H i s
specific w o r d s a n d H i s specific w o r k s , and t h a t H e communicares ro us by
His Sacraments.
"So the contrast is clear. Dedication t o the attractive things of this
e a r t h . O r dedication to G o d w h o has seen fit to give us H i s laws to live by.
It's a d i f f i c u l t doctrine because it runs against the tide o f o u r passions. To
take a page f r o m the Gospel, it contradicts the desires of o u r flesh and the
concupiscence o f o u r eyes a n d the pride o f life. It demands sacrifice and
pain and loss.
" T h e beauty of C h r i s t i a n i t y is that it does ensure eternal life f o r all w h o
believe i n i t . It ensures t h a t w e w i l l live i n the company o f G o d for all
eternity, and that we w i l l have f u l l share i n H i s beauty, H i s t r u t h and H i s
infinite happiness. So y o u ' r e right abour me, Paul. T h e Cradle and rhe
Cross a n d the idea—rhe g o a l — t h a t lie behind h u m i l i t y and holy poverty
and sacrifice are all still the same for me.
" A n d P m b o u n d to tell y o u that rhe strong p r o h i b i t i o n against member-
ship i n rhe Lodge still stands. N o marter h o w h i g h - m i n d e d y o u r i n t e n t i o n ,
you are i n m o r t a l s i n . "
Paul had t o tear his eyes f r o m Christian's or risk his resolve. H e had to
recall t o his m i n d the new sense o f purpose he had discovered i n Jerusa-
lem. The sense ot privilege, of camaraderie and o f shared ideals. T h e sense
that he was w o r k i n g n o w for something more than greener pastures for
himself a n d Yusai a n d Declan. A b o v e a l l , he had to reassert w i t h i n himself
that independence o f j u d g m e n t he had felt i n the company of Benthoek
and C h a n n i n g .
C o m e to t h i n k of i t , he had every reason to remember CB's w o r d s n o w ,
and he repeated them almost v e r b a t i m . " A r e you aware, Chris, t h a t many
h i g h - r a n k i n g prelates i n the Vatican are Lodge members?"
 358 WINDSWI.PT HOl'SC

Christian's eyes t u r n e d to stone, hut he made no reply. He had a fair

idea o f rhe transgressions o f some c h u r c h m e n in rhe Vatican; he had c o m -
plained a b o u t them often enough i n his conversations w i t h A l d o
Carnesecca. But this w a s n ' t a numbers game. H e w a s n ' t concerned abour
the Vatican b u t a b o u t his brother.
Left t o fill rhe silence, Paul w e n t o n . " I f I ' m in m o r r a l sin, I can only say
that I ' m i n pretty g o o d c o m p a n y . A n d I have i t o n g o o d a u t h o r i t y t h a t m y
membership i n the Lodge doesn't make me an outcast f r o m the C h u r c h .
T h e day after I g o t back f r o m Jerusalem, I d r o p p e d in at the Cathedral
Rectory t o see C a n o n Jadot. I h a d n ' t entirely f o r g o t t e n the o l d stricture
against j o i n i n g the Lodge, so it was a confessional v i s i t . "
" L e t me guess," C h r i s i n r e r r u p t e d . H e c o u l d almost imagine the scene.
Instead o f the o l d C a t h o l i c confessional b o x , the urbane and w o r l d l y - w i s e
Jadot had p r o b a b l y invited Paul i n t o some snug little Confessional R o o m ,
as such places were called these days, complete w i t h the latest i n banner
art and track l i g h t i n g and furnished w i r h c o m f o r t a b l e chairs. " N o d o u b t
y o u r f r i e n d was in complete agreement w i t h y o u r friends in Jerusalem.
W i t h Benthoek and C h a n n i n g and whoever else you met there. N o d o u b t
he t o l d y o u o u r C a t h o l i c m i n d has evolved in this matter o f Lodge mem-
bership. A n d i f he gave you any penance at a l l , no d o u b r ir was to care for
your fellow m a n . "
Paul laughed. " A s far as ir goes, C h r i s , y o u r guess is perfect. If I d i d n ' t
k n o w better, Pd take y o u for a C o n c i l i a r C a t h o l i c . But there was a little
m o r e to i t t h a n that. Based on his o w n years o f experience as a Lodge
member. C a n o n Jadot d i d advise me t o be discreet- A n d after this lirtle
tete-a-tete w i t h y o u , I can see w h y .
" A s l o n g as we're at i t , t h o u g h , i t was C a n o n Jadot w h o reminded me
a b o u t Gaudium et Spes. I n fact, he reminded me o f somerhing I had al-
most f o r g o t t e n . Back w h e n he was a l o w l y bishop attending the Second
Vatican C o u n c i l , the Slavic Pope himself was one o f the chief architects of
t h a t d o c u m e n t . A n d since the g u i d i n g a i m o f the G r a n d Lodge o f Israel is
to d o exactly w h a t t h a t d o c u m e n t tells us to d o , y o u m i g h t say t h a t I have
the i m p r i m a t u r o f the H o l y Father himself for my Lodge a f f i l i a t i o n ! "
" I w o u l d n ' t say t h a t i n a m i l l i o n years," Chris objected. " B u t since
that's the w a y you l o o k at i t , let me respond p o i n r by p o i n t to w h a t you've
just t o l d me. In the first place, i f y o u decide to go t o confession again,
a v o i d Jadot as a m a n w h o ' s lost his f a i t h . T h a t ' s u n f o r t u n a t e . But he's not
the first cleric that's happened t o ; and given the times we live i n , he w o n ' t
be the last. Second, Jadot has some o f his facts r i g h t , b u t his judgment
a b o u t them is b a d l y o f f . He's right that o u r present P o n t i f f was one o f the
architects o f Gaudium et Spes. T h a t ' s the w a y i t w a v But many a man has
had heterodox views and then has had to correcr rhose views once he
became Pope. Peter rhe Fisherman even w e n t so far as t o d i s o w n Jesus.
Remember?
" A n d t h a t brings me ro p o i n t n u m b e r three. N o w t h a t o u r Pope is
UNTHINKABLE R E A LI TILS 359

Christ's earthly V i c a r — h e ' l l have to correct his earlier errors that have led
t o such problems o f c o n f u s i o n in the C h u r c h . "
Paul t h r e w his hands up in a gesture o f impatience. " O n e o f rhose errors
being Gaudium et Spes, 1 suppose."
" D o n ' t give me t h a t , P a u l . " Chris w a s n ' t b u y i n g his brother's show o f
exasperation. A n d he w a s n ' t a b o u t to be t u r n e d away n o w . " I t may be a
long t i m e since y o u read Gaudium et Spes. But y o u k n o w as well as I d o
that i t was sloppily conceived and badly w r i t t e n in the most ambiguous
language imaginable. T h e t h i n g that still has to be done is t o reconcile that
hodgepodge w i t h the t r a d i t i o n a l belief and teaching o f the C h u r c h . H i s
Holiness w i l l have to do t h a t some day soon or pay f o r his mistakes i n
Purgatory.
' ' T r a d i t i o n a l l y * we ask G o d t o help us detach ourselves f r o m rhe w o r l d
and to love the things o f o u r true home i n Heaven. H o w reconcile that
w i t h a call t o j o i n the w o r l d in fashioning some sort o f material paradise?
We believe t h a t salvation comes t h r o u g h cooperation w i t h God's grace i n
order t o be delivered f r o m the consequences o f sin. Prom death, i n other
w o r d s . A n d w e believe G o d gives us t h a t grace t h r o u g h the C h u r c h H e
founded f o r t h a t specific purpose. H o w reconcile rhat w i r h rhe idea that
n o b o d y is excluded f r o m salvation? A l l t h a t and a l o t more has still t o be
b r o u g h t i n t o line w i t h t r a d i t i o n a l C a t h o l i c belief. A n d it's the Pope's re-
sponsibility t o d o t h a t , especially since he was rhe architect o f this very
ambiguous d o c u m e n t . "
Paul k n e w better than to challenge his brother's rheology. But his prac-
ticality was open t o question. ' ' I f you ask me, the Slavic Pope seems a l o t
more interested i n t r o t t i n g a r o u n d the globe, s h o w i n g us h o w to cooperate
w i t h v o o d o o sorcerers. iVlaybe he'll ger a r o u n d t o squaring the documents
o f Vatican I I w i t h y o u r precious t r a d i t i o n . But w h a t are rhe rest o f us
supposed t o d o in the meantime? Just ignore Vatican I I and its documents
like Gaudium et Spes}"
" I n the meantime, Paul, a n d just for starters, y o u m i g h t t r y r e m i n d i n g
yourself t h a t Vatican I I was n o t convened as a d o g m a t i c C o u n c i l . Neither
Gaudium et Spes nor any orher document t h a t came o u t o f t h a t C o u n c i l is
dogma."
" I n the meantime, m y beloved b r o t h e r - i n - l a w — " Yusai's emphatic
voice f r o m across the r o o m made Chris a n d Paul j u m p like startled cars.
" I n the meantime, you can b o t h come and eat y o u r b r e a k f a s t ! "
Paul had no idea w h e n his w i f e h a d slipped quietly i n t o Christian's
Retreat, b u t the expression in her eyes t o l d h i m she had been standing by
the open d o o r for some t i m e . She had been g i v i n g serious t h o u g h t lately to
becoming a C a t h o l i c — t o becoming a m o r e i n t i m a t e part o f rhe w o r l d in
w h i c h she lived at Liselton and G u i d o h u i s — s o these wete matters that
concerned her. F i n a l l y , t h o u g h , it seemed better t o intervene before c o n -
f r o n t a t i o n reached a p o i n r f r o m w h i c h there m i g h t be no r e t u r n .
T h e i r r e m a i n i n g days together at G u i d o h u i s were as busy and almost as
 360 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

happy as ever. But at a certain level, a little p o o l o f s o r r o w and loss

gathered inside o f C h r i s t i a n . It seemed to h i m that the sincerity o f his
brother's a m b i t i o n to repair the w o r l d o f irs misery and poverty was be-
y o n d d o u b t . But h o w had Paul lost sight o f the meaning o f the Incarnation
they were a b o u t t o celebrate? W h a t had they gathered here ro celebrate at
a l l , in fact, i f n o t G o d ' s b i r t h i n t i m e , and the eternal generation o f that
same G o d , and the involvement o f the w h o l e o f h u m a n i t y i n those funda-
mental events?
O n l y by degrees d i d C h r i s t i a n find the courage ro a d m i t the obvious.
O n l y by degrees was he able t o tell himself in so many w o r d s t h a t , like
C a n o n J a d o t , Paul Gladstone had lost his f a i t h .

In R o m e , the Slavic Pope prepared ro leave rhe papal aparrmenrs t o cele-

brate the first Mass o f Christmas at m i d n i g h t i n St. Peter's Basilica. O n his
w a y o u t , he stopped i n one o f the privare rooms at a small table standing
alone beside an ornate fireplace. U p o n thar rable, covered w i t h a cloth-of-
g o l d veil inscribed i n silver thread w i t h a large letter M , lay a h u m i d o r -
sized b o x . A n d i n that box lay a single sheet ot notepaper; a carefully
w o r d e d d o c u m e n t that had been sent to Rome i n the J 950s by Sister Lucia
as the sole s u r v i v i n g seer o f the 1917 Fatima v i s i o n . H i g h l y confidential,
t h a t d o c u m e n t had been entrusted to the Vatican office charged w i t h
g u a r d i n g rhe faith o f R o m a n Catholics, and had been placed here in the
box that bore three L a t i n w o r d s : SECRETUM SANCTl OFHC//."
To date, the P o n t i f f had read that d o c u m e n t o n l y twice. Bur neither its
contents n o r the c u r r e n t p l i g h t o f the aged Sister Lucia as a v i r t u a l pris-
oner i n her convent was ever far f r o m his m i n d .
A t this m o m e n t , as events were c o m i n g t o a new pass i n Russia, he ran
his hand lightly over the veiled b o x . Before he joined his entourage and his
m i n d w o u l d become w h o l l y absorbed i n rhe c o m i n g Mass and ritual p r o -
tocols, he w a n t e d to trace a finger along rhe lines o f rhe silver-threaded M .
H e w a n t e d to pray, as he so often d i d , f o r constancy and strength and
light; and f o r the fruitfulness o f his pontificate i n an age o f wholesale
apostasy.

O n e o f the misfortunes G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o suffered as chief security of-

ficer for H i s Holiness was that he c o u l d participate o n l y peripherally in
papal ceremonies. Whenever the P o n t i f f moved away f r o m the Apostolic
Palace, L u c a d a m o directed a m i n u t e and multifacered surveillance o f every
stage i n the schedule u n t i l the H o l y Father was back w i t h i n the safety net
perpetually flung a r o u n d the papal apartments.
Lucadamo orchestrated the process t o n i g h t f r o m one of his c o n t r o l cen-
ters. Together w i t h t w o o f his best men, he was surrounded by rows of
electronic gear rhat kept h i m in t o t a l contact w i t h his personnel, and by
banks o f m o n i t o r s that flashed live pictures p e r m i t t i n g h i m to scrutinize
every step o f the Pontiff's progression f r o m apartments t o Basilica.
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 361

It was s m o o t h l y d o n e . As the Pope left each succeeding area, teams o f

guards t o o k up rheir positions, sealing o f f a l l access t o the rear as surely as
steel doors closing behind the H o l y Father. Once H i s Floliness was inside
the Basilica, G i u s t i n o relaxed a little. A cat c o u l d n ' t appear anywhere i n
t h a t w h o l e complex w i t h o u t being noticed. livery quarter and section of
the congtegation was swept conrinuously by m o n i t o r s and h u m a n eyes. I n
rhe w o r s t o f scenarios—a g u n raised suddenly againsr rhe Slavic Pope
again, f o r e x a m p l e — n o n e o f the six strategically located sharpshooters
w o u l d hesitate to fire.
W h e n rhe Christmas ceremonies p r o p e r were under w a y , Lucadamo
checked briefly w i r h his chief lieutenant, M a c h a l i B o b b i o , o n d u t y i n a
second c o m m a n d c o m p l e x . H e sharpened rhe transmissions f r o m the pa-
pal apartments and the approaches to i t . T h e n , just w h e n i t seemed that
there was n o t h i n g more ro d o bur lean back in his swivel chair, L u c a d a m o
sat b o l t u p r i g h t as i f his spine had been stiffened by l i g h t n i n g . H e punched
the in-house extension code l i n k i n g h i m directly t o B o b b i o . " H o w many
are detached f o r rhe a p a r t m e n t s ? "
"Five men, sir."
" R i g h r ! N o w , look at y o u r consoles. There's Maschera and Fontanella.
Okay? A n d there's Silvano and Crcscenza. Torrenre makes five. Bur w h o
in the blazes is that one? He's heading for rhe r o o m w i t h rhe b o x , d a m n
his hide! Get y o u r tail u p there, B o b b i o ! I ' l l be righr behind y o u . A n d it's
code of silence. G o t i t ? "
Before he streaked o u t o f his c o n t r o l center, L u c a d a m o had to alert
Maschera and the others to the breach o f security. He directed his men t o
the t r o u b l e spot, and ended the transmission w i r h a c u r t " C o d e 5 0 0 . " I n
rapid-fire succession, rhe acknowledgments came back t o h i m over rhe
portable devices carried by each g u a r d . " C o d e 500. Over and o u t , " came
Maschera's c u r t response. Likewise for Silvano and the other three. " C o d e
5 0 0 . O v e r and o u t . " There was no sixth response.
Whoever rhe i n t r u d e r was, either he was t o o smart t o speak o n the
encrypted channel o r he d i d n ' t have access to that channel. L u c a d a m o tore
o f f his earphones and was o u t o f the c o m m a n d post at f u l l speed. By the
time he reached the f o u r t h - f l o o r c o r r i d o r outside the privare r o o m o f the
papal chambers, rhe place was alive w i t h agents, each w i t h his A u s t r i a n -
made C l o c k o u t o f its holster and at the ready.
G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o approached the d o o r f r o m one side, M a c h a l i Bob-
bio f r o m the other. In one r a p i d movemenr, L u c a d a m o t h r e w the d o o r
o p e n , and b o r h men r o o k dead a i m at a figure bending over rhe table w i t h
a p i l l b o x camera in his h a n d .

Resplendent in w h i t e and g o l d vestments, the Slavic Pope stood at the

altar in the grear nave o f Sr. Perer's Basilica. Benearh rhe ornate baldachin,
 362 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

a n d s u r r o u n d e d by the f o u r black spiral c o l u m n s h o l d i n g the hones o f

3 0 , 0 0 0 m a r t y r s , he t o o k i n his t w o hands the C h r i s t o f Cradle and Cross.
" B e h o l d ! " T h e H o l y Father held the H o s t a l o f t f o r all the w o r l d t o see.
" B e h o l d the L a m b o f G o d . . . "

XXXIII
BY E A R L Y M O R N I N G o f Christmas D a y , G i u s t i n o Lucadamo knew the
essentials behind the break-in o f the papal apartments and reported w h a t
he had discovered t o the Slavic Pope.
By the evening o f the twenty-seventh, h a v i n g been recalled o n a red-
alert basis f r o m Russia, Father Angelo Gutmacher slipped i n t o the f o u r t h -
floor papal study f o r a meeting o f the Eloly Father and members o f his
confidential circle. Already presenr w i r h the P o n t i f f and Lucadamo were
M o n s i g n o r e Daniel S a d o w s k i , Farher D a m i e n Slattery and Brorher Augus-
tine. Bur neither A l d o Carnesecca nor Chrisrian Gladsrone was in atten-
dance.
A f t e r a n o d o f welcome ro Gurmacher, rhe somber-faced Pope rurned to
L u c a d a m o , w h o proceeded t o sketch the situation o u t f o r the g r o u p .
The security chief began by c o n f i r m i n g the r u m o r s already buzzing
a r o u n d ar a certain level in the Vatican. It was true, he said, rhat a break-in
had occurred. T h e i n t r u d e r , a Sard by rhe name o f K o u r i c e , was a parr-
rime soldier i n rhe Palermo m o b w h o freelanced his talents on the side.
T h e plan had included the d u p l i c a t i o n o f a guard's u n i f o r m by a local
railor and rhe t o p - n o t c h forgery o f an idenriry card. Kourice's job was t o
photograph the Fatima document reserved i n the papal apartments.
Kourice himself was o f m i n o r significance, o f course. But Lucadamo had
learned f r o m rhe Sard rhe name o f the insider w h o had made the intrusion
possible, and his reason for d o i n g so.
"The Vatican man i n v o l v e d " — G i u s t i n o rurned a k n o w i n g eye on
Damien Slarrery—"was A r c h b i s h o p Canizio B u r r a f u o c o . "
"Thar figures," Slarrery g r o w l e d . His face-off w i t h Buttafuoco after the
P o n t i f f s urgent call f r o m Fatima the p r i o r M a y had o n l y been one in a
n u m b e r o f confronrarions between those t w o . " B u t t a f u o c o is just stupid
enough t o get tied u p in a scheme like that. But the question is, w h o put
h i m up to it? A n d w h y ? "
L u c a d a m o had already come up w i r h answers ro both questions. "We
set Buttafuoco u p . He was to meet w i t h Kourice a few hours after rhe
break-in ro retrieve rhe film. N a t u r a l l y , we let the meeting take place. A n d ,
once we had h i m , the A r c h b i s h o p was w i l l i n g ro cooperate. Turns o u t he's
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 363

a l i n k in the M o s c o w line. A n d rhis t i m e , the line terminates at M i k h a i l

Gorbachev's d e s k . "
Gurmacher and Brorher Augustine rraded a l o o k of some surprise.
W i r h the essentials o n the table, His Holiness was quick to supply the
missing b a c k g r o u n d . " I t h i n k the lines o f this foolish attempt rrace back ro
m y first meeting w i t h M r . Gorbachev. He showed a lively interest in the
T h i r d Fatima Secret. In fact, he wanted a privare reading o f rhe text. O f
course, 1 refused. Bur 1 can say it was clear t o me rhat he had studied the
transcript o f my remarks at Fulda back in 1 9 8 1 . O f f h a n d remarks in
w h i c h I had alluded t o the fact that the reason rhe Secret had not been
published by the Pope in 1960 was that the text c o u l d p r o v i d e rhe Soviers
w i r h a srrategic advantage over rhe Western allies.
" G o r b a c h e v was in desperate circumsrances. He needed a miracle. He
t h o u g h t he w o u l d have it w i t h this lerrer o f rhe T h i r d Secret. Never m i n d
that his idea o f a new federarion o f Soviet States r u n by political consensus
was really a noxious d r e a m . A n d never m i n d rhar Russia irselt is n o t h i n g
m o r e rhan a decomposing corpse. Suffice ir to say that his desperation
o b v i o u s l y drove h i m ro t h a t underhand w a y ro achieve his miracle.
" T h e r e are some obvious ways ro deal w i r h the matter, but Pm n o t
c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h any o f t h e m . I c o u l d c o n f r o n t Gorbachev directly. O r I
c o u l d say n o t h i n g . Presumably o u r newly cooperative A r c h b i s h o p Bur-
tafuoco can be persuaded to keep his m o u r h z i p p e d , and 1 can let
Gorbachev stew f o r a w h i l e over the matter. O r I can order rhe prepara-
tion o f a bogus text and let that make its w a y t h r o u g h Buttafuoco to
Gorbachev's d e s k . "
Ir was clear rhar no one in rhe r o o m was any m o r e c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h the
obvious choices t h a n the H o l y Farher himself. Brorher Augusrine—an ex-
pert in the Sovier m i n d if ever rhere was o n e — s u m m e d things up for the
group.
"By reproaching Gorbachev, Holiness, y o u lose h i m . Leave h i m in the
dark, and y o u can be sure he'll find our eventually w h a t happened. So
you'll end up w i t h the same resulr. A n d if y o u use a bogus text, you stoop
to his level."
T h e P o n t i f f agreed. " T h e alrernarive, rhen?"
" L e r me t a l k t o B u t t a f u o c o , H o l i n e s s . " T h e eager suggestion came f r o m
D a m i e n Slattery. " L e r me r u m h i m a r o u n d . Let me offer h i m amnesry on
r w o c o n d i t i o n s . First, rhar he i d e n t i f y his handler and any other links he
may k n o w a b o u t in this particular M o s c o w - V a r i c a n c h a i n . A n d , second,
that he tell his handler the t r u t h — t h a t Kourice botched the job and that
security has been so beefed up that another a t t e m p t w o u l d be s u i c i d a l . "
Slattery's suggestion satisfied rhe Pope. Bur ir left rhe question o f h o w to
deal w i t h Gorbachev himself.
" W h y nor tell h i m the t r u r h as w e l l . Your Holiness?" The suggestion
this time came f r o m Angelo Gurmacher. " W h y nor vvrire an innocuous
letter f o r me t o take to him? W i t h o u t p o i n t i n g a finger or g i v i n g any
 364 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

details, m e n t i o n the a t t e m p t to p h o t o g r a p h the letter. Assure h i m that the

text remains safe. A n d assure h i m t h a t if and w h e n the time comes to
publish the text o f the T h i r d Secrer, he w i l l be rhe firsr t o have a copy o f
it."
T h e Slavic Pope t u r n e d t o his security chief. L u c a d a m o n o d d e d . " P r o -
vided Farher D a m i e n can secure Buttafuoco . . . "
Slattery's laughter cur rhe question short. " C o u n r on i t , G i u s t i n o ! After
I p a i n t a picrure o f the alternative—the prospecr of l i v i n g o u t his remain-
ing years o f Vatican service i n rhe picturesque desolation o f the Soviet
Republic o f T a j i k i s t a n , f o r example, or in rhe romanric seclusion o f the isle
o f Penang in the Federation o f M a l a y s i a — B u t t a f u o c o w i l l t u r n o u t to be
one o f the best double agenrs we ever h a d . "
L u c a d a m o was sold. * i agree, rhen, Floliness. It's a good s o l u t i o n . "

T h e first person i n Rome ro k n o w of Father A l d o Carnesecca's near-fatal

accident in Sicily was C h r i s t i a n Gladstone.
W h e n C h r i s returned ro the A n g e l i c u m o n the Sunday before L p i p h a n y ,
the news w a s n ' t a b o u t the break-in at the Apostolic Palace, or about
Gorbachev's recenr departure f r o m power. T h e airwaves and newspapers
screamed t h r o u g h o u t the day w i t h the headline stor> rhar a c o m b i n e d task
force o f civil and federal police and special unirs f r o m rhe armed forces
had launched the biggest and most t h o r o u g h cleaning operation ever at-
tempted against the Sicilian Cosa N o s t r a . For once, government prepara-
tions f o r the o p e r a t i o n h a d n ' t been betrayed. The surprise had been t o t a l .
Over r w o thousand mafiosi had been netted in a p r e d a w n r a i d . T h r o u g h -
out Sicily and sourhern I t a l y , every bishop and mosr parish priests had
gone o n the attack f r o m their pulpits, declaring rhe Cosa Nostra "a na-
t i o n a l c a n c e r " and h i r t i n g at Sicily as its t u m o r o u s w o m b .
W i r h late-breaking r a d i o bulletins as b a c k g r o u n d , Chris unpacked, and
rhen began rhe review o f his notes in preparation for the debriefing by
M a e s t r o i a n n i and A u r e a t i n i . H e broke o f f f r o m his w o r k several rimes to
try t o reach Carnesecca by phone, bur w i r h o u t success. Still, i t w a s n ' t u n t i l
the surprise call came t h r o u g h that Chrisrian began ro pur r w o and r w o
together. Gladstone c o u l d n ' t hear a n y r h i n g o n the line at first except
static. T h e n , w h e n the faraway voice o f his friend crackled t h r o u g h , the
news was d r e a d f u l . Carnesecca's car had been totaled in a h i t - a n d - r u n
accident o n the m a i n coastal road i n n o r t h w e s t e r n Sicily. H e was safe for
the m o m e n t at the house o f a priest in a t o w n called Caltagirone, but he
had been badly i n j u r e d and had lost a l o t o f b l o o d .
" W r i t e the name d o w n , C h r i s . Caltagirone. It's in the i n t e r i o r , south-
west o f C a t a n i a . " Carnesecca's voice was f a d i n g benearh rhe static. " G e t
h o l d o f G i u s t i n o Lucadamo as fast as y o u can, but say n o t h i n g to anyone
else. It's a matter o f m y s u r v i v a l . Tell Lucadamo I have a couple o f hours
ar best before they find me . . . "
There was a l o n g burst o f static. The line w e n t totally dead. But Chris-
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 365

rian had heard enough ro send h i m o n a feverish telephone chase after

G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o . He had no d o u b t rhar the security chief was up to his
hips somewhere i n the m i d d l e o f rhe a n t i - M a f i a o p e r a t i o n ; b u t afrer an
h o u r o f franric efforr, he managed ro r u n h i m d o w n ar the Naples a i r p o r t .
After he heard everything Carnesecca had managed to get across t o G l a d -
stone, and vented a s t r i n g o f earthy curses for " t h e R o m a n supervisor,"
L u c a d a m o was ready t o take charge. H e paused o n l y l o n g enough to give
Chrisrian a secure number f o r emergency use and ro reinforce rhe w a r n i n g
t h a t he speak to no one else. " Y o u k n o w n o t h i n g , Father." G i u s t i n o
b a r k e d the order. " M a k e no m o r e calls. A s k no questions, and answer
none."
C h r i s was lefr t o stew w i t h no further news o f Carnesecca's fate. T h e n ,
late i n the evening, C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i rang t h r o u g h . " I t ' s about Father
Carnesecca," H i s Eminence spoke u p w i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r so m u c h as rhe
sound of Gladstone's voice. " W e expected w o r d o f Father Carnesecca this
m o r n i n g . H a v e you heard a n y t h i n g f r o m h i m , Father C h r i s t i a n ? "
T h o u g h he came w i t h i n an ace o f b l u r t i n g o u t his o w n questions, Chris
caught himself. " O f course. Eminence." He slurred his w o r d s as t h o u g h
he'd been awakened f r o m a sound sleep. " E l l be there firsr t h i n g in the
morning."
"Farher G l a d s t o n e ! " The C a r d i n a l carved each w o r d out sharply. " A r e
y o u awake? H a v e y o u heard f r o m Father Carnesecca?"
" B u r , Your Eminence," the sleepy-possum answer came back ro Aurea-
r i n i . " 1 d i d not hear a n y r h i n g a b o u t fasting f r o m flesh m e a t . "
" R e v e r e n d Father! 1 am n o t asking a b o u t flesh meat! 1 a m asking a b o u t
Father Carnesecca! D o you hear me, Farher C h r i s t i a n ? " C h r i s snored
l i g h t l y i n r o rhe phone, and c o u l d just make o u t A u r e a r i n i ' s frustrated
c o m m e n r t o himself as His Eminence h u n g u p the phone in disgust.
"These anglosassoni! They sleep like their o w n o x e n ! "
A few minutes o f t r o u b l e d reflection was enough for Gladstone t o u n -
derstand t h a t i f A u r e a t i n i had expected to hear f r o m Father A l d o this
m o r n i n g , A u r e a t i n i was p a r t o f the Sicilian o p e r a t i o n . M a y b e he was even
" t h e R o m a n supervisor" G i u s t i n o had cursed. In any case, the C a r d i n a l
was clearly our o f rhe l o o p n o w , a n d rhat was curious. Ir w a s n ' t exactly an
emergency, bur Chris dialed the number Lucadamo had given h i m . H e
was patched t h r o u g h w i t h i n seconds this t i m e , and passed a l o n g w o r d o f
Aurearini's c a l l . By rhe sound o f things, the security chief was airborne in
a helicoprer. " I ' l l ber rhe C a r d i n a l w o u l d like ro k n o w where Carnesecca
i s ! " L u c a d a m o shouted above rhe racket o f the engine. " T h e w o r s t is over,
t h o u g h . Just sit tight and play d u m b . "

It was M o n d a y a f t e r n o o n w h e n Chris got w o r d f r o m Lucadamo rhat Fa-

ther Carnesecca had been returned t o Rome and taken t o Gemelli H o s p i -
t a l , where a team of doctors had ser ro w o r k o n h i m in earnest and a team
o f a r m e d guards was set u p for a round-the-clock w a t c h outside his r o o m .
 366 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Gladstone was visibly taken aback at his first sight of Father A l d o when he
was a l l o w e d visitors o n Tuesday.
" W h a t d i d y o u expect, Chris? M y accident was no accident. I wasn't
meant t o s u r v i v e . "
Father A l d o explained n o t h i n g abour his w o r k d u r i n g the months of
preparation f o r the p r e d a w n Sicilian r a i d , except ro say that he had func-
t i o n e d as a courier. Bur he seemed unusually inreresrcd i n telling Chris
a b o u t the details o f his " a c c i d e n t . " It had been his g o o d fortune that when
he had been forced o f f the r o a d , his car had plunged i n t o an o v e r g r o w n
ravine that was h a r d to reach. By the t i m e the goons had got d o w n there,
Carnesecca had managed t o c r a w l o u t of the wreck and d r a g himself ro
cover. H i s pursuers had beaten the bushes f o r a w h i l e , and rhen had gone
o f f t o get help.
Father A l d o barely remembered h o w he had managed to get himself up
t o rhe r o a d , o r w h o it was that had carried h i m t o the priest's house in
Caltagirone. But f r o m t h a t point o n , i t had been a race against time.
' T h e y k n e w I was srill alive, and they still wanted inc d e a d . "
Carnesecca's p r o b l e m had been h o w to keep his o w n security intact and
still get t o the Vatican security chief in time t o do any g o o d . H i s call to the
A n g e l i c u m had been a gamble; b u t it was a b o u t the best one he had. "1
remembered y o u r saying y o u w o u l d be back in time f o r Epiphany. I knew
there was no reason f o r y o u ro be under surveillance. A n d I figured rhar i f
I c o u l d ger t o y o u , y o u w o u l d get help t o me o r die in the arrempr. I o w e
y o u my life, C h r i s . " T h e injured priesr shifted u n c o m f o r t a b l y in his hospi-
tal bed. " B u t I d o n ' t expect this is an end o f i t . "
" B u t the Sicilian o p e r a t i o n was a success, A l d o . Unless you t h i n k the
M a f i a w i l l be after you f o r revenge, surely the danger is o v e r . "
Carnesecca made ir clear rhat borh he and L u c a d a m o were sure his
accidenr had n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h M a f i a vengeance. " G i u s t i n o has his o w n
theory. I ' m s w o r n to secrecy abour i t f o r n o w . M a y b e he'll tell you about
it in t i m e . H e has evidence to back his m a i n line of t h i n k i n g . But I w a n t
y o u t o undersrand, C h r i s , rhat this is one t i m e w h e n L u c a d a m o may be
r i g h t f o r the w r o n g reasons."
Gladstone k n e w better than to pry i n t o a n y t h i n g Father A l d o was
b o u n d to h o l d as n confidence. B u t i f b o t h Carnesecca and Lucadamo
were convinced that the M a f i a was in the clear in this b l o o d y affair, w h a t
was behind it?
" I t ' s a s t o r y — a Vatican s t o r y — t h a t dates f r o m l o n g years ago. Chris.
Back to the early sixties, in facr. I can't be sure, of course. Bur Ed say that
m y 'accident' means someone t h i n k s I k n o w t o o m u c h f o r their c o m f o r t
these d a y s . "
" A r e they r i g h t ? "
" I hope y o u ' l l never have a reason to find the a n s w e r . " Father A l d o ' s
strength was beginning t o fade. " B u t i f i t comes t o t h a t — i f ever I have an
accident that's successful—get h o l d o f m y d i a r y and give i t to L u c a d a m o . "
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 367

T h o u g h he sickened ar the idea, Gladstone's logical m i n d drove h i m to

the obvious q u e s t i o n . " W h e r e d o I find rhis d i a r y ? "
" A l w a y s w i r h me. C h r i s t i a n . " Carnesecca was s l i p p i n g over the edge o f
sleep n o w . " A l w a y s w i t h me. Find me, y o u find m y d i a r y . . . "

A f t e r a consultation w i r h G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o in the relative quiet that

always descends on the A p o s t o l i c Palace o f a Saturday m o r n i n g , rhe Slavic
Pope laid aside rhe norebook in his h a n d , bu/,zed his secretary on rhe
inrercom and asked f o r Master-General D a m i e n Slattery t o be summoned
at once. M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l rang Springy's eatery. W i t h i n a quarter o f an
h o u r , Father D a m i e n joined the t w o s o m e i n the P o n t i f f s study, where the
pallor on the H o l y Father's face t o l d h i m t h a t whatever was u p spelled
deep t r o u b l e .
" T r o u b l e comes in bunches, they say, F a t h e r . " The first w o r d s o u t of
Lucadamo's m o u t h c o n f i r m e d Slattery's assumption. " W e had rhe break-
in at Chrisrmas. T h e n Carnesecca nearly had his chips cashed this week in
Sicily. A n d n o w something else has come back t o haunt u s . "
"Ler's have ir, t h e n . " Damien chose a chair near the desk where the
H o l y Father sat in silent a g i t a t i o n .
" R e m e m b e r back last M a y w h e n we f o u n d o u t a b o u t t h a t private meet-
ing C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i arranged at Strasbourg? A gathering o f wolves
l

and jackals,' y o u called i t . "

Slattery remembered. " A r e they at i t a g a i n ? "
" T h e y ' v e been at it all a l o n g , Father." L u c a d a m o picked u p the note-
book f r o m H i s Holiness' desk and glanced over some o f the pages. " W e
haven't got all the pieces yet. But the l o n g and the short o f w h a t we do
have is this. I t turns o u t t h a t Strasbourg was the starting gate for a system-
atic, in-house initiative t o force the issue o f episcopal u n i t y w i t h the H o l y
See. Some mechanism has apparently been devised to organize a series o f
votes by the various N a t i o n a l and Regional Conferences o f Bishops. So
far, we haven't f o u n d o u t w h a t t h a t mechanism is. But we k n o w the goal;
and we have an idea o f the time frame. T h e upshot o f the votes is t o be a
p e t i t i o n for the H o l y Father to resign for the sake o f C h u r c h u n i t y . A n d
the t i m i n g seems geared to His Holiness' seventy-fifrh b i r t h d a y . "
Frozen in his chair, his face beer red w i t h anger, Slattery shot one ques-
t i o n at L u c a d a m o . " H o w many o f the Strasbourg c r o w d are in i t ? "
" F o r openers, the w h o l e list o f Vatican men we came u p w i t h i n M a y .
As nearly as we've been able t o find o u t , to one degree or another every
man jack w h o w e n t t o M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s private Schuman Day g a t h e r i n g . "
" T h e same o l d cabal, in other w o r d s , Father D a m i e n . " The Slavic Pope
spoke f o r the first time since Slattery's a r r i v a l . " B u r , i f Pm t o believe this
report, i t goes w e l l beyond the Varican n o w . The indications are that
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i has established close links w i t h some p o w e r f u l
n o n - C a t h o l i c and even n o n - C h r i s r i a n sources. H o w those centers cooper-
ate, exactly w h o all o f them are or where a l l the lines lead, w h a t their
 368 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

various c o n t r i b u t i o n s may be, w h a t they expect to get i n r e t u r n f o r their

c o o p e r a t i o n — a l l o f that remains vague. But the basic fact that such o u t -
side centers are p a r t i c i p a t i n g in the plan against m y pontificate is solid
information.*'
The m o r e Slarrery heard, rhe more his rage boiled u p . H e had never
really penerrated the m i n d o f rhe Slavic Pope, nor had he ever uncovered
rhe f u n d a m e n t a l straregy behind some o f the Pontiff's puzzling w o r d s and
actions; he had himself been taken severely aback by some o f the Slavic
Pope's actions. Nevertheless, the greater t r u t h for Slattery was that the
Slavic Pope was Peter's successor a n d the Vicar o f C h r i s t . H e had never
a l l o w e d a n y t h i n g this Pope said or d i d to d i l u t e the strength and constancy
o f his o w n l o y a l t y . T h i s m o r n i n g , t h o u g h , even Slattery was at a loss for
w o r d s . If Lucadamo's intelligence was accurate, the issue had gone far
beyond c r i t i c i s m . Even beyond the private little w a r some o f his in-house
prelates had carried on f o r so m a n y years against the H o l y Father.
" A r e y o u sure o f the m a i n facts?" D a m i e n was grasping at straws as he
turned t o L u c a d a m o .
" A b s o l u t e l y . Everything's been checked and rechecked. A n d i t explains
a l o t o f things. It puts a different perspective on rhe sudden surge in rhe
open disobedience t o the Pope a m o n g a g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f bishops. It
gives us a r a t i o n a l e x p l a n a t i o n for the rash o f media stories and books
that have been c o m i n g f r o m so many quarters all at once and t h a t speak as
i f a papal resignation were i m m i n e n t and assured. A n d i t puts a more
o m i n o u s face o n t h a t a n o n y m o u s letter circulated a m o n g the in-house
Cardinals a few weeks back t o test the waters a b o u t papal resignation in
the event o f i n c a p a c i t a t i o n . I n fact, we o n l y have to look at poor Father
Carnesecca t o k n o w just h o w o m i n o u s t h a t face may b e . "
" C a r n e s e c c a ! " Slattery was d r o w n i n g i n surprises. " I s that h o w y o u
read his ' a c c i d e n t ' ? "
" W e can't prove a n y t h i n g . But I can tell you in the first place that Father
A l d o has been the source f o r some bits o f o u r i n f o r m a t i o n about the
antipapal p l o t . H e picks up conversations, reads memos, is rhe recipient o f
grumbles and c o m p l a i n t s . You k n o w h o w he is. A n d , i n the second place,
the incident in Sicily d i d n ' t bear rhe m a r k s o f a M a f i a j o b . Besides, I d o u b t
they even noticed h i m . He's a clever m a n i n the field, and he was all bur
invisible."
T h e H o l y Father intervened again. " A l d o Carnesecca isn't the only one
w h o concerns us, Father D a m i e n . I ' m a f r a i d there may be another d i m e n -
sion ro o u r p r o b l e m . There seems t o be a possibility t h a t Father Christian
Gladstone m a y be a p a r t o f M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s c a b a l . "
" N o ! " Slattery's consternation was complete n o w , and p a i n f u l to see. " I
k n o w Father C h r i s ! I d o n ' t care w h a t evidence we have, Floliness! I can't
believe . .
"Easy does i t . " Lucadamo tried t o calm the s i t u a t i o n . " I d o n ' t think for
a m i n u t e he was connected w i t h the a t t e m p t o n Carnesecca's life. But the
UN T H I N K A B L F REALITIES 369

fact is thar a l l his p o l i t i c k i n g for M a e s t r o i a n n i a m o n g the hishops begins

to l o o k m i g h t y like c o l l u s i o n . M a y b e Gladstone is just a p a w n . M a y b e
he's more than that. The p o i n t is, we d o n ' t k n o w ; and until we d o , he
remains suspect.
" A n d , since this w h o l e antipapal affair is such a tangled, i n t e r t w i n e d
morass, m y suspicions force me t o b r i n g u p anorher matter. Farher Chris-
rian may be a little t o o eager t o be parr o f the papal investigation i n t o
homosexual and Satanist activity a m o n g the U.S. clergy. I d o n ' t have t o
r e m i n d y o u . Father D a m i e n , that your end o f that i n q u i r y is dangerous.
There have already been r w o priesrs murdered in connection w i t h Satanist
cults. T w o we k n o w about, that is.
"So, let's say Gladstone gets the okay f r o m Maesrroianni to go State-
side; he's already put i n his b i d , by the w a y . A n d let's say we use his w o r k
for the C a r d i n a l as a cover for his end o f o u r investigation. Innocent or
n o t , d o n ' t we have to ask ourselves w h o w o u l d be using w h o m ? I mean,
l o o k ar w h a t we're facing, m a n ! Keep in m i n d w h a r almost happened t o
Carnesecca. A n d w h a t d i d happen ro the n o w very dead Father Sebastian
Scalabrini in Cenrurycity. A n d keep in m i n d h o w m u c h Maestroianni
loves y o u ! N o w , i f Farher C h r i s t i a n really is part of the antipapal pact, or
even i f he reports back t o M a e s t r o i a n n i as n o t h i n g m o r e rhan an u n w i t t i n g
stooge, h o w l o n g do y o u t h i n k y o u ' d last i n rhe States?"
Slattery heaved his b u l k our o f the chair and strode to the w i n d o w s .
" I t ' s insane, G i u s t i n o , and that's all there is t o say!" Slattery's robes
w h i r l e d like a w h i r e c l o u d a r o u n d h i m as he rurned back t o w a r d the
r o o m . " I t w o u l d n ' t take m u c h for me t o believe a n y t h i n g about Maestro-
i a n n i . But I ' d stake my life on Chrisrian Gladstone."
" W o u l d y o u stake the w h o l e U.S. investigation on h i m , Father Slat-
tery?"
" W i t h o u t a minute's h e s i t a t i o n ! "
It was a standoff, then. The f u n d a m e n t a l question regarding Christian
Gladstone w o u l d be decided by the Slavic Pope.
The silence that settled on the r o o m was almost u n n e r v i n g . The H o l y
Father plunged for a few moments i n t o a deep and private reflection. I t
was almost an a u t o m a t i c reflex f o r h i m ro put the d i l e m m a i n t o a wider
context. T h e papal investigation i n the U n i t e d States shaped up as crucial.
T h e question to be decided was no different i n its essence than the ques-
t i o n that always presented itself i n the Slavic Pope's policy of extremes.
A l w a y s , i t was a matter o f where the greater gamble m i g h t lie.
Assuming that Slattery c o u l d take care o f himself—the choice this time
was clear. A possible c o m p r o m i s e of the A m e r i c a n investigation w o u l d
mean delay, b u t that c o u l d be repaired. The injusrice o f jettisoning G l a d -
stone w i t h o u t g i v i n g h i m a fair chance ro prove himself w o u l d be irrepara-
ble.
In the e n d , the P o n t i f f decided his policy regarding Chrisrian Gladstone
 370 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

exactly as he had decided the entire policy o f his pontificate: he w o u l d

play the hand that had been dealt h i m .
" F o r e w a r n e d is f o r e a r m e d , is ir n o t , G i u s t i n o ? " The Pope broke his
silence at last. " W e w i l l have rhat advantage at rhe very leasr—assuming
M a e s t r o i a n n i w i l l agree to send Father Gladstone to the United States at
all. Whether Farher Damien's estimation o f Chrisrian Gladstone is correct
or n o r — a n d I have t o say, I share his j u d g m e n r — o u r y o u n g American w i l l
show his colors soon enough by w h a t he does w i t h the investigation.
" I f Father D a m i e n and I are right a b o u t o u r y o u n g A m e r i c a n , I w i l l
have secured one m o r e g o o d priest for lasting service t o the C h u r c h and
one more strong supporrer f o r intimate service to this H o l y See.
" M e a n w h i l e , I w i l l defend the integrity o f the papal office as 1 have
done u n t i l n o w . I w i l l intensify my p o l i c y , i n fact. I w i l l devise every
o p p o r t u n i t y I can to d o u b l e a r o u n d behind Flis Eminence Maestroianni
and the others. I w i l l use every situation t h a t presents itself t o take the
g r o u n d they stand o n o u t f r o m under their feet."

T r o u b l e was n o t entirely confined to paradise i n rhe early months o f the

new year. I t reared irs head for D r . Ralph S. C h a n n i n g w h e n , o n an other-
wise t r a n q u i l w i n t e r m o r n i n g at C l i f f v i e w House, he found himself o n the
receiving end o f a p a i n f u l telephone c o m m u n i c a t i o n f r o m Capstone.
" A m o n g ourselves, my dear D r . C h a n n i n g , we must recognize the
facts." T h e r e was no heat in Capstone's w o r d s ; n o t h i n g that smacked o f
anger. Yet there was no m i s t a k i n g the threat behind the clipped w o r d s and
i m p e r i o u s tone.
" B u t , sir . . . "
" Y o u r d e v o t i o n t o the Prince is beyond d o u b t . N o r d o we question y o u r
dedication t o the Chosen A l t e r n a t i v e as rhe means to secure the Ascent of
the Prince in rhe Citadel o f the Enemy w i t h i n the Availing T i m e . I need n o t
r e m i n d y o u , therefore, o f the importance o f o u r r i m i n g . O r rhat, as master
engineers o f rhe Process, y o u and the other members o f C o n c i l i u m 13 have
been charged w i r h the gravest responsibility: t o render rhe papal office
useless ro rhe Nameless O t h e r , and to deliver ir inro o u r hands as servitors
o f rhe Prince."
" B u r , s i r . " C h a n n i n g rried again. " H a v e y o u not read my reporrs?
T h i n g s are proceeding according ro plan. T h e link o f inreresrs we have
established between the bishops o f Europe and the European C o m m u n i t y
is already firm. We are d r i v i n g i t home as a wedge berween bishops and
the presenr holder o f rhe papal office. G y n n e t h Blashford's newspaper
chains and Brad Gerstein-SnelPs m u l t i m e d i a c o m m u n i c a t i o n s n e t w o r k s
have all been effective in broadcasting repeated and c o n v i n c i n g materials
to b u i l d pressure on the side o f papal resignation. A n d C a r d i n a l Maesrro-
ianni has devised an ingenious mechanism by w h i c h bishops a r o u n d the
w o r l d w i l l make ir v i r r u a l l y impossible f o r the present holder o f the papal
office ro govern . . . "
UNTHINKABLE REALITIES 371

" D r . C h a n n i n g . " Capstone's quiet voice c o m m a n d e d silence. *You need

4

n o t continue y o u r l i t a n y . Your reports have been read. But satisfaction

w i t h y o u r progress is n o t justified. Specifically, i t is that ingenious mecha-
n i s m , as you call i t , that is the object o f o u r concern. These so-called
Internal A f f a i r s Committees that have been set u p in the various Regional
and N a t i o n a l Bishops Conferences are supposedly t o deliver a rimely and
universal vote f o r papal resignation. The Episcopal C o m m o n M i n d Vote is
the parlance in use, I believe."
"Yes, s i r , " C h a n n i n g c o n f i r m e d . " E C O M M I V for s h o r t . "
" T h a n k y o u . " There was no trace o f g r a t i t u d e in the acknowledgment.
" L e t me direct y o u r a t t e n t i o n to t w o w o r d s I have just used: T i m e l y .
Universal. Those r w o w o r d s are the key ro o u r concern. But again, let me
be specific. We are satisfied for the m o m e n t w i t h the progress i n Europe.
We have every reason to agree w i r h y o u that the IACs are becoming i n -
creasingly effective there.
" B u t the European I A C s w o n ' t deliver y o u r C o m m o n M i n d Vote on the
required scale unless the Unired Srates leads the w a y . The financial and
political p o w e r that U.S. bishops c o m m a n d — a n d the facr rhat they speak
for a p o p u l a t i o n o f over sixty m i l l i o n R o m a n C a t h o l i c s — w i l l be a decisive
leadership factor. So o u r question is clear. W h a t is h o l d i n g things up i n
your o w n b a c k y a r d ? "
O r d i n a r i l y , R a l p h C h a n n i n g dealr w i t h all questions magisterially. Bur
the fact was t h a t he had no answer f o r Capstone. H e k n e w , he admitted as
he swiped at the sweat beading o n his forehead, t h a t there was some
blockage to progress i n rhe American I A C s ; b u t he had no ready explana-
tion for it.
" W e are n o t l o o k i n g for explanations. Let me make it p l a i n t o y o u . The
A v a i l i n g T i m e f o r the Ascent o f the Prince is gridded in part o n an overall
timetable o f w o r l d events. O n developments i n the financial and economic
structure o f rhe society o f nations. I n rhe m a i n , those events continue to go
w e l l for us. The post-Soviet c o n d i t i o n o f Eastern European states and the
various republics o f the n o w defunct U.S.S.R.; the thrust o f EC and CSCE
policies; the f o r m a t i o n o f the East Asian Pact countries; a similar f o r m a -
t i o n for M i d d l e East c o u n t r i e s — a l l o f t h a t and more is proceeding nicely
from our point of view.
" B u t we must n o t a l l o w ourselves t o be blindsided by p a r t i a l victories.
The one solid and tangible threat ro the N e w O r d e r is rhe continued
existence o f the papal office as the s t r o n g h o l d o f the Enemy. We have
accepted your p l a n ro secure thar rarget. We do n o t accept rhe blockage to
that plan that has arisen i n the United States.
" W e expect the p r o b l e m ro be s o l v e d . "

Because panic is contagious, i n a matter o f days C h a n n i n g carried i t w i t h

h i m like a virus f r o m N e w Y o r k to L o n d o n ro Rome.
H e flew first to E n g l a n d , where he closeted himself w i t h Nicholas G a t -
 372 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

terbuck i n his office. As a member o f C o n c i l i u m 13, rhat gentleman under-

stood the g r a v i t y o f Capstone's c o m p l a i n t . As the efficient C E O o f Cyrus
Benthoek's L o n d o n operarions, he understood h o w to present the matter
t o the head man himself.
C h a n n i n g and Clatterbuck flew d o w n the c o r r i d o r and closeted them-
selves w i t h Benthoek i n his penthouse office. There was no mention o f
such matters as the A v a i l i n g T i m e , or the Ascent o f the Prince, or the
Citadel o f the Enemy. But other terms were available for use w i t h equal
effect. Such terms as the accelerated pace o f hisrory's footsteps; and the
dictates o f intelligence i n the universe; and the imperative to keep faith
w i t h destiny i n the cosmos; and their c o m m o n loyalty as servirors—as
master engineers—of rhe Process.
C h a n n i n g and Benthoek flew to R o m e , and bearded that great Apostle
o f the Process, C a r d i n a l C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i , i n his penthouse study.
Things were g o i n g w e l l in Europe and elsewhere, they cooed. But w h a t
could possibly account for the peculiar s i t u a t i o n in the U n i t e d States? W h y
d i d the mechanism o f the IACs in that region appear to be faltering so
badly in its progress t o w a r d E C O M M I V ? " A r e your people purposely
dragging their feet?" C h a n n i n g p u t a sharp edge to his questioning. " O r
has some p r o b l e m arisen that m i g h t have escaped Your Eminence's atten-
tion?"
The little C a r d i n a l flew to his office and called His Eminence Silvio
A u r e a t i n i o n the carpet. " W e ' r e i n a real mess. You were supposed to be
m o n i t o r i n g the I A C s in the United States. M u s t I see to everything m y -
self?"
F o r t h w i t h , Flis Eminence A u r e a t i n i flew to his o w n defense by laying
the blame elsewhere. " T h e Internal A f f a i r s Committees o f the N a t i o n a l
C o u n c i l o f Catholic Bishops i n America are under the care o f o u r Vener-
able Brother o f C e n t u r y c i t y , " he reminded M a e s t r o i a n n i .
"And?"
" T h e C a r d i n a l o f C e n t u r y c i t y has not been i n the best o f health lately,
Y o u r Eminence." A u r e a t i n i t r i e d to appear sympathetic as he lowered the
b o o m o n the Yankee C a r d i n a l . " A n d he has been—er—distracted. He has
a number o f civil lawsuits o n his hands i n v o l v i n g some o f his priests w h o
have been accused o f sexual abuse o f m i n o r s . I n fact, considering that
something like a b i l l i o n dollars has been paid i n o u t - o f - c o u r r settlements
over the past eleven years or so i n the United States, and considering the
rash o f lawsuits in Cenrurycity alone, I w o n d e r whether the C a r d i n a l h i m -
self is a p p r o a c h i n g the status o f a p r o b l e m . "
M a e s t r o i a n n i eyed the j u n i o r C a r d i n a l in silence w h i l e he sorted out his
priorities. If H i s Eminence o f Centurycity was becoming distracred, that
was enough t o account for the laggardly performance o f the IACs in his
t e r r i t o r y . But w i t h o u t the Cardinal's leadership, n o t h i n g was likely to
move f o r w a r d in a rimely w a y . In that regard, the C a r d i n a l o f Cenrurycity
was indispensable. W h o else c o u l d open the clerical and episcopal closets
IN T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 373

where all the skeletons lay? W h o but he understood the specific trade-offs
that w o u l d be most telling t o secure the cooperation o f this or that
bishop?
' I f I m i g h t make a suggestion, Eminence." Silvio A u r e a t i n i understood
:

the p r o b l e m . " I n dealing w i t h the European bishops, we have got o n

extremely w e l l by sending o u r personal emissary t o canvass their needs
and difficulties, and t o help solve concrete problems for t h e m . Just as a
stopgap measure, o f course, u n t i l His Eminence o f C e n t u r y c i t y is o u t f r o m
under his troublesome legalities, w h y n o t use the same technique there?
W e have the perfect candidate for the t a s k . "
r

" A n d w h o m i g h t that be?"

T a t h e r C h r i s t i a n Gladstone. Your Eminence w i l l recall Father G l a d -
stone's o w n interest i n extending his w o r k f o r us to the States. He has
proved himself an able w o r k e r in the field. As a simple priest, he presents
no threat in his episcopal interrogations. Yet at the same t i m e , he's learned
t o carry the Vatican aura like a true R o m a n in his dealings w i t h men w h o
o u t r a n k h i m . A n d as an anglosassone himself, he should have no d i f f i c u l t y
i n reading the m i n d o f the A m e r i c a n bishops for us o n the question o f
Church unity.
" I f Gladstone were t o travel as Your Eminence's personal emissary—if
he were t o m e n t i o n y o u r name discreetly in such a manner as to indicate
Your Eminence's interest and c o n c e r n — I ' m sure we c o u l d manage to i m -
prove their ecclesiastical welfare i n ways that w o u l d prove persuasive. I
d o u b t there are many bishops in A m e r i c a w h o w o u l d fail to appreciate the
special facilities that m i g h t be opened t o them at rhe Vatican Bank, for
instance. N o r w o u l d they be ungrateful t h a t d i f f i c u l t cases i n v o l v i n g
Canon L a w m i g h t be solved. O r that elusive appointments t o Rome m i g h t
be secured. T h e examples are endless, Eminence."
"Endless, i n d e e d . " M a e s t r o i a n n i smiled at last. " T e l l me, where is o u r
talented y o u n g Father Gladstone n o w ? "

C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i held o u t his hand to a c c o m m o d a t e C h r i s t i a n G l a d -

stone's usual rirual o f kissing his r i n g . I t was a small price t o pay to keep
such a p r o m i s i n g y o u n g protege happy. " H o w g o o d o f y o u to i n t e r r u p t
your itinerary o n such short notice, Reverendo."
C h r i s t i a n brushed his lips to the r i n g and then t o o k his usual chair
beside Maestroianni's desk. " N o d i f f i c u l t y , Eminence. Y o u r secretary
made i t sound u r g e n t . "
The C a r d i n a l seemed amused. " M o n s i g n o r e M a n u g u e r r a tends t o be
excitable, Em a f r a i d . Your sister's health hasn't i m p r o v e d , 1 take i t ? "
" I ' m a f r a i d n o t , Eminence." T h a t p a r t o f Gladstone's bid t o be sent t o
America was nor a ruse. The w o r d f r o m W i n d s w e p t was that Tricia was i n
constant agony, and Chris d i d w a n t to spend some t i m e w i t h her, if he
could.
A click o f his tongue expressed H i s Eminence's s o r r o w . A few nicely
 374 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

chosen w o r d s expressed his appreciation t h a t Father Gladstone was so

dedicated as t o have suggested c o m b i n i n g his w o r k f o r C h u r c h unity w i t h
a little visit t o his f a m i l y . " O f c o u r s e " — t h e C a r d i n a l was back to the m a i n
p o i n t w i t h i n s e c o n d s — " t i m i n g is a consideration. 1 fear we have been
neglecting the needs o f o u r bishops i n A m e r i c a . But neither can we a f f o r d
to dislocate y o u r current schedule o f episcopal visits. The itinerary we've
already set o u t f o r y o u in Europe must be accommodated before you set
out f o r y o u r h o m e l a n d . Still, w e w i l l need a bit o f time to prepare a lisr o f
the bishops we w o u l d like y o u to canvass for us in the States."
" O f c o u r s e . " M a e s t r o i a n n i had given C h r i s the o p e n i n g to suggest the
t i m i n g he w a n t e d — t h e t i m i n g that w o u l d mesh w i t h D a m i e n Slattery's
departure f r o m the A n g e l i c u m — a n d he t o o k i t . " F o r my p a r t , Eminence, I
expect t o be o n rhe r o a d i n Europe t h r o u g h most o f February. T a k i n g into
account the t i m e required to w r i t e up my reports and prepare for o u r
usual debriefings, I t h i n k early M a r c h w o u l d be realistic."
M a e s t r o i a n n i n o d d e d agreeably. This Gladstone was such a clear-
minded f e l l o w . A l l things considered, he was shaping u p as excellent t i n v
ber. A p r i m e candidate for the Process. There wasn'r time to go i n t o that
n o w , o f course. But a p r e l i m i n a r y little pep talk was surely i n order. " T e l l
me. F a t h e r . " C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i t o o k o n a m o r e confidential air.
"Flave y o u given m u c h t h o u g h t t o the imporrance o f y o u r parr in o u r
w o r k as it relates t o the felicitous achievements o f the Second Vatican
Council?"
L o a r h to pick his w a y t h r o u g h the minefield he had been invited to
enter, C h r i s questioned H i s Eminence w i t h u n c o m p r e h e n d i n g eyes.
"Perhaps you're t o o y o u n g t o k n o w this matter i n the r o u n d " — t h e
C a r d i n a l s m i l e d — " b u t at my age, 1 have come t o realize t h a t the C o u n c i l
gave us a new ecclesiology. A new beginning. A new c o n s t i t u t i o n a l struc-
ture f o r the C h u r c h . O n e i n w h i c h rhe p o w e r o f C h r i s t as head o f the
C h u r c h is suitably and h a r m o n i o u s l y exercised by all its bishops, i n c l u d i n g
the venerable Bishop o f R o m e . A n d y o u . Father Gladstone—even y o u , by
your c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h this office—are helping m i g h t i l y to enforce that
new structure.
" W e are b o t h pressed f o r time just n o w . I expect the m o m e n t w i l l come,
however, w h e n we w i l l explore such matters at greater length. M e a n w h i l e ,
t h i n k carefully o n w h a t I have said. T h i n k o n the w o r k y o u have been
d o i n g for this office in Europe and the w o r k y o u are a b o u t t o take up for
us in A m e r i c a . T h i n k abour rhat one w o r d , u n i t y . A b o u t the benefits u n i t y
w i l l b r i n g to o u r bishops, and t o the Bishop o f R o m e — o u r H o l y F a t h e r —
as together rhey guide the C h u r c h t o w a r d the new m i l l e n n i u m . "

As he made his w a y t h r o u g h the c o r r i d o r s o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace, Chris

balanced things u p . He h a d t o a d m i t t o himself t h a t i n all the months o f
his w o r k for the C a r d i n a l , he still h a d n ' t penetrated the thick layer o f
romanitd thar made it so difficult t o get at the m i n d o f that enigmatic
I ' M H I N K A B L E R E A L I T I E S 375

Vatican a d m i n i s t r a t o r . But if he had read the signals righr roday, he c o u l d

be o n the w a y t o f i n d i n g answers to some o f the puzzles t h a t had t r o u b l e d
h i m f o r so l o n g and t h a t he had explored so often w i t h A l d o Carnesecca.
M e a n w h i l e , he felt he had managed things w e l l . H e had secured his w o r k
f o r the C a r d i n a l as a cover f o r his efforts for the H o l y Sec i n A m e r i c a . H e
had even managed t o set M a r c h as the target date. T h e rest should be easy.
If he w a s n ' t t o o green ro handle even the likes o f C a r d i n a l C o s i m o
M a e s t r o i a n n i , surely he wasn't t o o green t o handle his end o f the papal
investigation i n t o rhe clerical scandals t h a t were p i l i n g up like d u n g heaps
in the U n i t e d States.
H i s o n l y p r o b l e m n o w was t o track G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o d o w n and
make his case.

XXXIV
I N S O F A R as he c o u l d foresee the near-term sufferings rhar w o u l d be
caused for m a n y i n his C h u r c h by an intensification o f his policies, the
Slavic Pope felt the u t m o s t anguish and regret. Indeed, he realized that
even a m o n g his f a i t h f u l supporters there were some w h o already felt t h a t
his papal policies i m p l i e d an a b a n d o n m e n t o f his role as teacher, guide
and governor o f the mores o f R o m a n Catholics, and o f his role as witness
and exemplar t o the w o r l d as Christ's Vicar, But the Pontiff's reasoning
was guided by an i r o n logic and analysis o f his concrete s i t u a t i o n .
T h e H o l y Spirit had seen fit to place h i m as Christ's Vicar at a m o m e n t
in history w h e n the w o r l d ' s populations were m o v i n g holus-bolus i n t o
i r r a t i o n a l modes o f t h o u g h t , and w h e n w h o l e continents were becoming
resecularized and repaganized i n accordance w i t h a new k i n d o f belief
structure. As Pope his endeavor f r o m the outset had been to occupy a high
profile i n t h a t i r r a t i o n a l and increasingly antireligious g l o b a l c o n t e x t , t o
m i n i m i z e the differences o f religious o p i n i o n between R o m a n Catholics
and n o n - C a t h o l i c s and at the same time t o m a i n t a i n the revealed doctrines
a n d essential practices o f his C h u r c h . In practical terms, t h a t endeavor had
led h i m to visit w i t h o r d i n a r y people o n their o w n level. To frequent the
circles o f movers and shakers in p o l i t i c a l and c u l t u r a l spheres. To esrablish
easeful bonds w i t h whatever p o w e r f u l groupings existed or came into
existence.
T h a t endeavor was being made m o r e urgent t h a n ever by the t w o recent
discoveries t h a t had been presented to h i m . There existed a sophisticated,
detailed and g l o b a l p l o t a m o n g C a t h o l i c prelates against his pontificate.
M o r e o m i n o u s l y , rhere was an o r g a n i z a t i o n a l connection o f t h a t plot t o
n o n - C a t h o l i c , n o n - C h r i s t i a n and even a n t i - C h r i s t i a n centers.
 376 W I N D S W E P T MOUSE

N o r c o u l d the P o n t i f f neglect the question he had raised so recently w i t h

C a r d i n a l R e i n v e r n u n f t : t h a t some new factor had surely entered rhe equa-
t i o n , and seemed t o be hastening the c o r r o s i o n o f basic Carholic f a i t h . The
possibility was t h a t they were l i v i n g i n the a f t e r m a t h o f some action o r
event o f such significance t h a t i t had caused a severe loss o f divine grace
and h a d increased the a b i l i t y o f God's ancient Enemy t o w r e a k havoc.
G i v e n Brother Augustine's persuasive evidence o f ritualistic Satanism a n d
m u r d e r a m o n g the clergy, it d i d n ' t take a genius t o figure t h a t a sinister
and vicious force had penetrated at least one i m p o r t a n t sector o f the hier-
archy a n d h a d linked that hierarchy i n a mosr baleful w a y t o che seculari-
z a t i o n a n d paganization under w a y a m o n g the nations.
T h e Pope had no choice f o r the m o m e n t b u t t o press his policies t o a
new level. H e w o u l d sanctify the activities o f m a n k i n d by his active pres-
ence a m o n g r h e m . H e w o u l d raise his public profile still f u r t h e r . In c i r c u m -
stances that w o u l d have eliminated other Popes, he w o u l d remain acrive i n
rhe affairs o f m a n k i n d . H e w o u l d emphasize rhose things that unite all
peoples, C a t h o l i c a n d n o n - C a t h o l i c ; f o r all religion was facing the same
threat o f l i q u i d a t i o n . H e w o u l d redouble his efforts t o carry the grace o f
G o d w i t h h i m as Pope w h i l e t a l k i n g i n the language o f the w o r l d .

T h e P o n t i f f was accurate a b o u t the effects o f his stepped-up activities.

A m o n g supporters a n d adversaries alike, bafflement and confusion caused
by his policies u n t i l n o w were child's play c o m p a r e d to the f a l l o u t as he
applied his latest initiatives w i t h surprising t w i s t s .
A m o n g the first o f his adversaries t o feel rhe direct effects o f his resolve
was H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l C o s i m o M a e s r r o i a n n i . Invited to j o i n the Pon-
t i f f in the papal study one m o r n i n g , he f o u n d himself o n rhe receiving end
o f a special mission the H o l y Father h a d i n m i n d .
" 1 a m sure Y o u r Eminence has n o t i c e d " — t h e Pope began the novel
interview o n f a m i l i a r g r o u n d — " t h a t I have made sure every i m p o r r a n r
piece o f news has c o n t i n u e d t o reach y o u since y o u r departure f r o m
Srate."
"S/\ Santita" Still flustered at h a v i n g been s u m m o n e d f o r this meeting,
M a e s t r o i a n n i kept u p his g u a r d as best he c o u l d .
" A n d , " the H o l y Father c o n t i n u e d at his o w n confident pace, " E m sure
we have come ro similar conclusions a b o u t the intergovernmental memos
o f January 5 and the ancillary intelligence reports we have received con-
cerning those m e m o s . "
Whatever a b o u t conclusions, H i s Eminence acknowledged his f a m i l i a r -
ity w i t h the data. T w o m a j o r powers had secretly decided t o foment age-
o l d ethnic hatreds i n Yugoslavia i n t o a local w a r . T h e apparent idea was
to reduce the area i n v o l v e d t o a greater dependence o n help f r o m interna-
t i o n a l organizations; t h a t is, t o advance the status o f supranational bodies
t o act i n the affairs o f i n d i v i d u a l states. T h e data made i t clear, as w e l l ,
that five Yugoslav leaders h a d bought i n t o the idea; that they had readily
UNI HINKADLE REALITIES 377

and deliberately planned, plotted and p r o m o t e d a c i v i l w a r . One result o f

that " m a n a g e d " w a r , however, was that Western powers had come t o the
b r i n k of a m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n of their o w n to meet the unforeseen tide o f
public outcry against b l o o d and destruction.
Satisfied that the C a r d i n a l k n e w the essentials, the Pontiff o u t l i n e d rhe
conclusion he had i n m i n d . " I t is the d u t y o f this H o l y See. Eminence, t o
remind the society of nations t h a t negotiation is a far more h u m a n solu-
t i o n to problems t h a n internecine wars b u b b l i n g f r o m ancient ethnic feuds
and fed by lethal armaments f r o m rhe usual unscrupulous merchanrs o f
death."
"Yes, H o l i n e s s . " If thar was the c o n c l u s i o n , M a e s t r o i a n n i saw no h a r m
in assenting t o i t . " T h e danger is great rhar 'managed conflicts like thar
1

may become generalized over a w h o l e r e g i o n . "

"Besides rhe cosr i n h u m a n life and s u f f e r i n g . "
" O f course, H o l i n e s s . " Still at a loss as t o the p o i n t o f this discussion,
the C a r d i n a l was n o t at ease.
" W h a t I propose. Eminence, is that y o u address a plenary session of the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s o n behalf of the H o l y See, and as my special legate. A n d I
propose that Your Eminence d r a f t the text o f the address for my revision.
We must help the society of nations ro b u i l d o u r structures of global peace
by delivering a letter o n the subject of negotiations. T h a t is to be the title,
by the w a y . Negotiations. A n d its message—the message of this H o l y
See—will be exactly t h a t . N e g o t i a t i o n s , n o t w a r . "
T h e C a r d i n a l steeled himself; w a i t e d for some d u p l i c i t o u s catch to this
curious assignment. But as far as he c o u l d see, there was none. Arrange-
ments had already been set w i t h the U N , the P o n t i f f t o l d h i m , and the
Secretary-General had assigned an early date for the special plenary ses-
sion.
" I am r e l y i n g o n y o u r expert guidance i n this matter, Eminence." T h e
Pope rose f r o m his chair i n courteous dismissal. " I f y o u have the p r e l i m i -
nary text of Negotiations ready for my revision in a week or so, that
should d o nicely. Give i t y o u r besr. Eminence. The C h u r c h expects it of
you."

M a e s t r o i a n n i d i d give it his best. Still o n his g u a r d , and aware that the

speech w o u l d be read a n d received at the U N as c o m i n g f r o m H i s H o l i -
ness, the C a r d i n a l t o o k special care ro papalize the text, w h i l e still i n -
serting his o w n idea of negotiations i n t o the d r a f t rext o f the future a d -
dress. Eaithful to his w o r d , H i s Eminence completed w h a t he considered a
splendid d r a f t of Negotiations w i t h i n a week and sent ir over t o the papal
office for revision.
W h e n it came back t o h i m a day or so later, rhe C a r d i n a l was more
perplexed t h a n ever. N o t o n l y had the Pontiff maintained all the themes o f
the speech exactly as M a e s t r o i a n n i had set rhem o u t . He had all bur
depapalized rhe text by the changes and insertions he had introduced in
 378 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

his o w n h a n d . Puzzled and w a r y , M a e s t r o i a n n i went over the revisions,

t r y i n g t o understand, for instance, w h y the Pope had deleted the C a r d i -
nal's description o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s as " t h e central f o r u m for settling
our h u m a n q u a r r e l s " and substituted a statement l a u d i n g the U N ' s " p r e -
cious and irreplaceable r o l e . " H e wanted t o understand w h y the Pope had
cut the reference ro the papal voice as " a voice whose w o r d s come to you
w i t h the m o r a l a u t h o r i t y o f C o d and the revelation o f God's love for his
c h i l d r e n " and had substituted " a voice whose w o r d s are meanr ro be the
echo o f rhe m o r a l conscience o f h u m a n i t y in the pure sense."
T h e text w a s p o c k m a r k e d t h r o u g h o u t w i t h such adaptations a n d
changes. Where he, M a e s t r o i a n n i , had described the aims o f the C h u r c h as
" t h e fruits o f the H o l y Spirit and that peace w h i c h Jesus Christ alone has
been able t o promise m a n k i n d , " rhe Pope had substituted the aims o f
" c o o p e r a t i o n , m u t u a l t r u s t , fraternity and peace." Where H i s Eminence
had reaffirmed " t h i s H o l y See's dedication t o spreading Christ's message
of love tempered by justice," the Pope had w r i r t e n instead, " I reaffirm my
confidence i n the p o w e r o f true negotiations t o arrive a t just and equitable
s o l u t i o n s . " Even the end o f the speech had been changed t o a plea rhat
m a n k i n d " n o t lose the hope o f being able to master its o w n f u t u r e " and an
e x h o r t a t i o n t h a t " m e n can and must make the force of reason prevail over
the reasons o f f o r c e . "
The puzzle was too much t o f a t h o m . In every case, the H o l y Father's
changes had replaced the Cardinal's typically Catholic phraseology w i r h
typically t h i s - w o r l d l y statements. The Ponriff had t r a n s f o r m e d i t into a
n o n - C a t h o l i c and n o n - C h r i s t i a n d o c u m e n t , i n t o a speech t h a t m i g h t have
been delivered by a H i n d u member of the U N delegation f r o m I n d i a , or by
a M u s l i m delegate f r o m Syria, or an animist delegare f r o m the C o n g o , or a
freewheeling atheist delegate f r o m France. W i t h a few m i n o r changes, i t
m i g h t even serve as the annual address o f the G r a n d Master of the Scottish
Grand Orient.
W h e n a dozen readings o f the revised text d i d n o t h i n g to e x p l a i n such a
gross a n o m a l y , M a e s t r o i a n n i decided r o seek counsel a m o n g friends. I n
short order he was o n the scrambler phone t o Belgium's C a r d i n a l Piet
Svensen. W h a t was the catch i n this curious papal assignment?
" Y o u w o r r y over n o t h i n g , E m i n e n c e ! " C a r d i n a l Svensen was categoric
i n his advice and u n r e m i t t i n g in his c o n t e m p t for the Pontiff. " Y o u are a
seasoned d i p l o m a t , and y o u have been given a p l u m assignment. Perhaps
the P o n t i f f has some t r i c k in m i n d . But he's p u t y o u i n a position t o hoist
h i m by his o w n petard. M y advice t o Your Eminence is t o hoist a w a y ! "
Encouraged by Svensen's spleen, M a e s t r o i a n n i decided t o consult Cyrus
Benthoek, w h o asked for a copy o f the revised Negotiations rexr t o be
faxed t o h i m i n L o n d o n , w i t h another t o be t r a n s m i t t e d t o D r . Ralph
C h a n n i n g i n N e w Y o r k . The three-way conference call t h a t ensued w i t h i n
the h o u r was more speculative at firsr than the Svensen conversation had
been. In the b e g i n n i n g , in fact, C h a n n i n g was d o w n r i g h r incredulous.
U N T H I N K A B L E R E A L I T I E S 379

" D o y o u really mean t o say that the Pontiff authored these impressive
elements o f the message, Eminence?"
" E m p h a t i c a l l y , I c a n n o t explain i t . But you have seen i t w i t h your o w n
eyes. T h e w o r d s o f the message are deliberate. But w h a t is the i n t e n t ? "
" I t ' s n o t g o i n g t o halt the plan i n Bosnia-Herzegovina." T h a t was Cyrus
Benthoek's analysis.
" N o , " C h a n n i n g agreed. " W e k n o w t h a t must proceed as long as rhe
CIS issue is unresolved. A n d yet, I must presume rhar the Pope k n o w s o f
the F i v e - M a n P l a n . "
" E m p h a t i c a l l y , " M a e s t r o i a n n i c o n f i r m e d . " I n fact, he b r o u g h t it up spe-
cifically i n o u r discussion as the s p r i n g b o a r d for rhis U N i n i t i a t i v e . "
" H e k n o w s , t h e r e f o r e " — C h a n n i n g d r e w one c o n c l u s i o n — " t h a t , for rhe
m o m e n t , the Bosnia plan excludes negotiations. So it's safe t o assume that
the real purpose o f this Negotiations message has little and n o t h i n g t o do
w i t h its t i t l e . "
A n n o y e d that they were still at square one, H i s Eminence cut in o n
C h a n n i n g . " T h a t brings me back to m y o r i g i n a l question. I seek the real
purpose o f this message. I d o n ' t k n o w the answer, b u t 1 d o n ' t like the
smell o f i t . "
" M a y b e he's just gerring desperate, Flminence." Benthoek sounded
h o p e f u l . " M a y b e he's beginning to see h o w far o u t o f step he is w i t h the
new order of things and wants to get back i n t o l i n e . "
"Desperate, Cyrus? H e may be confusing the issues, but he's too confi-
dent to be desperate."
" C o n f u s i n g identities w o u l d be more like i t , " Cyrus countered. "He
sounds like one of us. He's i n v a d i n g o u r t u r f . "
D r . C h a n n i n g listened w i t h half an ear. As a dedicated servitor of the
Prince, he had some private t h i n k i n g to d o . C h a n n i n g was a man of Spirit.
H e was led by Spirit; had an unerring instinct f o r rhe movement o f Spirit.
A n d , u n l i k e the other t w o , he k n e w o f rhe Enrhronemenr ceremony that
had been celebrated decades before in the Citadel o f the Enemy. N o w , i f
the w h o l e significance o f the Enthronement had been t o advance the
p o w e r and the agenda o f the Prince i n rhe age-old warfare o f Spirit, t o
embrace the Citadel o f religion itself i n t o the folds o f the Process, it was
o n l y logical t o t h i n k that the Slavic Pope had finally been affected i n some
primary way.
N o t that the P o n t i f f had been co-opted. H i s dedication to the basics o f
C a t h o l i c m o r a l i r y was c o n v i n c i n g testimony o n that score. But it w o u l d
appear o n rhe evidence o f the Negotiations text t h a t he had been cornered;
that w i l l y - n i l l y he was being secularized.
A momenr or t w o o f such clear-headed analysis was enough t o make the
fundamenral situation p l a i n to C h a n n i n g . H e was ready to weigh into the
conversation again at a persuasive and practical level. " Y o u r Pope may
nor be desperate, Eminence." There was a buoyanr edge ro his voice as he
broke i n t o the dialogue. "Neverrheless, 1 t h i n k Cyrus may be r i g h t . The
 380 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

P o n t i f f is m a k i n g a bid to be included in die affairs of m a n k i n d . I t beats

me w h y he t h i n k s t a l k i n g like us i n this Negotiations message w i l l
strengthen his p o s i t i o n . But I have no d o u b t , Eminence, that it w i l l
strengthen ours. W h e n y o u deliver rhat paper, ir w i l l help t o mitigate the
tension t h a t still exists i n some quarters against the new order of rhings.
Language molds t h o u g h t , after a l l .
"So, let's help h i m in this w o r t h y efforr. Let's hope he continues t o
confuse the issues, and his identity as w e l l . Let's hope he confuses the
conservatives and traditionalists w h o still hang o n t o the fringes o f his
C h u r c h . I f we manage o u r plans well and keep rhings o n a t i m e l y sched-
ule, all o f that w i l l make it easier ro deal w i r h h i m definitively w h e n rhe
time comes.
" N o w . " T h e supremely confidenr Professor C h a n n i n g t u r n e d the focus
o f the conversation o n a d i m e . "Speaking o f o u r o w n plans, your E m i -
nence. I presume y o u r new tactic t o b r i n g the C o m m o n M i n d Vore pro-
g r a m back i n t o line a m o n g the bishops in America is firm?"
" F i r m and ready to g o . " M a e s t r o i a n n i sounded like his o l d self again.
" L i m i t e d as he is, I have h i g h hopes f o r Father C h r i s t i a n G l a d s t o n e . "
" W e l l , t h e n . " C h a n n i n g was satisfied f o r n o w . "Unless we inrend t o let
such an advantageous m o m e n t pass us b y , I w o u l d say y o u r man Svensen
has given splendid advice. Let's welcome rhe Slavic Pope o n t o o u r ter-
rain!"

W h i l e the Slavic Pope set a b o u t his latest gamble by r e d o u b l i n g his already

troublesome policies, G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o prepared D a m i e n Slarrery and
C h r i s t i a n Gladstone for rhe papal investigations i n t o Satanism and h o m o -
sexuality a m o n g the A m e r i c a n clergy.
L u c a d a m o still held Christian's loyalty t o be an open question. For the
m o m e n t , t h o u g h , he was satisfied that Father C h r i s t i a n had p u t the basic
elements o f his mission neatly i n t o place. The arrangemenr he had made ro
include the A m e r i c a n bishops in his w o r k for M a e s t r o i a n n i t o o k care o f
his posting t o the U n i t e d States. The travel i t required w o u l d provide h i m
w i t h the perfect cover f o r a w i d e - r a n g i n g investigation i n t o homosexual
activity a m o n g clergy and religious. A n d his f a m i l y concerns justified his
use o f W i n d s w e p t Flouse as his base o f operations.
Slattery's posting fell o u t perfectly, t o o , and almost o f its o w n accord.
As the date d r e w near for the General Chapter of the D o m i n i c a n O r d e r ro
rake place, i t became clear rhat another Irish f r i a r , one D o n a l M c G i n r y ,
was a shoo-in t o succeed Slattery as Master-General o f the D o m i n i c a n s .
M c G i n t y , an astonishingly permissive man w i r h a single-minded passion
for g o l f , seemed overjoyed at the prospecr o f s h i p p i n g his D o m i n i c a n
brother o f f t o the Order's faraway p r i o r y in C e n t u r y c i t y , U.S.A.
D a m i e n w a s n ' t half so pleased as M c G i n t y at the prospecr o f t a k i n g up
residence at the C e n t u r y c i t y p r i o r y . R u m o r had i t t h a t the House of the
H o l y Angels, as the monastery was k n o w n , had become a haven for sev-
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 381

eral homosexually oriented members o f the O r d e r . A n d then there was the

matter of Father George H a n e b e r r y , the m a n w h o w o u l d be Damien's
superior in C e n t u r y c i t y .
" H e hates m y guts, G i u s t i n o . " Slattery p u t rhe case f r a n k l y to the secu-
r i t y chief. "Ever since I got at h i m abour a scandalous m o n o g r a p h he
p u b l i s h e d — " H o m o s e x u a l i t y and H u m a n n e s s , " he called i t ; a blarant plea
for homosexual r i g h t s — h e ' l l d o everything he can to smear me. Given half
a chance, Haneberry w i l l have me in a v i s e . "
L u c a d a m o was sympathetic but insistent. "Fie w o n ' t have half a chance,
Father. O f f i c i a l l y , y o u ' l l be in rhe Srares o n behalf of rhe H o l y Farher. As
far as Haneberry k n o w s , y o u r j o b w i l l be t o lecture ro pro-life groups and
give retreats to priests a n d religious. T h a t w o r k w i l l be real. I t w i l l give
y o u as m u c h latitude as Father C h r i s t i a n has t o travel a r o u n d the c o u n t r y .
A n d the fact t h a t y o u ' l l be w o r k i n g as the Pontiff's official representative
should be w a r n i n g enough ro Flaneberry—and t o anyone else w i t h an
ounce o f brains i n his head—ro keep hands o f f . "
W i t h rhe basic setup f o r the t w o neophyte spy-priests i n place, L u -
cadamo c r a m m e d several briefing sessions w i t h Slattery and Gladstone
i n t o a short span o f t i m e . " H i s Holiness needs m o r e t h a n lists o f names
and dates a n d places," G i u s t i n o began his review o f the papal mandate.
" H i s t h i n k i n g is that the practice o f Satanist rituals may have achieved
some n e t w o r k i n g vogue a m o n g the A m e r i c a n clergy. We need an overall
picture. A n d the same goes f o r homosexual a c t i v i t y . We need t o k n o w the
extent t o w h i c h h o m o s e x u a l i t y as a w a y o f life has been a d o p t e d — o r at
least accepted a n d t o l e r a t e d — b y t h a t same clerical b o d y . In other w o r d s ,
is there a n y t h i n g resembling a homosexual n e t w o r k a m o n g the clergy over
there?"
Because b o t h priests w o u l d be on u n e x p l o r e d t e r r i t o r y , and hecause
they were r a n k beginners i n rhe business o f covert operations, the security
chief was rougher t h a n usual in i n s t i l l i n g the caution he was sure w o u l d be
needed. " N e v e r lose sight of the f a c t " — h e drove the p o i n t home over and
over a g a i n — " r h a r sexuality and Satanism are the n i t r o g l y c e r i n o f h u m a n
relations. In pracrical terms, thar means y o u ' l l borh be fair game f o r rhe
v o l a t i l i t y o f rhe liar and the i r r a t i o n a l impulses o f b l i n d passions.
" Y o u ' l l be dealing w i r h i n f o r m a n t s . In the early g o i n g , y o u ' l l be dealing
w i r h people we k n o w ; people we've been able ro check o u t . But that's just
the starting p o i n t . W h e n i t comes t o r e c r u i t i n g new i n f o r m a n t s as you go,
deal w i t h single i n d i v i d u a l s o n l y . Ir's always one-on-one. A l w a y s proceed
f r o m i n d i v i d u a l t o i n d i v i d u a l . Never recruir f r o m groups—even f r o m
groups of t w o .
" I n case y o u rrusr rhe w r o n g person, be sure you've taken every precau-
t i o n in advance to l i m i t the damage. Your r e p u t a t i o n can be mangled.
Your efficiency for rhis m i s s i o n — a n d y o u r w h o l e career, besides—can be
c o m p r o m i s e d . So d o n ' t leave yourselves open t o false accusations. W h e n -
ever possible, meetings w i r h people y o u have any reason ro doubr should
 382 W1NDSWE.PT HOUSE

take place i n p u b l i c . Wherever y o u go, even alone, rry ro distinguish your-

selves i n some w a y , w i t h o u t being blaranr. I f y o u rake a cab, f o r example,
ask the driver abour his f a m i l y , the wearher, rhe t i m e . A n y t h i n g rhar w i l l
make ir likely he'll remember y o u . In restaurants, o v e r t i p . O r d o n ' r leave a
rip at a l l . O r spill a glass o f warer. C o m p l a i n a b o u t the service, or give
effusive c o m p l i m e n t s . The idea is to be remembered. T o be able ro prove
where y o u were, i n case false accusations are raised against y o u .
"Establish safe phones at home base. T h a t w o n ' t be a p r o b l e m for
Father C h r i s at W i n d s w e p t House. But y o u m i g h t have a p r o b l e m , Father
D a m i e n , given rhe s i t u a t i o n you describe ar rhe C e n t u r y c i t y p r i o r y . Insofar
as y o u can, let one another k n o w i n advance where y o u expect to be,
a l o n g w i t h y o u r times of departure and expected r e t u r n — i n case y o u
d o n ' t r e t u r n . A n d devise some simple code so you can a v o i d using names
o f people and places.
" A s far as this papal investigation is concerned, y o u w i l l seek no help
f r o m ecclesiastical aurhorities. Never consult t h e m . A n d no marrer w h a t
y o u may discover, never c o n f r o n r them or threaten their official capacity.
Never antagonize them unnecessarily. Never step o n t o their b a i l i w i c k .
Remember, they have C a n o n L a w o n their side. A n d , given the basic stuff
o f this mission, a l w a y s — I repeat, always—remember that any ecclesiasti-
cal officeholder has r w o nightmares: financial failure and public scandal.
T h e y fear those t w o rhings more than Heaven's judgmenr or rhe pains o f
Hell."
W h e n Gladsrone and D a m i e n were as ready as he c o u l d make rhem,
L u c a d a m o gave rhem a set of briefing documents t o be memorized and
then destroyed. H e then gave each m a n his i n i t i a l contact.
Slattery w o u l d srart w i t h the retired C e n t u r y c i t y police inspector Sylves-
ter W o d g i l a , the officer i n charge o f rhe Scalabrini m u r d e r case, w h o had
put together the plan for the official investigation he had intended to
f o l l o w . Included i n Slattery's materials was one document he w o u l d keep
intact. Courtesy o f the Slavic Pope, a certain Father D a n i t s k i — a m o n k in
the M o n a s t e r y o f Czestochowa, and a firsr cousin ro W o d g i l a — h a d p r o -
vided such an innocuous lerrer o f i n t r o d u c t i o n ro the premarurely retired
police inspecror rhat i t made Slattery laugh. " G i v e rhe bearer o f rhis letter
any assisrance y o u c a n , " D a n i r s k i had w r i t r e n . " H e wants ro see rhe sighrs
o f y o u r famous C e n r u r y c i t y . "
C h r i s t i a n Gladstone's p o i n t o f departure was dicier and gave no cause
for laughter. Father M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y had been recently o r d a i n e d for ser-
vice in the N e w Orleans Archdiocese by none other than Gladstone's f o r -
mer superior, C a r d i n a l J o h n Jay O ' C l e a r y . A r the end o f his first year as an
assistant pastor, however, he had discovered that three fourth-year stu-
dents in the Archdiocesan seminary were active homosexuals. B o l d l y , he
had raken rhe i n f o r m a t i o n t o Jay Jay O ' C l e a r y . Even more b o l d l y , he had
t o l d H i s Eminence t h a t the three men should be expelled f r o m rhe semi-
nary.
U N 1 H IN KA W L E REALITIES 383

A f t e r a short i n q u i r y d u r i n g w h i c h the three seminarians i n question

had c o n f i r m e d the t r u t h o f the allegations, Jay Jay had approved their
o r d i n a t i o n as priests o f his diocese.
For O ' R e i l l y , rhe w h o l e affair had escalated i n t o wholesale disaster. H e
was removed f r o m his parish, placed on six m o n t h s ' p r o b a t i o n and or-
dered ro undergo a psychoscxual e v a l u a t i o n . W h e n he refused, he was senr
to c o o l his heels in the seminary and was given no diocesan assignment.
O ' R e i l l y had decided t o make the matter k n o w n ro rhe Vatican's Congre-
g a t i o n for rhe Clergy. T h e idea was ro w r i r e a lerrer detailing rhe case and
ro use rhe d i p l o m a r i c pouch of rhe Floly See's A p o s t o l i c Delegate in Wash-
i n g t o n , D . C . , t o t r a n s m i t i t t o Rome.
Father O ' R e i l l y ' s mistake had been t o send that letter in strict accord
w i t h seminary rules: he handed i t in t o the Rector's office i n the n o r m a l
manner f o r t r a n s m i t t a l to Washington t h r o u g h the mails. N o t surprisingly,
ir made its w a y r a p i d l y to the Archdiocesan Chancery, where i t was inter-
cepted by the C a r d i n a l ' s red-haired j u n i o r secretary, Father Eddie M c -
Pherson, w h o had charge o f wharever seminary m a i l m i g h t be sent
t h r o u g h f o r H i s Eminence's a t t e n t i o n . Jay Jay himself f o u n d that O ' R e i l l y
in his letter named names and gave dates and locations, and that he had
c o m p l a i n e d that C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y had deliberately ordained three certifi-
ably homosexual men, rhus s w e l l i n g rhe already g r o w i n g ranks of
pedophiliac priests.
O ' R e i l l y had been called o n the Cardinal's carpet, had been t o l d he was
a very sick y o u n g man and had been again ordered to s u b m i t t o a
psychosexual evaluation at the Raphael Institute in N e w Orleans. W h e n
O ' R e i l l y had refused to obey, Jay Jay had declared h i m " i n s u b o r d i n a t e
and psychologically undependable," and had t o l d h i m he w o u l d be de-
frocked and expelled f r o m rhe Archdiocese. Reduced by every c i r c u m -
stance to t o t a l f r u s t r a t i o n , O ' R e i l l y answered by cursing Jay Jay t o his
face, flattening Father Eddie McPherson w i r h a left h o o k to the jaw and
s t o r m i n g out o f the Chancery.
A f t e r that b r o u h a h a , O ' R e i l l y had d r o p p e d o u t of sight altogether f o r a
couple o f m o n r h s . Finally, t h o u g h , he had t u r n e d up o n the long-aban-
doned Western Bordeaux Plantation i n Louisiana, where, supported by a
m o n t h l y stipend f r o m his f a m i l y , he n o w lived a hermit's life.
" W h a t d o y o u make o f all t h a t . Father Christian? As an o l d protege o f
C a r d i n a l O ' C l e a r y , does i t stack up as credible t o you? A n d do y o u t h i n k
O ' R e i l l y w o u l d be reliable enough to serve as a firsr lead for y o u r i n -
quiry?"
Chris began w i r h Father Eddie McPherson's alleged role i n the outrage
againsr M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y . " T h a r p a r t o f the story is certainly c r e d i b l e , "
C h r i s t i a n c o n f i r m e d . " M c P h e r s o n is jealous enough o f his o w n sranding to
see an advantage in heading o f f any scandal that w o u l d reflecr direcrly o n
rhe Chancery. He's always ready ro c u r r y favor w i r h H i s Eminence. A n d
 384 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

his duties f o r the C a r d i n a l p u t o p p o r t u n i t y in his w a y in the f o r m o f

O'Reilly's letter."
As far as Jay Jay O'Cleary's alleged role was concerned, the report not
o n l y fit w i t h Gladstone's perception o f the Cardinal's character. H i s E m i -
nence was k n o w n to be a m a n w h o w a n t e d to be loved by everybody. In
this instance, he w o u l d certainly be loved by the three grateful seminarians
w h o had made it to priestly o r d i n a t i o n . A n d he w o u l d be loved by any
member o f the academic faculty w h o m i g h t be homosexually active, or
w h o just p l a i n w a n t e d to a v o i d t r o u b l e .
" A n d w h a t a b o u t O ' R e i l l y ? " L u c a d a m o pressed the r e m a i n i n g p o i n t .
" A f t e r w h a r he's been t h r o u g h , do y o u t h i n k he'd be a reliable srarring
p o i n r for y o u r invesrigarion?"
Gladsrone smiled a sad smile. " F o r m y m o n e y , rhe question is whether
O ' R e i l l y has any objecrive backup p r o o f like rhe marerial he showed ro
Cardinal O'Cleary."
" M a y b e s o . " D a m i e n had his o w n t w o cenrs to offer. " B u t i f Ed been
m a n h a n d l e d by my superior rhe way that y o u n g f e l l o w has, I ' d be gun-shy
o f any R o m a n C a t h o l i c clergyman w h o came w i t h i n a c o u n r r y mile of me.
So, f o r my m o n e y , rhe firsr question is wherher y o u can ger ar h i m ar a l l . "
" I r h i n k I can manage r h a r . " Chris's smile was almosr mischievous rhis
time. " I t just so happens that the p l a n t a t i o n where O ' R e i l l y is holed up
belongs to the N e w Orleans Bank o f Sourhern Credir. A n d i t just so hap-
pens t h a t some o f the Gladstone m i l l i o n s you like to rag me a b o u t have
b o u g h t us a m a j o r interest in that b a n k . A n d it just so happens that
T h o m a s Barr R o l l i n s , the president o f t h a t b a n k , is a regular visitor at
Windswept House."
" A n d " — S l a t t e r y came back w i t h a bit of mischief o f his o w n — " I sup-
pose i t just so happens Rollins bounced you o n his knee w h e n y o u were
still i n short britches, so he'll d o a n y t h i n g you w a n t , no questions asked."
" I never w o r e short b r i t c h e s . " Gladstone laughed. " B u t you've got the
picture. 1 baptized one o f his grandsons nor l o n g a g o . "
W i t h the O ' R e i l l y matter essentially settled, L u c a d a m o tackled w h a t he
called his . M a y d a y p r o v i s i o n . " T h e idea, reverend gentlemen"—he dis-
played a w o l f i s h g r i n — " i s nor ro be able to get yourselves o u t o f t r o u b l e .
T h e idea is ro see rhat y o u d o n ' t get i n t o t r o u b l e in the first place. Bur, just
i n case t h a t n i t r o g l y c e r i n m i x t u r e o f sexuality and Satanism explodes in
y o u r hands, and you d o get i n t o t r o u b l e , d o n ' t t r y to rescue yourselves
w i t h o u t h e l p . " T h e security chief supplied them w i t h one final piece o f
paper. " M e m o r i z e this name and the addresses and phone numbers that
go w i t h i t . T h e n destroy the i n f o r m a t i o n a l o n g w i t h the rest of the briefing
data."
" L e n C o n n e l l , " Slattery read the name a l o u d . " A friend o f y o u r s , Gius-
tino?"
" A f r i e n d , a colleague and a foursquare R o m a n C a t h o l i c . " Lucadamo
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 385

was empharic. " B u t f r o m y o u r p o i n t o f v i e w , the m a i n t h i n g is that he's

FBI. H e k n o w s h o w t o get greenhorns like y o u o u t o f h o t w a t e r . "
Finally, the o n l y matter to take u p was the question o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n
w i t h the H o l y Father. Slattery and Gladstone w o u l d r e t u r n to Rome to
deliver their p r e l i m i n a r y findings to the P o n t i f f sometime a r o u n d the end
o f s p r i n g , before H i s Holiness left for the papal residence ar Casrel
G a n d o l f o ; o r , i f circumsrances w a r r a n r e d a delay, rhey w o u l d hand in a
final r e p o r t by summer's end. Should c o m m u n i c a t i o n become imperative
before t h a t , their contact was t o be t h r o u g h Father A l d o Carnesecca.
"Ple'II be stationed in Barcelona for a w h i l e , " L u c a d a m o rold them.
" O u t o f the direct line of fire, y o u m i g h t say. Y o u ' l l be given secure mail
d r o p s , w h e n the time c o m e s . "
A t the m e n t i o n o f Carnesecca's name, the expression on Chris's face
changed a b r u p t l y . " N o w t h a t we've been t h r o u g h this briefing w i t h y o u ,
G i u s t i n o — n o w t h a t I've had a glimpse o f the life Carnesecca has lived
d u r i n g all the years o f his service t o the H o l y See—I t h i n k Pm just begin-
n i n g to see h o w t o u g h a man he really i s . "
T h a t r e m a r k w e n t i n t o the plus side o f L u c a d a m o ' s c o n t i n u i n g evalua-
t i o n o f Gladstone. H e c o u l d o n l y hope t h a t this i n n o c e n t - l o o k i n g A m e r i -
can w o u l d t u r n o u t t o be half the man Father A l d o was.

CESSI G L A D S T O N E opened her eyes at first light, peered about i n c o n f u -

sion a n d , o n l y afrer some seconds, remembered where she was. The Excel-
sior H o r e l o n rhe Via Venero i n R o m e . " R i d i c u l o u s w o m a n , " she chided
herself. Her m i n d still n o t focused, she reached f o r rhe bedside phone w i t h
the foggy n o t i o n o f calling C h r i s ar rhe A n g e l i c u m before he began his
day. " R i d i c u l o u s w o m a n , " she scolded again as she gathered her robe
a r o u n d her a n d headed for rhe shower. " G e t y o u r w i t s a b o u t y o u , o l d g i r l .
Chris is the one at W i n d s w e p t House n o w . You're rhe one in R o m e . A n d
y o u ' d better make the most o f i t . "
The bargain she had sealed w i r h C a r d i n a l Amedeo Sanstefano d u r i n g
her l i g h t n i n g visit to the Vatican Bank had p a i d off. The Gladstone bailout
in the Salvi suitcase affair lasr fall had been her ricker t o a privare audience
w i r h rhe Slavic Pope. Just as Sanstefano had said, i t had taken a l o n g time
to a r r a n g e — f r o m the previous a u t u m n to this early s p r i n g . N o r the least
benefit f r o m rhe delay, however, had been Cessi's discovery o f a new
friend in Sansrefano. H e had become a porentially invaluable ally for the
accomplishmenr o f her mission w i t h the Pope.
J -J J LI
 386 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

As i m p o s i n g as H i s Eminence had been ar rhar firsr meering in Rome,

Cessi had nor f o u n d h i m t o o f o r m i d a b l e for her. N o r had she been conrenr
ro ask the C a r d i n a l to arrange a papal audience for her and leave rhe
marter at that. W h e n she had received the letter o f i n v i t a t i o n f r o m the
P o n t i f f s secretary c o n f i r m i n g the details o f her papal audience, she called
h i m in order to register her dissatisfaction at the arrangements.
" I t w i l l n o t d o , Your Eminence," Cessi had c o m p l a i n e d . ' T h e details set
out by this M o n s i g n o r e Daniel Sadowski are exactly w h a t I expected, and
it w i l l n o t d o . H i s Holiness has set aside an hour f o r me. H e w i l l receive
me in one o f the upstairs reception areas o f rhe A p o s t o l i c Palace. H e w i l l
share some refreshments w i t h me and listen t o w h a t I have to say.
" I a m one o f the R o m a n Catholic l a i t y , such as we are these days. A n d
in that role, 1 can tell Your Eminence that 1 d o n ' t need a Pope to shake my
hand and ask me h o w I a m . I d o n ' t need a Pope t o pass the sugar for my
tea w h i l e we relax together in a pair of easy chairs t o discuss this or that or
the other bagarclle. In other w o r d s , Eminence, 1 deplore the idea o f having
tea w i t h the Vicar o f Christ as t h o u g h the Barque o f Peter were the G o o d
Ship L o l l i p o p o n a h o l i d a y cruise.
" I need a Pope whose instep 1 kiss because he w a l k s in the awesome
presence o f G o d , and because he lives in rhe preserve of Chrisr Whose
Vicar he is. 1 need a Pope ro approach in awe because o f rhe w i s d o m
beyond all h u m a n calculation w i t h w h i c h G o d has seen fit t o e n d o w h i m . I
need a Pope t o venerate because his fatal m o r t a l i t y and his puny h u m a n
m i n d are absorbed by the p o w e r G o d has invested in h i m . ' 1

" I t is t r u e , Signora Cessi." H i s Eminence was c a n d i d , t o o : " W e w h o live

in Rome have been despoiled o f something precious and irreplaceable. I t is
true t h a t Rome itself has been despoiled of its ancient cloak o f religious
reverence. T h i s Erernal C i r y has been invaded by rhe mysrery o f i n i q u i t y ,
and everyone is infected t o some degree w i t h its banality and its indiffer-
ence."
" E v e r y o n e , " Cessi had intervened b o l d l y , " i n c l u d i n g this most extraor-
d i n a r y and enigmatic o f Popes?"
It had been a measure of Sanstefano's professional integrity t h a i , rather
t h a n fall i n t o the t r a p o f open papal c r i t i c i s m , he had channeled Cessi's
o b v i o u s anger and dislike for this Pope i n t o a more positive course. H i s
Eminence a l l o w e d as h o w he, t o o , w o u l d love t o see a return ro the o l d
p o m p and regalia o f a f o r m a l papal audience conducred in the richly
o r n a m e n t e d but n o w little used Sala della Sede A p o s t o l i c a . " A n d yet,
Signora, you w i l l excuse an o l d man for suggesting t h a t if y o u r hope is to
use y o u r papal audience to evoke that religious reverence again, y o u w i l l
do w e l l t o recognize reality and t o deal w i t h it i n t e l l i g e n t l y . "
G r a t e f u l f o r Sanstefano's corrective, Cessi had decided to share w i t h
h i m her o w n dismal assessment o f the Slavic Pope on the chance that he
might collaborare in some meaningful w a y i n the t w o f o l d p e t i t i o n she
intended to make to the H o l y Father.
UNTHINKABLE REALITIES 387

" T h e real basis o f m y request for a papal audience." she confided, "lies
in my view o f h o w matters stand in the C h u r c h : we are facing i n t o an
eclipse o f o u r t r a d i t i o n a l R o m a n Catholic life as any k i n d o f visibly effec-
tive force. Further, i t is m y v i e w . Eminence, that the Pope must consider
the t r a d i r i o n a l structure o f his C h u r c h to be passe and useless. For he
seems deliberately to a l l o w i t t o decay. If that is n o t his idea, there is no
way o f understanding h i m other than as rorally aberranr and as neglectful
o f his Petrine office as Pope "
Sansrefano had finally made i t plain that he w a n t e d to hear more. A n d
Cessi had a g o o d deal more ro say. " T h e decay o f w h i c h I speak, E m i -
nence, has already gone very far. N e i t h e r bishops n o r priests n o r rhe o r d i -
nary parish-and-diocese srructure o f rhe C h u r c h any longer guaranrees rhe
basics o f rhar R o m a n Catholic life. N o w , I w o n ' t detail w h a t I consider to
be this H o l y Father's errors o f judgmenr. Simon Perer made such errors.
We all d o . I t is h u m a n . We do n o t share w i r h rhe Pope either rhe aurhoriry
or the responsibility o f the papal t h r o n e . Bur we do mosr emphatically
share w i t h one another the responsibility t o make up for his deficiencies.
"Unless we can agree o n rhat m u c h , Eminence, further c o l l a b o r a t i o n
berween us w i l l be i m p o s s i b l e . "
There was a silence w h i l e Sansrefano digested w h a t he had heard so far.
Clearly rhis w o m a n made m o r e sense o f the Slavic Pope's policies and
motives than men w h o had spent their lives tucked snugly in their Vatican
careers. Clearly, w i t h o u t some expression o f a c o m m o n m i n d w i r h her,
His Eminence w o u l d learn n o t h i n g o f her plans ro rackle the Pope. " T h o s e
deficiencies you speak of, Signora Cessi. W o u l d you nor agree rhat they are
most p r o b a b l y caused by the t i g h t net o f c o n t r o l and restriction d r a w n
a r o u n d the present papacy by internal enemies? By R o m a n Catholic ene-
mies o f that sacred p a p a c y ? " T h e n , on the assumption that his meaning
had been clear enough, Sansrefano decided ro rake the exchange to the
payoff. " M a y I assume, Signora, rhar y o u have a specific proposal ro lay
before rhe H o l y Farher d u r i n g y o u r audience w i r h h i m ? "
The C a r d i n a l had nor o n l y mer Cessi's challenge. O n rhe c o n d i t i o n rhar
whar passed berween rhem n o w w o u l d be as confidential as a n y t h i n g said
in the confessional, Cessi t o l d Sanstefano the t w o f o l d purpose o f her papal
meering.
His response had been more than Cessi had dared t o hope. " I r seems ro
me rhar rhe proposals y o u w i s h t o present to the H o l y Father d o reflect the
exceedingly dangerous c o n d i t i o n of the C h u r c h . I w i l l assist actively in the
success o f y o u r venture. I w i l l prepare the w a y for y o u to be received by
the H o l y Father in a f o r m a t that is fitting and w o r t h y of the occasion.
There w i l l be no g r a n d processions, m i n d y o u . But neither w i l l ir be a rea
parry o n rhe G o o d Ship L o l l i p o p . A n d , w i r h y o u r consent, 1 w i l l assist at
the audience myself. Provided Flis Floliness agrees t o y o u r proposals, i t
w i l l be clear to h i m by my presence that I stand ready t o fill the role of
C a r d i n a l Prorecror for y o u r v e n t u r e . "
 388 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

J J J J
At rhree-thirry sharp, dressed and coiffed in conservative elegance, Cessi
srepped our o f rhe elevaror i n r o rhe Excelsior's ornate lobby. As eyes
rurned o n every side ro w a r c h , this graceful w o m a n strode Toward the
entrance where the limousine w i t h its unmistakable Vatican plates was
w a i t i n g for her.
D u r i n g the ride to the A p o s t o l i c Palace, Cessi exchanged pleasantries
w i r h her friendly y o u n g d r i v e r , but her m i n d was elsewhere. O n rhe heavy
congesrion of traffic that slowed their progress. O n her meeting w i t h the
Pontiff. O n her w o r r y about Tricia. O n her questions a b o u t Chris and
where his career as a R o m a n priest was t a k i n g h i m . O n the advice and
coaching C a r d i n a l Sanstefano had given her.
A t last, her driver was heading across rhe Vicror Emmanuel Bridge. A r
rhe f a m i l i a r sighr o f Casrel Sanr'Angelo ropped by rhe famed figure of Sr.
M i c h a e l , s w o r d in h a n d , Cessi said a silent and equally f a m i l i a r prayer for
the Archangel's help and p r o r e c t i o n . A p p a r e n r l y , M i c h a e l was paying at-
t c n t i o n , for rhe traffic o n rhe Via delta Conciliazione began ro move ar
such a c l i p rhar her driver pulled inro Sr. Perer's Square and drew ro a hair
inside rhe C o u r t of Sr. Damasus on rhe dor of three f o r t y - f i v e .
To be on schedule i n Rome, she reflecred w i t h a little smile o f thanks t o
the chauffeur, was a small miracle in itself.
The chamberlain w a i r i n g ar curbside handed her out of the limousine.
Through the Secretariat doors they went. I n t o the creaky o l d elevator. U p
ro the t h i r d f l o o r and inro a spacious reception r o o m o v e r l o o k i n g the
square, where her escorr lefr her w i t h a b o w and the barest t o u c h of a
smile. Cessi t o o k a quick but critical l o o k at her surroundings. She ran a
hand over rhe dark w o o d of rhe conference table; f r o w n e d ar rhe g r o u p of
easy chairs assembled hard by the w i n d o w ; noted the delicacy o f the cor-
nice w o r k above her.
The d o o r opened. W i r h C a r d i n a l Sanstefano and another m a n , a monsi-
gnore, f o l l o w i n g , Elis Holiness w a l k e d into rhe r o o m .
Cessi was asronished ar rhe sense of happy solemnity that ran t h r o u g h
her as H i s Eminence made the f o r m a l i n t r o d u c t i o n s . She knelt to kiss the
Fisherman's r i n g , and then a l l o w e d the H o l y Father to take her hand in
b o t h of his and d r a w her ro her feet.
"Signora G l a d s r o n e . " T h e Pontiff's blue eyes met hers squarely. "1 am
glad to have this o p p o r t u n i t y to speak w i t h such a f a i t h f u l daughter of the
C h u r c h and w i t h the m o t h e r of such a fine priest as Father C h r i s t i a n . "
The w a r m t h of the Pope's greeting fell a r o u n d Cessi like a cloak as
C a r d i n a l Sanstefano led the w a y s k i l l f u l l y but unobtrusively to the confer-
ence table. She w a i t e d for the Pope to be seated before she rook rhe chair
held our for her by rhe man w h o had been inrroduced as M o n s i g n o r e
Daniel Sadowski, Then rhere were a few minures of ceremonial small
r a l k — a reminder f r o m C a r d i n a l Sansrefano of the g o o d signora's mosr
recenr act of generosity r o w a r d the Vatican Bank; a w o r d f r o m H i s H o l i -
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 389

ness a b o u t the selfless Father A n g e l o Gutmacher w h o was so close to the

Gladstones; a w o r d again a b o u t Father Christian's valued service. Cessi
began to feel that Heaven itself was s m i l i n g u p o n w h a t she was about to
propose.
Ar a certain p o i n r , w i t h n o more rhan a slighr gesrure o f his hands. H i s
Holiness invited his h o n o r e d guest to take center stage. Cessi d i d so w i t h a
f o r m a l i t y that was rarely heard w i t h i n the Vatican these days. " Y o u r H o l i -
ness be blessed by C h r i s t O u r L o r d for g i v i n g me this privilege. A n d if i t
please Your Holiness, a l l o w me ro presenr a r w o f o l d p e t i t i o n . "
T h e Slavic Pope nodded his consent.
" I k n o w we differ in o u r perspecrives. By necessity. Your Holiness must
take a w o r l d v i e w . By necessity, as a w o m a n , a mother and a private
i n d i v i d u a l , I must view matters o n a one-to-one basis. Nonetheless, I be-
lieve w e can agree o n one i m p o r t a n t fact. Every m o n r h fresh evidence
pours in ro s h o w rhat rhe decadence of rhe exrernal srructure o f rhe
C h u r c h is proceeding ar a geomerric rare. For twenty-five years and more
rhis has gone o n w i t h no sign of a t u r n i n g . " Cessi raised one eyebrow ever
so slightly in query.
T h e Slavic Pope nodded somberly.
" I n i m i t a t i o n o f Your Holiness, I have no d i f f i c u l t y facing this desola-
t i o n o f C a t h o l i c i s m — t h i s decadence and obsolescence—on one c o n d i t i o n .
N a m e l y , t h a t we w h o are so often referred ro n o w as rhe People o f G o d
have access ro the Sacraments. T o v a l i d Sacraments, H o l i n e s s . " Stiffening
suddenly as t h o u g h some pain had assailed h i m , the Pope raised an eye to
C a r d i n a l Sanstefano. a n d then t o Sadowski. Each man read those gestures
d i f f e r e n t l y , and each w a s correcr. Sadowski was sure rhe P o n t i f f was t r u l y
in physical pain again. Sansrefano was sure rhe Pope had n o t expecred this
t u r n i n Cessi Gladstone's a r g u m e n t .
" U n f o r t u n a t e l y , H o l y Father, the supply of validly o r d a i n e d priesrs and
Therefore o f validly administered Sacraments are b o t h d i m i n i s h i n g at the
same rate as the C h u r c h structure is i m p l o d i n g o n itself and disintegrating
into dust."
The P o n t i f f was obviously fascinated by the self-possession of this Si-
g n o r a Gladstone. H e r head slightly i n c l i n e d , she never t o o k her eyes f r o m
his w h i l e she spoke. She rarely paused except in silent query. She seemed
t o be p o u r i n g o u t her inmost concerns w i t h o u t haste o r hesitation, b u t
w i t h an edge of passion that deepened the character o f her language. Being
o f steel himself, the Pope recognized rhe steel in her.
" A s I have said, my perspective is different f r o m Your Holiness*. A n d in
t h a t , I have rhe advantage. For, despire Y o u r Holiness* many personal
pilgrimages. Your Holiness must deal w i t h a sea o f people; and w i t h emo-
tionless graphs and charts that tell little of the people's discontent and
m o r a l c o n f u s i o n . W i t h faceless, voiceless lerters of pain and incomprehen-
sion. F r o m m y vantage p o i n t , I have o n l y to listen to hear the m o u r n i n g of
m y f e l l o w R o m a n Catholics. I have felt the suffering o f Father James
 390 WINDSWF.I'l HOUSE

H o r a n , a genuinely g o o d , o r t h o d o x , papist priest in my o w n diocese. A t

forty-five, he has been defrocked and banished by o u r bishop. Why? Be-
cause he insisrs o n preaching R o m a n C a t h o l i c m o r a l i t y in marriage. Be-
cause he refuses ro accepr the many strands o f rhe modernist heresy that
have been embraced and fostered by rhe C o n c i l i a r C h u r c h . Because he
denounces the homosexuality b u b b l i n g to the surface a m o n g some of his
f e l l o w priests. Because he is chaste and celibate.
" F a t h e r Floran has n o w been abandoned, w i t h no friend in o u r local
Chancery and no advocate or defender in Your Holiness' Chancery. He
and others like h i m t w i s t s l o w l y in the w i n d s o f c o r r u p t i o n , w h i l e o u r
bishops cry crocodile tears t h a t there are n o t enough priests.
" A n d f r o m m y vanrage p o i n t , Holiness, I k n o w rhe danger o f rhose w h o
present themselves for their firsr C o m m u n i o n . Two o f my o w n g o d c h i l -
dren were b o t h f o r b i d d e n t o go to first Confession before their first C o m -
m u n i o n . T h e Rosary beads I had given them were taken away f r o m them
as superstitious objects. T h e priest gave each o f them a r e d , w h i t e and blue
balloon t o carry in one h a n d insread, and a square o f soda bread to carry
in rhe other. Each was r o l d , Eat w i t h Jesus.' T h e w h o l e congregation
fc

clapped and chanted, 'Eat w i t h Jesus.'

" T h o s e t w o c h i l d r e n , H o l y Father, d i d not receive the Body, B l o o d , Soul
and D i v i n i t y o f O u r L o r d and Savior. Instead o f being led inro a srate o f
grace, they were p r o b a b l y led i n t o m o r t a l sin. For, if they w o r s h i p p e d
a n y r h i n g ar all that day, i t was n o t h i n g more than bread. A n d rhar is
marerial i d o l a t r y . "
H i s face drained o f c o l o r , rhe P o n t i f f raised his hands i n something
between prayer and protest. " B u t , Signora! You musr catechize rhose lirtle
ones. You must teach rhem . . . "
" O f course, Floly Father." Cessi was merciless, " B u t reaching rhem is
not enough. For where are they to go n o w — w h e r e are any o f us ro go
n o w — t o receive v a l i d Sacraments? These examples are not exceptions.
They are n o t even the rule, for there are far worse cases. Your Holiness
must surely k n o w there are entire regions where rhe validity of all the
Sacraments, beginning w i r h priestly o r d i n a t i o n itself, are in serious d o u b t ;
where the Body and B l o o d o f Christ no longer resides in rhe rabernacles.
Where rhe bread o n rhe A l t a r is just bread. Where rhe w i n e is just w i n e —
unless something else like g r a p e f r u i t juice is substituted instead.
" Y o u r Holiness must k n o w all o f this. But if y o u d o n o t , then I cannot
say whether the greater sin lies w i r h rhose w h o hide rhe t r u t h f r o m Your
Holiness or w i t h Y o u r Holiness for not t a k i n g the pains t o find o u t the
facts a b o u t the C h u r c h and its abandonment o f the f a i t h f u l . "
Cessi raised no eyebrow in query n o w . She neither w a n t e d n o r expected
a response to her i m p l i e d questions. T h o u g h she had not used the w o r d ,
Cessi had accused her Pope t o his face o f w h a r a m o u n t e d t o malfeasance.
She had n o t enjoyed the exercise, bur it was the bedrock reason f o r rhe
t w o relared peririons she was n o w ready t o present t o the H o l y Father.
U N T H l N K A B l t REALITIES 391

" M y r w o requests to Y o u r Holiness w i l l nor solve the bitter grief i n t o

w h i c h the C h u r c h is descending. But i n a time w h e n the w o r l d has been all
but denuded o f grace, they w i l l supply at least something o f the abundant
treasury o f o u r f a i t h . I have i n my possession a list o f f i f t y - f o u r priests in
the same q u a n d a r y as g o o d Father H o r a n . There are hundreds m o r e . Per-
haps thousands. But these are men 1 have interviewed a n d investigated. 1
can v o u c h for each o f t h e m . M y first p e t i t i o n , therefore, is t o w o r k w i t h a
person o f Your Holiness' trust to organize these men o n a private and
confidential basis, and w i t h o u t any j u r i d i c a l structure thar w o u l d involve
local bishops."
To his credit in Cessi's eyes, the H o l y Father responded w i t h a straighr-
f o r w a r d question. " T o w h a t end do y o u make such a request, Signora?"
" T o a very simple e n d , Holiness. T o p r o v i d e in at least some localities a
p o o l o f v a l i d l y o r d a i n e d , apostolically aurhorized priests w i t h f u l l faculties
to recite the R o m a n Mass, t o hear Confessions, ro a n o i n t the d y i n g . A n d ,
when the local bishop is in heresy o r de facto schism, to confer rhe Sacra-
ment o f C o n f i r m a t i o n . "
" S i g n o r a , " rhe P o n r i f f objected, " s u c h a step w o u l d require the C a n o n i -
cal c o o p e r a t i o n o f several R o m a n Congregations. A n d there are other
problems as w e l l . Problems o f a serious n a t u r e . "
Cessi had done her h o m e w o r k . " W i t h respect, H o l y Father. Your H o l i -
ness disposes o f i m m e d i a t e , direct and absolute j u r i s d i c t i o n over every
single diocese a n d every single parish. T h e need in the present c i r c u m -
stances is f o r a one-on-one c o m m i s s i o n — Y o u r Holiness t o each priest
i n d i v i d u a l l y and under solemn o a t h . "
I n t r i g u e d rhar rhis petitioner c o u l d h o l d her o w n w h e n i t came ro C a n o n
L a w , rhe Slavic Pope p r o b e d w i r h professional interest. " T e l l me, Signora.
Have y o u considered the sustained c o n t r o l required t o guarantee that such
priests w o u l d n o t fall i n t o their o w n abuses?"
"Yes, H o l y Father." Cessi k n e w rhat pious fervor was no guarantee o f
priestly i n t e g r i t y . " O n e trusted priest s h o u l d be a p p o i n t e d to be in charge
o f all these priests, a n d t o r e p o r t directly a n d regularly ro Y o u r Holiness.
A n d r w o i r o n c l a d rules are essential. First, no use o f diocesan churches or
halls o r other facilities and no appeal f o r diocesan a i d o f any k i n d . In
short, no i n v o l v e m e n t by these priesrs w i t h the local bishops i n the exter-
nal f o r u m o f episcopal a u t h o r i t y . A n d , second, an obligatory system o f
confessions and open r e p o r t i n g . Each priest w o u l d have a fixed Confessor
w h o m he w o u l d be obliged ro see regularly for the Sacrament o f Penance.
Each w o u l d consent t h a t his Confessor be free t o r e p o r t directly and o n l y
to Y o u r Holiness i f certain m o r t a l sins are manifested. Sexual activity, for
example. O r p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i s m , w h i c h w o u l d be a sin against obedience t o
papal directives. O r financial m o t i v a t i o n a n d gam beyond the sufficiency
required."
Such measures, Cessi a d m i r r e d , w o u l d nor be an i n f a l l i b l e guaranree o f
integrity. But they w o u l d reduce potential abuses t o a m i n i m u m ; and they
 392 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

w o u l d p r o v i d e sustained c o n t r o l o f valid priestly activity i n sensitive cir-

cumstances.
T h e Slavic Pope wasted no m o r e w o r d s o n petty objections. " A n d the
second p a r t o f y o u r t w o f o l d p e t i t i o n , Signora?"
Cessi was as c o o l n o w as she might have been i n discussing a business
p r o p o s i t i o n . " I n those areas w h e r e such a p o o l o f priests w o u l d be active,
H o l y Father, the Sacrament c o u l d not be reserved in diocesan churches.
M o r e o v e r , there are so many locales w h e r e the Blessed Sacrament almost
certainly n o longer exists t h a t they can't all be covered by a handful o f
priests. T h e second element o f m y p e t i t i o n , therefore, is t h a t tried and
trusted laymen be a l l o w e d t o reserve the Blessed Sacrament in their
homes. A g a i n under strict r u l e s . "
The Floly Father was taken aback. H e gave voice t o his concern about
w h a t he called feasibiliry.
" T h e practice is already under w a y , H o l i n e s s . " Cessi mer rhe objection
head-on. " T h e r e f o r e i t is feasible."
T h e P o n t i f f lapsed i n t o a l o n g and t h o u g h t f u l silence. For the second
time, he raised his eyes to the solemn face o f C a r d i n a l Sanstefano. His
Eminence must have realized w h a t had been a f o o t . Was H i s Eminence in
accord w i t h the assessments o f Signora Gladstone? A n d i f these assess-
ments o f the C h u r c h and o f his o w n policies as Pope reflecred Sanstefano's
m i n d , h o w m a n y more m i g h t there be like h i m in Rome and elsewhere?
M e n w h o were nor aligned w i r h rhe likes of Cardinals M a e s t r o i a n n i and
Pensabene a n d A u r e a t i n i and Palombo. M e n w h o remained loyal to the
H o l y See, a n d therefore t o himself as Pope, even w h i l e they held his p o l i -
cies to be i n i m i c a l t o the interests o f the C h u r c h . M e n n o t unlike those
priests Francesca Gladstone was t a l k i n g a b o u t . They had n o t been de-
f r o c k e d o r p u t aside, o f course; but neither c o u l d they find scope any
longer f o r a cohesive voice o f rheir o w n .
N o sooner had rhar stream o f rhoughr f o r m e d itself in his m i n d rhan rhe
Slavic Pope banished i t as a s l i t h e r i n g w o r m o f self-doubt. To entertain the
validity o f Signora Gladstone's c o n c e r n — t o consider i t and t o deal w i t h it
a p p r o p r i a t e l y — w a s a matter o f simple justice. But to a l l o w himself to be
tempted to the t h o u g h t t h a t he had miscalculated i n papal strategy w o u l d
be i r r a t i o n a l to the p o i n t o f r u i n .
" V e r y w e l l , S i g n o r a . " Flis Holiness r o o k a deep brearh, as people do
w h e n p r e p a r i n g ro make a grear concession. " L e t ' s take a preliminary
step. M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski w i l l give y o u a special post office b o x number
so rhat y o u can in confidence send me rhat list o f priests as candidates for
the u n d e r t a k i n g y o u propose. Send o n l y the names. Put n o t h i n g else in
writing.
" A s to the second element o f y o u r p e t i t i o n , again send me the names o f
laymen w h o m y o u k n o w to be w o r t h y t o reserve the Blessed Sacrament in
their homes. But in this case, please p r o v i d e everything relevant about
t h e m . Full biographies, i n c l u d i n g Baptismal a n d C o n f i r m a t i o n certificates;
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 393

marriage certificates w h e n a p p r o p r i a t e ; Testimonials, A l l rhat is needed to

justify such a grave responsibility. N o w , is there a n y t h i n g else, Signora?"
The Pope w a s n ' t just being enigmatic n o w . He was completely opaque.
Like any m a n b r o u g h t up short and c o n f r o n t e d w i t h his mistakes, he was
sensibly w i t h d r a w i n g f r o m his visitor.
Eyes flashing green anger, Cessi grirted her teeth to keep f r o m scream-
ing; Ir w o n ' r d o ! Send a lisr, y o u say! Wair ren years for an answer is w h a t
you mean! I ' l l send y o u all the lists in the w o r l d , H o l y Father! But give me
an answer. A n i n d i c a t i o n . D o n ' t w a i t u n t i l there are no more Baptisms.
U n t i l , aborted or b o r n , o u r babies are conceived w i t h o u t a t h o u g h t f o r
their i m m o r t a l souls. D o n ' t w a i t u n t i l there are no more Confessions, no
more v a l i d Masses. D o n ' r w a i t until there is no one lefr to a n o i n t the
d y i n g . D o n ' t w a i t u n t i l p o o r Farher James F l o r a n — u n t i l all the H o r a n s o f
rhe C h u r c h , and all the rest o f us t o b o o t — a r e sucked d o w n and buried in
the shambles o f your C h u r c h !
"Signora Gladstone?" It was C a r d i n a l Sanstefano come t o rescue Cessi
f t o m the sudden assault o f her anger. H e answered the green fire o f her
eyes w i r h a l o o k o f w a r n i n g . A l o o k that t o l d her she had already gone the
l i m i t . As ir was, her petitions w o u l d be given serious consideration.
Recalled ro her senses by His Eminence's gentle m e n t i o n o f her name,
Cessi t u r n e d t o the Pope's question. "Yes, Holiness. There is something
else." As virulent as her sudden flash o f anger h a d been, it had not touched
her sense o f God's p o w e r vested in h i m as the Vicar o f C h r i s t . " M y c h i l -
d r e n , Holiness. 1 w o u l d ask for a special blessing f o r each o f t h e m , each
for a differenr r e a s o n . "
" W i l l i n g l y , Signora G l a d s t o n e . " The P o n t i f f rose f r o m his chair. Cessi
k n e l t t o receive rhe blessing she had asked o f h i m . T h e n , in a voice rhar
was barely more rhan a whisper above her b o w e d head, the Slavic Pope
added something more. " F a t h e r Chrisrian has mentioned y o u r daughter,
and has asked f o r prayers f o r her health. I shall remember y o u r son Paul in
m y Mass intentions. As to Farher Chrisrian himself, borh he and his i m -
p o r t a n t w o r k f o r rhe H o l y See are in m y prayers. Be assured of rhat,
Signora."

C h r i s Gladstone w o u l d have been happy for the Pontiff's promise o f spe-

cial prayers.
T h i s was the m o r n i n g he had fixed w i t h T o m Rollins to meet w i t h
M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y . If all w e n t w e l l , he expected ro k n o w by ten o'clock,
whether O ' R e i l l y c o u l d produce hard p r o o f o f an ecclesiasrical cover-up o f
verifiable homosexual a c t i v i t y in the ranks o f the local clergy.
I n general, Chrisrian had a very positive a t t i t u d e t o w a r d his t w o mis-
sions i n the Unired Srates. For all o f his respect f o r Damien Slattery, he still
c o u l d n ' t buy the idea t h a t his w o r k for M a e s t r o i a n n i in the United States
was s o m e h o w designed to make t r o u b l e f o r the Slavic Pope. A f t e r a l l ,
C h r i s r o l d himself, he c o u l d see h o w rhe data he had amassed f r o m a m o n g
 394 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the European bishops had already helped overcome some ecclesiastical

d i f f i c u l t i e s — t h a n k s in part t o Paul's help at the EC. A n d i t h a d n ' t been
M a e s t r o i a n n i b u t Christian himself w h o had suggested extending his w o r k
t o the States.
A n d besides, n o w that the Pontiff seemed determined ro take the mea-
sure o f some extremely serious problems. C h r i s t i a n felt justified in his
expectation that his w o r k and Slattery's w o u l d provide the long-overdue
w a k e - u p call t h a t had been l a c k i n g to the Eloly See. If he and Slattery
came u p w i t h the goods as expected, surely rhe H o l y Father himself w o u l d
take a firm and corrective srand againsr rhe abuses l a y i n g waste to rhe
C h u r c h . Surely he w o u l d lay d o w n rhe l a w f o r seminaries, f o r example.
Surely he w o u l d b r i n g his backsliding bishops ro rheir senses, and his
priests ro the fullness o f their vows.
As he organized himself d u r i n g his first few days at W i n d s w e p t Flouse,
the o n l y t h i n g c l o u d i n g that h o p e f u l tenor o f m i n d f o r Chris had been his
first sight o f his sister. Cessi had kept h i m more or less abreasr on rhe
medical side o f rhings, bur t h a t h a d n ' t prepared h i m f o r rhe physical
change w r e a k e d i n Tricia by rhe pain that was n o w her consranr c o m p a n -
i o n . N o r t h a t Tricia ever c o m p l a i n e d . But she was unable to paint any
longer. She insisted o n getting o u t and abour, bur rhe p o l l u t i o n i n the air
even on the clearest days was enough to a m p l i f y her agony. Late one
n i g h t , t h o u g h , as they had sat alone together, Tricia had made a requesr ro
h i m . " P r o m i s e me one r h i n g , Chris. Before y o u leave again f o r Rome, I
w a n t some time w i t h y o u . N o t now . I need to t h i n k h o w to explain things
so thar you'll undersrand. As a ptiest, I mean. So rhat you'll understand as
a priest."
" Y o u have my w o r d , T r i c i a . Before I leave again f o r R o m e . "

Father M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y was a big-boned, big-headed, athletic man w i r h

dark hair and sready, almost u n b l i n k i n g b r o w n eyes. A c c o r d i n g t o T o m
R o l l i n s , rhe y o u n g priesr was o f German-Irish descenr; rhe Irish in his
hearr c o u l d bursr inro anger, w h i l e the G e r m a n in his brain c o u l d take fire
w i t h an idea and r u m i n r o a c o n f l a g r a t i o n .
Sure enough, once they were alone, O ' R e i l l y looked as if he m i g h t ex-
plode f r o m his chair and o u t the d o o r any second. Gladstone was careful
n o t to spook the younger m a n , therefore.
H e m i g h t have saved himself the t r o u b l e , t h o u g h . W h e n O ' R e i l l y real-
ized w h a t Chris had come for and whose side he was o n , everyrhing abour
h i m changed. H e was srill angry, Srill resentful at having been mauled so
unjustly by his C a r d i n a l . Bur nor once d i d Chrisrian hear any abusive
language abour H i s Eminence o r Father McPherson or rhe Archdiocese.
Yes, O ' R e i l l y said in answer ro Chris's mosr i m p o r t a n t question. H e had
kept copies o f all the photographs and documents he had given to C a r d i -
nal O ' C l e a r y . But there was m o r e . A n d t h a t , he explained, was w h y he
h a d n ' t tried t o contact Rome again. "Everyone takes i t f o r granted that
IN T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 395

I've been holed up like some h e r m i t on rhar o l d p l a n r a r i o n . A n d that's

w h a t I w a n t e d them to t h i n k . But I haven't just been w a n d e r i n g a r o u n d i n
rhe swamps and backwaters o f Louisiana. There are lors o f snakes and
alligators in orher places, and I've been up ro my keisrer in r h e m . "
W h a t O ' R e i l l y proceeded t o lay o u t for Chrisrian was sickening; but i t
was also an unexpected bonanza f o r his investigation. O ' R e i l l y ' s i n f o r m a -
t i o n a b o u t those first three seminarians had been rhe enrree t o still more
leads a b o u t other clerics. He had developed a rosrer o f names o f i n f o r -
mants m o s t l y , b u t also men he styled as "sympathizers and hothouse f l o w -
ers i n the s t i n k i n g cause o f active clerical h o m o s e x u a l i t y . " A n d , to hear
h i m tell i t , the list ranged up a n d d o w n the clerical ranks f r o m simple
priests t o archbishops, and i t stretched f r o m America t o Rome.
" W h y else d o y o u t h i n k they were able t o scupper me. Father? A n d w h y
else d o you t h i n k Jay Jay caved in and shirked his sacred duty? It's a
system, Father Gladstone. A m u t u a l l y prorective sysrem t h a t reaches all
rhe w a y f r o m O'Cleary's Chancery righr up ro the College o f Cardinals.
A n d m a n y o f the guys w h o ' d like ro get o u t haven't the g u t s . "
O ' R e i l l y d i d n ' t w a n t t o i m p l y t h a t Jay Jay was necessarily one o f his so-
called horhouse flowers. " B u r the t r u t h — o r w h a r I rake ro be rhe r r u r h —
isn't a w h o l e l o t better. H i s Eminence wanrs ro be p r o m o t e d ro a R o m a n
posr. So, rarher rhan face i n t o a m a j o r scandal, he's w i l l i n g ro jertison rhe
m o r a l standards o f his C h u r c h and abandon his priests and his flock to the
wolves. Yours t r u l y i n c l u d e d . "
Incensed as m u c h by O ' R e i l l y ' s defrocked srarus as a priest as by the
picture o f abuse he had p a i n t e d , Chris suggested he m i g h t be able to
remedy the y o u n g cleric's personal situation t h r o u g h the H o l y Farher.
" N o ! " Father Michael's Irish temper e x p l o d e d . " E m just another m e m -
ber o f the f a i t h f u l w h o ' v e been c u t o f f by the m a n w h o ' s supposed ro 'feed
M y lambs, feed M y sheep.' W h e n rhe H o l y Father does his duty in this
diocese—which he hasn't—then he can put m y affairs in order. Bur u n t i l
that day comes, thanks b u t no t h a n k s ! "
H i s bitter personal d i s a p p o i n t m e n t and his anger at the Slavic Pope o f f
his chesr for the m o m e n t , O ' R e i l l y calmed d o w n . " T h e r e is one t h i n g y o u
can d o for me. Father Gladstone. If y o u have rhe stomach t o dredge up the
filth a n d the w i l l t o expose i t unvarnished to H i s Holiness, then I ' d like t o
help."
Because C h r i s was serious, the t w o priests shook hands o n i t .
O ' R e i l l y agreed to give Chris all the data he had in h a n d .
M i n d f u l o f one o f Lucadamo's rules—the one that said the simplest
means are often the safest—Gladsrone rold his new recruit t o use the
mails. " H e r e ' s m y address and phone number. If y o u call and E m n o t
there, leave n o t h i n g but y o u r name. I ' l l be t r a v e l i n g a l o t , b u t I ' l l call in f o r
m y messages. If I need y o u , PI1 leave w o r d w i r h T o m R o l l i n s , so check in
w i r h h i m . A n d one m o r e t h i n g , O ' R e i l l y . " L o o k i n g i n t o those u n b l i n k i n g ,
angry eyes, Chris c o u l d easily imagine the scene at the Chancery when
 396 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

M i c h a e l had flattened Father McPherson. " W e b o t h k n o w there's still a

lot o f sludge t o be w a d e d t h r o u g h . "
" S o ? " O ' R e i l l y was w a r y again.
" S o " — G l a d s t o n e laid d o w n the l a w — " i t y o u w o r k w i r h me, y o u r job is
ro tag rhose snakes a n d alligarors y o u talked abour. Tag as many o f them
as you can. But keep y o u r o w n counsel, and keep your temper d o w n .
You're n o t alone a n y m o r e . Father. So d o n ' t go o f f half cocked again. A n d
d o n ' t rry t o d r a i n the s w a m p . "

" H i s Holiness can't get away w i t h this m u c h longer, M o n s i g n o r e ! " De-

spite the urgency w i t h w h i c h he had been called, D r . Fanarote had been
unable t o get the Slavic Pope to s u b m i t t o the physical examinations that
were called f o r . L i v i d w i t h f r u s t r a t i o n and w o r r y , Fanarore r o o k his tem-
per our o n the papal secrerary. " T h a r pam in his side is becoming roo
frequenr. I've given h i m a srronger p a i n k i l l e r . But there are bouts of n a u -
sea, and he admits t o a decrease i n vitaliry. 1 w o r r y a b o u t rhat megalovirus
we discovered in ' 8 1 . I d o n ' r like i t , M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l ! "
Sadowski bore Fanarore's tirade w i t h resignation and deep concern. He
had given u p t r y i n g to explain this Pope ro a n y b o d y . H o w w o u l d it s o u n d ,
after a l l , t o answer Fanarote's w a r n i n g w i t h the fact that this Pontiff, w h o
was leading his C h u r c h a l o n g the c u t t i n g edge o f the N e w W o r l d O r d e r ,
was srill d r a w i n g lessons f o r himself f r o m medieval spirirual writers? O r
thar he t h o u g h t o f his body as Frater Asinus? As Brother Donkey? It
w o u l d be no b a l m f o r Fanarore ro k n o w that the Pope had lived by that
epithet ever since his seminary days. H i s idea was to drive his b o d y . To
ride ir. To keep it w e l l nourished. T o give ir some respire w h e n ir was h u r t ,
but to take no nonsense f r o m i t .
" T h e first sign o f any change in the H o l y Father's c o n d i t i o n , " Fanarote
g r o w l e d as he headed for the d o o r , " a n d I w a n t to k n o w a b o u t i t at once!
H i s Holiness c a n ' t get away w i t h this m u c h l o n g e r ! "

T h o u g h the day was d r a w i n g late, the P o n t i f f gave a good deal o f t h o u g h t

ro this afternoon's meering w i t h Signora Francesca Gladsrone. Fler blunt
assessments had taken their t o l l o n h i m , no d o u b t a b o u t that. Still, there
was no d o u b t a b o u t the justice o f everything she had laid our. His perspec-
tive as Pope was different f r o m hers, jusr as she had said. H e d i d get
reports. A n d letters. Endless srreams o f lerters. But that was n o t the same
as being in the teeth o f rhe daily srruggles g o i n g o n in rhe parishes. He
k n e w abour priesrs like Father James H o r a n ; k n e w about t o o many such
priests, in fact. But he was shielded f r o m rheir agony, just as he was
shielded f r o m so many rhousands o f scenes like the blasphemous Firsr
C o m m u n i o n o f Signora Gladstone's t w o g o d c h i l d r e n .
T h e t r o u b l e was t h a t he could d o n o t h i n g o f a t h o r o u g h g o i n g narure ro
correct all those abuses. H e c o u l d not interfere w i t h his bishops in rheir
dioceses. This was his p r i n c i p l e : he and they were equal in p o w e r and
U N T H I N K A B L E R E A L I T I E S 397

j u r i s d i c t i o n . A n d , t h o u g h he c o u l d n ' t say as m u c h to his visitor, rhe t r o u -

ble was t h a t there was worse still t o come. In a marter o f days. C a r d i n a l
M a e s r r o i a n n i w o u l d deliver H i s Holiness Negotiations
1
message t o the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s . I n a matter o f m o n t h s , it w o u l d be clear t o the w o r l d that
he w o u l d be unable t o keep the promise he had made many times, and
p u b l i c l y , n o t to a l l o w girls ro serve in the Sanctuary. T h e n rhere w o u l d be
rhe question o f female deacons and their o r d i n a r i o n . A n d there w o u l d be
m o r e . M u c h more.
H o w w o u l d Signora Gladstone take all o f that? Reflecting o n the i m -
pression his visitor had made on h i m , he k n e w the answer. U n t i l she d r e w
her d y i n g breath, t h a t w o m a n w o u l d take ir a l l i n fighting s p i r i t . A great
n a t u r a l talent w i t h f o r m i d a b l e economic assets, she had s h o w n h i m a
selfless, practical, reasonable fairh housed i n a clear m i n d and girded by a
w i l l of steel. M o r e , she had faced foursquare i n r o the fact rhat the o l d
s t r u c t u r a l organization of the C h u r c h was w i t h o u t force. She obviously
k n e w it c o u l d n ' t be patched together again; that i t c o u l d n ' t be p u t back
i n t o w o r k i n g order.
A p a r t f r o m a few u n c o m m o n men like Father A l d o Carnesecca, there
w e r e n ' t many i n the Vatican itself w h o had faced thar reality. There were
so m a n y groups and i n d i v i d u a l s w h o came t o h i m so regularly w i t h the
idea o f f o r m i n g cadres o f zealots t o m a n the ramparts of their C h u r c h and
pur everyrhing t o rights again.
Fie had refused t o have a n y t h i n g t o d o w i t h such proposals. In his
perspective, this w o u l d be t a n t a m o u n t ro i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h the action o f the
H o l y Spirit in Bishops Conferences, and priests' senates, and national and
i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizations o f prelates and clerics. The new evangelization
was o p e n i n g the C h u r c h t o the w i d e w o r l d . A n y o f the f o r m e r exclusivity
o f R o m a n Catholics w o u l d be a disaster.
But he studied her t w o petitions w i r h a grear interesr: her idea of f o r m -
i n g w h a r a m o u n t e d to an u n d e r g r o u n d C h u r c h i n order t o m a i n t a i n t r a d i -
t i o n a l R o m a n C a t h o l i c belief, practice and d e v o t i o n ; and her idea o f m a n -
n i n g t h a t u n d e r g r o u n d C h u r c h w i t h solid priests w h o had been unjustly
rejecred by the hierarchy. T h e t w o proposals had one merit for the Slavic
Pope: together they c o u l d provide a means of defusing the g r o w i n g enmity
between the traditionalists and the progressives a m o n g his Catholic peo-
ple, It w o u l d be one w a y o f establishing a certain peace. For, the Pope had
n o d o u b t , the t r a d i t i o n a l i s t groups c o u l d n o t last for l o n g . T h i s w a y , their
i m m e d i a t e needs w o u l d be satisfied. I n t i m e , the situation w o u l d r i g h t
itself.
The P o n t i f f was startled by the s o u n d o f rhe buzzer on his desk. "Yes,
Monsignore Daniel?"
" C a r d i n a l Sansrefano w o u l d like t o come over f r o m PECA, H o l y Fa-
rher. H e wants t o f o l l o w up this afternoon's audience w i t h Signora G l a d -
stone. A n d the delegation o f U k r a i n i a n Catholics w i l l be here t o see Y o u r
Holiness w i r h i n rhe h o u r . "
 398 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" T e l l me, M o n s i g n o r e . Before Signora Gladstone left, d i d y o u make the

necessary arrangements to receive those lists we talked a b o u t ? "
"Yes, Holiness. It's all taken care o f . "
" G o o d . Ask C a r d i n a l Sanstefano to come a r o u n d at once. But be sure t o
let me k n o w w h e n the U k r a i n i a n s arrive. I d o n ' t w a n t to keep them w a i t -
ing.
" R i g h t away, H o l y Father."
T h e P o n r i f f stood u p a n d srretched as if ro rest his energy and his
srrength. "So, M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l . " H e smiled as t h o u g h Sadowski were
standing there a n d he c o u l d see the l o o k o f w o r r y o n the face o f his o l d
f r i e n d a n d c o n f i d a n t . " L e t ' s get another ride o u t o f o l d Brother D o n k e y ! "

T H E R E W E R E N O SURPRISES f o r Father D a m i e n Slattery o n his arrival

at C e n t u r y c i t y , a n d no f r i e n d l y h a n d to s m o o t h his w a y at the D o m i n i c a n
p r i o r y . T h e House of the H o l y Angels received the once supreme Master-
General of rhe O r d e r " l i k e a r u d d y s k i v v y , " as he g r u m b l e d to Christian in
one o f their early phone conversations. He had once made life miserable
for men w h o were n o w his A m e r i c a n superiors, and they were more rhan
happy to even the score.
T h e squalid little dungeon assigned as his quarters was the first sign t h a t
Slattery had been m a r k e d o u t by the c o m m u n i t y as a p a r i a h . A single
r o o m in the basement, it was barely large enough to accommodate an
a n t i q u e washbasin, a small desk, a two-shelf bookcase and an i r o n bed-
stead made f o r a midget. T h e uncarpeted floor was of rhe same rile as the
b a t h r o o m d o w n the h a l l a n d rhe ten-stall shower r o o m at the far end of
the c o r r i d o r . A p a r t f r o m a l a m p o n the desk and one by the bed, the o n l y
light came f r o m a t i n y , grated w i n d o w w i t h a bleak back-alley v i e w .
The first man t o make Slattery's new status plain to h i m in so many
w o r d s was rhe D o m i n i c a n Provincial f o r rhe Unired Srates—rhe same Fa-
ther George Flaneberry w h o , as Slattery had c o m p l a i n e d t o G i u s t i n o L u -
c a d a m o , c o r d i a l l y hated his guts. O b l i g e d to check i n w i t h Haneberry,
D a m i e n prepared his soul as w e l l as he c o u l d before he knocked at the
d o o r of the Rector's office.
T h o u g h the advantage was Haneberry's rhat day, he d i d find i t hard to
be p a t r o n i z i n g ro a man w h o towered over h i m like an outsized O l d
Testament Prophet. Standing w i t h his back to the w i n d o w , he invited the
giant I r i s h m a n t o be seated. There, that was better.
" W e u n d e r s t a n d . Father D a m i e n , t h a t you have a few pet projects f o r
the Pope thar w i l l keep y o u b u s y . " Aside f r o m his habit of sucking saliva
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 399

t h r o u g h his gapped f r o n r teeth, the Provincial's manner was smooth as

silk. " N o w . w e have received instructions f r o m o u r new Masrer-General
in Rome rhat y o u are ro be free t o pursue those projects i n accordance
w i t h the H o l y Father's wishes. H o w e v e r , 1 must stress that rhe Archdioce-
san rules set o u t by the C a r d i n a l arc n o t t o be v i o l a t e d . As A r c h b i s h o p of
rhis diocese, rhe C a r d i n a l is the successor t o the Apostle. O u r O r d e r is in
g o o d standing w i r h H i s Eminence. We are happy t o collaborate w i t h the
H o l y Father. But always w i t h i n H i s Eminence's g u i d e l i n e s . "
Haneberry proceeded to deal w i t h this alien personality w h o had barged
like an unwelcome b u l l a m o n g delicate a n d fragile arrangements. Given
the travels required by Slartery's papal assignmenr, he dispensed Damien
f r o m rhe o r d i n a r y duties o f the c o m m u n i t y . Nevertheless, D a m i e n w o u l d
be required ro appear ar rhe m o n t h l y Chapter meetings. A n d , insofar as
his w o r k for the H o l y Father a l l o w e d , he w o u l d be on t w e n t y - f o u r - h o u r
call as C h a p l a i n f o r St. Anne's, a local hospital n o t far f r o m the priory that
had earned a curious r e p u t a t i o n in the area.
Those and a few more basics taken care of, Haneberry salivared his w a y
t h r o u g h a little contest of w i l l s regarding Damien's w o r k for rhe H o l y See.
" Y o u ' l l be g i v i n g p r o - l i f e lectures, w i l l y o u , Father?"
The h o w - r h e - m i g h t y - h a v e - f a l l e n conrempr i n all o f Haneberry's re-
m a r k s was bearable f o r Slattery. But the a t t e m p t at c o n t r o l i m p l i e d by the
Provincial's question was something else.
"Lectures, Father," D a m i e n countered. " A n d retreats f o r priests and
religious. But n o t to w o r r y . A l l the funds for m y w o r k w i l l come f r o m
R o m e . " Slattery assumed the substance of his message—his private decla-
r a t i o n o f independence, financial and otherwise—was clear.
" O f course, Father." Haneberry was a n y t h i n g but u n m i n d f u l o f the
hands-off subtext o f Slartery's reply. H e was so incensed by ir, in fact, that
he almost spilled the beans. A l m o s t reached i n t o his desk d r a w e r for the
dismissorial papers already made o u t i n the name of Father H i g h - a n d -
M i g h t y D a m i e n Duncan Slattery. A l m o s t t o l d h i m t h a t the m i n d of the
General Chapter o f the O r d e r in early M a r c h h a d n ' t been merely to oust
h i m as Master-General bur t o expel h i m f r o m rhe O r d e r a n d be done w i r h
him.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , Slattery's signarure was required o n those papers.
Haneberry's assignment as Provincial was t o make life so miserable i n so
many ways that Father D a m i e n himself w o u l d demand ro be released f r o m
the O r d e r . Haneberry s w a l l o w e d h a r d . T h e m o m e n t w o u l d come. T i m e
was o n his side. T i m e , a n d H i s Eminence o f Centuryciry.

Given rhe records he w o u l d have t o keep once his investigation i n t o Satan-

ist a c t i v i t y was under w a y , Slattery had the toughest lock he c o u l d find p u t
on the d o o r o f his basement h o v e l . Given his need for secure c o m m u n i c a -
t i o n , he had a telephone and message system installed, a n d acquired a
handy little cellular phone to carry w i t h h i m . Given the misery o f his
 400 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

s i t u a t i o n , m e a n w h i l e , it was o n l y n a t u r a l i n the early stages as he set u p

his cover for rhe c o m i n g invesrigarion rhat his conversations w i t h G l a d -
stone a m o u n t e d m o s t l y to a r u n n i n g account o f his daily trials.
W h a t h u r t h i m the most, he t o l d C h r i s t i a n , w a s n ' t his l i v i n g quarters or
the disdain o f George H a n e b e r r y . W h a t pained h i m t o his soul was the
malice o f D o m i n i c a n for D o m i n i c a n . In a d i s t u r b i n g sense, his religious
brothers in rhe House o f the H o l y Angels comprised a g r o u p o f men w h o
chose ro be together and w h o excluded any alien spirit. " T h a r means m e , "
Slattery g r o w l e d to C h r i s . " T h e y all w a t c h me like l y n x e s . "
C h r i s t i a n grimaced f o r rhe p l i g h t of his f r i e n d . Soon, t h o u g h , the reports
f r o m C e n r u r y c i t y became m o r e h o p e f u l . T r u e ro his characrer, Slattery lost
as little t i m e as possible i n launching the p r o - l i f e lectures and the occa-
sional religious retreat t h a t were t o provide cover f o r his c o m i n g investiga-
tions. H e srayed close to home base at the start, but he c o u l d see thar rhe
plan was a g o o d one.
" I t ' s nor just rhar Haneberry hares rhe i d e a , " he laughed over the phone
one day t o C h r i s , " o r t h a t it gets me o u t o f this den thar passes for a
p r i o r y . W o u l d y o u believe I ' m actually getting something o f a repuration
as a speaker? I t h i n k I c o u l d make a l i v i n g ar this i f I h a d t o . "
" N o t so fast, Slattery." Chris laughed to hear Damien's laughter again.
" D o n ' t forget w h a t broughr you ro C e n r u r y c i r y ! "
" N e v e r fear, me b o y o ! " T h e D o m i n i c a n t o o k the w a r n i n g in g o o d part.
" I ' v e set a schedule f o r myself. Things w i l l start to p o p a r o u n d here before
you k n o w i t . "

O n his o w n w h i l e his w i f e was o f f visiting her cousins i n N e w Y o r k , rhe

retired police inspecror Sylvesrer W o d g i l a p u t his coffee o n . t o o k the m a k -
ings o f a splendid breakfast f r o m the refrigeraror and had just begun
clanging a b o u t a m o n g the pots and pans i n the kitchen o f his t w o - s t o r y
w o o d e n frame house i n the H o l l a n d section o f Centuryciry w h e n the d o o r
chimes rang. " W h a r k i n d o f uncivilized o a f , " W o d g i l a w o n d e r e d , " w o u l d
disrurb a peace-loving m a n ar rhe crack o f d a w n ! "
" G o o d m o r n i n g ro yeh, Inspector W o d g i l a ! I a m Father Damien
D u n c a n Slattery, fresh in f r o m Rome. I've come ro nose our the t r a i l of
clerical Satanists."
W i t h t h a t Irish brogue w a s h i n g over h i m like m o r n i n g sunlight, W o d g -
i l a — b y no means a p y g m y h i m s e l f — h l i n k e d up at a m o u n t a i n o f a priest
w i t h the most e x t r a o r d i n a r y mane o f w h i t e hair and the most w i n n i n g
smile. I n one e n o r m o u s h a n d , the giant offered h i m an envelope—a letter,
as ir t u r n e d o u r , sent all the w a y f r o m rhe Monasrery o f Czesrochowa by
the Inspector's sainted cousin o n the D a n i t s k i side o f the f a m i l y .
" W h a t t o o k y o u so l o n g , F a t h e r ! " W o d g i l a opened the d o o r w i d e . " T h e
bastards are getting a w a y w i t h m u r d e r ! "
The fit between these t w o men was perfect. For, i f D a m i e n Slattery was
an emissary o f G o d f o r Sylvesrer W o d g i l a , the Inspector was a gold mine
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 401

for the D o m i n i c a n . A n d it w a s n ' t just the g o o d C h r i s t i a n breakfast he

served up either. As he dished steaming platters o f eggs and Polish sausage
and i n q u i r e d w h e t h e r his visitor used cream or s u g a r — " b o t h , i f y' please";
Slattery smacked his l i p s — W o d g i l a made it plain t h a t he had a good bit o f
i n f o r m a t i o n to share.
H e began w i t h a detailed recap o f the Scalabrini m u r d e r case. The I n -
specror had been n o t h i n g daunted by his early r e m o v a l f r o m the force or
by the A t t o r n e y General's w a r n i n g that i t was t o be hands o f f everything
to do w i t h that b l o o d y affair.
" Y o u kept up the investigation, t h e n ? " Slattery finished o f f his t h i r d cut
o f toast.
" R e t i r e m e n t has its advantages. Father. It leaves a m a n w i t h a lot o f free
time. A n d i t doesn't take away any o f the professional conracts—local and
o t h e r w i s e — r h a t come w i t h a lifetime spent o n the f o r c e . " The Inspector
put his e m p t y plate t o one side, l i t up a c o m f o r t a b l e - l o o k i n g , well-used
pipe a n d , coffeepot i n h a n d , led the w a y i n t o the den, where he opened a
nicely hidden safe packed ro the gunwales w i t h file folders.
" T h e f r u i t o f m y labors, F a t h e r . " Inspector Wodgila piled the material
like a t o w e r o n rhe table beside Slattery's chair. " H e r e ' s rhe Scalabrini file
if y o u ' d like ro examine i t . But there's another Pd like y o u t o see. Meet
Father George C o n n o l l y , " Wodgila opened the folder. " N o t a local boy.
Served ar the C h u r c h o f the M i r a c u l o u s M e d a l up Careysville w a y . As
these photos s h o w , he came to the same end as Scalabrini. A l l the same
earmarks. M u t i l a t e d and k i l l e d . R i t u a l m u r d e r o f a k i n d . "
D a m i e n w i n c e d . H e h a d n ' t forgotten the meeting in the Pope's study, or
Brother Augustine's description that n i g h t o f a second priesr murder in
C e n t u r y c i t y . But no w o r d s c o u l d have prepared h i m f o r the police shots o f
Father C o n n o l l y l y i n g a l l maimed and b l o o d y o n his l i v i n g - r o o m f l o o r .
In the police-procedure tones that were second nature t o h i m , Wodgila
sketched o u t w h a t was k n o w n a b o u t the t w o murders. " W e had turned
Scalabrini. H e ' d been w o r k i n g w i r h us as an i n f o r m a n t . We d o n ' t k n o w
w h o ordered either o f these homicides. But we d o k n o w b o t h killings were
meant ro send a message. A n d we k n o w it was C o n n o l l y w h o killed
Scalabrini."
Slatiery looked u p f r o m the grisly p h o t o s . " Y o u were able t o f o l l o w the
trail, then?"
" U p t o a p o i n t . We k n e w Scalabrini had o n l y one visitor o n the night he
was k i l l e d . W h e n I finally tracked C o n n o l l y d o w n , he was scared and
ready t o spill his guts. H e w a n t e d o u t o f the w h o l e mess, he said. Wanted
ro make it p u b l i c . A l l o f ir. But I had a better idea. I persuaded h i m t o fill
Scalabrini's shoes. To t u r n i n f o r m a n t . I w a n t e d m o r e than names, I t o l d
h i m . M o r e than his u n c o r r o b o r a r e d w o r d . I wanted the k i n d o f data that
can't be weaseled o u t o f w i t h lies and denials. There's an interesting t h i n g
a b o u t these Satanists, Father D a m i e n . They keep p h o t o g r a p h i c records of
 402 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

their most i m p o r t a n t gatherings, if y o u can call rhem that. I wanted C o n -

n o l l y t o get that k i n d of evidence."
"And?"
" A n d 1 came w i t h i n an ace of i t , Father. C o n n o l l y called for a meering.
But it never happened. He was killed first. Jusr like Scalabrini, he died in
rhe stink of his filthy sins. A n d I ' m to blame for t h a t . "
" L i s t e n t o m e . " Slartery leaned f o r w a r d in his intensity. " A s men and as
clerics, Scalabrini and C o n n o l l y were slime! They lived rheir lives i n a
bucket of sludge. T h a t was their choice. W h e n rhey tried ro c l i m b o u t of
that bucket, they were k i l l e d . T h a t was someone else's choice. As a good
C a t h o l i c and g o o d l a w enforcemenr m a n , y o u rried to do the o n l y decent
t h i n g thar c o u l d be done. T h a t was your choice. A n d n o w you're rhe one
m a r i n a t i n g in self-recrimination. So O l d Scrar has the last l a u g h ! "
" M a y b e s o . " W o d g i l a rubbed his forehead r o u g h l y . " T h a r w o u l d be
O l d Scrar's w a y , I suppose. Plverything upside d o w n and backwards. They
say that's one o f his t r a d e m a r k s . "
" I t is. A n d as an exorcist f r o m way back, I can rell you it's a deadly
trap!"
" Y o u ' r e an exorcist, Father D a m i e n ? " Wodgila's m o u t h all but dropped
open. " W e l l , w h y d i d n ' t y o u say s o ! " Buoyed by that astonishing news,
and in p a r t by his o w n reading of Slattery as a priest w h o loved G o d , the
t r u t h and f o o d in that order, rhe Inspecror was p r i m e d f o r battle. "We've
got a m o u n t a i n o f w o r k t o d o . So let's get at i t . "
For rhe next h o u r , coffee cup i n hand and smoke c u r l i n g f r o m his pipe,
W o d g i l a gave Slarrery an overview of everything he had discovered so far.
I le had names. A n d he had dates and places and b a c k g r o u n d . But ir was
all anecdotal. W i t h o u t his t w o priesr-informanrs, he had n o witnesses.
" T h e r e is a l i n k , r h o u g h , Farher. A priest by rhe name of O s w a l d Avo-
n o d o r . He w o r k s for H i s Eminence in the Chancery of Centuryciry. H i s
private secretary, in facr. So he's privy t o just about everything rhat goes
on in the Archdiocese." T h e Inspector reached f o r another folder. " W e
have a lor o f data o n A v o n o d o r . His pedophiliac history goes all the way
back t o his early days and comes right up t o the presenr. G r e w up as an
A r m y brat. A t nineteen, he joined up himself and breezed t h r o u g h Officer
Candidare School. Ar t w e n t y - s i x , he was accepted in the Special Forces
and entered a h i g h l y secret t r a i n i n g in deep psychological c o n d i t i o n i n g in
N o r t h C a r o l i n a . Participated in several confidential missions abroad.
T h e n , in '79, he was unceremoniously discharged, no reasons supplied.
" A r age r h i r r y - o n e — T w e l v e years ago—he entered Centurycity's M a j o r
Seminary. H e was ordained a priesr by H i s Eminence in '86 and was
immediately snapped up by the C a r d i n a l for his private staff at the Chan-
cery. He's been there ever since, and rhe post has been a good one f o r
him."
" A little t o o g o o d , the w a y i t sounds to m e . " Slartery f r o w n e d .
" T r u e . But my idea was never t o expose A v o n o d o r . M y idea is to bag
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 403

h i m . A l l the names in these files are just t h a t . Names. But I wasn't k i d d i n g

when 1 said I smelled the makings o f an inrricare n e t w o r k , and . . . "
" A n d y o u t h i n k A v o n o d o r is the k e y . "
" I t h i n k he's the weakest link in a l o n g c h a i n . " The correction was
i m p o r t a n t for Wodgila's m i n d . " I rhink he can be used t o get t o other links
u n t i l , somewhere d o w n rhe line, we can reach the anchor post."
" A n y ideas yet, Sylvester, abour where that chain m i g h t lead?"
"Vancouver is one g o o d b e t . " Wodgila eyed his t o w e r o f dossiers.
" M o s r o f the clerics in rhese files seem ro spend a lot o f time t h e r e . "
" A v o n o d o r a m o n g r h e m , I presume?"
' T u n n y you should a s k . " Wodgila smiled and lit a match to his pipe
again. " T h e Cardinal's secrerary w i l l be o f f for a few days' vacation come
this weekend. A n d guess where he's h e a d e d . "

H a p p y t o leave all the j a n g l i n g telephones and diocesan emergencies be-

h i n d h i m . Father O s w a l d A v o n o d o r streaked n o r r h w a r d along H i g h w a y
93 r o w a r d rhe srare line u n t i l he came t o a favorite stopping place, a
pleasant motel perched o n a w o o d e d b l u f f some miles f r o m d o w n t o w n
C e n t u r y c i t y . A quick meal, a hot bath and a g o o d night's sleep w o u l d put
h i m i n shape for t o m o r r o w ' s l o n g drive ro Vancouver. He had the t u b half
filled and was stripped t o his shorrs when there was a sharp knock at the
d o o r . W h o rhe blazes . . . ? A v o n o d o r had no sooner opened the d o o r
t h a n he was riveted by the stare o f a gargantuan specter—a w h i t e ghost,
all eyes and w i l d hair.
" H o w nice t o find you i n , Farher A v o n o d o r . "
T r a n s f i x e d , A v o n o d o r h a d n ' t even noticed his second v i s i t o r — r h e one
w h o held up the badge. A l a r m bells screaming in his head, he tried to slam
the d o o r shut. But i t was t o o late. The ghost and the badge were already
inside.
"Perhaps y o u remember me. F a t h e r . " Wodgila put his I D back in his
pocket. " I t was rhe case o f p o o r Father Scalabrini, I believe. You tele-
phoned me f r o m rhe Chancery w i t h messages f r o m H i s Eminence. A l l o w
me ro i n t r o d u c e Farher D a m i e n Duncan Slarrery, emissary o f H i s H o l i -
ness."
" H a d n ' t y o u better get some clothes o n , Father?" Slartery eyed rhe
scrawny cleric standing rhere in his boxer shorts and his unnarural butter-
b l o n d hair. " Y o u d o n ' t w a n t to catch a c h i l l . "
A v o n o d o r f u m b l e d i n t o a pair o f rrousers and pulled a T - s h i r t over the
g o l d phallic s y m b o l h a n g i n g o n a chain a r o u n d his neck. Slarrery shut o f f
the gushing tap in the b a t h r o o m . Wodgila m o t i o n e d the trapped priesr
inro the seat between himself a n d the giant ghost w h o had turned our ro
be all roo real.
" N o w , Farher O s w a l d — y o u d o n ' t m i n d i f I call you Farher O s w a l d ? "
W o d g i l a was rhe picture o f patient t r a n q u i l l i t y . " W e needn't even ger to
 404 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the p o i n t o f w a r r a n t s . We just w a n t you to look at some photographs.

A n d we w a n t y o u t o pay a t t e n t i o n , because there'll be a q u i z . "
O n e by one, Inspector Wodgila slid a series of glossy photos under
A v o n o d o r ' s u n w i l l i n g gaze. Death photos. Photos of Father Scalabrini.
Scalabrini's naked body stretched askew on his l i v i n g - r o o m carpet.
Scalabrini's chest riddled w i t h r a z o r - t h i n slashes, each w i r h its little rivulet
o f d r i e d , blackened b l o o d . Scalabrini's severed fingers. Scalabrini's man-
gled g r o i n streaked w i t h blotches and stains. Scalabrini's face, his m o u t h
stuffed w i t h his genitals, his eyes frozen in rhe misery o f his h o r r i d death.
Sweat t i n g l i n g over his scalp. Father A v o n o d o r kepr his eyes o n W o d g -
ila's hands. H e watched as a second series o f photos was shoved under his
nose. H o r r i f i e d , he looked at his o w n face s m i l i n g back at h i m . A w e d -
d i n g , he remembered. Yes. There he was, himself and a couple of orher
priests, seated w i r h Flis Eminence i n a church pew, all in m u f t i . There was
the happy c o u p l e — t w o y o u n g m e n , each in lavender-colored robes w i t h a
w r e a t h o f flowers on his head. T h e celebrating priesr, vested in lavender,
t o o , solemnizing the marriage w i r h bell, book and candle. T h e exchange
o f rings. T h e n u p t i a l kiss.
" T h e C h u r c h o f St. John the Beloved Disciple, if Em n o t m i s t a k e n . "
Wodgila's quiet voice was the o n l y sound in the r o o m . " W e k n o w all the
faces, of course. We k n o w yours. We k n o w H i s Eminence's. A n d we k n o w
the m a n seated beside y o u . Father George C o n n o l l y . Remember? N o w ,
w h a r ever happened to C o n n o l l y , Father O s w a l d ? "
H i s m o u t h d r y , A v o n o d o r srared at a t h i r d series o f phoros. C o n n o l l y ' s
naked b o d y a l l askew on his l i v i n g - r o o m f l o o r . C o n n o l l y ' s chesr. The
r a z o r - t h i n slashes. The black rivulets o f b l o o d . The severed fingers. The
m u t i l a t e d g r o i n . The m o u t h stuffed w i t h his genitals. The eyes. O h , G o d !
C o n n o l l y ' s eyes. . . . D a m n rhese basrards! W h a t d i d they w a n t f r o m
h i m , anyway? A v o n o d o r ' s stomach lurched. Fie turned a sickly yellow.
V o m i t — a stream of dinner and panic and defeat and the blood-red filth of
his rage—boiled f r o m his m o u t h .
W h e n his retching stopped, the priest felt something w e t slapped o n t o
his face. " C l e a n yourself u p , Father. We're nor t h r o u g h y e r . " A v o n o d o r
l o o k e d up ro see Slattery t h r o w i n g a h a n d f u l o f towels over the mess, and
then heard Wodgila's voice again, calm and clinical as i f n o t h i n g had
happened.
" I t ' s time for that quiz I m e n t i o n e d , Father O s w a l d . We k n o w a lor
a b o u t Scalabrini and C o n n o l l y . We k n o w Scalabrini's coven cooperated in
his dearh. We k n o w it was C o n n o I I v w h o killed h i m . We k n o w all about
the r i t u a l number o f stab w o u n d s . We k n o w Flis Eminence is guilty o f
complicity—at least that—in blocking the investigations into both
m u r d e r s . W h a t we w a n t f r o m y o u is i n f o r m a t i o n . If you w o r k w i r h us, we
can help y o u . I f y o u d o n ' t cooperare—bur still if we make i t appear that
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 405

you've t u r n e d i n f o r m a n t like Scalabrini and C o n n o l l y — h o w long d o you

t h i n k i t w i l l he before someone finds y o u in the same c o n d i t i o n ? "
A v o n o d o r t h r e w a glance o f f r u s t r a t i o n and hare at the Inspector, and
then at the photos. " P m dead either w a y . T h e y ' l l k n o w . T h e y ' l l come.
W h e n 1 return t o the city . . . "
" Y o u w o n ' t r e t u r n . We have an ambulance w a i r i n g nor far f r o m here,
ready t o transport you t o an A r m y hospital for special duties and cases.
It's r u n by a man w h o k n o w s his stuff. D r . Joseph Paly. Believe me, it's
very private. Even the President can't reach inro i t . So let's get d o w n to
business. T h e firsr t h i n g we w a n t y o u to do is have a little chat w i t h your
m a n i n Vancouver. T h a r was where y o u were headed?" Silence f r o m A v o -
n o d o r . " T e l l h i m y o u became so extremely i l l w i t h f o o d poisoning that
you've had t o call for help. Tell h i m exactly t h a t , and n o m o r e . I f y o u add
or o m i t a n y t h i n g , our deal is o f f . Understood?"
W h e n Eather A v o n o d o r swayed unsteadily in his chair for a second,
Slartery t h o u g h t the f e l l o w m i g h t pass o u t . But W o d g i l a reached for the
telephone and p u t i t between h i m and A v o n o d o r . " Y o u d o n ' t even have t o
d i a l . W e ' l l d o that for y o u . You just w r i t e the number d o w n , along w i r h
rhe name and address rhat go w i t h i t . "
" H e ' l l w a n t my l o c a t i o n . " A v o n o d o r ' s voice was r a w . " I ' l l have t o give
h i m the number here. It's his insurance." H i s hand t r e m b l i n g , he took the
pen W o d g i l a held o u t t o h i m and scrawled a name, a number and an
address—a residence in a Vancouver s u b u r b , just as W o d g i l a had ex-
pected.
T h e d r i l l w e n t like c l o c k w o r k . The Inspector dialed t h r o u g h to a special
C e n t u r y c i r y police operator w h o made rhe connection to Vancouver and
patched the call t o A v o n o d o r ' s r o o m . W h e n he heard a man's quiet voice
come on the line, he handed the receiver over t o his glassy-eyed prey.
A v o n o d o r gave his location and phone number. He was helpless w i t h f o o d
p o i s o n i n g , he said. Needed treatment. H a d called for an ambulance. Then
he h u n g u p . A few seconds passed. T h e phone rang.
"Eather A v o n o d o r h e r e . "
"Just c h e c k i n g , " the same voice responded. "Be careful."
Again the line w e n t dead. T h e Inspector punched the number for the
special operator. Satisfied that the call had been recorded, he rurned mat-
ters over t o D a m i e n Slattery,
" T h a t was a very g o o d beginning, Farher." Slattery got t o his feet and
saw the hard l o o k that swept across A v o n o d o r ' s face. " N o w I wonder i f
you can tell us h o w m a n y clerical covens you k n o w of i n this area, besides
your o w n . "
Father O s w a l d said n o t h i n g .
"You've no choice, m y m a n . " T h e D o m i n i c a n kicked l i g h t l y at the
photos beside Wodgila's chair.
 406 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" T h r e e . " A v o n o d o r ' s whisper had an u n n a t u r a l edge t o i t . " I k n o w of

three. But I d o n ' t k n o w the names o f all the members. I s w e a r . "
" B u t y o u d o k n o w the organizer i n each case. A n d y o u do k n o w the
meeting places. Give, A v o n o d o r ! A n d I w a n r real names, nor coven
codes."
His voice still a t o r t u r e d whisper, Farher O s w a l d obeyed. W i l l o w s h i p ,
H a r d i n g and Roantree were the places. In each case, the Pastor was the
organizer. " L o t z i n g e r , Keraly and T o m k i n s , " he rasped the name o f each
man.
" A l l three are pedophiles?" There was o n l y a slight change in his de-
meanor; but i t was Slarrery rhe exorcist w h o was questioning the younger
priest n o w .
A grotesque smile deformed A v o n o d o r ' s m o u t h . " L i t t l e boys are always
the guests o f h o n o r , Father Slattery. Pd have t h o u g h t y o u k n e w t h a t . "
"Are any o f these covens the M o t h e r C h a p e l ? "
"No."
" H a v e you been i n the M o t h e r C h a p e l ? "
"Yes."
" D o y o u k n o w the f o u n d e r ? "
res.
" W h e r e is the M o t h e r Chapel, Father O s w a l d ? "
" N o r t h . South. East. W e s t . " A v o n o d o r ' s voice rook o n a s i l k y , singsong
q u a l i t y . H i s misshapen smile turned t o a t o o t h y grimace.
Slattery bent f o r w a r d . H e k n e w the signs, and he d i d n ' t w a n t to lose
A v o n o d o r . " I c o m m a n d y o u in the name o f Jesus Chrisr. Tell me where to
find the M o t h e r C h a p e l . "
T o o late! A v o n o d o r ' s eyes were glazed and b u l g i n g . His lips were d r a w n
back. Fie raised his face, opened his m o u t h to its widest. " A v i r g i n lives in
rhe highways o f v i r g i n i t y . A v i r g i n virgins i n rhe byways o f v i r g i n i t y . . . "
A t his first scream o f m a d , raucous laughter, W o d g i l a was on t o p of
h i m , stuffing a t o w e l i n t o his m o u t h . T h e n , jusr as suddenly, his body went
l i m p . H e was like a silent spectator n o w . H e felt the t o w e l taken f r o m his
m o u t h . Flaccid, he watched as if f r o m a grear distance w h i l e rhese t w o
strangers w h o had plundered his life wenr a b o u t their business.
Slattery packed A v o n o d o r ' s belongings and retrieved rhe photographs.
Wodgila made one last c a l l — f o r the ambulance this t i m e — a n d then went
to the manager's office to e x p l a i n p o o r Father A v o n o d o r ' s sudden illness.
" F o o d p o i s o n i n g . " T h e Inspector clucked his tongue, flashed his badge
and paid rhe b i l l . " O f course, we d o n ' t w a n t t o ger y o u mixed up i n
a n y t h i n g that m i g h t cost y o u your license. But I ' d be careful o f any i n q u i -
ries. Keep y o u r distance, if you get my m e a n i n g . " T h e ashen-faced m a n -
ager stamped the bill paid and gave W o d g i l a a copy. H e had no idea w h a t
was g o i n g o n , b u t he k n e w a serious w a r n i n g w h e n he heard i t .
U N I H 1 N K A B L E REALITIES 407

W i t h i n minutes an unresisting Father A v o n o d o r was t r u n d l e d i n t o the

back o f the ambulance and was speeding o f f i n t o a n i g h t t h a t had turned
d a r k . So exceedingly d a r k .

A T T H E O U T S E T o f his papal investigation, Chris Gladstone's best i n f o r -

m a n t were men like Farher M i k e O ' R e i l l y . Idealistic y o u n g priests w h o
hated l i v i n g side by side w i r h homosexually active clergy, but w h o f o u n d
themselves helpless i n their outrage as bishops shuffled their boy lovers
back and f o r t h f r o m parish t o parish, and c h u r c h after w o r k i n g church
was closed and sold o f f t o pay the m o u n t i n g costs of o u t - o f - c o u r t settle-
ments.
O v e r rime, each g o o d lead he got f r o m O ' R e i l l y rracked inevitably t o
t w o o r three more u n t i l he had a cadre of homosexual priest-informants
s u p p l y i n g h i m w i r h evidence o f b r o k e n v o w s , failed vocations and abys-
m a l betrayal o f the trust of their congregations.
I n c i t y after c i t y , Gladstone heard f r o m this man o r that h o w , t w o or
three or seven or ren years before, he had fallen i n t o the trap of easy
passion w i t h a brother cleric. H o w he had been introduced i n t o rhe wider
circle, where everybody k n e w rhe w o r s t about everybody else. H o w he
had been trapped still further by the position he came to occupy i n the
C h u r c h hierarchy; by the economics of life; by friendships and sociality.
H o w he c o u l d n ' t find the social or m o r a l or physical courage ro break
away.
Gladstone began t o understand the w o r k i n g s o f w h a t O ' R e i l l y had
called " a m u t u a l l y protective system reaching all the w a y f r o m O'Cleary's
Chancery right u p t o the College of C a r d i n a l s . " O n l y , system wasn't ex-
actly the w o r d for ir, Chris decided. N o . It was more like a shared under-
sranding. A d i r t y little secret whispered just l o u d enough t o d r a w rhose
w i t h similar inreresrs i n r o the circle. Just threarening enough ro keep the
secret safe. In a w a y , t h o u g h , and whatever y o u called i t , the w h o l e setup
f u n c t i o n e d like a clerical p r o t e c t i o n racket. A n d in that sense, O'Reilly's
description was accurate. Innocent or n o t , a n y b o d y w h o spilled the beans
was almost cerrain t o end up like M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y , isolated and buried
under an avalanche of r u i n o u s counteraccusations.
Those w h o played the game t o the h i l t , on the other h a n d , protected
and p r o m o t e d one another up t h r o u g h rhe ranks of the hierarchy. N o r d i d
such preferment end w i r h professorships at seminaries and the like. W h a t
hit Gladstone l i k e a b l o w t o his belly, i n fact, was the credible evidence
rhar b u i l t up i n his files concerning h i g h - r a n k i n g c l e r g y — i n c l u d i n g a u x i l -
 408 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

iary and residential b i s h o p s — w h o were participants i n this ecclesiastical

c l u b o f homosexual and pedophiliac a c t i v i t y .
If his g r o w i n g understanding o f the w o r k i n g s o f clerical miscreance was
an eye-opener f o r Gladstone, the interviews he had to conduct for C a r d i -
nal iVtaestroianni a m o n g the A m e r i c a n bishops became a t r i a l f o r h i m . A n
expert by n o w at the business o f i n t e r r o g a t i n g bishops, Chris f o u n d at
least a p a r t i a l answer t o his d i l e m m a by devising a few queries—seemingly
statistical, demographic and financial in n a t u r e — t o investigate active cleri-
cal h o m o s e x u a l i t y as w h a t he called "a possible d r a i n o f diocesan re-
sources."
The p l o y was almost t o o effective; it t o l d C h r i s t i a n almost more than he
w a n t e d to k n o w . There w a s n ' t a blush or a stutter in the answers the
bishops gave. Rut neither was there m u c h by w a y o f t r a d i t i o n a l Roman
C a t h o l i c m o r a l i t y . The hot headlines, bitter controversy and radical policy
agenda fostered by such m i l i t a n t groups as D i g n i t y and L a m b d a and A c t
U p and Queer N a t i o n carried m o r e w e i g h t a m o n g the A m e r i c a n bishops
rhan a n y r h i n g said t w o thousand years ago by St. James or St. Paul, much
less a n y t h i n g w r i r t e n t w o minutes ago by the Slavic Pope or by Cardinal
R e i n v e r n u n f t o f Rome's Congregation for the Defense o f the Faith.
" I t isn't really a question o f a d r a i n o n o u r diocesan resources," one
Wesr Coast prelate lectured Chris patiently. " T h e p r o b l e m is delicate. It
requires special care. As bishops, after a l l , we must be pastorally sensitive
t o the needs o f e v e r y o n e . "
I n one f o r m or anorher, rhat a r g u m e n t — t h e psychosexual argument, as
C h r i s t i a n came t o t h i n k o f it—seemed to carry w e i g h t w i t h a number o f
rhe bishops he i n t e r v i e w e d . " W h a t are w e to d o , " ran the line, " i f some o f
o u r priests are differenr by nature? Are we n o t t o recognize that fact? Are
we n o t pastors f o r a l l o u r priests?"
There were a few bishops w h o made a r u n at the Gospels in an a t t e m p t
to excuse h o m o s e x u a l a c t i v i t y a m o n g some o f the clergy under their pas-
roral care and guidance.
Chrisr, they argued, talked a b o u t v i s i t i n g prisoners and about caring for
the sick and a i d i n g w i d o w s and orphans. H o m o s e x u a l priests d i d all o f
t h a t a n d were a c a r i n g g r o u p o f clergymen. A n d Chrisr never mentioned
h o m o s e x u a l i t y . I t was the rare bishop w h o w o r r i e d any longer thar the
actively h o m o s e x u a l priesrs under his pastoral care were in a state o f
serious sin. T h a r the act o f s o d o m i z i n g men and little boys rendered i m -
possible the exercise o f p r i e s t h o o d . T h a t d a i l y they added sin after sin o f
sacrilege to their lives and the lives o f others.
W h e n a few bishops d i d t r y t o take corrective measures, they f o u n d
themselves cut o f f f r o m effective dealings w i t h the Regional and N a t i o n a l
Conferences o f Bishops; excluded f r o m i m p o r t a n t committees; unable to
get urgent petitions attended t o in Rome.
Given all o f t h a t , Chris almost expected the broader parrern that
emerged f r o m his systematic i n t e r r o g a t i o n of A m e r i c a n bishops. Bur he
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 409

had never imagined that the m a g i s t e r i u m — t h e o r d i n a r y teaching m a t r i x

of rhe C h u r c h i n u n i o n w i t h the Pope—could have been so t h o r o u g h l y
shredded. Fully t w o - t h i r d s of rhe bishops he visited m a i n t a i n e d an active
o p p o s i t i o n against the Slavic Pope. H i s Holiness was " b a c k w a r d , " they
c o m p l a i n e d . H i s Holiness was " m e d i e v a l . " H i s Holiness was " a b u m
leader." H i s Holiness was " t h e w r o n g man t o head the C h u r c h . " Fie was
" w e a k - w i l l e d . " Fie was " a r a loss t o deal w i t h his h i e r a r c h y . " Fie was
" i n c a p a b l e o f papal governance."
C h r i s t i a n f o u n d the A m e r i c a n bishops unired o n one m o r e issue: an
inrense dislike for Rome. They disliked any oursider telling them w h a t to
d o . " C a t h o l i c i s m must be o f a d i f f e r e n t k i n d o n rhis side of the A t l a n t i c , "
insisted some. " W e ' r e developing a vibranr new Carholicism for A m e r i c a , "
boasred others. " L e t ' s have n o m o r e papal v i s i t s , " was a c o m m o n de-
m a n d . " I t ' s not Rome or the Pope that's setting the pace for the t w e n t y -
firsr c e n t u r y , but o u r A m e r i c a n C h u r c h . "
T h e message they had for C h r i s t i a n boiled d o w n t o a dissolution of the
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e structure o f rhe C h u r c h as previous generations had k n o w n
ir. Ir was a revolt againsr centralized a u t h o r i t y . Fragmentation was the
new order of the day. Each diocese operated n o w m o r e or less as an
independent region. A n d each region t h u m b e d its ecclesiastical nose at
R o m e . " T e l l Rome t o leave us a l o n e " ; that was the chief idea the A m e r i -
can bishops wanted Gladstone t o take back to the Vatican. The more he
saw, the m o r e Chris was beset w i t h queries: W h a t had happened to the
m a g i s t e r i u m , then? W h a t had made i t possible for so much error and
a m b i g u i t y and confusion t o replace the w i s d o m of rhe H o l y Spirir in so
m a n y pastors? W h a r was i t that had clouded the a b i l i t y o f the clergy ro
sort w h a t was true f r o m w h a t was false? Because those questions were
viral and urgent for him—because he was s l o w l y c o m i n g t o the Slavic
Pope's puzzlement over the failure o f rhe hierarchic sysrem—Chris
scoured his list o f bishops for one man w h o m i g h t give h i m some handle
o n w h a t a m o u n t e d t o a massive weakening o f faith a m o n g the higher
reaches of the A m e r i c a n hierarchy. T h a t m a n t u r n e d out to be Bishop
James M c G r e g o r o f Hardcasrle, Kansas. The f o r t h r i g h t manner of this
s m a l l , w i r y man w i r h red cheeks and s m i l i n g eyes had made h i m one o f
Cessi's favorites a m o n g the guests at W i n d s w e p t House d u r i n g its social
heyday. But behind that b l u f f manner o f his resided rhe deep piery o f a
firsr-rate theologian.
O n the day Chris arrived ar M c G r e g o r ' s Chancery and rhe Bishop be-
gan t o get an i n k l i n g of the k i n d o f i n f o r m a t i o n his y o u n g friend was after,
he led the way i n t o a spacious garden. It w o u l d be better, he said, t o chat
a b o u t these matters where they w o u l d n ' t be disturbed. In the sunny isola-
t i o n o f that place, Chris laid o u t as m u c h as he c o u l d about w h a t so many
bishops t h o u g h t of n o w as " t h e A m e r i c a n C h u r c h . " H e spoke candidly of
the g r o w i n g number of actively homosexual clergy, abour the c o m p l i c i t y
o f some bishops and rhe connivance of rhose w h o weren't directly i m p l i -
 410 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

cared. Above a l l , he ser our rhe broad profile of the C h u r c h in America—a

p o r t r a i t o f diluted faith and altered minds a m o n g a once muscular R o m a n
C a t h o l i c hierarchy.
" L o o k , C h r i s t i a n . ' M c G r e g o r poked at the soil here a n d there as rhe
1

pair strolled t o w a r d the farther end o f the garden. " I f it's c o r r u p t i o n o f the
faith you're t r y i n g t o understand, rhe firsr lesson t o master is the corrosive
effecr of self-protection. A m a j o r i t y o f the bishops are g o o d in the o r d i -
nary sense o f the w o r d . L i k e a lor o f orher decenr m e n , all rhey wanr is to
keep their jobs a n d ger ahead. T h e i r c o r r u p t i o n lies in the fact thar they
d o n ' t raise their voices againsr the c o r r u p t i o n a r o u n d rhem. They're cor-
r u p t i n the sense that they let the C h u r c h decay w h i l e their parishioners
blear like lambs being led t o slaughter by rhe d o g s . "
" B u r why? W h a t ' s happened ro o u r bishops? You haven't caved i n ,
Excellency; and they d o n ' t have to e i t h e r . "
" H a v e n ' t I ? " M c G r e g o r stuffed his hands in his pockets. " O h , I still
manage to say the R o m a n Mass o n the quiet in my private chapel. I
manage to consecrate enough hosts validly so that I can feed m y parishio-
ners w i t h the true Body of C h r i s t . I play g o l f a lot w i t h m y priests and give
t h e m eighteen holes of g o o d theology t o keep them i n line. I t r y as best I
c a n , in other w o r d s , t o do w h a t St. Paul d i d ; t o hand o n the faith as i t has
come t o me f r o m rhe Apostles.
" B u t that's a b o u t i t . In every other sense, Pve bowed to the prescrip-
tions of the C o n c i l i a r C h u r c h . Your pals i n Rome have seen ro that. Your
pals w h o r u n C A R R have changed rhe skin and bones o f Catholic rirual.
A n d y o u r pals w h o r u n rhe I C C L have rammed a w h o l e new liturgy d o w n
o u r throats. Between t h e m , they've altered m y C h u r c h for me, and there
isn't a lot I can do about t h a t o u t here o n rhe p r a i r i e s . "
Still, Chris reasoned, M c G r e g o r had f o u n d some sort of s o l u t i o n . True,
he had been forced t o devise a series of dodges to keep things reasonably
sane. A r least he made sure his parishioners received valid Sacraments and
t h a t the priests and laity in his care heard the truths o f their R o m a n
C a t h o l i c f a i t h . W h y , t h e n , C h r i s t i a n w a n t e d to k n o w , c o u l d n ' t other bish-
ops d o at least that much?
" I ' l l show y o u w h y . " M c G r e g o r headed back r o w a r d his Chancery of-
fice. " Y o u ' v e already discovered rhat most bishops live and w o r k n o w as
t h o u g h there were something called 'the A m e r i c a n C h u r c h . ' But there's
m o r e behind rhar idea than independence f r o m Rome.
" T h e plain fact is that a different creed is r a k i n g h o l d in that C h u r c h .
It's a logic stripped o f rhe Logos. It's not the creed of John's Gospel, rhe
W o r d W h o was G o d and w i r h G o d . N o r rhe creed o f the W o r d made flesh.
In this b o w d l e r i z e d creed o f rhe so-called ' A m e r i c a n C h u r c h , ' the flesh has
been made w o r d . A n d the w o r d is ' d i g i t a l . ' "
M c G r e g o r t h r e w open the d o o r ro his srudy and made for a r o w o f file
cabinets. " H e r e , Father C h r i s . L o o k at the new gospel w e bishops live by
these days. Take a gander at w h a t pastoral care looks l i k e . " W i t h every
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 411

w o r d he spoke, M c G r e g o r piled up papers; stacked up p r i n t o u t s filled

w i t h electronic type a n d images. " W e live by polls and graphs and charts
and statistical reports and bean-counter assessments. We get psychosexual
profiles and pie charts o f d r u g and alcohol abuse. We get analytical tables
and bar graphs of all the social ills y o u can name. We get this stuff every
day f r o m l i t u r g i c a l committees. F r o m sacramental committees. From c o m -
mittees for w o m e n , and committees f o r c h i l d r e n , and environmental c o m -
mittees, and p o p u l a t i o n committees, a n d economic policy committees, i t
comes at us f r o m committees at the parish level, f r o m diocesan and arch-
diocesan levels, a n d f r o m the Regional and N a t i o n a l Conferences o f Bish-
ops. I n fact, we get so much o f this garbage, and o u r minds are so stuffed
w i t h i t , that i t actually changes the w a y we t h i n k .
" Y o u ' v e come here for rhe t r u t h , C h r i s . " M c G r e g o r t u r n e d f r o m the
files at last. " A n d for m y money, the t r u t h is that life and t h o u g h t and
faith itself are becoming digitalized. We're all barreling d o w n rhe same
I n f o b a h n the way g o l d grubbers thronged to Sutter's M i l l . Bur gold isn't
the b i g a t t r a c t i o n n o w . Even the best bishops 1 k n o w are being enticed
d o w n t h a t h i g h w a y by one w o r d that sparkles and gleams at every t u r n .
D i g i t a l . M o r e and m o r e , the i n f o r m a t i o n we rely o n ro r u n o u r dioceses
and o u r parishes comes f r o m a c o m p u t e r n e t w o r k that fuses everything
i n t o one mode. R e l i g i o n — a n d the m o r a l i t y based o n that religion—are
being reduced to endless streams o f zeros and ones. A n d something i n that
process—or maybe something about the w a y it's being used—is s t r i p p i n g
supernatural meaning away f r o m facts the w a y o u r good Kansas c o r n is
stripped f r o m cobs.
" T h a t single w o r d — d i g i t a l — i s like one o f those c o m p u t e r viruses we
hear a b o u t that travel a r o u n d the w o r l d like l i g h t n i n g , w i p i n g o u t w h o l e
storehouses of i n f o r m a t i o n . O n l y this virus is w i p i n g o u t the w h o l e vocab-
ulary of f a i t h . It's t r a n s f o r m i n g R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m f r o m a religion that
must adhere t o the t r u t h or die i n t o a c u l t u r e that must change w i t h the
w o r l d or be left b e h i n d . "
Trusted f a m i l y friend o r n o t , it seemed t o Chris that M c G r e g o r was
g o i n g t o o far. I t was one t h i n g t o say that professional episcopal t h i n k i n g
had changed; he c o u l d see that much f o r himself. But surely it was t o o
m u c h t o say that c o m p u t e r language was the c u l p r i t .
" M a y b e y o u ' r e r i g h t . " M c G r e g o r reached o u t for some o f the material
he had stacked i n f r o n t o f C h r i s . " B u t the same w a t c h w o r d s keep crop-
p i n g u p in every conversation 1 have these days w i t h my brother bishops.
A n d they all come o u t o f this new c r e e d . "
" L i k e w h a r , f o r instance?"
M c G r e g o r reeled o f f a m i n i a t u r e lexicon that left C h r i s t i a n glassy-eyed.
"Ecumenical resurgence. Social renewal. Gender equality. Biblical c o m -
puteracy. Social facilitators. Catechetical facilitators. L i t u r g i c a l facili-
tators. Programmatic pastoral development. Task forces. M i n i s t r y teams.
Problem solving. C o m m u n a l healing, l n c u l t u r a t i o n . H o r i z o n t a l prayer.
 412 W I N D S V? E P T H U U S F.

Outcome-Based E d u c a t i o n . V i r t u a l reality. C o l l a b o r a t i v e m i n i s t r y . C o n -
cept o f giftedness. Srrategic p l a n n i n g . T h a t ' s the digital vocabulary o f faith
i n A m e r i c a n o w , my y o u n g f r i e n d . " M c G r e g o r ignored the intercom that
buzzed behind h i m o n his desk. " I t ' s a vocabulary that looks sophisti-
cated, b u t i n reality it's p r i m i t i v e beyond belief. It's a vocabulary that
deals o n l y in material images. A n d there are n o material images that can
express the n o n m a t e r i a l dimension of life. The more you t h i n k in those
terms, the less able y o u are to t h i n k i n terms o f the supernatural as rhe
f u n d a m e n t a l basis o f everything. Indeed, it becomes impossible to t h i n k in
terms o f supernatural reality at a l l . If w o r d s are reduced t o n o t h i n g more
rhan images, and if everything is made m a t e r i a l , h o w is it possible to t h i n k
in terms o f the love o f a G o d W h o m no m a n has seen? H o w is i t possible
to t h i n k a b o u t the I n c a r n a t i o n , Sacrifice, Resurrection and Ascension o f
the Son o f that God?
" N o , C h r i s . In this new vocabulary of f a i t h , the w h o l e t h i n g begins to
slip away f r o m us and d r i f t o f f i n t o cyberspace.
" I t becomes impossible to deal w i t h Christ's revelarions about the T r i n -
ity. Impossible t o t h i n k i n terms o f a supernatural gift called grace. I n
terms of h u m i l i t y and p u r i t y . In terms of obedience and chastity and piety
and holiness. I n terms o f Christ's suffering and self-denial o n the Cross as
the divine m o d e l f o r trust in G o d . I n terms o f charity as the h u m a n face o f
divine and therefore perfect love. In the end, it becomes impossible to
t h i n k i n terms o f good and bad; in terms o f sin and repentance. A l l o f that
comes f r o m the o l d d i c t i o n a r y o f o u r f a i t h .
" A n d t h a t , Eather C h r i s , brings us face to face w i t h the answers you
came here to get. Face to face w i t h c o r r u p t i o n . A f t e r a l l is said and done,
once the endless layers o f toughness and richness and subtlety encom-
passed i n God's revelations are stripped to the bone by the zeros and ones
o f rhe new digital mind-set, the bishops are faced w i t h a p r o b l e m about
the C h u r c h ' s constant teachings and m o r a l attitudes rhat have always been
based o n that revelation.
" Y o u k n o w yourself that even the Real Presence of C h r i s t i n the Sacra-
ment is fast f a l l i n g o u t o f the day-to-day creed. A n Immaculately C o n -
ceived V i r g i n is a p r o b l e m . Angels and saints are a d o w n r i g h t embarrass-
ment. The i n f a l l i b l e a u r h o r i t y o f the Pope is intolerable. Heaven itsell—the
idea that w e can parricipare in the life o f a G o d no m a n has seen—is
treared as a c u l r u r a l m y t h . It's okay t o study H e l l and Purgatory in c o m -
parative culture courses. But it's not practical to live y o u r l i f e — i n c l u d i n g
y o u r sexual life—as t h o u g h they mattered. As t h o u g h sin were as real as,
say, v i r t u a l r e a l i t y . "
C h r i s t i a n was quiet f o r a l o n g rime. Perhaps t o wrench his o w n m i n d
f r o m such high-tech razzle-dazzle, he began to t h i n k i n terms o f the o l d
d i c t i o n a r y o f f a i t h . Began t o muse aloud abour Luke's account of the t w o
disciples w h o had hightailed it to Emmaus o n the very day of Christ's
Resurrection. O f h o w , engrossed in their o w n hasty v i e w of events, they
UNTHINKABLE REALITIES 413
had failed to recognize the risen L o r d even w h e n he fell i n t o step right
beside t h e m . " M a y b e the bishops today are a little like t h a t , " he sug-
gested. " M a y b e they're blindsided by their o w n idea that there o u g h t to be
some g l o r i o u s , t h i s - w o r l d l y manifestation o f their f a i t h . M a y b e . . . "
" I d o n ' t t h i n k so." M c G r e g o r cut i n a b r u p t l y . " T h e bishops are n o t
w o r r i e d or disappointed. I f G o d ' s only role is t o be patient and forgiv-
i n g — i f there's no Heaven and n o H e l l ; i f the o n l y sin is to deplete the
ozone layer, say, or c o n r r i b u t e t o o v e r p o p u l a t i o n — r h e n things are m o v i n g
in the right d i r e c t i o n . The t r o u b l e is t h a t i f y o u t h i n k that w a y , you've
ceased to be C a t h o l i c . I f y o u t h i n k that w a y , you've already been affected
by a d a r k e n i n g o f the intellect. A n d because that's the cleverest w o r k o f
Saran—because d a r k e n i n g o f the intellect is always d e m o n i c — i t ' s the
darkest darkness o f a l l .
" I f you t h i n k that w a y , you're ready t o d u m p the teaching o f all the
great theologians—Peter and Paul and J o h n and Augustine and Aquinas
and all the rest. Prom Jerusalem to Vatican I , none o f the great Church
Councils means t w a d d l e . It becomes perfectly acceptable to substitute the
theories o f social mechanics for the knowledge o f f a i t h . Life becomes h o r i -
z o n t a l . E v e r y t h i n g that matters is right here, r i g h t n o w . A n d the upshot o f
all o f that is that you cease t o hope in w h a t once was hoped f o r . A n y day
n o w , I expect some committee or another t o send us a replacement for
A q u i n a s ' Summa Theologica. T h e y ' l l p r o b a b l y call ir The Sensitive Pas-
tor's Essential Guide to Politically Correct Theology. A n d i t w i l l probably
come w i t h a h a n d b o o k t e l l i n g us h o w t o search the Interner f o r the specific
dara we need.
" A n d I r e m i n d y o u , C h r i s . We're not t a l k i n g a b o u t the m o m e n t a r y lapse
o f a couple o f disciples r u n n i n g f o r cover t o Emmaus. We're t a l k i n g about
the defection o f w h o l e nations barreling at the speed o f light along the
I n f o b a h n . A n d we may be t a l k i n g about the Slavic Pope himself. A b o u t
the Vicar o f C h r i s t . "
" N o t y o u , t o o , Excellency!" Gladstone t h r e w up his hands,
" H o l d your fire, m y f r i e n d . " M c G r e g o r reached behind h i m i n t o his
desk f o r one d o c u m e n t he h a d n ' t filed a w a y . " I k n o w you're busy w i t h
your investigations. But take the time to read this. It's a copy o f a papal
message delivered at the U n i t e d N a t i o n s last M a r c h by C a r d i n a l Maestro-
ianni. T h e text is secular to the core. Negotiations, H i s Holiness calls i t .
A n d he c o u l d n ' t have chosen a better title, or a better place to deliver i t .
It's as i f he's t e l l i n g the w o r l d that the C h u r c h has no grace or w i s d o m or
principles o f its o w n t o offer. It's as t h o u g h he's r u n o u t o f a n y t h i n g t r u l y
Catholic t o say."
The sound o f the intercom again, m o r e insistent this t i m e , forced M c -
Gregor t o l o o k at his w a t c h . The hour he'd set aside for this i n t e r v i e w was
stretching i n t o t w o . Yet as b o t h men w a l k e d together t h r o u g h the Chan-
cery, neither seemed ready to end rheir conversation.
" I ' v e given the best answers I can ro y o u r questions about c o r r u p t i o n ,
 414 W IN DSW F PT HOUSE

Father C h r i s . N o w , I w o n d e r if I can t u r n rhe tables and pur a puzzle to

you?"
" A s k a n y r h i n g y o u like, Excellency."
" M a y b e rhis investigation of yours is a g o o d t h i n g . Bur w h y has rhe
Pope let the f r a u d ger so far in the firsr place? W h y has he let it go o n for
so long? W h y hasn't he just laid an ax t o the r o o t o f it? A n d i n the midst
o f all the c o n f u s i o n , w h y does he go o u t o f his w a y to deliver rhis Negotia-
tiotts speech o f h i s — a n d hundreds more like i t — t o the nations o f the
world?
" A s far as I can see—as far as a l o t o f us can see w h o are t r y i n g to h o l d
o n o u t here—those are the central questions to ask. A n d you're n o t going
to find the answers i n Hardcastle, Kansas."

" H e ' s asking t o o many questions, S i l v i o ! " A n n o y e d by the static o n the

phone connection, H i s Eminence o f C e n t u r y c i t y shouted. " W h e n 1 agreed
to take D a m i e n Slattery i n t o this Archdiocese u n t i l he c o u l d be cashiered,
y o u and M a e s t r o i a n n i t o l d me he was already a beached w h a l e . But if you
ask me, he's a dangerous m e d d l e r . "
C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i c o n t r o l l e d his anger. He d i d n ' t like being addressed
w i t h such i n t i m a c y b y his first name. A n d he d i d n ' t like being tracked
d o w n and called f r o m the bedside of his ailing m o t h e r by a C a r d i n a l to
w h o m he o w e d n o t h i n g . Still, he and C e n t u r y c i t y d i d have a certain c o m -
m o n a l i t y of aims; and he had heard a b o u t Father A v o n o d o r ' s sudden
disappearance soon after Slattery's a r r i v a l i n the States. I f other things had
begun to go w r o n g as w e l l , it m i g h r be wise to hear the w o r s t o f i t .
" Y o u remember Lotzinger, Pm sure? Pastor over at W i l l o w s h i p ? "
W h a t A u r e a t i n i remembered a b o u t Lotzinger was rhe n u m b e r of rimes
H i s Eminence of Cenrurycity had had to move h i m i n t o new parishes to
save his hide, and the public rumors abour sexual abuse o f children rhar
always f o l l o w e d h i m . W h a t he remembered was t h a t e x - n u n o f his, the
f o r m e r Sister Angela, w h o always popped up as p r i n c i p a l o f Lorzinger's
parish schools. The Cardinal's lawyers had always been effective i n p r o -
tecting Lorzinger. So w h a t was the problem?
" T h e p r o b l e m , Silvio, is that Father Keraly o f H a r d i n g has come t o me
w i t h the same c o m p l a i n t . A n d so has Father T o m k i n s o f Roantree, Slattery
has been nosing a r o u n d all three parishes."
" T h a t is c u r i o u s . " A u r e a t i n i began t o see the d i f f i c u l t y i n a more serious
light.
" M y t h i n k i n g exactly, Eminence. But there's more. I t looks like Slartery
has been seeing a retired police inspector here by the name o f Sylvester
W o d g i l a . H e was in o n the investigation o f the Scalabrini a f f a i r . "
" I see." C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i d r e w a deep breath. " A n y more c o i n c i -
dences?"
" M a y b e . A s far as I can make o u t , Slattery goes o u t o f his w a y n o w and
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 415

again t o meet another Vatican man w h o ' s a l l over the landscape rhese
days. Ever heard o f a Father C h r i s r i a n Gladstone?"
" B e h ! " The Italian C a r d i n a l gave the verbal equivalent o f a shrug.
" G l a d s t o n e is a puppy d o g , a n d M a e s t r o i a n n i has h i m o n a leash. He's
over there d o i n g some w o r k for us o n the C o m m o n M i n d V o t e . "
" S o . " C e n t u r y c i t y insisted o n his o w n p o i n t . " W h a t ' s Gladstone's c o n -
nection w i r h Slattery?"
" T h e y k n o w each other f r o m the A n g e l i c u m , and Slattery p r o b a b l y
needs a d r i n k i n g b u d d y . " A u r e a t i n i was guessing. " I t ' s been m y experi-
ence t h a t Americans o f Gladstone's w e a l t h and social class are always
polire, even to oafs like S l a t t e r y . "
D a m n e d W o p snob, C e n t u r y c i t y breathed to himself under cover o f the
static. " E l l take y o u r w o r d f o r i t , Silvio. But t h a t srill leaves rhe p r o b l e m o f
the I r i s h m a n . These pro-life lectures o f his take h i m everywhere. M y peo-
ple can't take a srep w i t h o u t t r i p p i n g over h i m . I t w o u l d s i m p l i f y life over
here if we c o u l d ger h i m ro sign rhose exclaustration papers. O r , better
s t i l l , w h y can't Father H a n e b e r r y just be empowered to dismiss h i m f r o m
the O r d e r ? "
T h i c k h e a d e d Yankee c l o d , A u r e a t i n i t h o u g h t . " I wish i t were as easy as
t h a t , Venerable Brother. But y o u ' r e dealing w i t h Rome i n this matter. As
f o r m e r M a s t e r - G e n e r a l , Slartery has status. We still have to be careful w i t h
the P o n t i f f . It w o u l d be far better if y o u c o u l d precipitate matters locally.
Ir w i l l make Flaneberry's j o b easier i f you p u t y o u r o w n p o s i t i o n as A r c h -
bishop to g o o d use. C a l l Slattery o n the mat. Read h i m the r i o t act. Anger
h i m . As y o u say over there, get his Irish u p . "
A u r e a t i n i chuckled at his little joke, b u t the A m e r i c a n was n o t amused.
H e was dealing w i t h Rome, all r i g h t ; and as usual, Rome w o u l d be no
help. As w i t h everything else, it w o u l d be up to C e n t u r y c i t y to see an end
t o D a m i e n D u n c a n Slattery as a priesr. " I rhank Your Eminence for your
suggestion."
" N o r at a l l . Eminence. W h a t are friends f o r ? "

O n the surface o f t h i n g s , there was no inherent d i f f i c u l t y for Damien

Slarrery and Sylvester W o d g i l a in c a p i t a l i z i n g o n the leads they had been
able to get f r o m Father O s w a l d A v o n o d o r . I t was mostly a matter o f
surveillance, patience, travel and the w i l l i n g c o o p e r a t i o n o f the endless
w e b o f contacts W o d g i l a had b u i l t up d u r i n g his active career o n the force
in C e n t u r y c i r y .
W h i l e the Inspector set o f f to discover w h a t he c o u l d a b o u t A v o n o d o r ' s
friend i n Vancouver, Slartery concentrated first o n the three covens i n
W i l l o w s h i p . H a r d i n g a n d Roantree. Before l o n g , w i t h the f r a m e w o r k o f
his speaking engagements as cover, and w i t h his credentials as a friend o f
Inspector W o d g i l a to gain h i m the confidence o f interested l a w enforce-
ment officers far beyond the confines o f C e n t u r y c i t y , a flood o f anecdotal
evidence began to fall i n t o Damien's hands like a deluge o f acid r a i n .
 416 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

He was made p r i v y t o " c a n blotters"—massive ledgers kept as a matter

o f r o u t i n e in precinct after precinct, records of insidious doings protected
f r o m prosecution because no one's rights had been violated and no action-
able crime had been uncovered. Called in more t h a n once by authorities
frustrated t h a t the pedophiliac priests they apprehended w o u l d n ' t be
charged, he heard firsthand accounts o f Satanist c h i l d abuse and ritual
sacrifice. He learned o f abortionists w h o d i d a t h r i v i n g side business i n
s u p p l y i n g babies, still alive but w i t h no legal status, for use i n local
covens. He lisrened t o tales o f t o r t u r e and despair; to accounts o f bodies
m u t i l a t e d o n A l t a r s and bones disposed o f in portable crematoria; to rhe
cries o f souls aching i n their o w n remorse.
As his o w n records g r e w . Damien was struck by one name that came up
over and again. " M r . F , " i t seemed, was i n such c o m m o n use a m o n g
pedophiliac priests as a pseudonym f o r Satan t h a t i t f o l l o w e d Slattery all
across the c o u n t r y .
There was that a w f u l night in I o w a , f o r example, and the confession of
a middle-aged parish priest fatally i n j u r e d i n a head-on c o l l i s i o n w i t h a
t r u c k d u r i n g a d r i v i n g r a i n s t o r m . " F o r all the little ones we h u r t . Please,
Father . . . f o r all the little ones we h u r t . . . forgive me . . . please,
Father . . . the little ones we h u r t . . . "
The signs were clear, bur time was short. Slattery needed to extract
some precision f r o m the m a n . " D i d you serve Satan?"
" A s a slave, Father . . . as a slave . , . M r . F . . . as a slave
. . . forgive me. Father . .
Kneeling i n the r a i n , i l l u m i n e d i n the lights o f a police car, Slattery
absolved the priest f r o m his sins, c o m f o r t e d h i m a n d sent h i m to God's
eternity w i t h c o n t r i t i o n o n his hps and hope i n his heart.

Despite all the d r a m a t i c testimony t h a t fell i n t o his hands, by mid-June

Slattery still had no w a y to fit all the pieces together.
E v e r y t h i n g p o i n t e d to a n e t w o r k o f Satanist clergy right enough. F r o m
the m o m e n t A v o n o d o r had c o n f i r m e d the existence o f no fewer t h a n three
covens in the environs o f C e n t u r y c i t y , logic and his experience as an exor-
cist t o l d h i m there had to be a w i d e r n e t w o r k o f covens. T h a t , i n fact, was
w h y he had homed i n o n A v o n o d o r w i t h his questions a b o u t a M o t h e r
C h a p e l . There had to be a Chapel w i t h w h i c h all continental covens were
r a m i f i e d . But where was it? I f he was to fit the puzzle t o g e t h e r — i f he was
to clinch the case for systematic clerical involvement in ritual Satanist
a c t i v i t y in A m e r i c a — h e needed t o find t h a t Chapel.
N o matter h o w far he traveled, however, no matter h o w many can
blotters he studied, o r h o w many anguished confessions he heard—the
o n l y clue ro rhe existence o f a M o t h e r Chapel was the d e l i r i u m o f Father
A v o n o d o r ' s singsong reply that n i g h t i n the m o t e l . " A v i r g i n in the h i g h -
ways o f v i r g i n i t y , A v i r g i n virgins i n the byways o f v i r g i n i t y . " Slattery had
dealt w i t h t h a t k i n d o f p r o g r a m m e d reaction before. I t bore all the marks
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 417

of a mechanism by w h i c h a possessed person c o u l d evade a specific answer

ro an exorcist's question. But somewhere in thar mechanism rhere was a
clue; some i n k l i n g o f the answer to the question asked. In this case, Slat-
tery was convinced the key was A v o n o d o r ' s repetitive use o f the w o r d
" v i r g i n . " Yet the crucial meaning remained concealed.
T h o u g h he was as frustrated as Slattery was, rhe Inspector's advice was
o f a piece w i r h his policeman's m e n t a l i t y . " L e t ' s w a i t and w o r k at the
clear leads w e h a v e , " Wodgila urged. " I f we keep slogging along the trails
of evidence we uncover, w e ' l l get a b r e a k . " Finally, t h o u g h , time was
getting t o o short f o r Slattery's c o m f o r t . In another six weeks at the o u t -
side, he w o u l d have to put all his energies i n t o p r o d u c i n g a detailed,
a i r t i g h t r e p o r t c o n v i n c i n g enough to i m p e l the Slavic Pope to take early
and decisive a c t i o n .
Because Father A v o n o d o r h a d n ' t come o u t o f his crisis, there was no
possibility o f questioning h i m any further. But there was always D r . Jo-
seph Paly. M a y b e he c o u l d get t o A v o n o d o r i n a way Slattery and Wodgila
couldn't.
" I can't go w i t h y o u . Father D a m i e n , " Sylvester begged o f f w h e n Slat-
tery broached the idea t o h i m o n the phone. " I ' v e finally got some hot
lines g o i n g here in Vancouver, and I d o n ' t w a n t to let them slip away. But
I ' l l give Paly a call at rhe hospital and ask h i m t o see you o n a p r i o r i t y
basis."

The t r o u b l e w i t h Slattery's plan turned o u t to be that D r . Paly wasn't

entirely sure w h a t he was dealing w i t h i n the A v o n o d o r case. He engrossed
himself fully in the r i d d l e of " t h e virgin in rhe b y w a y s . " H e agreed that
A v o n o d o r had been p r o g r a m m e d so rhat certain w o r d s — i n this case,
" M o t h e r C h a p e l " — a c t e d like a trigger t o produce the m a d d e l i r i u m that
had overtaken h i m so suddenly. But, Paly said, the nature o f the p r o g r a m -
m i n g was the p r o b l e m . U n t i l he understood more a b o u t t h a t , he c o u l d d o
nothing.
T h a t was interesting, Slattery t h o u g h t . "Perhaps you're t h i n k i n g o f A v o -
nodor's t r a i n i n g i n the Special Forces, D o c t o r . But I've seen the same
reaction i n possessed people; and i n rhis case we're t a l k i n g abour a man
w h o ' s been deeply i n v o l v e d in organized Satanist a c t i v i t y . I n either case,
m i n d c o n t r o l is i n v o l v e d . A n d in either case, Father A v o n o d o r c o u l d be
d e p r o g r a m m e d . Deep analysis is the term used over here, I believe."
Paly was reluctant t o talk m u c h about psychological p r o g r a m m i n g w i l l -
ingly undergone f o r the m i l i t a r y ; b u t he had to confess that was the nub of
his p r o b l e m . " F i l t h y sruff, t h a t . The A r m y is t i g h t as an oyster about i t .
We'll get A v o n o d o r ' s records i n the end. But even w h e n we k n o w the
details, we may have a p r o b l e m p u t t i n g h i m i n t o deep analysis. A n y e f f o r t
to get past m i l i t a r y p r o g r a m m i n g could trigger something far worse than
the d e l i r i u m y o u saw . We c o u l d lose h i m altogether."
f

" P m n o t a medical m a n , D r . Paly. But I k n o w a fair a m o u n t about

 418 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

possession and exorcism. I k n o w that psychological p r o g r a m m i n g of

whatever k i n d — e v e n if it's w i l l i n g l y undergone—can be the u n w i t t i n g
means of opening oneself up to demonic possession. Given the possibility
that A v o n o d o r ' s service in the Special Forces i n v o l v e d such p r o g r a m m i n g ,
and given the certainty o f his Satanist a c t i v i t y , it's a fair ber that you're
dealing w i t h b o t h problems at o n c e . "
" Y o u c o u l d be r i g h t . " Paly nodded. " E i t h e r w a y , t h o u g h , it doesn't help
y o u . I mean, 1 d o n ' t t h i n k Father A v o n o d o r w i l l give us the key to your
riddle of 'the v i r g i n i n the byways' anytime s o o n . "
" Y o u ' l l be keeping A v o n o d o r here, I take it? Life c o u l d be dangerous f o r
him otherwise."
"So Sylvester t o l d m e . " A sympathetic D r . Paly accompanied Slartery as
far as the hospital elevator. " I n a case as complex as this, I t h i n k it may be
a l o n g t i m e before we get everything sorted o u t . " T h e n , not entirely as a
joke: " W e m i g h t even need an exorcist before we're t h r o u g h . Ler me k n o w
if y o u ever need a j o b . Father D a m i e n . "

Late that week, Slattery returned t o his dungeon i n C e n t u r y c i t y and lis-

tened t o the messages stored up on his answering machine. There was a
check-in call f r o m Gladstone, w h i c h he returned in k i n d . Several requests
for lecture dates w o u l d have to be attended t o . The c u r t , do-as-you're-told
voice of Father Provincial George Haneberry c o m m a n d e d h i m to show up
at the Chancery for a meeting w i t h H i s Eminence o f Centuryciry rhe next
afternoon at four o'clock sharp. A n d the excited voice of Sylvester W o d g -
ila, back sooner t h a n expected f r o m his o w n travels, suggested that
Damien d r o p by for dinner at the first o p p o r t u n i t y .

T h o u g h M a r t h a W o d g i l a was delighted w i t h Slattery's huge appetite, she

had been a policeman's w i f e long enough to k n o w this wasn't to be an
evening of small t a l k .
" S o . " Slattery f o l l o w e d Wodgila to the den afrer dinner. " W h a t broughr
you back home i n such a rush? W h a t ' v e you g o t , me b o y ? "
" E v e r y r h i n g ! I hir the j a c k p o t ! "
" I n Vancouver! The M o t h e r Chapel is i n Vancouver?"
" N o . " W o d g i l a chose a pipe f r o m his collection. "Vancouver is i n a
different league. Security u p there is tighter than a n y t h i n g I've r u n across,
bur m y sources peg it as an organizational h u b l o r international Satanist
activity. But the t r a i l we d i d manage ro find up there led to a closed-door
g r o u p i n Sourh C a r o l i n a . L i k e Vancouver, the w h o l e setup is t i g h t as a
d r u m , b u t it's the M o t h e r Chapel we've been l o o k i n g f o r all r i g h t , and y o u
w o u l d n ' t believe the names that figure i n their files."
"You got i n t o their files, Sylvester?"
"Nor e x a c t l y . " Wodgila was savoring the m o m e n t . " B u t I d i d find the
answer to o u r r i d d l e of the ' v i r g i n in the b y w a y s . ' A n d you were r i g h t .
Father. I t was the key we needed."
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 419

W h e n his efforts ro get access t o the m a n c u r r e n t l y in charge at the

South Carolina Chapel bore no fruir, W o d g i l a had decided ro search for
C h u r c h officials w h o had retired or been transferred our o f the area, in the
hope o f finding someone w i l l i n g to t a l k . " T h e logical m a n to approach
seemed t o be A r c h b i s h o p James Russeton. Bishop Leo, everyone called
h i m . H e served in South C a r o l i n a for decades before he w e n t i n t o retire-
ment i n the fair state o f V i r g i n i a . " Wodgila warched i n silence as that b i t
o f i n f o r m a t i o n t o o k h o l d i n Damien's m i n d .
" O f c o u r s e ! " Slattery was stunned by the sudden clarity o f the riddle.
" A v o n o d o r c o u l d n ' r reveal rhe location o f the M o t h e r Chapel i n South
C a r o l i n a , bur neither c o u l d he a v o i d g i v i n g some clue. ' A virgin in the
byways o f v i r g i n i t y . ' So, i f y o u ' r e saying rhis Bishop Leo was part and
parcel o f the M o t h e r C h a p e l , and A v o n o d o r knew rhat, then the riddle firs
like a glove. Substitute ' V i r g i n i a ' f o r " v i r g i n i t y , and i t fits." I n his excite-
1

ment, Slattery almost missed the past tense that had cropped up in W o d g -
ila's remarks. Was Russeton dead, then?
" T a l k a b o u t crucial t i m i n g . " The Inspector n o d d e d . " H i s body was
being packed i n t o the meat w a g o n w h e n I drove u p . I got a l o o k at h i m ,
though."
" N a t u r a l causes?"
Wodgila n o d d e d . " M y friends i n V i r g i n i a w i l l fax the coroner's report
when it's ready, bur that's the way i t looks. Lived o u t his days i n a
splendid house. Part o f a development called Fantasia F o u n d a t i o n . Can
you beat that?
" A n y w a y , his nickname suited h i m . H a d a lion's mane o f gray hair.
M a d e me t h i n k o f that passage f r o m St. Peter's letters c o m p a r i n g Satan to
a lion p r o w l i n g after prey. Taller rhan average. Handsome, except for rhe
l o o k frozen o n his face. Something between anger and c o n f u s i o n , as
though he'd been overtaken at the last m i n u t e by some hateful visitor he
h a d n ' t expected to see.
" W h e n I made a q u i c k call to one o f my contacts d o w n there and
explained w h a t 1 was after, I was welcomed as parr of a special team
detailed to search the Bishop's house. A n d i t turns o u t that Leo was an
o r d e r l y m a n . The k i n d w h o keeps Thorough records of his proudest ac-
c o m p l i s h m e n t s . " T h o r o u g h was hardly the w o r d to describe the boxes of
materials W o d g i l a retrieved f r o m a locked closet. The files Wodgila had
b r o u g h t back i n copy f r o m Virginia revealed everyrhing, i n c l u d i n g rhe
srrucrure of the M o t h e r Chapel and irs frequent involvement w i t h corre-
spondent Chapels all across the c o u n t r y .
Hardened as b o t h men were, i t was c o l d a n d discouraging for them to
see the degree to w h i c h the most banal, f r i g h t e n i n g , d e m a n d i n g elements
of evil had penetrated the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h i n A m e r i c a . They
pored together over meticulously derailed papers of i n d u c t i o n and m e m -
bership ledgers, records that w e n t back for decades and that coupled true
names w i r h the coven names adopred by adherents of the M o t h e r Chapel.
 420 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Russeron had made a special p o i n t o f f o l l o w i n g an upside-down m i m i c r y

o f religious life. In the same w a y the C h u r c h keeps official records of the
m a n y priests, hrorhers and nuns w h o take names o f saints or angels, so
had Bishop Leo kept his o w n records of the star-studded membership he
had attracred ro his Chapel.
As i m p o r t a n t as i t was t o have such a roster, Wodgila had more to lay
o u t f o r Damien's inspection. H e f o l l o w e d the membership ledgers w i t h
piles o f dated records o f Black Masses, and w i t h p h o t o g r a p h i c marerials
o f h u m a n and a n i m a l sacrifice so d e m o r a l i z i n g as t o traumatize the m i n d
and unseat reason.
A n d yet, W o d g i l a confided to D a m i e n , the w o r s t was yet to come. One
by one, he passed a ser o f photographs to Slattery. " A t first I t h o u g h t 1
must be o u t o f m y m i n d w h e n I saw these. But w h e n 1 checked the official
records, I k n e w there was no mistake. Earlier i n his career, w a y back w h e n
he was a m o n s i g n o r , H i s Eminence of C e n t u r y c i t y was stationed as C h a n -
cellor to Bishop L e o . "
" N o . . . " Slattery spoke w i t h acid in his voice and a deep melancholy
in his s o u l . " T h e r e ' s no m i s t a k e . " The face was younger, but there was no
m i s t a k i n g the bespectacled features of the C a r d i n a l . There he was, decked
o u t i n n o t h i n g more than open robes. Some shots showed h i m preceding
Bishop Leo i n solemn m o c k e r y o f C h u r c h processions, a single black can-
dle i n his hands. I n others he was reaching t o w a r d the Pentagram o n the
A l t a r , o r sranding at the lectern berween the Black and Red Pillars. In still
orhers he was immersed in elements of the ceremony so vile, so bestial, so
sacrilegious that Damien had t o force himself to l o o k at t h e m .
But even t h a t w a s n ' t the end o f i t . W o d g i l a t o o k Slattery t h r o u g h clus-
ters o f memos and letters he had f o u n d locked away i n a floor safe in
Russeton's basement. It was this collection o f documents, the Inspecror
said, t h a t completely vindicated Slattery's insistence that clerical Saranist
a c t i v i t y i n America musr be a highly organized affair. M o s r o f rhis mate-
rial consisted m o r e o f c r y p t i c , stenographic messages t h a n n o r m a l c o m -
m u n i c a t i o n s . Still, w h i l e h a r d to decipher, there c o u l d be no d o u b t that
these were Bishop Leo's records of the many celebrations his M o t h e r
Chapel had undertaken w i t h correspondent chapels. W i t h the help o f
some o f his c r y p t o l o g i s t friends, W o d g i l a hoped to come u p w i t h the
names and locations o f those chapels.
As Slattery pored over the gruesome treasure o f i n f o r m a t i o n , he came
across one series o f memos t h a t were far more cryptic t h a n any o f the
other materials. They dated f r o m June o f 1963, as far as D a m i e n c o u l d
make o u r . Bur rhey were o f particular i m p o r t a n c e in that they d i d appear
to involve a direct link to Rome.
" W h a t d o y o u make o f this, Sylvester?" D a m i e n held the sheaf o f pa-
pers u p .
" I t ' s a f u n n y t h i n g a b o u t those m e m o s . " W o d g i l a recognized them at a
glance. " W e f o u n d them tucked away in an ornate box apart f r o m all the
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 421

other records, as i f they were especially i m p o r t a n t for Russeton. But 1

c o u l d n ' t make head or tail o f t h e m . "
" T h a t makes t w o n f u s . " Slattery squinted t h r o u g h the pages, and read
a l o u d the few w o r d s he was able t o decipher, as t h o u g h that w o u l d supply
meaning. T w o n o t a t i o n s — " C a l l Pol. 10 o'clock Rome t i m e " and " C a l l
Sek." appeared on a single sheet of paper. "S. Paulus . . . O p e n
line . . . " he read f r o m a f o l l o w i n g page. " S y n c h r o n i c i t y o f beginnings"
and " A s c e n t " figured several times i n rhe jortings, usually underlined. A n d
so, r o o , was the n o t a t i o n "Sure fitting."
W h e n b o t h men were t o o exhausted t o go o n w i t h their examinations,
they began t o pack the materials back i n their boxes. In that matter-of-fact
w a y of his, W o d g i l a began ro talk o f his new understanding of w h a t had
happened t o h i m . " G i v e n the evidence," he mused, " i t ' s no w o n d e r 1 was
removed f r o m rhe Scalabrini case, or t h a t H i s Eminence gave his blessing
t o m y early r e t i r e m e n t . "
" G i v e n w h a t happened to S c a l a b r i n i , " Slattery offered by w a y of d u b i -
ous c o n s o l a t i o n , " y o u ' r e l u c k y H i s Eminence settled f o r y o u r r e t i r e m e n t . "
Sylvester piled the last o f the boxes back i n t o the closet a n d poured a
couple of short brandies. "Eve been t h i n k i n g a lot since I came back f r o m
V i r g i n i a a b o u t that p h o t o we showed t o Father A v o n o d o r . T h e one o f H i s
Eminence a n d the others at that homosexual w e d d i n g . "
" W h a t about i t ? "
" T h e l i n k is w h a t ' s a b o u t i t , " the Inspector answered. " H i s Eminence
seems t o he a l i n k . A f u n c t i o n a r y i n a w i d e r n e t w o r k t h a n eirher of us
expecred ro find."

Ar exacrly f o u r o'clock i n rhe a f t e r n o o n , as he f o l l o w e d a close-lipped

y o u n g priest r h r o u g h a c o r r i d o r i n the C e n t u r y c i t y Chancery a n d sat d o w n
in the small a n t e r o o m beside the Cardinal's study, D a m i e n Slattery set
f o o t i n t o the o p e n i n g stages of a nightmare beyond the scope of any mere
dream.
Slattery rose t o his feet as H i s Eminence emerged w i r h a c o m p a n i o n . A
G e r m a n by the sound o f his accent, the visitor was still engrossed i n con-
versation w i t h the C a r d i n a l w h e n he rurned to examine Slattery for a
second t h r o u g h the g l i n t of his steel-rimmed spectacles, T h e C a r d i n a l
seemed not t o notice Slattery at a l l . H e w a l k e d his visitor t h r o u g h the
a n t e r o o m , then returned t o his study w i t h o u t so m u c h as a n o d .
It was w e l l past f o u r - t h i r t y before a d o o r m a n appeared and gestured i n
Slattery's d i r e c t i o n . H i s Eminence w o u l d see h i m n o w . But even inside the
s t u d y , the d r e a m l i k e silence was prolonged as, w i r h o u t the barest ac-
k n o w l e d g m e n t of Damien's presence, the C a r d i n a l w o r k e d t h r o u g h a
stack o f papers. It was o n l y w h e n a t h i r d m a n joined them that H i s E m i -
nence finally l o o k e d u p .
" B i s h o p G o o d e n o u g h here tells me, Father Slattery, thar y o u have been
m a k i n g ir y o u r business t o visit parishes i n this Archdiocese . . . "
 422 W I N D S WL.PT HOVSt

The C a r d i n a l ' s w o r d s reached D a m i e n as i f f r o m a great distance, l ie

was staring H i s Eminence in the eye, but w h a t he saw i n his m e m o r y o f
those h o r r i b l e p h o t o g r a p h s was the younger m o n s i g n o r c a r r y i n g a black
candle in procession; the younger m o n s i g n o r fingering the Pentagram; rhe
younger m o n s i g n o r flanked ar rhe lecrern by rhose infernal IMack and Red
Pillars; rhe younger m o n s i g n o r engaged i n unspeakable sacrilege at the
Altar . . .
" B y w h a t a u t h o r i t y d o y o u take such liberties, Eather Slattery . . . ?"
Every nerve a n d muscle in Damien's huge body was strained w i t h his
e f f o r t at self-control. He repeated G i u s t i n o Lucadamo's instructions si-
lently t o himself like a m a n t r a . " N o matter w h a t y o u discover, never
c o n f r o n t ecclesiastical officeholders . . . "
" H a v e y o u n o t h i n g to say?"' His Eminence t h r e w a frustrared glance ar
Bishop G o o d e n o u g h . A u r e a t i n i ' s advice w a s n ' t w o r k i n g . It wasn't so easy
t o get this man's Irish up after a l l .
" N e v e r c o n f r o n t ecclesiastical officeholders . . . " D a m i e n repeared rhe
mantra and g r i t t e d his teeth in silence. " N e v e r threaten their official ca-
pacity . . . They have C a n o n L a w o n their side . . . "
" H i s Eminence is speaking ro y o u , S l a t t e r y ! " A t the challenge f r o m
Bishop G o o d e n o u g h , D a m i e n turned t o w a r d that double-chinned b u l k o f
a m a n . M a y b e the C a r d i n a l ' s rank p u t h i m o f f l i m i t s . But Goodenough
was t e m p t a t i o n incarnate! Bishop or n o t , he was n o t h i n g more t h a n a
t w o - b i t g o o n ; a troubleshooter. A n d he was nearly as b i g as Slattery h i m -
self. Big enough t o take a couple o f roundhouse punches t o those calculat-
ing little eyes o f his a n d survive . . .
"Farher Slarrery!" Unsettled himself n o w by the silence that enveloped
the D o m i n i c a n f r i a r , H i s Eminence was close t o the edge o f his patience.
" 1 haven't rime f o r these games. You are to make n o more visits to any
installations o r properties o f this Archdiocese w i t h o u t my e x p l i c i t permis-
sion. D o I make myself clear?" The Cardinal's puzzlement gave way to a
sudden, unexplainable panic. Was rhere some mystery about this Irish-
man? O r was he abour t o attack them physically? A p p a r e n r l y G o o d -
enough had the same t h o u g h t , for he cast a nervous eye t o w a r d rhe d o o r
as t h o u g h t o make a break for ir.
" N o ! " Slattery held u p one h a n d . " D o n ' t leave. Your Excellency!"
Afrer his l o n g silence, Damien's voice seemed t o startle both men; made
them cringe as i f a w h i p had cracked over their heads. Slattery looked
d o w n f r o m his enormous height ar the C a r d i n a l trapped in his chair.
" Y o u r E m i n e n c e , " H i s w o r d s m i g h t have come f r o m some giant aveng-
ing angel d e l i v e r i n g a personal promise o f justice. " Y o u have but a short
time i n w h i c h t o r e p e n t . "

" T h e man's a m e n a c e ! " Seized w i t h a fear he h a d never felt before—fear

at some nameless threat e m b o d i e d i n D a m i e n D u n c a n Slattery—the C a r d i -
nal screamed inro rhe Telephone at Father Provincial George Haneberry.
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 423

"Just ask Bishop G o o d e n o u g h . l ie's standing right here. H e ' l l swear Slat-
tery threatened us b o t h ! ' 1

" B u t , Your Eminence, C a r d i n a l Aurearini's instructions were clear.

We're t o w a i t . . . "
" A u r e a t i n i be d a m n e d ! This c l o w n nearly massacred us. I ' l l send you an
affidavit t o that effect w i t h i n the h o u r . We must be r i d o f h i m . N o t next
week o r next year. N o w ! "
W i t h i n the h o u r the C a r d i n a l had an affidavit o n its w a y t o Haneberry,
attesting t o Slattery's physical attack o n Bishop G o o d e n o u g h and c i t i n g i t
as a technical v i o l a t i o n o f C a n o n L a w that w o u l d not be tolerated w i t h i n
the Archdiocesan j u r i s d i c t i o n of C e n t u r y c i t y .

D a m i e n Slattery felt like a n y t h i n g b u t an avenging angel.

T r a p p e d in a sense of isolation so baleful that his soul was entombed in
its darkness, D a m i e n w a l k e d the streets o f C e n t u r y c i t y for hours, t r y i n g t o
find his balance again a m i d the n o r m a l things o f life. Instead, however,
relentless signs o f demonic cruelty dogged h i m everywhere. H e saw fear in
the faces of men and w o m e n s c u r r y i n g t o reach home before d a r k ; saw
hopelessness in the faces of beggars left to bed d o w n for the night in
d o o r w a y s of banks and investment houses; saw lovelessness i n the faces of
whores preening o n street corners, a n d lust in the eyes of men w h o cruised
t h e m ; saw addicts in search of a h i g h , and ready t o k i l l for a dime or a
d o l l a r t o get i t . In his frame o f m i n d , the w h o l e of C e n t u r y c i t y seemed t o
h i m l i k e a river raging t o w a r d the b o t t o m l a n d s o f d a m n a t i o n , s w a l l o w i n g
everything in its tide.
T h e passing scream of a siren propelled h i m i n t o a t o r r e n t of t o o v i v i d
memories. L i v i n g images of the darkest things he had discovered in Amer-
ica assailed his senses. H e heard that terrified priest, that d y i n g slave of
Mr. F , pleading for his soul o n a rain-soaked h i g h w a y in I o w a . He
heard all the tales he had been t o l d o f covens r u n by priests and nuns. H e
saw a l l the unspeakable photographs W o d g i l a had b r o u g h t home f r o m
V i r g i n i a . A l l of it flashed i n his m i n d as if projected by some demonic
kaleidoscope; rolled our in f r o n t of h i m like a carpet of madness and
violence leading his steps straight i n t o H e l l .

It was past m i d n i g h t w h e n , still i n the throes o f his demonic attack and

exhausted by i t , Slattery let himself i n t o the p r i o r y o f the House o f the
H o l y Angels. H e was just heading for the stairs t o his basement hovel in
the hope of finding an hour o r t w o of much needed rest w h e n the sound of
several voices raised in laughrer d r e w h i m t o a kitchenette at the back o f
the house. Astonished i n t o silence at the sight of the huge figure in black
clericals sraring d o w n at t h e m f r o m the d o o r w a y , f o u r men dressed i n
t e r r y - c l o t h robes nearly choked o n their snack o f toasted muffins and
m i l k . T w o o f the g r o u p — m e n i n rheir lare teens—were strangers. But
Slattery recognized rhe other t w o as members of the C o m m u n i t y . "Fer
 424 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Chrissake, fellas . . . , " one o f the visitors cursed and scrambled to his
feet. Everyone knew there was no m i s t a k i n g the s i t u a t i o n .
D a m i e n stared at each man i n silence. There were no w o r d s t o express
his shock. Each face etched itself i n t o his m i n d , intensified the demonic
n i g h t m a r e he was l i v i n g . W i t h whispers and giggles f o l l o w i n g i n his w a k e ,
he backed o u t o f the d o o r w a y a n d half stumbled d o w n the stairs to the
basement. T h e usual rank o d o r f r o m the showers made his stomach l u r c h ,
but he managed t o reach his r o o m a n d close the d o o r against the w o r l d .
H e sat as still as a statue on the edge of his bed for a long time before he
noticed the envelope that had been slipped under his d o o r d u r i n g his
absence. Evenrually, rhe f a m i l i a r coat o f arms o f the Master-General in
Rome registered i n his m i n d . H e reached d o w n w i t h a dreamlike e f f o r t ,
retrieved the envelope a n d read the documents inside. Documents that
drove his m i n d reeling to the edge o f collapse.
T h e first o f those documents—signed in Rome in M a r c h by the new
Master-General o f the O r d e r , a n d countersigned that very day in Cen-
t u r y c i t y by Farher Provincial George H a n e b e r r y — m a d e a mockery o f D o -
m i n i c a n life. " F o r rhe h a r m o n y of the O r d e r , and f o r the good o f y o u r
o w n s o u l , " Master-General M c G i n t y had w r i t t e n , " w e r h i n k it advisable
that you spend some t i m e outside the religious cloister. A f t e r a t r i a l period
o f no less than six m o n t h s and no longer t h a n one year, we w i l l again
consider the circumstances o f y o u r life. We j o i n y o u in p r a y i n g t o the H o l y
Spirit that together we w i l l find G o d ' s w i l l i n your r e g a r d . "
Because such a lerter o f exclaustration c o u l d n o t be presented w i t h o u t
cause, a second document had been attached as j u s t i f i c a t i o n . This one,
signed by H i s Eminence o f C e n t u r y c i t y and witnessed by Bishop Ralph
G o o d e n o u g h , made a m o c k e r y o f C a n o n L a w . O b v i o u s l y prepared afrer
his meeting w i t h rhe C a r d i n a l , i t accused Slattery of behavior more fitting
in a b a r r o o m than in a Chancery.
D a m i e n l o o k e d ar rhe dates on b o t h documents again, and then
d r o p p e d t h e m o n r o rhe table. Every e x c r u c i a t i n g detail o f rhe future that
had been planned f o r h i m by his " b r o t h e r s in C h r i s t " played itself o u t in
his m i n d ' s eye. H e was n o t o n l y an alien i n America but an alien in the
D o m i n i c a n O r d e r . He was ro be lefr a d r i f r outside any w e l c o m i n g w a l l .
H e c o u l d search f o r a bishop benign enough ro accept h i m as a priest i n
his diocese. Fie c o u l d t r y to explain inexplicable letters like the one at-
tached t o the exclaustration order; letters smearing his character and
w a r n i n g everyone ro beware o f this d i s t u r b i n g m a n , this stormy petrel. For
the g o o d o f rhe C h u r c h , he w o u l d be met w i t h bland refusals u n t i l , failing
any acceptance by a bishop, there w o u l d come the inevitable decree o f
l a i c i z a t i o n . H e w o u l d be d e f r o c k e d , srripped o f the most basic fabric o f his
life and t o l d t o live as a l a y m a n , to fend f o r himself.
I n a very real sense D a m i e n had o n l y been able t o d r i v e himself f o r w a r d
t h r o u g h one h o r r i b l e discovery after another o n the assumption that no
matter h o w m u c h evil he encountered, he k n e w he was secure i n his base
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 425

o f operations. Secure i n his dedication to papal service. Secure above all i n

his priestly v o c a t i o n as a D o m i n i c a n . N o w , however, His Eminence o f
C e n t u r y c i t y had t u r n e d t h a t solid g r o u n d i n t o a sinkhole.
A l l at once, D a m i e n groaned a l o u d i n his misery a n d , w i t h the sheerest
effort o f his w i l l , forced himself to his knees beneath the C r u c i f i x he had
h u n g above his bed. H i s face covered in his hands, he prayed to the C r u c i -
fied L o r d whose priest he was. Prayed for strength. For light. For help.
Prayed t h a t Love had seen his weakness, was ready t o give h i m courage.
He emptied the violence o f his suffering i n t o the sacred passion G o d had
endured ar C a l v a r y , a n d endured still u p o n the A l t a r , f o r the salvation o f
all w h o w o u l d call u p o n H i m .
Still motionless beneath the figure o f his bloodied Savior, Damien was
flooded ar a cerrain m o m e n t w i t h a first answer to his petitions. W i t h a
little straight talk f r o m G o d . W i t h a sense o f shame and anguish bitter to
the taste bur essential ro rhe soul. A f t e r rhe f o u l misery he had seen on
these shores, had he f o r g o t t e n that such pain c o u l d exist as the pain he
n o w felt? O r that tears c o u l d sting w i r h such intensity as the tears he n o w
wept? H o w had he w a i t e d even a m o m e n t t o j o i n his o w n p u n y sufferings,
and all the sufferings he had encounrered, ro the sacred passion Chrisr had
suffered for his salvation?
Lirtle by little, as he tore at the d e m o n - s h r o u d o f anger that clung t o his
every sense, as his soul strengthened itself in c o n t r i t i o n and trust,
Damien's prayers seemed ro rise more easily to Heaven. Insensible ro rhe
passing h o u r s , i m p e r v i o u s t o his fatigue, he k n e w at last w h a t t o ask f o r .
" D e a r Jesus . . H e spoke to his L o r d w i t h a different sort of passion
n o w . " C r u c i f y my self-pity and my self-seeking . . . Strengthen me for
the trials ro come . . . In rhe ride o f violence and cruelty and Christless-
ness rising i n rhis l a n d — i n rhis place where there are so many victims, yet
where suffering has become so sterile—make a cleansing crucible o f my
sufferings . . . "

At rhe sweer sound of disranr bells, Slattery s t i r r e d . Was i t m o r n i n g a l -

ready . . . ? I t w o u l d n ' t d o for rhe Recror o f Rome's A n g e l i c u m t o be
late f o r Mass, o r to keep H i s Holiness w a i t i n g . . . Still on his knees and
fully c l o t h e d , Damien opened his eyes. T h i s wasn't Rome's A n g e l i c u m .
The Pope w a s n ' t w a i t i n g f o r h i m . There was no sweer sound o f bells. T h i s
was rhe Flouse of rhe H o l y Angels in C e n r u r y c i t y , and his telephone was
jangling raucously in his ear.
" D a m i e n ! D a m i e n ! Are you there? Wake u p , m a n . It's past six o'clock.
There are souls t o be saved and graces to be w o n . "
Slattery had never been so happy t o hear the sound of Christian G l a d -
stone's voice. " T h e r e ' s o n l y one t h i n g worse t h a n a talkative Irishman at
six i n the m o r n i n g , Gladstone. A n d that's a talkative R o m a n t h e o l o g i a n ! "
" B l a m e y o u r s e l f . " Chris laughed. " Y o u r message was w a i t i n g for me
w h e n I got i n late last n i g h t . I t set me to t h i n k i n g , in fact. W h a t about
 426 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

c o m i n g d o w n here t o W i n d s w e p t f o r a while? M y mother and my sister

are heading o f f t o I r e l a n d , so w e ' l l have Beulah T h o m p s o n ' s c o o k i n g all t o
ourselves. A n d we have a l o t o f catching up t o d o . "
" Y o u d o n ' t k n o w the half o f i t , me b o y o ! " Slattery w i n c e d ar rhe
cramps in his legs as he got u p f r o m his knees, and then again at the sight
of the exclaustration d o c u m e n t a w a i t i n g the inevitable finality o f his o w n
signature. " T h e r e are a few loose ends t o tie up here, but I should be able
to shake the dust o f this place in a day or so."
Mis mosr urgent news, Chris decided, c o u l d n ' t w a i t that long. " O n e
t h i n g , D a m i e n . Father A l d o rang a few minutes ago f r o m Barcelona. The
public announcement w o n ' t come f o r a little w h i l e yet. But D r . Fanarote
has scheduled H i s Holiness f o r surgery."
D a m i e n stiffened. " H o w serious is i t ? "
" T h e y w o n ' t k n o w f o r sure till they have h i m o n the table. But the
message t o us, Carnesecca says, is that the Floly Father expects us to pray
the best prayers and d o the best w o r k we've done in all o u r lives, and t h a t
he'll be w a i t i n g for us in O c t o b e r . "
" A m e n ro t h a t , C h r i s t i a n . " A l l Slattery w a n t e d n o w was t o stay in one
piece l o n g enough to finish the w o r k he had come t o do for Christ's Vicar
and get back to Rome. " A m e n to all o f t h a t ! "

111
W E L L B E F O R E the official public announcement that the H o l y Father
w o u l d enter Gemelli Poly f o r surgery, a fever o f whisperings and specula-
tions ran t h r o u g h the Vatican Chancery like a summer c o l d , infecting all
the m a i n protagonists i n the Slavic Pope's pontificate.
C a r d i n a l C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i was a m o n g the first t o k n o w o f i t . H i s
first t h o u g h t was t o call Cyrus Benthoek. " W e may n o t need the C o m m o n
M i n d Vote after a l l , C y r u s ! W o r d is rhar rhe H o l y Farher may be riddled
w i t h cancer and that the operation is merely t o find o u t h o w long he has
to live.
" D o n ' t be mesmerized by possibilities." Benthoek t o o k a more level-
headed view o f rhings. " W e cannor a f f o r d ro assume a n y r h i n g . We musr
always remember rhat o u r agenda is attuned t o the Process. We must n o t
a l l o w ourselves t o be sidetracked by r u m o r s . We musr w o r k o n rhe basis
of the larger r e a l i t y . "
Realiry in rhis case focused Benthoek's m i n d m o r e urgently than ever o n
the need to accomplish the public spectacle o f the C o m m o n M i n d Vote.
Even i f the Pope's health should decide the question o f his removal, Cyrus
argued, the C M V w o u l d make ir clear w h a t k i n d o f Pope the bishops felt
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 427

necessary f o r uniry; w h a r k i n d o f Pope rhe bishops w o u l d accept as leader.

It w o u l d stand as a p o w e r f u l persuader i n rhe next papal Conclave, ' i n
t r u t h , Your Eminence, I w o u l d be happier ro receive this news if I knew
you were ready w i r h rhe C M V right n o w . W i t h t h a t , plus the creation o f a
legal instrument o f papal resignation, we w o u l d have all eventualities cov-
ered."
Such a c o l d dose o f Realpolitik f r o m anyone else w o u l d have p r o v o k e d
a s t o r m o f c o n r e m p t f r o m the seasoned C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i .
But c o m i n g f r o m his close friend a n d most trusted advisor and c o l -
league, and couched as it was in terms o f the Process, the little Cardinal
t o o k i t as a t i m e l y corrective. W i t h i n an h o u r , His Eminence had a letter
o n irs w a y by courier ro C h r i s t i a n Gladstone in Galveston. " Y o u r p r e l i m i -
nary reports have been excellent. Your w o r k in America ranks w i t h the
c o n t r i b u t i o n y o u and your dear brother have made t o the well-being of the
C h u r c h in Europe. Therefore, I send a double expression o f thanks for
y o u r cooperation in the past and i n the f u t u r e . Please G o d , all w i l l end
well."
In a hastily called session w i t h Cardinals A u r e a t i n i , Palombo and Pen-
sabene, M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s a i m was to come up finally w i t h a w o r k a b l e docu¬
ment o f papal resignation. N o r had he any need to be so circumspect w i t h
those three colleagues. " T h e Pope's illness is a n a t u r a l s p r i n g b o a r d , " he
stressed. " I t is o u r duty to raise again the question o f the Pontiff's possible
incapacitation."
" T h e Pope's illness puts the w h i p in o u r h a n d s , " rhe acid-faced C a r d i n a l
Palombo stated the case more b l u n t l y . " A n d Your Eminence is suggesting
we crack ir over his head before he goes i n t o the h o s p i t a l . "
" F o r rhe g o o d o f the C h u r c h , Eminence." M a e s t r o i a n n i saw no need for
such language, but rhe issue was t o get the job done. " A l w a y s for the good
o f the C h u r c h . "
I t was f o r the g o o d o f the C h u r c h as well that M a e s t r o i a n n i r o o k pains
to jockey his o w n m a n i n r o p o s i t i o n a m o n g the most desirable candidates
t o succeed the present Pontiff. His Eminence congrarulared C a r d i n a l
Graziani o n the expert manner in w h i c h he had guided the H o l y Father's
choice o f the Father-General of the Jesuits, M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o , as the next
A r c h b i s h o p o f Genoa, and he mused o n the fact that the Genoa post
always carried w i t h it the red hat o f a C a r d i n a l . " Y o u must agree. E m i -
nence, Father-General C o u t i n h o ' s qualifications are impeccable. U n b l e m -
ished record as a religious. Advanced degrees in theology. A c k n o w l e d g e d
expertise in H o l y Scripture. A u c o u r a n t w i t h public affairs. T h o u g h barely
sixry-three, he has years o f experience in clerical government. His physical
presence makes h i m a graceful and dignified celebrant of public l i t u r g i e s . "
Yes, G r a z i a n i b l i n k e d , rhar was impressive. But w h a t was the hurry?
Both Genoa and C o u t i n h o w o u l d still be there after the H o l y Father's
surgery and recuperation.
W i t h o u t the slightest h i n t o f f r i c t i o n , M a e s t r o i a n n i raised rhe Secre-
 428 W INDSWF.P1 H O (J S E

tary's enthusiasm q u o t i e n t w i t h the m e n t i o n of s u p p o r t that had already

come to the surface regarding C o u t i n h o ' s advancement. Surely he needn't
menrion all rhe names.
Surely n o t , G r a z i a n i b l i n k e d again. But he made his o w n mental tally
a n y w a y . His Eminence C a r d i n a l Palombo was certain to be appreciative.
A n d so, t o o . H i s Eminence C a r d i n a l Pensabene, w h o in t u r n had the sup-
p o r t of the d o m i n a n t faction in the College o f Cardinals. A n d , o f course,
there was the prestige o f M a e s t r o i a n n i himself. I n the event o f a deadlock
in Conclave, such p o w e r f u l men m i g h t find i t in their hearts, or at least in
rheir interest, ro s u p p o r t G r a z i a n i himself as successor ro rhe T h r o n e o f
Perer.
H a v i n g fanned rhe fires o f the Secretary's cooperation in Farher-General
C o u t i n h o ' s speedy advancement inro the College o f Cardinals, Maesrro-
i a n n i arranged a quiet d i n n e r w i t h one a m o n g the many newsmen w h o m
H i s Eminence c o u l d always interest in a b i t o f insider intelligence. I n the
course o f a most civilized evening, the C a r d i n a l menrioned Jesuir General
M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o as an interesting man t o w a t c h . A m a n w i l l i n g to envis-
age changes and adaptations o f C h u r c h disciplinary l a w regarding contra-
c e p t i o n , for example, as well as a b o r t i o n and fetal research. As a man nor
u n f r i e n d l y , either, t o changes i n the Church's p o s i t i o n on homosexuality,
m a r r i e d priesrs and rhe o r d i n a t i o n o f w o m e n . I n sum, as a man o f rhe
furure.
T h o u g h aware he was being handed the makings o f a m a j o r scoop, the
reporter needed a w i d e r c o n t e x t t o make sense o f i t . W h e n pressed, h o w -
ever, H i s Eminence counseled patience. E v e r y t h i n g w o u l d fall i n t o place
soon e n o u g h , he said. I n Rome, everything finally fell i n t o place.

After a call f r o m Cyrus Benthoek, D r . Ralph S. C h a n n i n g passed rhe news

up rhe ladder i n rhe most urgent fashion.
" I agree w i t h Benthoek's t h i n k i n g , Professor." Capsrone spoke quierly.
" N o t h i n g as banal as a carcinoma is g o i n g ro be o u r ally. O u r s is a w a r
a m o n g titans, my f r i e n d . A n d the Prince does nor fight such a crucial
bartle f o r c o n t r o l o f the Enemy's s t r o n g h o l d w i r h a flubbed surgical inrer-
v e n t i o n or a messy Termination by hired hands. Tell me, t h e n . D o we k n o w
h o w close M a e s t r o i a n n i is t o achieving the Episcopal C o m m o n Mind
Vote?"
" A l m o s t there, s i r . " C h a n n i n g d i d n ' t w a n t t o r u n a f o u l o f Capstone
again o n t h a t score. " T h e C a r d i n a l assures me rhat the U.S. bishops are
l i n i n g up as expecred."
" A n d the i n s t r u m e n t o f papal resignation?"
" O u r o w n associares are deeply involved in that e f f o r r . "
Capsrone cur rhe conversation short w i t h a clipped message meant l o r
all the members o f C o n c i l i u m 13. As servitors o f the Prince and engineers
o f the Process, their supreme responsibility was ro see that all w o u l d soon
LN I MINK ABLE REALITIES 429

be ready f o r decisive a c t i o n . " A f t e r a l l , " he reminded the Professor, " t h e

A v a i l i n g T i m e w i l l n o i last f o r e v e r . "

C a r d i n a l Silvio A u r e a t i n i was the logical choice t o prepare a legal instru¬

ment ro be signed by rhe Pope himself, as a guarantee o f his resignation o f
rhe papacy under cerrain specific circumsrances. T a k i n g Maesrroianni's
general instructions a n d his o w n sense o f romanita as his guides, the j u -
n i o r C a r d i n a l p r o d u c e d such a w o r t h y i n s t r u m e n t thar even M a e s r r o i a n n i
agreed t h a t i t suited the purpose.
T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f the resignation d o c u m e n t n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , Aurea-
t i n i had other things o n his m i n d . I t fell t o h i m t o keep up a steady contact
w i t h the European bishops in order ro clinch the C M V w o r k Christian
Gladstone had done a m o n g t h e m before his departure f o r A m e r i c a . I n
a d d i t i o n , he was p a r t o f rhe standing c o m m i t t e e charged by the Pope w i t h
the i m p o r t a n r w o r k o f d r a f t i n g another d o c u m e n t — a new Universal Pro-
fession of Faith.
Some seven h u n d r e d pages l o n g in irs present f o r m , a n d already r u n o f f
on the press i n d r a f t for its firsr f u l l review by the P o n t i f f and his advisors,
the Profession was a delicate piece o f w o r k . I t had t o encompass all the
dogmas o f the F a i t h . Yet, as had been the case w i t h the documents o f
the Second Vatican C o u n c i l and the new Code o f C a n o n L a w o f 1983, the
t r i c k was t o satisfy the general standard o f C a t h o l i c belief, b u t to d o so in
such general terms as w o u l d a l l o w the greatest latitude o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .
It was a w o n d e r C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i had t i m e t o give any t h o u g h t to
Father A l d o Carnesecca. Nevertheless, there was still t h a t crucial uncer-
t a i n t y a b o u t Carnesecca; t h a t seed o f d o u b t s t e m m i n g f r o m the 1978
triage o f papal documents; the possibility t h a t the innocent-seeming Fa-
ther A l d o k n e w o f matters t o u c h i n g o n the Prince's Enrhronemenr. A n d
the C a r d i n a l d i d still suffer a barrage o f c r i t i c i s m f r o m certain associates
for h a v i n g botched the j o b i n Sicily.
W i t h the same dedication that w e n t i n t o all o f his w o r k , therefore,
A u r e a t i n i ser a b o u t a meticulous study o f Carnesecca's larest mission f o r
the H o l y Father. H e set a w a t c h o n his movements. A n d , t a k i n g advantage
o f the fact t h a t the Cardinal's office paid his l i v i n g expenses a n d received
at least p r o f o r m a reports f r o m h i m , he tracked Carnesecca's dossier
closely. The o l d boy was slick; no d o u b t a b o u t that. H i s reports concern-
ing his w o r k f o r the H o l y Father i n Spain t o l d A u r e a t i n i n o t h i n g signifi-
cant. A u r e a t i n i kept at ir, t h o u g h . Even t o the p o i n t o f searching line by
line, receipt by receipt, t h r o u g h Carnesecca's m o n t h l y expense vouchers
for clues t o his needs a n d habits; f o r any l i t t l e sign o f v u l n e r a b i l i t y that
m i g h t be useful.
W i t h e v e r y t h i n g else c o m i n g so r a p i d l y t o a head, i t really was t i m e t o
t h r o w a halter a r o u n d Carnesecca's neck.
j u _J J
 430 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Gibson A p p l e y a r d at home i n the U n i t e d States felt betrayed. H e k n e w i t

w a s n ' t a r a t i o n a l reaction; but w h e n G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o called f r o m his
listening post at the Raffaele in Rome w i t h news o f the Slavic Pope's
health crisis, G i b t o o k i t as something more personal t h a n a glitch i n his
o w n near-future plans.
In his struggle t o pur his thoughts i n o r d e r , fragmenrs o f a prayer
popped i n t o A p p l e y a r d ' s head. Prophetic w o r d s w r i t t e n more rhan a cen-
rury before f o r men like himself by rhe great Frater Joachim Blumenhagen:
"When the Masonic Temple shall shine over the whole universe, when its
roof shall be the blue heavens, the two poles its walls, the Throne of Peter
and the Church of Rome its pillars, then will the powers of the earth . . .
bequeath that freedom to the people which we have laid up in store for
them. . . . May the Master of this world give us yet another hundred
years and then shall we attain that end. . . . Grade to Grade, progressing
from Entered Apprentice through the Holy Royal Arch, through the
Golden Veil, past the Altar of Incense and the Rose-Croix, by the Order of
the Temple, in the light of the Reconciled Countenance; all the way to the
Heart Divine in the Sovereign Reason of the Center . . . and then the ne
plus ultra, the Spiritual Temple, the New Jerusalem. . . ."
T h a t must be i t , A p p l e y a r d t o l d himself. T h e Spiritual Temple. T h e N e w
Jerusalem. T h a t must be w h y he cared so m u c h w h a t happened t o this
Pope.
" I n light o f y o u r efforts t o firm u p another interview w i t h the P o n t i f f " —
Lucadamo's voice f r o m across the A t l a n t i c recalled G i b ro the m o m e n r —
" I t h o u g h t I ' d better get o n t o y o u a b o u t this surgery business as soon as
possible."
Confidenr t h a t G i o v a n n i was in o n every r u m o r , A p p l e y a r d p u m p e d his
o l d friend for i n f o r m a t i o n about those pillars; abour " r h e T h r o n e o f Peter
and the C h u r c h o f R o m e . " T h e n he dialed t h r o u g h to Bud Vance. A n
urgent meeting over the Presidential Committee's idea was essential, he
t o l d Vance. For the matter in question this time was an element o f U.S.
policy so crucial that it was regarded as f u n d a m e n t a l for n a t i o n a l security,
and so f u n d a m e n t a l t h a t it not o n l y transcended A m e r i c a n party lines but
was p a r a m o u n t in p l a n n i n g the prosperity and progress o f rhe G-7 G r o u p
o f indusrrialized nations.
O f f i c i a l l y entitled National Security Study Memorandum 200: Implica-
tions of Worldwide Population Growth for U.S. Security and Overseas
Interests, bur k n o w n t o all concerned w i t h i t simply as NSSM 200, the
1974 N S C m e m o had fixed U.S. policy f o r the n e x t t h i r t y years.
As a basic d o c u m e n r , NSSM 200 p i n p o i n t e d thirteen countries w i t h
straregic roles t o play as sources o f r a w marerials vital to U.S. security and
as i m p o r r a n r markers for Western goods and services. T h e nations i n -
volved were I n d i a , Pakisran, Bangladesh, N i g e r i a , M e x i c o , Indonesia, Bra-
z i l , rhe Philippines, T h a i l a n d , Egypt, T u r k e y , E t h i o p i a and C o l o m b i a . T h e
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 431

concern cited i n the m e m o r a n d u m was that the b i r t h rates o f those c o u n -

tries were considered t o be t o o high f o r stability.
NSSM 200 was simple a n d s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d i n its recommendations:
across-the-board financial assistance by the U.S. governmenr t o these
countries and t o others, in order t o increase their use of conrraceptives,
a b o r t i o n and sterilization o f b o t h sexes; and t o further fetal research. T h e
basic premise o f NSSM 200, i n other w o r d s , was that p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l
a b r o a d was strategically as necessary f o r the United States as the integrity
of its o w n t e r r i t o r y , or as its right t o ensure its f u n d a m e n t a l freedom and
v i a b i l i t y as a sovereign n a t i o n .
NSSM 200 was r a p i d l y w o v e n i n t o the fabric of U.S. foreign p o l i c y . O n
N o v e m b e r 2 6 , 1976, by means of another m e m o r a n d u m — N a t i o n a l Secu-
rity Decision Memorandum 314, or NSDM 314 for shorr—Presidenr Ford
enshrined NSSM 200 as an o b l i g a t o r y guideline f o r all U.S. government
agencies, i n c l u d i n g everything f r o m the Departments of State, Treasury,
Defense and A g r i c u l t u r e t o H e a l t h and H u m a n Services, the Agency for
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Developmenr a n d the President's Economic C o u n c i l . As a
resulr, rhe U n i t e d Srates spent more t h a n all other countries c o m b i n e d
d u r i n g rhe succeeding years t o implement this policy of p o p u l a t i o n c o n -
t r o l . But other countries, t o o , saw the w i s d o m o f j o i n i n g i n t o some de-
gree. Together w i t h the U n i t e d States, they funneled financial grants
t h r o u g h the U n i t e d N a r i o n s Population Fund ( U N P F ) , the I n t e r n a t i o n a l
M o n e t a r y Fund ( I M F ) , the W o r l d Bank ( W B ) , rhe Planned Parenthood
Federation (PPE) and a host of private organizations.
By the nineties, however, despite undeniable progress, the time had
come t o launch a full-scale p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l policy. The next President,
whoever he m i g h r r u m o u t t o be, w o u l d have ro assure the steady avail-
a b i l i t y o f resource materials f r o m the still unindustrialized nations, and
the v i a b i l i t y o f those nations as markets for rhe G-7 industrial giants. In
order ro make that c o m i n g t h r u s t viable, however, U.S. planners had to
overcome political reluctance o n rhe p a r t of some of its G-7 partners f o r
w h o m p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l remained a political t a b o o . Simply p u t , and
whatever a b o u t their official disdain f o r papal Rome, local politics made
the P o n t i f f s acquiescence a must if America's G-7 parrners were to back
the policy o f p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l o n the scale deemed essential by U.S.
planners.
In view o f this by n o w sacrosanct policy t h a t tied America's national
securiry t o systematic p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l , and i n view o f the timetable for
the next presidential election, there had t o be fresh, substantive talks be-
tween the U.S. government a n d the Slavic Pope. T h e choice of Gibson
A p p l e y a r d as rhe man t o c o n d u c t those talks—as p o i n t m a n in the official
U.S. e f f o r t t o induce a change i n the mentality o f the Slavic Pope—had
been a matter o f some debate.
The m a i n factor o n the negative side had been A p p l e y a r d ' s personal
p h i l o s o p h y . If this Pope was to be persuaded to mitigate his Church's
 432 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

t r a d i t i o n a l o p p o s i t i o n to the methods o f p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l fostered by

official U.S. government p o l i c y , it m i g h t not be wise to rely o n a man
whose Rosicrucian principles p u t h i m at odds w i t h those methods.
Vance had been a d a m a n t , however. A p p l e y a r d was as American as O l d
G l o r y , and he understood as w e l l as anyone that U.S. planners c o u l d have
no m o r e p o w e r f u l backer t h a n the Slavic Pope in their quest t o l i m i t
h u m a n births. Further, he understood t h a t no other organization was as
universal as the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . A n d he understood that no
other o r g a n i z a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g the Lodge, was as opposed as a matter of
official policy to U.S. p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l methods.
A n d besides, Vance had reminded his colleagues, w h e n it came to the
Slavic Pope, G i b A p p l e y a r d had w i n n o w e d and sieved every available
w o r d this P o n t i f f had spoken o r vvrirten since he had come i n t o p r o m i -
nence. If he h a d n ' t gotten the H o l y Father's t o t a l backing for U.S. policy
regarding the f o r m e r Soviet U n i o n , ar leasr he had come away w i t h the
assurance that the Pope w o u l d n ' t stand in the w a y of that policy.
Vance had w o n this argument. It was agreed that i f the government was
to have any hope of c o m i n g away w i t h even that m u c h o n the issue o f
p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l , C o m m a n d e r A p p l e y a r d was the man to send.
For the better part o f three months, Therefore, Gibson had been w o r k i n g
on the details o f his new foray i n t o papal R o m e . H e had even got so far as
t o instruct the Embassy t o set things up f o r h i m o n the papal calendar
again. N o w he was c o n f r o n t e d w i t h the possibility that the urgent time-
table Vance had given h i m w o u l d be badly jiggered. I n facr, if Lucadamo
was r i g h t — i f the Slavic Pope's c o m i n g surgery had to do w i t h cancer—his
preparations m i g h t be o u t the w i n d o w altogether.

' i t can't end like t h a t , B u d . " A p p l e y a r d was visibly upset. " I can't believe
things w i l l end f o r h i m w i t h the a w f u l w h i n e o f the hearr m o n i t o r , or w i t h
his s l i p p i n g i n t o a coma under rhe ravages of disease."
T h o u g h symparhetic, Vance had no time f o r private speculations. W h a t
this Pope t h o u g h t and the d i r e c t i o n he was m o v i n g his C h u r c h had be-
come questions o f p a r a m o u n t consideration in higher policy p l a n n i n g .
The A d m i r a l was forced t o t u r n his m i n d t o another level o f Vatican
politics: W h a t d i d A p p l e y a r d k n o w about possible successors t o the Slavic
Pope?
" L i t t l e a n d n o t h i n g . " G i b was f r a n k about his ignorance. " A c c o r d i n g ro
my R o m a n contact, this w h o l e t h i n g came as such a surprise rhar no one
was ready f o r i r . "
" W h a t about private speculations inside the Vatican itself? Has y o u r
m a n i n R o m e heard any names ar rhar level?"
" H e came u p w i t h a couple of names. H e ' d heard C a r d i n a l N o a h
Palombo m e n t i o n e d . A n d C a r d i n a l Leo Pensabene. But he doesn't put
m u c h stock i n the r u m o r s . Q u o t e d an o l d Vatican adage to the effect that
any m a n w h o enters Conclave as Pope comes o u t as C a r d i n a l , It c o u l d be
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 433

interesting f o r us, t h o u g h , in a more general sense. Have o u r people been

keeping an eye o n the Strasbourg players?"
" F o r all the g o o d it's done u s . " Vance shoved the Strasbourg surveil-
lance dossiers across the desk. "We've kept a select team o n i t , but every-
body still seems t o be m i n d i n g his business."
" M a y b e . " A p p l e y a r d ran q u i c k l y t h r o u g h the folders. " B u t w h a r do you
suppose Flerr O t r o Sckulcr's business is? In Brussels last year, he billed
himself as the CSCE's special Liaison-Delegate t o the Pluropean C o m m u -
n i t y . People I spoke to i n Rome connect h i m w i t h U N E S C O and w i t h the
Leipzig Lodge. He's also the c h a i r m a n o f WOSPTE, w h i c h is a m i n o r mem-
ber o f the U N ' s n o n g o v e r n m e n t a l section. Something to d o w i t h w o r l d
ethics. But according to this t r a c k i n g d a t a , he shapes up as a stranger duck
rhan t h a t . "
" l i e ' s m a i n l y a lecturer, Pd say," Vance pur i n . " I n any case, he's no
threat to n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y . "
" M a y b e . " A p p l e y a r d scanned the file t h r o u g h all the same. Sekuler
spent a fair a m o u n t o f time i n the States and d r e w liberally o n t w o f o r -
eign-source accounts i n m a j o r banks o f five U.S. ciries. H e lived mainly i n
privare hotels, a n d was o n i n t i m a t e terms w i t h such eminent public per-
sonalities as the C a r d i n a l o f C e n t u r y c i t y and the celebrated scholar D r .
Ralph S. C h a n n i n g , a m o n g many others. In fact, H e r r Sekuler was a bit o f
a celebrity himself, a m a n called u p o n as a frequent speaker for several
dozen p h i l a n t h r o p i c and c u l t u r a l organizations patronized by architects,
physicians, engineers, university professors and prelates o f b o t h the C a t h -
olic and the Protestant persuasion. A n u m b e r o f rhose organizations had
been investigated by p u b l i c authorities f o r cultist behavior, but that was
about all that c o u l d be reliably documented about Sekuler's activities i n
America.
T h e anecdotal side o f the r e c o r d , on the other h a n d , included a darker
d i m e n s i o n . There was n o t h i n g remarkable i n rhe facr that Sekuler held
privare meetings w i t h top-level officials o f the principal pro-choice o r g a n i -
zations and rhat witnesses to those meetings pegged h i m as pro-choice.
But G i b d r e w i n his breath as he scanned the reporr o f one singular meet-
ing where, for the benefit of some t w e n t y - f i v e a h o r r u a r y professionals
garhered i n the o p e r a t i n g r o o m o f a privare clinic, the German had dem-
onstrated the latest m e t h o d o f dealing w i t h the carcasses o f aborted ba-
bies. " I n a brief preamble t o his d e m o n s t r a t i o n " — A p p l e y a r d read the text
a l o u d — " t h e subject o f this surveillance assured his audience that there
need be no more t r o u b l e w i t h blocked d r a i n s , or w i t h unpleasant discover-
ies in p u b l i c trash containers, or w i t h nuisance demonstrations by extrem-
ists.
" T h e subject said n o t h i n g . H e had b r o u g h t w i t h h i m a valise, and sev-
eral metal cases a b o u t the size o f double filing boxes. F r o m the valise he
cxtracred a n d assembled the parts o f w h a t a m o u n t e d t o a n e w l y designed
and technically advanced grinder. F r o m the metal cases he removed fresh
 434 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

fetal body parts in various srates o f development, w h i c h he used to dem-

onstrate the most efficient and sanitary means by w h i c h t o reduce that
material t o a s e m i - l i q u i d that c o u l d be caught in a basin and washed into
the sewer sysrem as safely and inoffensively as pink Toothpaste.
" T h e subjecr assured his audience rhat he was advocating no radical
change in the n o r m a l r u n n i n g o f abortuaries. There was no question o f
d e p r i v i n g themselves o f income f r o m researchers w h o required live fetuses
for the study o f pain tolerance or for w o r k o n such afflicrions as P a r k i n -
son's and Alzheimer's diseases a n d diaberes. N o r was there any t h o u g h t of
leaving cosmetic companies short o f material for skin collagen or of ne-
glecting the c u l t m a r k e t interested in using fatty tissue for candles. The
new system was neither m o r e n o r less t h a n an i m p r o v e d m e t h o d o f dealing
w i t h troublesome l e f t o v e r s . "
G i b s o n closed rhe Sekuler dossier and rossed ir o n t o Vance's desk. " N i c e
c o m p a n y I've been k e e p i n g . "
" Y o u ' r e not alone. I f y o u n o t i c e d , there are plenry o f endorsements
here, i n c l u d i n g one f r o m Cyrus Benthoek, attesting t o Sekuler's standing
as an i n t e r n a t i o n a l servant and h u m a n i t a r i a n . "
T h a r was c o l d c o m f o r r for A p p l e y a r d . E n d o r s e m e n t or n o t , there was
roo little i n f o r m a t i o n o f substance. N o t h i n g really Tangible abour rhe
source o f Sekuler's funds. N o r h i n g abour his superiors; or even i f he had
any superiors. " W e ' r e l o o k i n g at a ghost. B u d . There's no I D track o n rhe
i n d i v i d u a l . But, speaking o f Benthoek, let's get back t o that Strasbourg
gathering. Given w h a t we d o k n o w a b o u t Sekuler, it's d i s t u r b i n g rhar he
was invited t o discuss the future o f the papacy. A n d it makes me t h i n k
a b o u t the fact t h a t Palombo and Pensabene are being mentioned as papal
candidates."
" H o l d i t , G i b ! " A p p l e y a r d was g o i n g beyond the evidence, and Vance
d i d n ' t like i t . " I t seems to me that the interest at Strasbourg was ro bring
the C h u r c h i n t o line w i t h aims we all share. W i t h the a i m o f b u i l d i n g a
h u m a n society o f nations o n a r a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e ot regulating economic
g r o w t h and development.
" P r o v i d e d P a l o m b o and Pensabene were really serious abour the need t o
j o i n the real w o r l d , maybe it w o u l d n ' t be so bad if w e had to deal w i t h one
of t h e m as P o p e . "
" O r , " A p p l e y a r d counrered Testily, " m a y b e w e ' d be dealing w i t h an
ecclesiastical t h u g w e a r i n g a riara. The Strasbourg meeting w a s a nasty
piece o f sedition. Besides, at least we k n o w w h a t we're dealing w i t h in the
Slavic Pope. I grant y o u rhar i n some ways he comes across as conservative
to the bone. But side by side w i t h that, y o u have t o take other things into
account.
" T a k e that Negotiations speech C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i delivered for
him at the U N recently. M a y b e y o u read a b o u t i t , Bud. He p l u m p e d
foursquare o n the side o f j o i n i n g the society o f nations in the real w o r l d .
O r take this n e w Catechism he's been w o r k i n g o n . M y R o m a n contact
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 435

sent me an early d r a f t o f i t , and it bears all rhe marks of every major

d o c u m e n t that's come o u t of Rome since the Second Vatican C o u n c i l ,
i n c l u d i n g the new Code o f Canon L a w he p r o m u l g a t e d back i n '83. Lots
o f r o o m for new d o c t r i n a l interpretations o f all the o l d dogmas.
" I n some ways, he's d o w n r i g h r permissive, in facr. A rrue
maeromanager. Refuses t o interfere at the l o w e r echelons o f governance,
n o matter w h a r . Refuses ro inrerfere w i t h bishops. Refuses to enforce laws
b a n n i n g clerical membership i n the Lodge, or rhe use of A l t a r girls. Re-
fuses ro expel heretical theologians. Refuses to put a stop to phony mar-
riage annulments issued by the C h u r c h , even w h e n rhey a m o u n t t o some
fifty thousand o r more a n n u a l l y . Retains thousands o f actively homosex-
ual clergy, even w h i l e he exhorts the f a i t h f u l to observe the Church's
teaching o n sexual m o r a l i t y . "
Gibson w o u n d up his litany: " A n d he refuses ro insist o n his unique
claim t o he i n f a l l i b l e in teaching, or to take advantage o f the absolute
m o n a r c h i c p o w e r he enjoys as Pope. C l e a r l y , he regards himself as n o t h i n g
more than a very i m p o r t a n t bishop a m o n g f o u r thousand other i m p o r t a n t
bishops."
Vance got the p o i n t . A p p l e y a r d was saying it's better ro deal w i r h rhe
devil y o u k n o w rhan rhe devil y o u don't?
"1 w o u l d n ' t p u t it like t h a t , " G i b objected in all seriousness. " T h i s Pope
is way ahead o f all the propaganda about the need for religions to wade
i n t o the w o r k o f b u i l d i n g a new w o r l d . In fact, he takes it as a God-given
assignment f o r the C h u r c h he heads. A n d on t o p o f that, he claims to
include all religions in his m i n i s t r y , bur w i t h o u t any of the usual o l d
insistence t h a t everybody become R o m a n C a r b o l i c . "
" P l l rake y o u r w o r d for ir, G i b . 1 stand correcred. This is no 'grin and
bear i t in rhis life, pie i n the sky w h e n y o u die' Pope. But the crucial issue
for U.S. policy isn't rhe Pontiff's religious m i n i s t r y . The issue is his
C h u r c h ' s p u b l i c stance regarding p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l . "
" G i v e a f e l l o w a c h a n c e . " Gibson lightened up a little. " I was just
c o m i n g to that. T h e Slavic Pope is o n record as f a v o r i n g the l i m i t a t i o n o f
h u m a n births in v i e w — I ' m n o t k i d d i n g n o w — i n view o f possible e n v i r o n -
mental disaster sremming f r o m o v e r p o p u l a r i o n . "
" W e l l , Pll be . . . "
There was one catch, A p p l e y a r d a d m i n e d . " I d o u b t he'd go a l o n g w i r h
overt governmental p u s h i n g o f a b o r t i o n facilities w i t h public funds, or
w i t h the use o f a d r u g like R U - 4 8 6 , o r w i t h obviously repugnanr fetal
research. We're n o t dealing w i t h the likes o f H e r r O t t o Sekuler, in other
w o r d s . There musr be some care abour haw births are l i m i r e d i f this Pope
is to go a l o n g w i t h u s . "
" Y o u ' r e f o r g e t t i n g one t h i n g . " T h e A d m i r a l cast a somber glance ar
A p p l e y a r d . " W e ' r e n o t dealing w i t h O t t o Sekuler, a n d thank G o d for rhat!
Bur we d o n ' t k n o w i f w e ' l l be dealing w i t h the Slavic Pope either. We
d o n ' t k n o w i f he'll live or d i e . "
 436 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

G i b lowered his head. " I h a d n ' t f o r g o t t e n . But I still say it can't end for
h i m like that. T h i s Pope and his Rome are m o v i n g inro position as the
pillars o f rhe Temple.' 1

" C o m e again?"
" F o r g e t i t . " Gibson smiled. The A d m i r a l wasn't the man t o talk w i t h
a b o u t Joachim Blumenhagen and his prophecies, about M a s o n r y and the
C h u r c h and the N e w Jerusalem. O n the other h a n d , t h o u g h , there wasn't
a better m a n t h a n Vance to lay a bet w i t h . " P l l give y o u odds. B u d . Five to
one o n the Slavic Pope to come t h r o u g h this o p e r a t i o n as strong as a bear.
In fact, ten to one that Pll be s i t t i n g d o w n w i t h h i m again in plenty o f time
t o pull y o u r precious G - 7 p o p u l a t i o n policy our of the fire."
" Y o u ' r e o n , o l d m a n ! " Vance eyed the dossiers on Sekuler and his high-
r a n k i n g friends i n the Vatican. " A n d I d o n ' t m i n d telling you this is one
bet I ' d love ro l o s e ! "

It was true thar Father A l d o Carnesecca's quarrers in the sad and largely
deserted o l d Monasrery o f Sr. J o h n o f the Cross o n the outskirts of Barce-
lona were some five h u n d r e d miles and more removed f r o m Rome. I t was
not true thar Carnesecca was as distant f r o m papal acrivity, or such a
m i n o r player, as C a r d i n a l A u r e a r i n i assumed. A l o n g w i r h such papal con-
fidants as the Vatican security chief, G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o , and the Pope's
secretary, Daniel Sadowski, A l d o was one o f a h a n d f u l o f men w h o were
briefed by the P o n t i f f himself.
The call had come t h r o u g h jusr as Carnesecca was sertling d o w n after
his latest visit to the Papal N u n c i o ' s office i n M a d r i d to catch the d i p l o -
matic pouch reserved for special dispatches t o the H o l y Father. The Pope's
principal concern had been t o pass news o f his operation along q u i c k l y , to
Father Damien and C h r i s t i a n Gladstone and a few other men o f c o n f i -
dence a r o u n d the w o r l d .
But also o n H i s Holiness' m i n d at this crirical time was the much bal-
l y h o o e d new Carechism. The Universal Profession of faith was ready n o w
in d r a f t for review and revision, the H o l y Father said. M o n s i g n o r e Daniel
had already dispatched copies to Father A l d o . FIc was to keep one for his
o w n reading and c r i t i q u e d u r i n g the Pope's absence f r o m the Apostolic
Palace; a n d he was t o enlist Gladstone and Slattery for rhe same purpose.
Carnesecca had briefed the Ponriff o n his w o r k i n Spain, about his quiet
soundings in p r e p a r a t i o n f o r a papal Consistory w i t h the Spanish bishops,
a b o u t one or t w o men w h o m i g h t be candidates for the College of C a r d i -
nals, a b o u t the dismal c o n d i t i o n o f the C h u r c h in rhar once v i b r a n t l y
Catholic land.
One t h i n g Carnesecca had not m e n t i o n e d to the H o l y Father was his
sure sense that he was under surveillance. It w a s n ' t a new happening i n his
life, after a l l , a n d he had been at this sort o f clandestine w o r k l o n g enough
to k n o w h o w ro take precautions. But he was getting a little weary o f it
U N T H I N K A B L E K I A L I T I F. S 437

a l l . Weary of exile. Weary o f being constantly o n the w a t c h . Weary of

being so t o t a l l y alone.
T h e reading of this Universal Profession of Faith o n l y increased
Carnesecca's weariness o f soul. L i k e the documenrs of Vatican I L and like
the tremendously i m p o r t a n t new Code o f C a n o n L a w p r o m u l g a t e d i n
1983, the Profession reflected the changed m e n t a l i t y o f the Roman C u r i a .
L i k e rhose documenrs, rhe new Catechism included all the basics o f dog-
matic f a i t h . But, again like its predecessors, ir was replere w i t h cajoling
and deceptive ambiguities. It was, in other w o r d s , anorher major docu-
ment that w o u l d open the C h u r c h to still more invented s p i r i t u a l i t y , i n -
vented liturgies, invented d o c t r i n e .
H o w , Carnesecca w o n d e r e d , was he t o discuss a document like this
w i t h C h r i s t i a n Gladstone? Carnesecca remembered the anger Gladstone
had s h o w n at the Slavic Pope's penchant for strategies that had left his
C h u r c h i n shambles, a n d h o w u n w i l l i n g he had been to let the H o l y Father
o f f the h o o k o n the grounds that his enemies in the Vatican had ringed
h u n a r o u n d and laid siege ro the papacy itself. " I f the Pope is a prisoner i n
the palace as y o u c l a i m , Father A l d o , " C h r i s r i a n had c o m p l a i n e d , " m a y b e
it's because he's acquiesced all along. M a y b e it's because he allows all the
abuses o f p o w e r and all the deviations f r o m apostolic d u t y t o go o n in the
Church."
W i t h such memories as b a c k g r o u n d , Carnesecca had every reason to
w o r r y t h a t Chris m i g h r see rhis Carechism as rhe last straw o f papal acqui-
escence; that he m i g h t revert t o his idea of leaving Rome t o its scheming
chamberlains. Because i t was as unacceptable to h i m n o w as it had ever
been that Rome should lose such a g o o d priest as Gladstone, and because
he was convinced that the Profession itself was n o t h i n g less than a major
campaign i n rhe l o n g w a r f o r c o n r r o l o f rhe papacy and the C h u r c h ,
Carnesecca ignored his o w n weariness and pur his m i n d t o a t h o r o u g h
analysis o f the Slavic Pope himself.
Carnesecca k n e w rhis Pontiff was no c l o w n pretending t o be Pope. I n
w o r l d l y matters, he was as b r i l l i a n t as any o f his expert advisors. Some-
where a l o n g the line, then—somewhere after they had made h i m Pope, or
perhaps even before t h a t — a m a n w i t h such qualifications must have made
a grave decision a b o u t the papacy and the C h u r c h . For fully a week,
therefore, as Carnesecca Traveled ro Grenada or Seville or Saragossa, as he
w a l k e d a b o u t in Barcelona, as he w o r k e d i n his rooms i n the M o n a s t e r y o f
St. J o h n o f the Cross, even over rhe meals he t o o k w i r h rhe Monastery's
fussy little caretaker, Jorge C o r r a n o , and his w i f e , M a r i a , Carnesecca's
m i n d remained f u l l y engaged in his analysis o f a papal leadership that
appeared t o so many to have been fatally c o m p r o m i s e d .
For Father A l d o , o n l y three ideas were o p e n t o serious consideration as
possible explanations f o r this Pope's actions.
Firsr, and no marter w h a t his qualities as priest, prelate and scholar,
there was the possibility that Flis Holiness was simply an incompetent
 438 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

governor o f his C h u r c h . T h e second possibility was that the H o l y Father

had decided t o go a l o n g w i t h the so-called progressivists i n his C h u r c h ,
and w i r h rhe p o w e r cenrers outside his C h u r c h , in the hope o f t u r n i n g the
situation a r o u n d somewhere d o w n the r o a d . G o a l o n g to get along, in
other w o r d s . T h e o n l y r e m a i n i n g possibility was rhat the Slavic Pope had
come to papal p o w e r w i r h his o w n ideas already f o r m e d about the c o m i n g
w o r l d o f the t h i r d m i l l e n n i u m . T h a t he considered the w h o l e present
structure o f his C h u r c h ro be expendable, and expected ir to be replaced
by an as yer u n k n o w n structure.
N o n e o f those explanations was attractive. Bur rhe t h i r d rheory had
always made rhe mosr sense ro Carnesecca. Ir was reasonable ro t h i n k ,
then, that H i s Holiness had operated f r o m the start o n the principle that
w h a t was happening t o the C h u r c h was all f o r the best. H e regretted
n o t h i n g . He d i d n ' t w a n t t o b r i n g the o l d structure back. T h a t m u c h said,
it f o l l o w e d that his basic idea was to insist o n the essentials o f moraliry
w h i l e he w a i t e d u p o n events.
A n d i f that was the Slavic Pope's policy, then H i s Holiness was m a k i n g
an enormous mistake, i n Carnesecca's o p i n i o n ; he was consigning the
C h u r c h to flames insread o f fighting f o r it as other Popes had done. A l d o
Carnesecca was t o o holy a man t o be d o u r . Bur a week o f tussling w i t h
such thoughts d i d leave h i m in a sober state o f m i n d .
" Y o u w o r k t o o h a r d . Padre A l d o , " Jorge C o r r a n o t o l d h i m more than
once. As one o f the few people w h o saw h i m regularly, the caretaker had
noticed a change i n Carnesecca and was concerned by ir. " Y o u ' r e in and
our o f this M o n a s t e r y like a fiddler's e l b o w . Slow d o w n , Padrecito. Learn
ro take a siesta n o w and t h e n . "
The caretaker's w i f e h a d her o w n remedy. " P l l fix a nice paella the way
we used ro d o in M a l a g a , " M a r i a offered one a f t e r n o o n as she delivered
rhe eyedrops she had picked up ar the pharmacy for Father A l d o . " Y o u
need t o p u t some flesh o n those bones." Carnesecca wasn't much for
siestas. But that day he d i d enjoy Senora C o r r a n o ' s paella; and rhe kitchen
conversation w i r h this mosr simpdtico Spanish couple p r o v i d e d h i m w i t h
an hour o f r e l a x a t i o n . So relaxed was Father A l d o , in fact, that he decided
to p u t his w o r k aside and make an early n i g h t o f i t .
A b a n d o n e d by the Carmelite Sisters since 197>, the sad o l d Monastery
of St. John o f the Cross embraced h i m i n the cool silence o f irs Catalonian
marble w a l l s like a lonely f r i e n d ; it seemed in some sense t o attend h i m in
his evening prayers. N o traffic echoed any longer o n rhe m a i n staircase
that w o u n d past the l a n d i n g outside his d o o r and d o w n t o the bronze
gates o f the Chapel o n the f l o o r b e l o w . Even rhe few pilgrims t o w h o m rhe
M o n a s t e r y was open rhese days as a hostel, a n d w h o came here ro vener-
ate this shrine t o the great Spanish saint, seemed quierer than usual. Was
rhis n o t a fitting place, t h e n , f o r prayers like A l d o Carnesecca's prayers?
Prayers f o r f a i r h f u l men like C h r i s t i a n Gladstone and D a m i e n Slattery and
Angelo G u t m a c h e r and Brother Augusrine. Prayers f o r himself. T h a t come
U N T H I \ K A B I, F RfALlTIES 439

w h a t may, and u n t i l it was t i m e for h i m t o be called t o his eternal home,

he w o u l d remain a f a i t h f u l , f r u i t f u l servant to Chrisr and t o H i s Vicar.
As he rose at last f r o m his knees and set a b o u t the r o u t i n e of preparing
for bed, Carnesecca chatted for a w h i l e longer w i r h his guardian angel
a b o u t rhat last p o i n t . H e d i d n ' t k n o w w h e n he w o u l d be called home, he
t o l d his angel. A n d he w a s n ' t exactly asking about that. Yet he was begin-
n i n g to tire. N o t physically o r m e n t a l l y . It was more like nostalgia. A
desire to see the home of his c h i l d h o o d ; t o see the Rome of his y o u t h ; t o
see such rare friends o f his later years as C h r i s t i a n Gladstone. H e felt he
h a d almost drained the chalice o f his life's sufferings.
W i t h o u t d i s r u p t i n g the i n t i m a c y o f prayer, Father A l d o reached for the
little plastic vial o f eyedrops M a r i a C o r r a n o had ferched for h i m . T h i s ,
t o o , had become a part of his r o u t i n e ever since he had consulted D r . Jose
Palacio y Vaca about the t i n y , sporadic flashes of lighr he had begun t o
notice o n the periphery of his vision. The good docror had given h i m a
l o n g technical e x p l a n a t i o n ; b u t the l o n g and the shorr of ir had been that
Father A l d o suffered f r o m angle-closure glaucoma. H e c o u l d be operared
on i f rhe c o n d i t i o n grew c r i t i c a l ; but for the m o m e n t it w o u l d be sufficient
ro warer his eyes twice d a i l y , m o r n i n g and evening, w i t h a 0.5 percent
f o r m u l a of Isopto Carpine, a n d to continue w i t h regular examinations.
O b e d i e n t l y , therefore, Carnesecca was jusr squeezing the drops i n t o his
e y e s — r e m i n d i n g himself as he d i d so to add the p h a r m a c i s t s latest receipr
a l o n g w i r h the bill f r o m D r . Palacio y Vaca to his expense folder before he
sent it o f f to C a r d i n a l Aurearini's office i n R o m e — w h e n the sharp sound
o f his telephone shattered rhe silence of rhe Monasrery l i k e an a l a r m , and
the sharp sound of Chris Gladstone's voice, as t r o u b l e d as Carnesecca had
k n o w n it w o u l d be, shattered any t h o u g h t of an early n i g h t .
" F a t h e r A l d o , a b o u t this so-called Universal Profession of Faith the
H o l y Father asked y o u to send me . .

L I K E T H E O F F I C I A L Vatican announcement p u t o u t by the papal

spokesman, M i g u e l Lazaro-Falla, the cables sent o u t to papal representa-
tives a r o u n d the w o r l d by Secretary o f State G r a z i a n i were bland and l o w -
key: O n the advice o f his doctors, the H o l y Father w o u l d enter Agostino
Gemelli Polyclinic o n the evening of June 29 t o undergo e x p l o r a t o r y sur-
gery.
By the f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g , rhe papal healrh crisis was internarional
news. T o a degree that was n o t merely c u r i o u s , however, bur unprece-
dented, all sides played the s i t u a t i o n d o w n . The V a t i c a n , the Catholic
 440 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

hierarchy a r o u n d the w o r l d , d i p l o m a t i c missions i n Rome and elsewhere,

C a t h o l i c newspapers and news services, the i n t e r n a t i o n a l media—each for
its o w n deliberate m o t i v e s — m i n i m i z e d the event as o f no great signifi-
cance. There was no sudden i n f l u x o f news c o r r e s p o n d e n t ro Rome, nor
d i d R o m a n Carholic bishops pass resolutions or statements o f sympathy i n
their various Conferences. Three b i s h o p s — o n l y three—organized public
prayers i n their dioceses for the successful outcome o f the o p e r a t i o n . In
consequence, no p o p u l a r m o o d o f apprehension or speculation set in
a m o n g the general body o f R o m a n Catholics. There was no noticeable
o u r p o u r i n g o f s o r r o w ; n o deluge o f sympathetic cables and letters ro the
H o l y See p r o m i s i n g prayers for the H o l y Father.
Perhaps rhe bishops were feeling their oats, Sadowski complained p r i -
vately to C a r d i n a l Sanstefano. But such terrible silence seemed to h i m as
u n c a r i n g as it was peculiar.
" U n c a r i n g ? " T h e busy Sansrefano lingered just l o n g enough to give his
o w n o p i n i o n . " N o , M o n s i g n o r e Daniel. I ' d say t o o many bishops just care
a b o u t the w r o n g t h i n g . They're caught up i n their o w n ambitions, W h a t
we're witnessing, I t h i n k , is an unexpressed hope rhat this m i g h t be the
end o f a papacy most of them find unsatisfactory."
Ir was a w o n d e r ro a l l , and a puzzlemenr ro m a n y , rhat rhe Slavic Pope
himself seemed i m p e r v i o u s to the strange unresponse that f o l l o w e d the
official announcement. H e seemed to be far more preoccupied w i t h the
pressure being exerted o n h i m to f o l l o w up his a p p o i n t m e n t o f the urbane
Father-General M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o as A r c h b i s h o p o f Genoa w i t h the red
hat. Like m a n y before h i m in the long line o f Pontiffs, the Slavic Pope's
l o n g a n d lasting service to the C h u r c h w o u l d be the c o m p o s i t i o n o f the
College o f C a r d i n a l s , the destined electors o f his o w n successor. Yer this
l o o k e d like another bartle losr in a long w a r . Supporred as he was by Leo
Pensabene, and reinforced by the considerable prestige of Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s b a c k i n g , it w o u l d have been surprising had Pensabene's
d o m i n a n t faction in the College o f Cardinals n o t voiced support f o r the
Jesuit; and more s u r p r i s i n g still had men like A u r e a r i n i , Graziani and
Palombo nor lined up behind C o u t i n h o ' s candidacy.
"People t h i n k the Pope can do w h a t he l i k e s , " H i s Holiness g r u m b l e d to
M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l . " I f they o n l y k n e w ! The Pope has t o listen t o his
bishops a n d his p e o p l e . "
I t was d u r i n g rhose eerie days, roo, t h a t the matter o f Father D a m i e n
Slattery's fate came suddenly to the fore. The w o r d f r o m the Vatican
security chief, G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o , was t h a t Father D a m i e n had retreared
ro rhe m o m e n t a r y safety o f C h r i s t i a n Gladstone's f a m i l y home. From a
security p o i n t o f v i e w , that w o u l d do u n t i l his current mission was c o m -
pleted. But t e m p o r a r y security for Slattery w a s n ' t enough. The prospect of
a b a n d o n i n g such an open supporter o f the papacy t o the d o u b t f u l mercy
o f the bishops—the t h o u g h t o f Father D a m i e n begging fruitlessly for some
U N 1 I I I N K A B [. F REALITIES 441

hovel in w h i c h ro hang his priestly har, w h i l e men like C o u t i n h o moved so

easily, so steadily up the p o w e r ladder—was unacceprable.
There was no question o f railing abour rhe injustice thar had been
wreaked o n rhe D o m i n i c a n . There was no jusrice i n the system at presenr;
o n l y p o w e r . A n d i n rhar system, the C a r d i n a l o f Centurycity had too many
i m p o r t a n t allies in the u n r u l y Vatican Chancery to a l l o w direct papal
intervention in such a matter as exclaustrarion. The Pope moved another
plan inro high gear instead. He ser abour rhe speedy canonical f o r m a t i o n
o f the new n e t w o r k o f u n d e r g r o u n d priesrs firsr suggested by Signora
Francesca Gladsrone and championed since then by C a r d i n a l Amedeo
Sansrefano. The H o l y Farher placed the new order under rhar Cardinal's
patronage. In the Vatican p o w e r game, lew men could or w o u l d challenge
the head o f the Prefecture o f Economic A f f a i r s . Sanstefano was o n l y too
happy t o d r a w up the simple rule by w h i c h the new n e t w o r k was ro be
governed, and s u b m i t i t f o r a p p r o v a l ro C a r d i n a l Reinvernunft ar rhe
Congregation for the Defense o f rhe Faith. The strictest secrecy was ro
a p p l y all a r o u n d , Sanstefano t o l d his Venerable Brother. Even Damien
Slattery wasn't ro be apprised o f rhe plans unril he returned to Rome in the
fall and c o u l d be t o l d face ro face in the secure setting o l the papal study.
But everything was to be in readiness before the P o n t i f f entered Gemelli
Polyclinic.
The Pope d i d n ' t view this s o l u t i o n to Slattery's predicamenr as ideal.
T h r o u g h n o fault o f his o w n , Father D a m i e n w o u l d remain forever under
suspicion in some quarters. Yet the P o n t i f f c o u l d n ' t have f o u n d a better
director a n y w h e r e f o r his new n e t w o r k o f u n d e r g r o u n d priests. A n d w h a t
more c o u l d he hope f o r in the circumstances?
Side by side w i t h such feverish efforts on D a m i e n Slattery's behalf. His
Holiness was given a foretaste o f the c r i t i q u e he knew w o u l d come f r o m
such men as Carnesecca and Father C h r i s t i a n Gladstone—and f r o m Slat-
tery, t o o , if he k n e w his m a n — c o n c e r n i n g the vague and permissive lan-
guage that had blossomed again in the new Universal Profession of Faith.
C a r d i n a l R e i n v e r n u n f t himself came to the P o n t i f f w i t h a challenge t o the
d o c t r i n a l integrity o f the Catechism. As Prefect o f the Congregation f o r
the Defense o f the F a i t h , H i s Eminence was p a r t i c u l a r l y t r o u b l e d by a
section o f the Profession that echoed the language o f Lumen Gentium in
its description o f the hierarchical structure of Pope a n d bishops and their
w o r k i n g relationship i n g o v e r n i n g the C h u r c h Universal. The Floly Father
was dedicated t o v i n d i c a t i n g the teaching of the Second Vatican C o u n c i l .
M o r e , H i s Eminence k n e w rhe Pontiff himself had had a good deal to d o
w i t h Lumen Gentium, w a y back d u r i n g the C o u n c i l sessions. But as head
o f C D F — a s the one o f f i c i a l i n the whole C h u r c h whose p r i n c i p a l charge
was t o m a i n t a i n the p u r i t y o f the Faith—he felt strongly rhar sratements o f
Vatican I I w h i c h had n o t yer been reviewed by rhe H o l y See in the light o l
the C h u r c h ' s l o n g t r a d i t i o n s h o u l d n o t be included i n the new Catechism.
 442 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

A n d he felt just as strongly that he had no choice but to press his case,
apologetically b u t firmly.
" A r some p o i n t , H o l i n e s s " — t h e C a r d i n a l Prefect came ro the issue
h e a d - o n — " t h e obscurity o f certain capiral questions w i l l have to be
cleared u p . For example, rhe question of whether rhe bishops, ex officio,
share rhe same universal p o w e r and a u t h o r i t y over the C h u r c h as does the
Pope, ex o f f i c i o . "
T h o u g h the tone of H i s Holiness' response was measured, rhere was no
m i s t a k i n g the harshness of irs subsrance. Sooner or later, perhaps such
statements as the C a r d i n a l Prefecr f o u n d too obscure mighr have ro be
m o d i f i e d . " B u t at this m o m e n t , Your Eminence, my pontificate and the
unity of m y C h u r c h depend on adherence t o the w i l l of Vatican IE A l l w h o
wish t o serve this papacy must remember t h a t . "
The P o n t i f f d i d not t h i n k C a r d i n a l Reinvernunft was right. But Rein-
v e r n u n f t represented o n l y one faction a m o n g the theologians of the
C h u r c h . Given the disheveled c o n d i t i o n o f his c h u r c h m e n , most of w h o m
were not capable of understanding the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of Catholicism be-
ing effected by the H o l y Spirit, the P o n t i f f had concluded that he should
continue t o rally everybody to a b r o a d , median band of principles distinct
f r o m those of the madcap progressivists w h o wanted everything to change
and f r o m rhose of rhe s t u b b o r n traditionalists w h o w a n t e d everyrhing to
be restored. In rime, rhe w i l l of Christ w o u l d be manifest in His C h u r c h
and in w o r l d events.
In such a c o n t e x t , the Universal Profession seemed no worse than other
compromises, and better t h a n some. For all of its ambiguities, it d i d state
the basic dogmas of the Roman Catholic f a i t h , after a l l . It was even rea-
sonable ro t h i n k irs p r o m u l g a t i o n m i g h t do some g o o d . A n d w h a t more
c o u l d be h u m a n l y effected in the circumstances?
Because the w i l l o f Chrisr upon w h i c h he w a i t e d had everyrhing ro d o
w i t h all o f the affairs u n f o l d i n g in rhe w o r l d , H i s Holiness continued ro
concern himself w i r h rhe aims o f rhe new global order. A n d he kepr fully
abreasr of rhe reports rhar came c o n t i n u a l l y by pouch f r o m his observers
ar rhe EC and rhe CSCE.
In rhose quarters, at least, there were few surprises. T h e i r names and
their stated aims n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , there wasn't m u c h in eirher the EC or
rhe CSCE rhat was European in any f o r w a r d - l o o k i n g sense. Borh re-
mained unrelentingly materialist in their o u t l o o k . B o t h had managed to
strip themselves of their Chrisrian heritage. Borh were all dressed up in
new, one-size-firs-all parliamentary clothes, b u t neither was m a k i n g much
headway. T r u e , the CSCE was i n c h i n g t o w a r d a gerting-together of na-
tions, and the Pope d i d expect Russia to come i n t o that g r o u p before l o n g .
W h e n ir came d o w n t o the hard decisions, however, rhere was no wealth
o f cooperation in the Conference o n Security and C o o p e r a t i o n in Europe.
It was still every member state f o r itself.
L i k e a spurned lover, m e a n w h i l e , the E C still chased after its t w i n goals
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 443

o f early and extensive p o l i t i c a l and monerary u n i o n a m o n g its member

srates a n d a b o l i t i o n o f all customs and tariffs between t h e m . " T h i n g s on
this side o f the w o r l d are nor yer ready for such advances," Cardinal
Secretary G r a z i a n i agreed w i t h the Pontiff's assessment w h e n one of their
e a r l y - m o r n i n g briefings touched o n EC affairs.
" T h i n g s i n the U n i t e d States are nor yet r e a d y , " H i s Holiness countered.
" U . S . policy doesn'r envisage such an exrensive u n i o n u n t i l larer. U n t i l
then, the EC w i l l have t o balance all the items on its geopolitical tray the
best w a y i t c a n . "
A t least on the geopolitical level, this Pope's strategy and his expecta-
tions were vindicated by objective events. A n d w h a t more c o u l d he hope
for in the circumstances?
It was still some few very busy days before the Pope was scheduled to
enter Gemelli Polyclinic w h e n , w i r h the exquisite t i m i n g o f a t o r t u r e mas-
ter, H i s Eminence N o a h Palombo asked ro be received by the H o l y Father
a l o n g w i t h a delegation of senior Cardinals. In view o f H i s Holiness'
c o m i n g absence f r o m the A p o s t o l i c Palace, there were a number of a d m i n -
istrative questions to discuss—not least a m o n g them the delicate question
of the Pope's possible incapacitation.
The stony-faced Palombo d i d his best t o imitate the legendary romanita
o f C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i as he cracked the w h i p of papal resignarion over
the Pontiff's head. " F o r rhe g o o d o f rhe C h u r c h , Holiness—and in lighr of
this crisis in Your Holiness' health ar such a crirical rime f o r rhe C h u r c h in
various parrs o f the w o r l d — i t has seemed to a m a j o r i t y ot Your Holiness'
Cardinals t h a t some e x t r a o r d i n a r y disposition is required t o ensure con-
t i n u i r y o f governance. Some guarantee against d i s r u p t i o n . A legal instru-
ment to take effect, s h o u l d the need arise."
W i t h t h a t , the Slavic Pope got his first l o o k at C a r d i n a l Aurearini's laresr
bir o f h a n d i w o r k . W i t h o u t any visible sign o f dismay, he read every deft
w o r d of the legal i n s t r u m e n t by w h i c h he w o u l d , if he signed i t , agree in
advance t o resign the papacy should certain c o n d i t i o n s come to pass.
If there was any consternation at that meeting, i t d i d n o t appear to be in
the Pontiff. As t h o u g h he had anticipated just such a conversation, rhe
Slavic Pope parried rhe a t t e m p t to force his hand w i t h a few documents o f
his o w n . Indeed, he had the notarized o p i n i o n s o f the oncologists ready
for the occasion.
" A s y o u see, Your Eminences"—Flis Holiness passed rhe affidavits over
for e x a m i n a t i o n — " t h i s o p e r a t i o n w i l l mean a few weeks o f rest for me.
But i t w i l l coincide nicely w i t h the summer exodus. In fact, as I w i l l
recuperare ar Casrel G a n d o l f o , I w i l l p r o b a b l y be more accessible, and
therefore more able ro deal w i r h any emergency, rhan most o f my vaca-
t i o n i n g prelares, i n c l u d i n g yourselves."
Palombo's firsr impulse was t o p o i n t o u t t h a t the resignation letter was
nor meanr ro deal w i t h the Pope's recuperation, bur w i t h graver possibili-
ties. W i t h no w a y to counter the oncologists' prognosis, however, he de-
 444 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

cided n o t t o overplay his h a n d . It w o u l d be enough t o have the papal

death w a r r a n t signed somewhere a r o u n d the time o f the C o m m o n M i n d
Vote o f the bishops. The f o l l o w i n g spring w o u l d be time enough, there-
f o r e — a t least according t o M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s present estimates. Come this
f a l l , other o p p o r t u n i t i e s w o u l d simply have to be arranged ro tighten the
screws.
W i t h such thoughts as c o m f o r t , it t o o k no t i m e at all for H i s Eminence
to regain his composure. Considering the welter o f problems m o u n t i n g for
His Holiness these days, the very fact that the resignation letter had been
presenred t o h i m by a senior delegation o f his Cardinals musr have had
some i m p a c t on h i m . A d e m o r a l i z i n g impact. There was no reason ar all ro
w o r r y over the P o n t i f f s little v i c t o r y .
Palombo was r i g h t .
The Pope w a s n ' t demoralized exactly. But the slithering w o r m o f self-
d o u b t began t o nibble away at h i m again. H e was t r o u b l e d anew by his
failure ro stir rhe consciences o f his Cardinals; by his failure ro ger rhem ro
acr in fealty to Chrisr, ro Peter and to the faith handed d o w n to them f r o m
the Apostles. H e was beset by w o r r y rhat, in keeping so many bad bishops
and bad theologians and bad priesrs in place, he had himself abandoned
those w h o remained loyal ro rhe H o l y See and ro rhe f a i t h . He was t r o u -
bled by t h o u g h t s that he had a l l o w e d things t o slacken to such a degree
rhar men like Palombo felt they c o u l d pluck the very reins o f governance
f r o m his hands.
Srill mentally convinced o f his papal p o l i c y , the Slavic Pope managed to
steel his w i l l against such depressing thoughts. T h i s was n o t the only
t r o u b l e d period i n the history o f the papacy, he t o l d himself. If he c o u l d
just h o l d l o n g e n o u g h — i f he c o u l d just m a i n t a i n those b r o a d , bedrock
principles o f fairh and m o r a l i r y ; i f he c o u l d just keep his eyes steadfastly
on Chrisr and His M o r h e r w h i l e he w a i t e d f o r rhe signs promised ar Fa-
r i m a — e v e r y r h i n g w o u l d come righr for rhe suffering C h u r c h he served,
and f o r rhe suffering w o r l d he loved so m u c h . If he c o u l d jusr hold . . .

The June 29 date scheduled for H i s Holiness ro enrer Gemelli Polyclinic

was rhe very dare he was called u p o n ro preside over M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o ' s
installation in the College o f Cardinals at a ceremony in Sr. Perer's Basil-
ica. Because rhar was rhe feasr day of rhe grear Aposrlcs Peter and Paul,
and because R o m a n gossip is always ready ro spice its reading o f papal
goings-on w i r h a dash o f superstition, there were some w h o saw a certain
farefulness in rhar sequence o f events. Some turned rheir thoughts t o an-
other June 2 9 ; to a ceremony of promise in Sr. Paul's Chapel; ro rhe Prince
enrhroned i n the C i t a d e l .
By the time he laid aside his w o r k ar last and set o f f to keep his date
w i t h D r . Fanarore and his team o f medical specialists at Gemelli Poly-
c l i n i c , His Holiness was i n grievous pain. The o n l y men w i t h h i m were his
secrerary, M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski, and his securiry chief, G i u s t i n o L u -
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 445

cadamo. F r o m the next m o r n i n g o n — f r o m the m o m e n t the Pope w o u l d

enter the o p e r a t i n g r o o m , and f o r the early days o f his recovery—Sadow-
ski and L u c a d a m o w o u l d be part o f the five-man team to w h o m the exclu-
sive direcrion o f papal household affairs w o u l d belong. The orher rhree
officials i n c h a r g e — " m y keepers," rhe H o l y Farher called r h e m — w e r e ro
be C a r d i n a l Sanstefano o f P E C A ; the papal spokesman, M i g u e l Lazaro-
Falla; a n d , o f course, D r . Fanarote. T h e Secretary o f State and the other
in-house Cardinals c o u l d n o t intervene u n t i l the H o l y Father returned t o
normalcy.
L u c a d a m o had already executed concise and concrere plans for rhe near
term by means o f a hard-nosed briefing f o r hospital personnel, i n c l u d i n g
the surgeon a n d all a t t e n d i n g physicians. For rhe d u r a t i o n o f rhe papal
stay, there w o u l d be roral elecrronic surveillance o f every p a r t o f the hospi-
tal a n d o f everyone w h o entered or left i t . Each person involved w i r h rhe
care o f rhe Pope, no matter h o w menial the task, w o u l d be accountable for
every derail o f his or her d u r y .
T o his o w n handpicked agenrs posred r h r o u g h o u r rhe hospital, L u -
cadamo's orders were stark. They were t o m a i n t a i n total c o n t r o l . They
were to answer o n l y t o h i m . A n d in this case, justice was to begin and end
at the muzzles o f the weapons they carried. " I f you have g o o d reason ro
suspecr danger, d o n ' r w a i t t o ask questions. D o y o u r best n o t to end up
w i t h dead bodies. But we must n o t end up w i t h a papal cadaver."
O f all the w o r l d leaders a n d public personalities w h o were so regularly
in touch w i t h the H o l y Father, o n l y one broke the strange silence that had
lately fallen over t h e m in his regard. As those eerie, t u r b u l e n t days d r e w to
a close, the Slavic Pope was alone and already in bed w h e n , late on the eve
o f his o p e r a t i o n , a brief note was delivered t o h i m by hand. " I cannot
believe," M i k h a i l Gorbachev had w r i t t e n , " t h a t the providence o f the
A l m i g h t y w i l l terminate Your Holiness' services jusr ar rhis crucial m o -
ment in h u m a n h i s t o r y . "

W i n d s w e p t House t u r n e d our ro be more rhan a rerrear o f safety for

D a m i e n Slarrery. F r o m rhe enrry hall o f W i n d s w e p r House, where rhe
chimes o f Oakey Paul sounded the hours, ro the T o w e r Chapel, where he
offered M a s s every m o r n i n g , rhere was somerhing here t h a t burned away
whatever instinct o f self-pity had sprouted i n his heart, and dissipated
whatever littleness o f spirit had constricted his m i n d . Some t r a i t o f hered-
ity seemed t o fill this great m a n s i o n . Some indelible m a r k o f f a r - o f f times
when Christian's ancestors had decided n o t to cling t o their ancient m o o r -
ings in C o r n w a l l — n o r ro ror in resenrmenr; nor to w a i t to be carried o f f
inro o b l i v i o n by rhe malice o f rhe enemies o f rheir f a i t h — b u t to face the
open sea instead, a n d t o find their f o o t i n g in a different w o r l d rhan they
had ever k n o w n .
N o t that Slartery c o u l d really ger away menrally f r o m C e n r u r y c i t y , H e
k n e w as w e l l as the P o n t i f f d i d that the Cardinal's accusations against h i m
 446 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

w o u l d shred his r e p u t a t i o n f o r a lot o f people. A n d , because he d i d n ' t

w a n t t h a t t o be an issue between himself a n d Gladstone, he laid the w h o l e
sorry mess o u t f o r his f r i e n d f r a n k l y and i n detail.
It said a great deal about the effect o f his eye-opening labors o n Chris
that Damien's story d i d n ' t surprise h i m . O n the c o n t r a r y , most of i t was
f a m i l i a r t o h i m by n o w . F r o m beginning to end—the c o n t e m p t dished o u t
to Slartery at the House o f the H o l y Angels; his final s h o w d o w n w i t h the
C a r d i n a l ; even the brazen homosexual priesrs he had come u p o n w i t h
their i m p o r r e d lovers in rhe p r i o r y kirchenerte—rhe situation Damien de-
scribed was o f a piece w i t h the cases o f so many other priesrs Christian
had i n t e r v i e w e d and whose stones he had checked.
It still seemed o d d , t h o u g h , Chris said, t h a t n o t even the D o m i n i c a n
Father Provincial had offered some religious sentiment, however insincere
ir m i g h t have been. " D i d n ' t he say a n y t h i n g a b o u t the sons o f St, D o m i n i c
sticking together a n d s u p p o r t i n g each o r h e r ? "
" H a n e b e r r y ? " D a m i e n had a hearty laugh ar rhar. " H e was like a hen
on a hot g r i d d l e . C o u l d n ' t get r i d o f me fasr e n o u g h . That's w h a t they set
out t o d o , and they pulled it o f f like pros. T h e y ' v e fixed it so Pll have to
live outside the O r d e r u n t i l they finalize rheir decision in my regard.
M e a n w h i l e , I expecr horrer c o m p l a i n t s against me f r o m Haneberry and
rhe C a r d i n a l . I ' m our o f c o n t r o l , they'll say; psychologically unbalanced.
T h e y ' l l make i t impossible f o r me to find a bishop w h o w i l l incardinate
me. A n d if I can't find a b i s h o p , Pll be o u t . Laicized. Released f r o m all my
religious and ecclesiastical v o w s . C a n o n i c a l l y , I w o n ' t exist for them any
longer."
" I t ' s M i k e O ' R e i l l y ' s case all over a g a i n . " Disgust was w r i t t e n a l l over
Christian's face. H e remembered Farher M i c h a e l ' s charge that he was just
another member o f the f a i t h f u l abandoned by the m a n w h o ' s supposed to
'feed M y lambs, feed M y sheep.' " That's w h a t O ' R e i l l y had said to Chris.
A n d , in essence, rhar's w h a r Chris charged, as he ler loose w i t h b o t h
barrels abour his Pope.
" T h i s H o l y Farher is rhe k e y . " Gladstone's face was Hushed w i t h anger.
"Perhaps Father A l d o is righr. Perhaps rhis Pope is the obedient slave of
O u r L a d y . Perhaps he w i l l bend ro her Son's w i l l as she gave i t t o us at
Fatima. Perhaps he is l o o k i n g at the bigger geopolitical picture and k n o w s
the N e w W o r l d O r d e r w o n ' t take h o l d ; thar i t w o u l d change the f a m i l y o f
man i n such a w a y that religion w o u l d have no place any longer; that the
Fatima message has to do w i t h all that. But maybe the Pope is just plain
mesmerized by geopolitical change. A n d in the meantime, he's causing
more problems rhan any o f us can s o l v e ! "
" H o l d o n there, C h r i s ! " Slartery had seen Gladsrone's remper before,
bur never an explosion like this. A n d he d i d n ' r understand h o w A l d o
Carnesecca had suddenly come i n t o the picture.
" P l l rell you h o w , D a m i e n ! " Christian retrieved the d r a f t o f the new
Catechism Father A l d o had sent h i m and f l u n g i t across the r o o m to his
U N T H I N K A B L E R E A L I T I E S 447

f r i e n d . " I ' v e had a l o n g talk w i t h Father A l d o about this screed the H o l y

Father intends t o pass o f f as a universal profession o f o u r f a i t h . I was just
about ready t o buy i n t o A l d o ' s p o i n t of v i e w . But n o w I t h i n k i t just w o n ' t
wash. C a l l i t a Catechism i f you w a n t . But it's a perfect r e p r o d u c t i o n of all
that stinks in the post-Conciliar churchly o r g a n i z a t i o n . A l l rhe fundamen-
ral dogma is there in black and w h i t e — i t always is! But it's chockablock
w i t h the k i n d o f g o - w i t h - t h e - f l o w garbage that leads to the c r u c i f i x i o n of
good priesrs like M i k e O ' R e i l l y and y o u and a couple of hundred more I
can tell y o u a b o u t .
" S u d d e n l y , H e l l isn't feasible f o r us anymore because i t doesn't square
w i t h G o d ' s milquetoast mercy. A l l you have to d o to be saved—whatever
that may mean n o w — i s t o be a c o n f o r m i n g member of this f l o u n d e r i n g
society o f narions. I f a f r a m e w o r k like that is R o m a n C a t h o l i c , I ' l l eat all
seven h u n d r e d pages o f rhis so-called Catechism for d i n n e r !
"So, rell me, Father D a m i e n . Was ir all a prearranged plan righr f r o m
the bosom o f the Second Vatican Council? Was this Pontiff in on the
w h o l e t h i n g , the w h o l e miserable t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of Catholicism? O r is ir
jusr a coincidence thar C o u n c i l documenrs like Gaudium et Spes and Lu-
men Gentium l o o k exactly like the Canon L a w of 1983? A n d that they all
l o o k like this new Catechism? Tell me if y o u can, D a m i e n . What's the key
t o the puzzle? T h e Slavic Pope was at the C o u n c i l . H e composed those
r w o documenrs. He's their c h a m p i o n . So whose side is he on? Once he
became Pope, w h y d i d he a l l o w rhe C h u r c h ro ger ro rhis poinr of c o r r u p -
tion? Tell me i f y o u can, Father. Have the bishops over here got it righr?
The Pope and his papacy d o n ' t really marrer a n y m o r e , eh? Isn'r rhat w h a t
they think? Isn't that h o w he acts?"
Slattery was frozen i n r o silence. F.ven rhat a f t e r n o o n at the A n g e l i c u m
when he and Chris had had another d o n n y b r o o k over papal motives, he
h a d n ' t heard rhis k i n d o f sentiment f r o m the y o u n g cleric. Suddenly
Damien's o w n crisis d i d n ' t seem t o matter so m u c h a n y m o r e . " T h e r e is
another possibility. C h r i s t i a n . " As deep as i t was, Damien's voice sounded
like a whisper after Gladsrone's barrage of accusations. " I t ' s just possible
rhar f r o m rhe very beginning o f his ponrificare, ir was already all over. It's
possible thar rhe seeds of aposrasy had already been sown and were al-
ready f l o u r i s h i n g . Ir's possible rhat Chrisr had already given up on rhis
version o f the churchly o r g a n i z a t i o n . It's possible t h a t , like Peter, this
Pope was chosen by the H o l y Spirit more for his weakness than for his
strength. M o r e for his lack o f understanding than f o r his w i s d o m . M o r e
for his love for Jesus rhan for his u n d e m a n d i n g o f w h a r sorr o f k i n g d o m
Christ intends H i s crearures t o b u i l d . Perhaps the A l m i g h t y has had
enough o f all the c o r r u p t i o n , i n other w o r d s . Enough of rhis generation.
Perhaps we're all destined t o be replaced by a new generation. A n o t h e r
race of Carholics. A better, truer, cleaner race. Ir's jusr possible rhat the
Slavic Pope is in t r u t h the last Pope of these C a t h o l i c times. A n d it's just
possible t h a t he k n o w s i t . T h a t he has k n o w n i t a l l a l o n g . "
 448 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

In a few seconds, Slartery had oursrripped all the Theories a b o u t the

Slavic Pope; had w r a p p e d rhem all inro a possibiliry so rerrible that i t was
almost impossible f o r the m i n d t o encompass. A l m o s t impossible t o ac-
cept. Suddenly a stranger in rhese most f a m i l i a r surroundings, Chris was
searching for s o l i d strurs to h o l d on t o .
"Suppose w h a t y o u say is true, D a m i e n . " S l o w l y , Gladstone began to
grope his w a y o n t o new t e r r a i n . " W o u l d t h a t give H i s Holiness the right
t o let so many g o o d men like yourself go d o w n t o ruin? Does he see that as
Christ's w i l l ? O r is he just t a k i n g a big gamble w i t h other people's lives?"
Questions like that w e r e n ' t new to Slattery; f o r h i m , rhe answers were
as o l d as C h r i s t i a n i t y . " I expect he t h i n k s w h a t I t h i n k a b o u t Christ's w i l l .
If g o o d men are g o i n g d o w n , G o d must be a l l o w i n g that to happen. W i l l -
ing i t to happen, i n fact, just as He w i l l e d the C r u c i f i x i o n . A n d f o r the
same reason. There's always a serious discrepancy between God's p r i o r i -
ties a n d the priorities o f the w o r l d . It's o u t o f just such suffering that H e
brings greater benefit than y o u o r 1 or rhe Pope or anyone else can begin t o
imagine.
" 1 suppose y o u c o u l d say that the Pope is t a k i n g a big gamble. A n d it's
always hard to make choices in a w o r l d so full o f t h u n d e r and l i g h t n i n g
and the sound o f man's groanings and babies' cries. H u m a n reality is all
untidy."
"So that's i t ? " C h r i s t i a n wasn't ready ro cave i n . " T h e Pope's choice is
ro w a i r on a gamble, w h i l e the w o r l d gers roo u n t i d y to manage?"
" N o , C h r i s . T h a t ' s n o t i t . I d o not k n o w the sum t o t a l o f this Pope's
policy. H e is reaching our in a new w a y ro all and every k i n d o f h u m a n
being. Thar's part o f w h a t he means w h e n he talks a b o u t 'the N e w Jerusa-
l e m . ' I f that policy o f his is p a i n f u l t o us as i n d i v i d u a l s , i f we d o n o t fit i n t o
the Conciliar Church this Pope is fashioning, if we find ourselves
marginalized by his c r e a t i o n , we do w h a t y o u r ancesrors d i d . We d o w h a r
R o m a n Carholics have always done. We go o n . We d o n ' r have all the
answers. As far as I k n o w , the o n l y avenue o f access t o the answers o n this
earth is the H o l y Father. So we stay always w i t h that basic d a t u m o f o u r
f a i t h : The Pope is Peter. For as long as he's alive, the Slavic Pope is
Christ's Vicar. T h a t ' s his j o b . Christ w i l l take care o f us a n d o f h i m .
" A n d for as l o n g as we're alive, y o u and I are priests. That's our job. We
can w a l k a few sreps b e h i n d rhe H o l y Spirit, always confident in the faith
revealed to us t h r o u g h the Apostles and manifested by the teaching o f the
C h u r c h t h r o u g h the ages. Even in the hardest circumstances, we can bend
o u r backs t o accomplish o u r p u n y part in the w o r k C h r i s t always entrusts,
k n o w i n g l y and l o v i n g l y , t o u n w o r t h y h a n d s . "
" I n other w o r d s " — t h e h i n t o f a w r y smile played at the corners o f
Christian's m o u t h at l a s t — " y o u ' r e telling me to get back t o w o r k . "
" I n other w o r d s " — S l a t t e r y rossed rhe Carechism back to G l a d s t o n e —
" E m telling y o u t o stop t r y i n g to be Pope. Let's b o t h pray that His H o l i -
U N T H I N K A B L E R E A L I T I E S 449

ness comes t h r o u g h surgery. A n d let's give the m a n the gift o f a job w e l l

done."

W h i l e they w a i t e d f o r news f r o m Gemelli Polyclinic, therefore—and w h i l e

C h r i s , still unconvinced by Damien's stout defense o f the Slavic Pope,
c o n t i n u e d t o grapple w i t h his suspicions—the t w o priests pored over rhe
m o u n d s o f dara each had assembled.
Day by day, rhey h u d d l e d in the l i b r a r y , r e v i e w i n g rheir records of
names and dares and places, analyzing documenred acriviries each had
collected and verified independently o f the other. A n d day by day, D a m i e n
became m o r e and m o r e convinced t h a t he was right. It w a s n ' t just that the
material showed t h a t homosexual activity a n d r i t u a l Satanism had both
teached an o r g a n i z a t i o n a l level a m o n g U.S. clergy. I t was that the same
names and the same places cropped up in b o t h sets o f data.
C h r i s , f o r example, had catalogued hundreds o f cases o f pedophiliac
priesrs whose bishops moved rhem f r o m parish ro parish. Slattery's
records showed rhar a few o f rhose same bishops were rheinselves involved
in esrablished covens. Some, in fact, even t u r n e d up in rhe mysrerious
records o f Saranisr activity Bishop Russeton had kept d u r i n g his days as
head o f rhe M o r h e r C h a p e l . True ro his w o r d , Sylvesrer Wodgila had
q u i c k l y f o u n d the help he needed t o decipher rhe names and locarions o f
affiliated chapels a r o u n d rhe c o u n t r y ; so rhere ir w a s , all ser our as clear as
y o u please.
So c o m p e l l i n g was the p a r t e m that emerged, in fact, t h a t Chris f o u n d he
could literally m a p the coincidence between clerical pedophiliac activity
and k n o w n Satanist covens. He was able to m a r k the location o f all the
dioceses—too m a n y dioceses in t o o many parts o f the c o u n t r y — w h e r e rhe
names of k n o w n pedophiliac priesrs were identical w i t h the names o f
priests D a m i e n had l i n k e d t o Satanist covens.
" T h a t ' s quite a picture, w o u l d n ' t y o u say?" Slattery studied Christian's
m a p w i t h sickening disgust.
" I t ' s the picture o f a cover-up. But 1 can't figure h o w such a t h i n g is
possible. G i v e n the t o t a l number o f bishops and priesrs in rhe c o u n t r y ,
we're dealing w i r h a relative h a n d f u l . But we d o have a big d i r t y bubble in
rhe center o f rhe C h u r c h over here. A n d yet n o o f f i c i a l is screaming. Are all
the baddies i n charge? A n d are all the g o o d ones blind? O r are rhey all
lirrle tintypes o f C a r d i n a l O'Cleary? Are they frightened rhat if they bursr
rhe bubble, rhe sludge rhar comes our w i l l cover rheir o w n faces w i r h filth?
" O u t w i t h i t , D a m i e n ! " Chrisrian was getting t o o good at reading Slat-
tery's eyes.
W h a t D a m i e n came o u t w i t h w a s n ' t the answer to Gladstone's ques-
tions, b u t a series o f questions o f his o w n . " D o e s n ' t i t all seem to tie u p ,
Chris? If y o u p u t i t a l l together, I mean. There's C a r d i n a l O'Cleary's
decision t o o r d a i n three priests w h o ' d been s h o w n to be homosexually
active. There's rhe matter o f all rhose pedophiliac priesrs w h o are moved
 450 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

a b o u t by their bishops, and a consistent refusal to laicize k n o w n o f f e n d -

ers. There's rhe special f u n d rhe bishops have had ro ser up ro pay h u n -
dreds o f m i l l i o n s o f dollars in o u t - o f - c o u r t settlemenrs. There's that evi-
dence W o d g i l a f o u n d l i n k i n g Centuryciry ro Bishop Russeron, and l i n k i n g
Russeron's M o r h e r Chapel to other dioceses all over rhe landscape. A n d
n o w rhis m a p poinrs ro a de facto connection berween pedophiliac h o m o -
sexualiry a n d ritualistic Satanism a m o n g the clergy.
" I t ' s bad enough that the f a i t h f u l are p a y i n g for rhe mainrenance of
such a w f u l games, and rhar rhe bishops are pirring rhe C h u r c h againsr
Carholic families in lawsuits. But i f we keep at i t , we may find that there's
something more rhan a cover-up here. A t this p o i n r , m i n d y o u , ir's only a
privare n o t i o n of m y o w n . I have n o p r o o f . Bur I t h i n k the question to ask
f r o m here on o u t is whether rhere's an efforr ro t r a n s f o r m rhe C h u r c h inro
a safe sanctuary f o r k n o w n pedophiles. A n d , in rhe process, ro creare a
perfect field of harvest for Saranisr cults.
" I f we ever come up w i r h evidence ro answer rhar question, we may find
that w h a t we're witnessing is an e f f o r t t o b a n k r u p r rhe C h u r c h , b o t h
m o r a l l y and m o n e t a r i l y . A deliberare, expertly orchesrrnted arrempr ro
demolish rhe C h u r c h f r o m w i r h i n . "
To the deprhs of his soul, Chrisrian was sorry he had asked for Slartery's
reading. He rried ro argue rhar Damien was seeing everyrhing Through rhe
eyes o f an exorcisr. T h a t he was seeing Satan in every d a r k corner. T h a r
his " p r i v a r e n o t i o n " was roo gruesome TO be Tenable. Yer h a d n ' t Father
O ' R e i l l y come up w i r h somerhing like rhe same conclusion? N o r rhat he
had seen the D e v i l behind the deeds, except i n the most general sense. Bur
he was convinced that they were dealing w i r h a n e t w o r k of prorecrion
reaching all rhe w a y To Rome.
In rhe end, Gladsrone had ro ask rhe questions rhar m i g h r make his o w n
siruation untenable. I f such an e f f o r t was under w a y against the C h u r c h ,
h o w far d i d Slarrery r h i n k ir reached i n r o rhe hierarchy? " D o e s ir reach as
high as M a e s t r o i a n n i and the other Cardinals I've been w o r k i n g with? D o
y o u suppose i t reaches i n t o that level?"
Again Slattery fell silent. A n d again C h r i s t i a n p r o b e d . H e ' d come this
far. Best t o hear i t a l l .
As dispassionately as possible w h e n t a l k i n g a b o u t such things, Damien
recapped G i u s t i n o Lucadamo's suspicions stemming f r o m a meeting that
had taken place some time back at Strasbourg. Suspicions that encom-
passed M a e s t r o i a n n i and A u r e a t i n i and Palombo and Pensabene in a
scheme t o devise a series of votes by the various Regional and N a t i o n a l
Conferences o f Bishops a r o u n d the w o r l d . A c c o r d i n g ro L u c a d a m o , rhar
scheme was ro be rhe Trigger for some mechanism ro secure the resignation
o f the Slavic Pope.
Gladstone w i n c e d . " I f L u c a d a m o suspects that w h o l e c r o w d , rhen he
musr suspecr me, t o o ! "
Slartery's response was silence. Eloquenr silence.
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 451
Chris buried his head in his hands. He d i d n ' t k n o w whether to laugh or
c r y . T h e w o r l d had gone berserk. H e suspected the Pope. Lucadamo sus-
pected h i m . Slarrery suspecred the w h o l e hierarchy. M a y b e they all be-
longed in an a s y l u m , himself i n c l u d e d . Otherwise . . . O t h e r w i s e , what?
H e c o u l d n ' t force his m i n d rhar far. N o t yet.
Fresh f r o m his o w n severe misery, Damien tried to c o m f o r t his friend by
b a c k t r a c k i n g as m u c h as he c o u l d . " D o n ' t bother about L u c a d a m o , Chris.
He's p a i d to be suspicious. But he's a fair m a n ; and he's devoted t o the
H o l y See. H e ' l l come to the t r u t h about y o u . In fact, I t h i n k w e ' d do best
to f o l l o w Lucadamo's example. Let's continue the w o r k we've come here
to d o . Let's ask all the questions that have to be asked. But let's be fair;
a n d let's keep an open m i n d .
" A s t o M a e s t r o i a n n i , he m a y be no friend of this Pope. A n d he's no
friend of m i n e , that's for certain. He's part of the w o r l d l y c r o w d w h o
t h i n k that w i s d o m resides entirely in history. But i t w o u l d be a big leap to
say t h a t puts M a e s t r o i a n n i in the same league as a Bishop Russeton. There
is arguably a break-off p o i n t between w h a t M a e s t r o i a n n i w o u l d p r o b a b l y
call a w o r l d l y - w i s e , commonsensical attitude t o w a r d rhe concrere c o n d i -
tions of rhe C h u r c h — t o w a r d rhe hard realities o f finance and politics, for
e x a m p l e — a n d rhe idea o f a k i n g d o m devored explicitly to Luciferian p r i n -
ciples.
" T h e professional Luciferian acts as i f there is a w i s d o m behind rhe
changing decor o f m a n k i n d ' s everyday life. These days, a l o t o f people see
t h a t sorr o f w i s d o m — L u c i f e r i a n w i s d o m , i f y o u w i l l — m o v i n g hisrory
along by the apparent accidents of h u m a n affairs. Nevertheless, jusr be-
cause a cleric identifies his professional ideas and a m b i t i o n s for himself
a n d his C h u r c h w i t h those that fir rhe Luciferian m o l d , does rhar make
h i m a Luciferian? O r , ro come d o w n to cases, just because M a e s t r o i a n n i
h o b n o b b e d in Strasbourg w i r h a motley c r o w d of w o r l d l y globalisrs, Pm
nor prepared ro argue rhar he falls o n his knees at the t h o u g h t of the Fallen
Angel."
Gladstone stared wide-eyed at Slartery. A t some other t i m e , it m i g h t
have even been interesting to debate such theological reasonings w i t h his
f r i e n d . A t just this m o m e n t , however, his w o r r y was strictly practical.
Chris had always k n o w n that in Rome he d i d n ' t a m o u n t t o m u c h . The
Gladstone name was something else again; and that was reason enough
f o r a man like M a e s t r o i a n n i t o g r o o m h i m for some future role. U n t i l
t o d a y , he h a d n ' t been able t o t h i n k of any other reason w h y the little
C a r d i n a l should have plucked h i m our of nowhere for an assignment that
boosted his standing a m o n g bishops on t w o continents.
N o w , t h o u g h , Slattery had given h i m another reason. If Lucadamo was
r i g h t a b o u t the nature of the Strasbourg meeting, then Gladstone wasn't
being g r o o m e d for a n y t h i n g . H e was being used right n o w . As a stupid
p a w n . As an u n w i t t i n g gull in a filthy game of antipapal politics. The
w o r k he had been d o i n g for Maestroianni—rhose rouchy-feely questions
 452 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

he had been asking rhe bishops concerning their perceptions o f the Pope;
all o f those exhaustive debriefings i n M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s office; all the favors
he'd been d o i n g f o r bishops at M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s requesr—all o f it was being
used to furrher a p l o t against the Pope!
" Y o u ' v e no idea w h a t ' s been g o i n g o n ! " C h r i s t i a n t o o k his fury our o n
himself and o n M a e s r r o i a n n i . " Y o u d o n ' t k n o w the extent o f my career as
a warer carrier for those bastards! Ir's all supposed t o be super-confiden-
t i a l , and n o w I can see w h y !
Slattery was at a loss to f o l l o w Gladstone.
" L e t me tell y o u , D a m i e n ! " Unable to contain himself, o r even t o sit
s t i l l , Chris began pacing rhe f l o o r . " I ' v e been o b t a i n i n g favors and facili-
ties f o r some t h i r t y or f o r t y bishops i n Europe. T h i n g s like rhe relaxation
o f z o n i n g laws in A n t w e r p so rhe bishop, o r some friend o f his, can b u i l d a
villa i n a certain place. Things like rhe filing away o f a report o n some
priest's indiscretion w i t h a w o m a n . Things like the preferential treatment
of some archbishop's nephew or sisrer in view o f a government sinecure."
" B u t h o w , C h r i s ? " Slattery was confused. " H o w were you able t o ma-
neuver such t h i n g s ? "
" M y b r o t h e r ! " Gladstone glared d o w n at his f r i e n d . " M y brother, Paul.
He's Secretary-General to the EC's C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s . Thanks ro me,
we've b o t h been shat u p o n . M e , because Eve been at Maestroianni's beck
and call i n Rome. A n d m y b r o t h e r , because he's i n a p o s i t i o n where he
really can p u l l strings. A n d the w o r s t o f it is t h a t Lucadamo is right about
me! I was the one w h o made i t all possible! I shrugged o f f all my doubts. I
b o u g h t i n t o the line t h a t m y major assignment was ro help Maesrroianni
i m p r o v e the u n i t y and s o l i d i t y o f the C h u r c h . I r o l d myself I was d o i n g i t
all f o r 'the e x a l t a t i o n o f H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h and rhe welfare of the H o l y
See,' as the o l d prayer says. A l l the canvassing o f bishops. A l l the statisti-
cal rallies. A n d , yes, the favors, t o o .
" B u t all a l o n g , I've been giving M a e s t r o i a n n i and the others a w o r k i n g
model o f rhe w h o l e episcopal mess. I can rell y o u — a n d I have r o l d
M a e s r r o i a n n i — h o w rhe bishops stand o n every m a j o r issue and w h a r their
local problems are. A n d as if rhat w e r e n ' t e n o u g h , the favors Eve been
d o i n g have p u t a l o t o f bishops on Maestroianni's side."
Gladsrone shook his head and sank i n r o his chair. H e c o u l d n ' r believe
his o w n s r u b b o r n s t u p i d i t y . " Y o u tried to w a r n me, D a m i e n . Remember
rhar lunch we had ar Springy's? You r o l d me M a e s t r o i a n n i and Palombo
and the others c o u l d have done a l o t to set things right i n the C h u r c h
already, i f rhar's w h a t they were a f r e r . " In his rage ar himself, Chris a l -
most envied Slattery. " A t least your enemies f o u n d you so indigestible that
they've had to v o m i t y o u o u t of their mourhs. But me? E m the perfect fall
guy. But n o t a n y m o r e ! M a e s t r o i a n n i has seen the last o f this stooge!"
"So that's i t . . . . " Slattery's face hardened as he t o o k in the f u l l scope
o f Gladstone's s i t u a t i o n . But he brightened almost as q u i c k l y . M a y b e , he
suggested, they c o u l d t u r n Maestroianni's game against h i m . " W h a t w i r h
UNTHINKABl F REALITIES 453

y o u as errand boy f o r the C a r d i n a l and his cronies, maybe we can play this
t h i n g f o r a l l it's w o r t h . "
" H o l d o n , S l a t t e r y ! " Gladstone sprang our o f his chair again. " Y o u ' r e
n o t suggesting . . . I mean, you can't be serious . . . "
" N o , n o ! Y o u h o l d o n . U n t i l a minure ago, y o u had no idea whar was
g o i n g o n . Bur n o w rhat y o u d o , you're in a berrer posirion than Lucadamo
or anyone else 1 k n o w ro get a handle o n the w h o l e Strasbourg setup."
Chris had barely begun a string o f objections to Slattery's b r a i n s t o r m —
had barely asked, " W h a r i f Lucadamo w o n ' t go a l o n g ? " and " W h a r do I
do w h e n I ger back t o Rome and have t o face M a e s t r o i a n n i a g a i n ? " —
w h e n Beulah T h o m p s o n knocked on the l i b r a r y d o o r .
Berween D a m i e n and Beulah, ir had been love ar firsr sight. As far as
Beulah was concerned, Farher D a m i e n D u n c a n Slattery jusr narurally be-
longed i n such a g r a n d , big mansion as W i n d s w e p r House. A n d as far as
Damien was concerned, the N e w W o r l d had never seen a grander c o o k ,
nor ever w o u l d , than Beulah T h o m p s o n ,
" Y o u t w o been holed up f o r so l o n g , a b o d y ' d t h i n k you was fixin' ro
r o b Forr K n o x ! " Beulah p u t o n her fiercesr s c o w l . "Firsr r h i n g I k n o w ,
y o u ' l l be w a s t i n ' away ro skin a n ' bones. W h y , Miss Cessi'll have my hide,
a n ' Miss T r i c i a , r o o , i f rhey comes home f r o m Ireland to find a couple o'
pale o l ' scarecrows h e r e ! "
" N o r m u c h chance o f rhat, B e u l a h ! " C o n v i n c e d that a break i n rhe
inrensiry o f things w o u l d be all to rhe g o o d , Slattery parted his frontage
w i t h b o t h enormous hands. " B u r if dinner's ready, I ' m y o u r m a n ! "
" Y o u , r o o , Misrer C h r i s ! " A victorious Beulah trailed rhe w o r d s behind
her as she headed o f f ro dish up a proper feast.
D a m i e n was already on his feet, but Chris still w a n t e d some answer t o
his p r o b l e m o f h o w t o handle M a e s t r o i a n n i and rhe others w h o had used
h i m the w a y a p i m p uses a w h o r e .
" W e l l , I ' l l rell yeh, me d a r l i n l a d . " D a m i e n unleashed his broadesr
1

brogue, and a g r i n to m a t c h ; but his advice c o u l d n ' t have been more

serious. " I t ' s the oldest f o r m u l a in the b o o k fer men w h o ' r e senr like sheep
a m o n g wolves. W h e n w e ger back t o R o m e , y e h ' l l be as wise as a serpenr.
Yeh'll be as simple as a dove. I n shorr, y e h ' l l be a p r i e s t . "

Early o n the m o r n i n g o f June 30, the Slavic Pope was anointed w i t h the
H o l y O i l s o f Extreme U n c t i o n by M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l . T h e n he was
wheeled t h r o u g h guarded c o r r i d o r s i n t o the o p e r a t i n g r o o m , where, under
rhe w a t c h f u l eyes o f G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o , the anesthetic was administered.
H a z i l y , his rhoughts coursed back ro an earlier day in rhis same hospi-
ral. To an Augusr day in 1981 w h e n A l i Agca shot h i m in St. Peter's
Square. The Blessed V i r g i n had appeared to h i m that day; had w a r n e d h i m
a b o u t the errors o f Russia; had s h o w n h i m the M i r a c l e o f the Sun as Lucia
and Jacinta a n d Francisco had seen i t o n O c t o b e r 13, 1917. But today was
not a day o f miracles. Today there was silence. Darkness.
 454 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

But w a i t - . . W h a t was that sound? W h a t was he d o i n g here, on the

sheeresr edge o f a cliff? He c o u l d feel the presence o f a vast c r o w d pressing
behind h i m . He rried t o t u r n . . . s o m e t h i n g held h i m . . . yet he could
hear rhe m u r m u r i n g s . M e n . W o m e n . C h i l d r e n . M u r m u r s o f proresr. Quer-
ulous m u r m u r s . A babel o f languages. G a r b l e d questions. W h y c o u l d n ' t he
undersrand? H e had spoken so many languages to so many people in so
many lands. W h y c o u l d n ' t he understand?
Suddenly, someone f l u n g h i m f r o m the c l i f f and i n t o St. Peter's Basilica.
It was the Feast o f the A s s u m p t i o n . December X, 1965. The end of the
Second Vatican C o u n c i l . The o l d Pope was at the H i g h A l t a r . . . speak-
ing . . . staring at the thousands o f bishops seated in serried ranks i n the
nave. But w h y d i d n o b o d y seem to be listening? W h y was Sisrer Lucia
r u n n i n g to and fro? W h y c o u l d n ' t he hear anything? W h y were the bish-
ops n o t listening? Where had rhey got those little w h i t e skullcaps they
were w e a r i n g like so m a n y Popes? W h a r had they done w i t h their mirers?
A n d w h o were those bald men? Those scores o f t a l l , black-robed men
w i r h eyeless sockets m o v i n g a b o u t a m o n g the bishops? W h y were they
screaming at the bishops like that? L i k e a c l o c k w o r k chorus? " M a n ! M a n !
M a n ! " Filled w i r h disrress, rhe Slavic Pope covered his ears. Ran to the
High Altar. Maybe he c o u l d remove rhar srrange dark c l o t h draped
a r o u n d the bronze serpentine pillars under rhe baldachin. If he could tear
rhose drapes a w a y , rhe bishops w o u l d be able ro hear rhe o l d Pope.
H e ripped ar the darksome veil a n d , t o his h o r r o r , saw rhat all four
pillars had been smashed ar the base. The bones and dust o f 3 0 , 0 0 0 an-
cient R o m a n m a r t y r s cascaded o u t f r o m t h e m like a tide g o r g i n g f r o m
ugly m o u t h s , engulfing everyone in the Basilica. Someone began clacking
those bones together. l i e t u r n e d . W h o was clacking the bones? But all he
c o u l d see was that d a r k veil enclosing itself a r o u n d the o l d Pope, h i d i n g
his face. A l l he c o u l d see were clouds o f balloons floating u p w a r d to the
lofty d o m e o f the Basilica.
H e w a n t e d t o see the face o f the o l d Pope. H e fought againsr rhe ride o f
bones. A g a i n he rore ar the veil. But srill he c o u l d nor see rhat face clearly.
W h y nor! T h e w h o l e Basilica was lir. Bur n o t w i t h lamps. There were no
lamps. Ir was a garish, fearsome lighr. A c o n f l a g r a t i o n . Yes! T h a r was i t ! A
c o n f l a g r a t i o n ourside rhe Basilica, enveloping its venerable w a l l s , l i c k i n g
ar irs high d o m e . . .
W h y c o u l d no one hear his warning? H e c o u l d hear his w o r d s inside his
skull casing. But w h y c o u l d he n o t be heard? W h y c o u l d n ' t he make
Slattery and Gladstone hear him? Why couJdn'r he make Angelo
G u t m a c h e r hear him? W h y c o u l d n ' t he make M a e s t r o i a n n i hear rhe w o r d s
o f the exorcist's blessing? W h y c o u l d n ' t he make C h r i s t hear h o w much he
loved H i m ? T h e w o r d s p o u r e d o u t o f his m o u t h i n a babble o f L a r i n and
Italian a n d Polish. "Credo in unum Deum . . . Maryjo, Krolowo Polski
. . . Introibo ad altare Dei . . . Prosze Ci$ . . . / o . figlio delPumanita e
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 455

Vescovo di Roma . . . Biogoslaw dzieci Twe . . . Ubi I'etrus, ibi Eccle-

sia . . . lo, figlio deWumanita . . . "
Faces pressed in o n h i m . W h y c o u l d they n o t hear? W h y c o u l d no one,
a n y w h e r e , hear rhose words? W h i r e and black faces. Y e l l o w and red and
b r o w n faces. Bloodstained faces. Srarving faces. S m i l i n g faces. A n g r y ,
s c o w l i n g faces. Faces he recognized and faces he c o u l d give no name ro.
Faces that stifled his every efforr.
These a r m o r e d divisions s u r r o u n d i n g h i m at the Shrine o f Czestochowa
in his beloved Poland . . . w h y c o u l d rhey n o t hear? These jeering
c r o w d s i n A m s t e r d a m , flinging excrement at his Pope-mobile and b u r n i n g
h i m in effigy . . . w h y c o u l d rhey nor hear? These c r o w d s threatening to
p o u r gallons o f A I D S - c o n t a m i n a t e d b l o o d o n the streers of Denver . . .
w h y c o u l d rhey not hear? W h y c o u l d A l i Agca s i t t i n g beside h i m in his jail
cell n o t hear? " M i c h a e l ! " Surely, rhe grear Archangel w o u l d hear h i m .
T i m e and again he called o u t f o r help. Called o u t in prayer. " M i c h a e l
. . . Michael . . . Michael . . ."

"Prayers are answered, Father D a m i e n ! " The news f r o m D r . Fanarote was

precise; and if i t d i d n ' t solve all o f Christian's problems, i t d i d l i f t h i m
f r o m rhe r o r p o r o f one m a j o r w o r r y . T h e tissue removed by the surgeon
had been dangerously close t o cancerous, and there was some concern rhar
rhe Ponriff srill carried rhat s t u b b o r n and mysterious megalovirus. Bur rhe
prognosis was g o o d . H i s Holiness was out o f danger and resting.
" T h e H o l y Father has come t h r o u g h w i t h f l y i n g c o l o r s ! " Chris was so
elated, he nearly f o r g o t to hang u p the phone.
"Prayers are a n s w e r e d ! " Slattery repeated Gladstone's w o r d s w i r h a
grear sigh o f relief. Fanarore's r e p o r t t o l d h i m a l l he needed t o k n o w for
n o w a b o u t his Pope. A n d the e m o t i o n that suffused Christian's face t o l d
h i m all he c o u l d hope t o k n o w f o r n o w a b o u t the w i l l o f this good but
t r o u b l e d priest t o stay the course.
It was t i m e to get back t o w o r k .

IT WAS N E A R L Y T E N i n the evening before Father A l d o Carnesecca

made his w a y back to the M o n a s t e r y o f St. J o h n o f the Cross o n the
o u t s k i r t s o f Barcelona. Late enough so t h a t he had to r i n g the bell f o r the
caretaker, Jorge C o r r a n o , to open the double-locked outer d o o r for h i m .
A t the sound o f Carnesecca and her husband c h a t t i n g , M a r i a C o r r a n o
popped her head o u t o f the g r o u n d - f l o o r aparrment to say hello. There
were comments all a r o u n d a b o u t h o w short the summer had seemed. N o w
 456 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

t h a t September was here and rhe p i l g r i m visitors had gone, the Monastery
w o u l d be very quiet. " T o o q u i e t , " Jorge lamented. " N o t like the o l d
days."
A f t e r their good-nights had been said, Carnesecca decided to spend
some time i n the Chapel before heading up to bed. He was more than
usually t i r e d , but he wanted t o give thanks at the A l t a r for the labors of
the day. As he c l i m b e d the marble stairs to his r o o m at last, he made a
mental nore to rell Gladsrone about Jorge and M a r i a a n d rheir kindness.
By rhe rime he had prepared for bed, he was so rired he almost forgor ro
trear his eyes w i t h the Isopto Carpine drops D r . Palacio y Vaca had pre-
scribed for h i m . W e a r i l y , he reached for the v i a l , tilted his head back and
w i t h a q u i c k movement—he was an expert at this by n o w — p i n c h e d a
d r o p of the s o l u t i o n i n t o each eye.
N o sooner had the l i q u i d flooded i n than p a i n — v i c i o u s needles of scar-
ing pain—stabbed t h r o u g h his eyes and deep inro his b r a i n . Pain so a w f u l
rhar he shrieked i n agony, lurched to his feet, still shrieking, his hands
clutched to his face. " C o r r a n o ! C o r r a n o ! " He staggered ro rhe door. H a d
ro get it o p e n . H a d t o get d o w n the stairs. H a d to get help. " C o r r a n o ! "
A g a i n and again he screamed rhe careraker's name. The needles of agony
were paralyzing h i m , s h u t t i n g his b r a i n d o w n , n u m b i n g his muscles, mak-
i n g i t impossible to move. " C o r r a n o ! " H e stumbled across the landing
t o w a r d the t o p o f the marble stairs, but the p a i n was t o o m u c h . It was
o v e r p o w e r i n g h i m . H e was losing consciousness, losing all c o n t r o l . There
was no w a y he c o u l d go any farther on his o w n . " C o r r a n o ! "
T h e caretaker tore f u l l t i l t o u t o f his rooms just in time t o see the worst.
T h e m o m e n t u m o f Carnesecca's rush propelled his body d o w n the dozen
marble steps in a t e r r i f y i n g , u n g a i n l y , higgledy-piggledy mass of legs and
arms, his head banging loosely on the sharp surfaces as he t u m b l e d f r o m
step to step. "jAaaeey!" C o r r a n o streaked f o r w a r d , arms outstretched, his
o w n screams filling the e m p t y house n o w and echoing f r o m the marble
walls. "jAaaeey! ;Que calamidad! ;Padre!;Padre!" Bur there was no an-
swer f r o m the m o u t h that gaped open. N o pulse in the madly twisted
neck. N o sign of life.
A n d then he saw t h e m . T h e eyes! / A y , Dios mio! T h e eyes! W h a t had
happened t o this holy priest! W h a t had happened t o his eyes!

As summer d r e w to a close, and vacationers said farewell ro rhe beaches

a n d oleanders o f Galvesron Island, W i n d s w e p r House came alive w i r h
a c t i v i t y . T h e m o o d of the place, however, was n o t one o f gaiety and
celebrarion. N o r like rhe o l d days.
C h r i s r i a n w o u n d up his w o r k o n the road a n d , w i t h Father M i c h a e l
O ' R e i l l y as house guest and associate, set about w r i t i n g his final r e p o r t for
the Slavic Pope. But it was that very chore that flooded his m i n d again
w i t h a sentiment of bitterness rhat had been a stranger in his life unril this
c u r i o u s season he had spent ar home.
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 457

H e showed O ' R e i l l y the map he had prepared, and shared Damien's

idea that some u p s i d e - d o w n version o f religious sacrifice m i g h t be at the
back o f i t . M a y b e Slattery was righr, he said. M a y b e there was some
theoretical c u t o f f p o i n t between Luciferian t h i n k i n g and o u t r i g h t dedica-
tion to the Prince o f rhis w o r l d . Bur surely the u n b r o k e n u n i f o r m i t y o f
behavior a m o n g some hundreds o f i n d i v i d u a l pedophiliac clergymen,
many o f them u n k n o w n t o one another—the terrible u n i t y o f single and
separate acts o f v i o l a t i o n — s u r e l y t h a t must i m p l y obeisance o f some k i n d
to the w i l l o f one superior intelligence.
It was d u r i n g these late-summer days, t o o , t h a t , w i t h his o w n papal
report t o prepare, Father Damien finally gave up his g o o d - f a i t h effort t o
find a bishop w h o w o u l d rake h i m . " T h e C a r d i n a l o f Centuryciry controls
rhe N a t i o n a l Conference o f U.S. Bishops," Slattery g r u m b l e d to Chris o n
his r e t u r n to W i n d s w e p t . " A n d since that's the machine that regulates
each bishop, it's no surprise that I've come up e m p t y . " W e l l , not entirely
e m p t y . D a m i e n had spent some p r o d u c t i v e time w i t h Sylvester W o d g i l a .
The Inspector had tracked still more evidence for Slattery's report on cleri-
cal Satanists a n d , like a d o g w i t h a bone, he intended to stay at ir.
In the m i d s t o f all this a c t i v i t y , Cessi and Tricia came home f r o m Ireland
to take charge of W i n d s w e p t House again. T h o u g h she was b r i m m i n g
w i t h stories t o t e l l , Cessi's first concern was to resrore order ro the house-
h o l d schedule. W o r k was all very well and g o o d , she said, but there w o u l d
be no more haphazard s k i p p i n g of meals. A n d at eveningtime they w o u l d
all sit d o w n together like a proper f a m i l y . " T h a t includes y o u . Father
D a m i e n ! A n d y o u , roo, Father M i c h a e l ! "
H e r second urgent concern was t o attend to the welcome news con-
tained in a letter f r o m C a r d i n a l Sansrefano. The H o l y Farher had not only
given full a p p r o v a l to her plan ro f o r m an u n d e r g r o u n d n e r w o r k o f priesrs,
Flis Imminence w r o r e , b u t intended to have i t operational as q u i c k l y as
possible. As C a r d i n a l Protector o f the project, Sanstefano w o u l d be
pleased if Signora Cessi w o u l d arrange the necessary independenr financ-
ing for rhe O r d e r , begin t o address rhe p r o b l e m o f suitable housing f o r irs
members and continue ro suggest a d d i t i o n a l candidates.
T h a t news was almost enough t o leaven Cessi's d i s a p p o i n t m e n t at the
results of her a n d Tricia's summer in I r e l a n d . She had had such high hopes
rhat rhe specialise she had been referred ro in D u b l i n w o u l d come up w i r h
rhe answer ro her daughter's worsening eye ailment. " I t all looked so
p r o m i s i n g at first," she t o l d Chris and the others over one o f their first
dinners together at W i n d s w e p t . " T h e relief Tricia experienced seemed like
a miracle. She slept so w e l l . She was able to sketch and paint again. O h ,
C h r i s ! I w i s h you c o u l d have seen h e r ! " Cessi reached for her son's c o m -
f o r t i n g hand as she had in years past. " I suppose i t was o n l y the Kerry a i r ,
t h o u g h . A n y w a y — a s you can see by her absence f r o m the table t o n i g h t —
it was a passing t h i n g . . . "
" D o n ' t you w o r r y , Miss Cessi." Fler ear cocked as always for talk of the
 458 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

f a m i l y , Beulah weighed i n o n the side o f hope. " I just been up to her r o o m ,

an she's in g o o d spirits. M i s s Tricia's a special lady, so d o n ' y o u get d o w n
1

on t h i n g s . "
As usual, everybody t o o k Beulah's advice to hearr. W h i l e Chris and
D a m i e n and Farher M i c h a e l spent their days w o r k i n g o n rheir mysterious
projects, Cessi spent hours m a k i n g plans a n d phone calls. She rracked
C a r d i n a l Sansrefano d o w n ar his summer rerrear t o w o r k our derails w i t h
h i m . She was i n contact w i r h Glenn Roche i n N e w Y o r k . As her chief
financial advisor, she w o u l d rely on h i m ro ser up a self-perpetuating,
independent f u n d t o finance her n e t w o r k of priests.
Still, Cessi had never been one for solo occupations. Busy t h o u g h they
were, she enticed all three men i n t o her confidence. I t was the best w a y she
k n e w to w i d e n the roster o f candidates as rapidly as Sanstefano had asked;
and it had its special rewards.
Once Cessi learned the history o f M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y at the hands of Jay
Jay O ' C l e a r y , she was m o r e t h a n outraged. She was determined that
O ' R e i l l y himself should be at the t o p o f her list of candidates. "Nonsense,
Father M i c h a e l ! " Cessi demolished his objections. " H o w dare y o u de-
m a n d that the Pope set everyrhing else righr before you ler h i m pur y o u r
situation in order! In case you d i d n ' t k n o w i t , this just happens to be the
m o s t t r o u b l e d rime f o r rhe C h u r c h , and rhe most disharmonious p o n t i f i -
cate, since the sixteenth century! A n d y o u ' r e being given the chance t o be
the priest you were meant t o be. To he the k i n d o f priest all of us need. A l l
o f us, i n c l u d i n g the H o l y Father. So sray angry if you w a n r t o . But be
smart a b o u t i t ! Be intelligently a n g r y ! "
M i c h a e l was sufficiently chastened t o agree to Cessi's proposal. A n d
C h r i s t o o k Cessi's battle cry t o hearr for himself as w e l l . H i s o w n anger
and resenrmenr at the cynical way he had been used were every bit as
justified as O ' R e i l l y ' s . Bur Slarrery had been righr. Provided Lucadamo
w o u l d agree, rhe best t h i n g Chrisrian c o u l d do to help the Pope w o u l d be
t o double a r o u n d M a e s r r o i a n n i and find our all he c o u l d about Stras-
b o u r g . As m u c h as ir wenr against the g r a i n , the best t h i n g he c o u l d do
w o u l d be t o deceive w h i l e pretending t o be deceived.
A l l in a l l , t h e n , there was a better balance ro things n o w . W i r h Tricia
p i t c h i n g i n as m u c h as she was able, C h r i s , D a m i e n and M i c h a e l were as
deeply i n v o l v e d in Cessi's projecr as in rheir o w n w o r k d u r i n g rheir re-
m a i n i n g days at W i n d s w e p t . A n d night after n i g h t , gathered in Cessi's
sitting r o o m afrer rheir f a m i l y meal, rhey lisrened and laughed together ar
Father Damien's srore o f tales a b o u t the Ireland he had k n o w n ; about the
L a n d o f Saints a n d Scholars rhat had n u r t u r e d h i m .
Chris laughed as heartily as all the rest. But he knew w h a t his friend
must be g o i n g t h r o u g h ; a n d , w h e n they were alone, he shared his rhoughrs
w i r h his m o t h e r . N o man o f Slarrery's age, he r o l d Cessi, and no man w i r h
his history as a member o f a religious O r d e r and an honored personage in
the clerical w a y o f life, c o u l d be t o r n f r o m all rhar as suddenly and u n -
UNTHINKABLE REALITIES 459

justly as D a m i e n h a d , w i t h o u t suffering t e r r i b l y . Such a violent upheaval

had often unhinged the m i n d , if nor rhe m o r a l i r y , o f orherwise strong
characters. Gladsrone could o n l y imagine, and was g r a t e f u l , that this time
at W i n d s w e p t was part o f Slattery's restoration. These lightsome evenings
of s t o r y t e l l i n g and memories were part of a s o r t i n g - o u t process for Slat-
tery, p a r t of his preparations t o deal w i t h the future.
O n one such evening, t h o u g h — i t was in early Seprember—rhe general
delight at Damien's tales gave w a y t o Cessi's m o r e recent memories of
Ireland. " A h , Farher D a m i e n . " T h e tears o f laughrer srill wer o n her
cheeks, Cessi cast her m i n d back over the summer just past. " I wish i t
were all still the way you remember i t . "
N o t everything in Ireland had changed, Cessi a d m i t t e d . Never before
had she f o u n d herself in a l a n d o f such undisrurbed t r a n q u i l l i t y ; such
p u r i t y o f air, such benign sunlighr; such freshness i n foliage and field.
Paul's summer home ar Liselton had o v e r w h e l m e d her w i r h its distinctive
grace. As ar W i n d s w e p t , so at Liselton she had felt that sure sense of the
s u p e r n a l — a n almost tangible surety that those Shannon waters and the
ocean beyond opened o u t to the w h o l e w i d e w o r l d of m a n , and to all
the invisible shores o f God's creation.
" T h e skies," Cessi said, "are never w i t h o u r clouds, yer never cease to
be visibly blue. T h e sun showers borne in o n sourhvvesterly w i n d s irrigare
rhe l a n d , but never leave it sodden. So the fields become almost golden
w i t h rhe ripening of whear, barley and rye. Liselron's orchards and Yusai's
kirchen garden were loaded this year w i r h apples and pears, all readying
rhemselves f o r H a n n a h D o w d ' s c o o k i n g p o r s . "
As they listened, Cessi's descriptions seemed idyllic t o Chris and
D a m i e n and Father M i c h a e l . T r i c i a , however, knew otherwise. She had
been there, t o o . She, t o o , had been captivated by Ireland's w i l d beauty and
the b r o o d i n g testimony of its r u i n e d monasteries, castles and chapels.
W i t h Yusai and little Declan as their guides and c o m p a n i o n s , the places
they had visited—each named f o r Saints she had never k n o w n e x i s t e d —
had filled her i m a g i n a t i o n . A n d yet, the sketches that filled her norebook
t o l d o f the inescapable melancholy that graced rhe Irish countryside. It
was almost t o o easy t o c o m m u n e w i t h the spirit of Ireland's famed Saints
and Scholars w h o had lived w i r h " N o Q u a r t e r " as their unspoken m o t t o ,
and w h o had died as often as n o t by the s w o r d o f foreign oppressors. Bur
ir was almosr impossible ro find any l i v i n g embodimenr o f rhe faith o f
those Irish w h o slepr benearh seas o f grass, w i r h Celtic crosses rising like
stone hands held in prayer to m a r k rheir places o f resr.
" P e r h a p s , " Cessi mused, " a l l of rhar is meanr as a divinely arranged
m e m o r i a l ro rhe g l o r y that once w a s . " T h e a b r u p t change i n Cessi's tone
shattered the m o o d she herself had w o v e n . " A n d perhaps rhe m o d e r n Irish
w i l l never eomplerely neglecr or forger or destroy ir. Bur neither do rhey
give a tinker's d a m n themselves about Heaven and Purgarory and H e l l !
Attendance at Mass is sparse, rhe churches have all been modernized be-
 460 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

y o n d r e c o g n i t i o n . I n most places, the Tabernacle is hidden o u t o f sight.

Confessionals, the C r u c i f i x , the Stations o f the Cross, the statues o f M a r y
and the Saints are rarely seen. In Killarney's magnificent cathedral, the o l d
marble A l t a r and Tabernacle have been b r o k e n i n t o sections and stuffed
a w a y in cubbyholes and corners. A l l those solid objects that b i n d us to
Revelation are being replaced by fakery. It's as if everybody expects life to
t u r n i n t o the fable o f Snow W h i t e , and the bishops are the Seven D w a r f s
w h i s t l i n g a happy tune o f independence.
" A n d as t o the c l e r g y ! " Cessi t h r e w b o t h hands i n t o the air. " I have to
tell y o u , Farher D a m i e n , rhey are eirher elderly men w h o are rired, con-
fused and t o t a l l y at a loss. O r rhey are y o u n g , theologically ignorant and
brashly modernisr in rheir ideas o f religious belief and clerical behavior.
The younger generation no longer holds any regard for the C h u r c h . They
have no understanding o f the Eucharist as Sacrifice and Sacrament; no
idea t h a t i t n o t o n l y gives grace but contains the A u t h o r of grace Himself.
They are anticlerical and a n t i p a p a l , and they dislike the Slavic Pope in
p a r t i c u l a r . They no longer even w a n r to be called R o m a n C a t h o l i c .
" T h e only faith they have is in the a l m i g h t y A m e r i c a n d o l l a r ; and in
practical terms they have become as m o r a l l y permissive as so-called Cath-
olics in this c o u n t r y . Physical c o m f o r t is w h a t they're after. C o m p r o m i s e
has led to acceptance o f f o r m e r l y unacceptable things. A n d acceptance o f
c o m p r o m i s e has replaced the universal t r u t h o f their R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m .
It's taken a l o n g t i m e , but the cruel ghost o f O l i v e r C r o m w e l l has f o u n d a
friend in the ghost o f W a l t Disney. A n d for the m o m e n t , rhey appear to be
w i n n i n g rhe battle for I r e l a n d . "
H i s coffee c o l d and forgotten o n the table beside h i m , Chris glanced at
Father D a m i e n . Everywhere, people's lives were being transformed just as
Bishop M c G r e g o r had said that day i n Hardcasrle, Kansas. I t really was
becoming a borderless w o r l d . A new h u m a n c o m m u n i t y , independent o f
n a t i o n a l borders, local cultures, local educational systems and local t r a d i -
tions. Independent o f the b l o o d ties o f the f a m i l y ; independent o f all social
b o n d i n g such as sacramental marriage implies. A c o m m u n i t y w i t h no geo-
graphical l o c a t i o n . A c o m m u n i t y w i t h o u t p r o p i n q u i r y , whose c o m m o n a l -
ity resided o n l y in their current, concrete experiences and their undis-
ciplined i n r u i t i o n s . A c o m m u n i t y isolated f r o m its o r i g i n a l sources o f
k n o w i n g , and w i t h no b a c k g r o u n d silhouettes of a grearer reality behind
the visible, the audible. A global c o m m u n i t y o f phenomenologisrs.
A l l o f rhat was bad e n o u g h . The worsr disillusionmenr for Cessi had to
d o w i t h Paul a n d his f a m i l y . Yusai, i t seemed, had been serious about
being received i n t o the C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . Bur Paul had arranged for her to
be instrucred by his friend ar Ghenr Carhedral, C a n o n Jadot, w h o had
schooled Yusai in prayers t o " M o t h e r E a r t h , " taught her all about " h o l y
m e a l s " a n d organized "ecumenical dances" w i t h groups o f Buddhisrs and
H i n d u s . " T h e w h o l e process has left her no nearer ro R o m a n Carholicism
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 461

t h a n she ever w a s , " Cessi f u m e d . " J a d o t has actually t o l d Yusai rhat being
a g o o d Confucianist is the same as being a g o o d C a t h o l i c .
" A n d as f o r little Declan, he's the v i c t i m o f gross neglect on his father's
p a r t . H e speaks English, French and Flemish as fluently as y o u please. H e
can recite a l l sorts of jingles a b o u t pet dinosaurs and baby seals—all of
w h i c h he learned in religious education classes in Belgium, by the w a y . Yet
he can't recite C a t h o l i c prayers in any language. H e has a vague idea
a b o u t Jesus as a man w h o lived a l o n g time ago, but hasn't a clue about
the Sacraments."
I n his regret for the beauty lost to Yusai's b r i l l i a n t soul and t o Declan's
y o u t h f u l being, Chris asked w h a t Paul had t o say a b o u t Declan's igno-
rance o f his f a i t h .
Was it the h i n t o f tears t h a t made Cessi's eyes glisten so behind that
little smile? N o one was sure. Paul, she said, was m o r e fired up about
some o n g o i n g crisis i n the EC than about Declan's ignorance or Yusai's
conversion.
" O h , come o n , y o u t w o ! " T h e seriousness and sadness visible i n Chris
a n d Cessi impelled Tricia to t u r n the conversation t o brighrer things. " T h e
last t i m e M o t h e r started t a l k i n g like this, we nearly set o u t on a t h i r t y - d a y
w a l k i n g pilgrimage to R o m e ! "
Cessi was as quick as everyone else t o take the cue. Such a special bond
o f sympathy had g r o w n up a m o n g them all d u r i n g these few days that
they vied w i t h one another n o w i n a c o m p e t i t i o n o f storytelling that
d r o w n e d passing time and s o r r o w f u l thoughts i n new tides o f laughter.
It was late in the evening, a n d Father D a m i e n was just c o m i n g t o the
best part of one o f his best stories, w h e n the phone jangled everyone i n t o
silence.
" H o l d y o u r t h o u g h t . . . " Chris t u r n e d t o Slattery as he covered the
step o r t w o t o Cessi's w r i t i n g table. " A t this h o u r , it's p r o b a b l y a w r o n g
number."
W i t h i n a m o m e n t , however, everyone k n e w ir w a s n ' t a w r o n g number.
Chris listened for a l o n g t i m e . W h e n he d i d speak, his voice was hoarse
a n d his w o r d s few. Yes, he said; he w o u l d tell Slattery. A n d he w o u l d
catch rhe next flight o u t . T h e r e seemed t o be some disagreement about
t h a t , but Gladstone was a d a m a n t . " 1 must c o m e , " he insisted. " P l l charter
a flight i f I have t o , G i u s t i n o , but I must come! W a i t for m e ! "
A t the m e n t i o n o f G i u s t i n o Lucadamo's name, and given the lateness of
rhe h o u r , D a m i e n k n e w the news had to be b a d . But there was no w a y to
imagine h o w bad u n t i l Chrisrian t u r n e d again, the b l o o d drained f r o m his
face, tears streaming d o w n his cheeks.
" I t ' s Father A l d o . . . "

A f t e r a few sleepless hours, Chris was up at 4 A . M . Fie offered Mass alone

in the T o w e r Chapel for the eternal soul o f A l d o Carnesecca, and then
headed t o his rooms ro t h r o w a few things i n t o an o v e r n i g h t bag. T o his
 462 WINDS W LPT HOUSE

surprise, he f o u n d his sister perched o n a chair i n his sitting r o o m ,

w r a p p e d i n a summer robe and w a i t i n g for h i m .
Her t i m i n g m i g h t seem strange, Tricia said. But as there was still an
hour before Chris had t o leave for the a i r p o r t , she had come t o cash in o n
a promise. " R e m e m b e r last s p r i n g , " she asked as she t o o k over the pack-
ing chore, " w h e n I said I wanted time w i t h y o u before y o u left again for
Rome?"
Still h a l f n u m b w i t h grief, Chris nodded. H e remembered.
" W e l l , w h a t I w a n t e d t o e x p l a i n to y o u — w h a t I w a n t e d you to under-
stand as a priest—is a b o u t my eyes. I had almost decided to let the w h o l e
t h i n g g o . But the death o f y o u r f r i e n d in Barcelona—your reaction, I
mean—changed my m i n d again.
" R e m e m b e r Farher Franz W i l l e a r r s ? " Tricia settled back i n t o her chair,
and Chris d r e w another close beside hers. But n o w he was m o r e puzzled
than ever. Father Willearts had been very special f o r a l o t o f folks i n
Galveston d u r i n g Tricia's years at school. As teacher, confessor and friend,
he had seemed the ideal priest. T h e n one day he had t u r n e d up missing.
Ran o f f just like that w i t h a w o m a n , got m a r r i e d to her and ceased t o live
as a priest.
" I had long since graduated by t h e n , " Tricia recalled. " B u t he had been
m y confessor and m y friend for so l o n g . I was so devastated by w h a t he
had done that I made a deal w i t h Christ about i t . I was ready t o receive the
punishment due t o Father Franz, I t o l d H i m . I asked H i m t o accept me as
a v i c t i m , i n other w o r d s , and t o j o i n my v i c t i m h o o d w i t h H i s o w n . I told
H i m t o take a n y t h i n g he w a n t e d f r o m me. M y life, or any part o f my
being. But in r e t u r n , I asked H i m t o give Father Franz the grace t o repent
and t o come back t o his priestly duties again.
" A n d that's exactly w h a t happened. Shortly after t h a t , 1 began to feel
the first s y m p t o m s o f w h a t was soon diagnosed as keratoconjunctivitis
sicca. N o t m u c h later, Father Franz came back to Galveston. Like a l o t o f
other people i n t r o u b l e , he made a beeline for St. Michael's Chapel, where
he asked o u r beloved miracle w o r k e r , Angelo Gutmacher, ro help h i m . I t
t o o k some d o i n g , b u t y o u k n o w Father A n g e l o ! First he managed to regu-
larize Father Franz's priestly s i t u a t i o n , and then helped h i m make good o n
his decision to devote his life to missions a m o n g the poorest o f the poor in
A f r i c a . We still get w o r d o f Father Franz n o w and again, so I k n o w Christ
has kept H i s end o f the bargain. A n d as you can see, I keep m i n e as w e l l . "
" B u t . . . " C h r i s t i a n f u m b l e d for w o r d s w i t h o u t success. " 1 never
guessed . . . "
" I k n o w . " Tricia smiled. " E x c e p t for Father A n g e l o , I never t o l d any-
one. N o t even M o t h e r , t h o u g h in a way 1 t h i n k she'd be the first to under-
stand. A n y w a y , Father Franz wasn't the only one w h o made a beeline for
St. Michael's Chapel. Once I began to feel the real agony o f this eye
a i l m e n t , and once 1 realized w h a t i t m i g h t cost m e — m y sight, and possibly
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 463

m y l i f e — I k n e w I needed m o r e than medical help. So I w e n t t o Father

A n g e l o and asked f o r his guidance.
" I showed h i m all the medical records. H e checked w i t h the doctors
firsthand. Fie satisfied himself that there's no u n d e r l y i n g c o n d i t i o n to ex-
plain m y case, as there usually is for this illness. So he k n e w . O f all the
experts I've seen, o n l y he c o u l d understand Christ's acceptance o f m y offer
to make up for Father Franz's betrayal o f his sacred v o w s . F r o m that p o i n t
o n , Father A n g e l o was much more than m y confessor. U n t i l he left for
R o m e , he was m y s p i r i t u a l guide. W i t h o u t h i m , I t h i n k I m i g h t have been
as u n t r u e to m y v o w as Father Franz had been t o his. He trained me i n the
t r a d i t i o n a l asceticism of the C h u r c h . H e showed me h o w to make m y
w h o l e l i f e — m y person i n c l u d e d — i n t o a continuous act o f a d o r a t i o n and
e x p i a t i o n to the D i v i n e Majesty in this time o f wholesale apostasy.
" G o d ' s purpose i n a l l o w i n g e v i l , Father A n g e l o t o l d me once, is t o b r i n g
a b o u t greater g o o d . He said that in the v i c t o r y of Christ, each holy v i c t i m
is v i c t o r i o u s . A n d he said that i n the victory o f each v i c t i m , Christ is again
victorious."
Tricia leaned f o r w a r d and t o o k her brother's hands i n b o t h of hers.
" F r o m w h a t y o u and Father D a m i e n t o l d us last n i g h t after that phone
c a l l , I can o n l y t h i n k A l d o Carnesecca k n e w all a b o u t the lessons Father
taught me. I can o n l y t h i n k Father A l d o ' s life was a c o n t i n u o u s act o f
a d o r a t i o n . Even t h o u g h his death was accidental—I mean, even though he
d i d n ' t die as a v i c t i m in that n a r r o w sense—surely he offered every day o f
his life as a priest t o C h r i s t . A n d surely every day o f his life as a priest was
another v i c t o r y for C h r i s t .
" T h a t ' s all I wanted t o say, C h r i s . T h a t ' s all I w a n t e d you t o under-
stand."
" T h a t ' s a l l , is i t ? " C h r i s t i a n rose f r o m his chair and d r e w this innocent,
u n c o m p l i c a t e d , u n c o m p l a i n i n g v i c t i m soul o f W i n d s w e p t House i n t o an
embrace o f gratitude and love. Tears—but not the tears o f sadness any
l o n g e r — w e l l e d i n his eyes. " Y o u p u t us all t o shame, T r i s h . Faith and
constancy like yours a m i d all the betrayals p u t us all t o shame."

T h e heat i n Barcelona was suffocating. Accompanied by G i u s t i n o L u -

c a d a m o , Chris stepped i n t o the sparsely furnished r o o m that had been
home t o A l d o Carnesecca d u r i n g the last m o n t h s o f his life and opened the
t w o large double w i n d o w s t h a t l o o k e d o u t o n the monastery garden. A
few letters lay unopened o n Father A l d o ' s desk beside his wallet and some
pages o f scribbled notes. H i s Breviary was there, t o o , and his Rosary
beads. A score or so of books stood on the shelves above the desk. H i s
personal papers were tucked neatly in the drawers. Flis cassock h u n g in
the w a r d r o b e . H i s clean linen was folded in a chest. T h e bed was turned
d o w n . It was the r o o m of a m a n called away suddenly at bedtime. It was
h a r d t o believe . . .
As Gladstone moved s l o w l y about the r o o m , G i u s t i n o Lucadamo gave
 464 W I N l) S W L I T 1
HOUSE

h i m the i n f o r m a t i o n he had come to hear firsthand. " T h e caretaker was

badly shaken. But once he was able to gather his w i t s , the first phone call
he made wasn't t o the local authorities, but t o a n u m b e r Father A l d o had
given h i m for emergency use."
" Y o u r n u m b e r in R o m e ? "
"Just so. But the story he t o l d me was so strange, so o u t o f character for
Carnesecca, that I got the A p o s t o l i c Delegate in M a d r i d t o alert the locals;
bur t o make i t clear t h a t , w h i l e I w o u l d need their help, this was an affair
that was strictly under the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f the H o l y See. W h e n I arrived a
few hours later, the G u a r d i a C i v i l was w a i t i n g outside, but n o t h i n g had
been touched. E v e r y t h i n g was as you see i t , except that the caretaker,
Jorge C o r r a n o , was kneeling i n vigil beside Father A l d o ' s body at the foot
o f the marble staircase."
As far as Chris c o u l d see, i t was a tragic accident thar c o u l d have hap-
pened t o anyone.
" A c c i d e n t my A u n t F a n n y ! " L u c a d a m o t o o k a little plastic vial f r o m
one o f his pockets and p l u n k e d i t o n rhe desk beside Carnesecca's personal
papers. " T h e immediate cause o f death was a severed spinal c o r d . Simply
pur, his neck was b r o k e n i n the fall. But w h e n Father A l d o rushed o u t o f
this r o o m — t h a t was the firsr t h i n g C o r r a n o t o l d me; Carnesecca rushed
o u t s h r i e k i n g f o r h e l p — h i s eyes were being destroyed by a p o w e r f u l acid.
H e was i n the extremest agony, and t o t a l l y b l i n d ! In m y b o o k , that adds
u p ro m u r d e r . "
Gladstone picked up the innocent l o o k i n g v i a l . " D r . Jose Palacio y
V a c a , " the prescription label read, " l s o p t o Carpine 0 . 5 % . O n e d r o p in
each eye m o r n i n g and e v e n i n g . " H e unscrewed the cap.
" D o n ' t b o t h e r . " L u c a d a m o sar d o w n on the bed. " I t ' s odorless and
colorless. But it's n o t l s o p t o Carpine. Ir's a s o l u t i o n o f h y d r o c h l o r i c acid.
Strong enough t o b u r n its w a y right t h r o u g h t o the b r a i n in a matter o f
seconds. H e h a d n ' t a chance." I t was almost t o o m u c h f o r Gladstone to
accept. A l m o s t incredible. W h o w o u l d w a n t to k i l l Father Aldo? Why?
A n d h o w c o u l d anyone have substituted acid for his l s o p t o Carpine?
T h e securiry chief had some o f the answers. Ir w o u l d n ' t have been all
that h a r d t o s w i t c h one vial f o r anorher i n this deserted place. Routine
surveillance by a " p i l g r i m v i s i t o r " w o u l d have done the t r i c k . A n d the
s u b s t i t u t i o n m i g h t have suggested irself i n the first place t o anyone w i t h
access t o Carnesecca's expense vouchers a n d a little i m a g i n a t i o n — b u t that
covered a l o t o f people i n the Vatican. So the second question Chrisrian
had asked was key. If he c o u l d find o u t w h y , he w o u l d p r o b a b l y k n o w
who.
" N o , G i u s t i n o ! I take i t b a c k ! " Chris was o u t o f his chair n o w , r o o t i n g
a b o u t i n Carnesecca's papers like a m a d m a n . " I t ' s n o t incredible. The
diary . . . "
" W h a t are y o u t a l k i n g about? We've been t h r o u g h everything. There
wasn't any d i a r y . "
U N T H I N K A B L E REALITIES 465

Gladstone flung clothes f r o m the w a r d r o b e . H e t o o k all the linen f r o m

the drawers. He t o o k the books f r o m the shelves. H e stripped the bed. H e
even checked Carnesecca's shoes. A n d all the w h i l e he t r i e d t o make L u -
cadamo understand. " A f t e r that so-called accident o f his i n Sicily, Father
A l d o t o l d me that w o u l d n ' t be the end o f i t ! If he ever had an accident that
was successful, he said—those were his exact w o r d s , G i u s t i n o ; I d o n ' t
k n o w h o w 1 c o u l d have f o r g o t t e n ! If he ever had an accident that was
successful, I was t o find his d i a r y and give it t o y o u . H e said y o u ' d ferret
out the t r u t h . A n d he said the diary was always w i t h h i m . ' F i n d me, find
my d i a r y / T h a t ' s w h a t he said.*'
" D i d he say a n y t h i n g a b o u t whar was i n the diary? A b o u t w h a t made it
so i m p o r t a n t ? "
"Carnesecca said the accident in Sicily had n o t h i n g t o do w i t h the M a -
fia. H e said y o u had some theory about i t . He w o u l d n ' t tell me w h a t it
was, b u t he said he t h o u g h t y o u m i g h t be right for the w r o n g reasons."
" A n d ? T h i n k , m a n ! D i d he tell y o u a n y t h i n g substantive?"
Gladstone shook his head i n f r u s t r a t i o n . " H e said something about a
story t h a t w e n t back a l o n g w a y . "
" T h a t doesn't help m u c h ! " L u c a d a m o was more than a lirtle frustrated
himself by n o w .
" M a y b e nor, G i u s t i n o , but . . . "
"Cow permiso." T h e t i m i d voice f r o m the open d o o r w a y belonged to
the caretaker's w i f e . " T h e day is so h o t , I made this pitcher of lemon-
ade . . . " W h i l e the startled M a r i a C o r r a n o surveyed the mess these t w o
visitors had made, L u c a d a m o t o o k the tray w i t h a smile and set it o n the
desk.
" P o o r Padre A l d o ! " Senora C o r r a n o t u r n e d to C h r i s t i a n . Clearly she
had m o r e rhan lemonade o n her m i n d , but she cast sidelong glances at
L u c a d a m o a n d seemed reluctant to speak in his presence.
"Senora C o r r a n o . . . " Chris led M a r i a t o the chair by the desk and
d i d his best t o gain her confidence. Hesitantly she stuttered her way i n t o
incoherent apology and e x p l a n a t i o n .
" M a y b e I s h o u l d have t o l d Senor L u c a d a m o . . . He's a k i n d m a n , too
. . . But it was addressed to y o u , Padre . . . H e gave it to me just a few
days before . . . Padre A l d o . . . He said I was to p u t i t i n the m a i l in
case . . . But ir's addressed t o y o u , Padre Gladstone. So I t h o u g h t . . .
Jorge and I t h o u g h t . . . " The g o o d w o m a n extracted a small package
f r o m the recesses o f her a p r o n . She held it for a few seconds, as tenderly as
she m i g h t have held the relic o f a Saint, and rhen placed it in Christian's
hands.
Even before he opened i t , he k n e w . I t was Carnesecca's d i a r y .

For the rest o f that a f t e r n o o n and far i n t o the n i g h t , Gladstone forced

himself t o pore over the record o f Father A l d o ' s l o n g career as a man of
confidence i n the Vatican. T h e d i a r y — a w o r n , leather-bound notebook
 466 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

about the size of any normal volume—was a journal in the strictest sense
of the term. In script so tiny it made Christian's eyes swim, terse entries
spanned four pontificares. It was line after line of bare-bones, factual hap-
penings. O n e day was often compressed into a single sentence, and a single
page often served to cover several weeks. But nowhere did Chris discover
any sign of fear or horror or anticipated violence.
" I t ' s no use." C h r i s surrendered the diary to Lucadamo over the light
breakfast M a r i a C o r r a n o prepared for them early rhe next morning. " I
don't even know where to begin."
" W e l l . " Lucadamo flipped through the leather volume. "Father Aldo
said the story went back a long way, so I suggest we begin at the begin-
ning. By rights, Father C h r i s , this diary belongs to you. But why don't I
take it with me and make a photocopy? You'll be back in Rome in a
couple of weeks. 1 can return the original to you then. Maybe together
we'll come up with whatever it was Carnesecca intended us to find."
" H e knew, G i u s t i n o . " Christian's words were so quiet and unexpected
that Lucadamo was caught off his guard. " H e would never have let this
diary out of his hands, or said what he did to Senora C o r r a n o , unless he'd
k n o w n . H e was so good, so gentle. Yet he knew someone was so deter-
mined to get him thar he couldn't account for his own safety any longer."
Gladstone lapsed into the silence of recent memory. There could be no
doubt that each day of Father Aldo's life as a priest had been a victory for
Christ, just as Tricia had said. But now Christian knew something more.
He knew the truth about his friend's dearh. He knew Aldo had died as a
victim in the narrow sense.
T h e security chief was grateful for the brief silence, but his thoughts
were of another kind. H e had no answer for his failure. T h e horrid im-
ages—Father Aldo's agony, his panic, his screams, his bone-breaking fall
d o w n the stairs of this monastery—would make up the sludge of night-
mares for Lucadamo. Images like rhar could evoke uncontrollable demons
in a man. They could summon the red-eyed spirit of revenge for
Carnesecca's murderers.
" H e knew, Father C h r i s . " Lucadamo said Gladstone's words back to
him. But the rest was left unspoken between them.
P A R T T H R E E

Papal N i g h t

The Resignation
Protocol
 XLI

IN A M A N N E R O F S P E A K I N G , geopolitics was all there was for the

Slavic Pope. Unless you were attuned to him geopolitically, you could
have no real understanding of his ecclesiastical behavior, his moral judg-
ments, his public relations policy, his piety and devotions or his interpreta-
tion of contemporary history.
More to the point, unless you could see how intricately the twilight of
his papacy had been bound up with the fifry-year twilight of the interna-
tional system known as the Cold War, neither could you appraise the
clarity of his understanding of how swiftly the old system had faded into
night and of how deftly it was being replaced by anothet whose landscape
he could see as clearly as if a blazing searchlight displayed every detail of
its terrain.
During the weeks of his recuperation at Castel Gandolfo some twenty
miles from the center of Rome, for once Flis Holiness obeyed Dr.
Fanarote's orders to rest from the usual rigors of his schedule. In relative
solitude and tranquillity, he had time and every motivation to review the
change—the seeming evolution—that had begun in 1989 to set the world
on a new and definitive course.
Never in world history had rwo such dire and thoroughgoing enemies as
the former superpower adversaries of the Cold War become so reconciled
and so trustful in such a short time, and with so little ceremony, as the
capitalist West and the newly dismembered East. The Pontiff was too
dutiful a pastor for the obvious religious significance of such a geopolitical
shift to escape him. And he was too fine a geopolirician to doubt that the
years since 1989 had been a seeding time for what was now about to wrap
itself around the society of nations and the Roman Catholic Church as a
universal institution.
Had tragedy not struck him down, Father Aldo Carnesecca would have
been the confidant for many of the Holy Father's thoughts during those
late-summer weeks. Carnesecca alone had seemed to possess something
like a supernatural vision of the Church and the Vicariate of Christ. His
loss ar this critical moment of His Holiness' pontificate was more than
deeply sorrowful. It was irreparable.
Monsignore Daniel Sadowski knew he was no Aldo Carnesecca. But in
his fidelity, and in his love and concern for the Slavic Pope, it was he who
shared the Pontiff's mind during sessions in the papal study, and it was he
 470 W IM) SW E P 1 MOUSE

w h o came t o k n o w i n t i m a t e l y the m o u n t i n g urgency w i t h w h i c h the Pon-

t i f f regarded the c o m i n g f a l l o u t f r o m the definitive settlement between
East and West that had been prepared by t w o dramatic events of the
recent past.
T h e first o f those events hail been the Joint Declaration of Twenty-two
States signed in Paris o n N o v e m b e r 19, 1990. T h a t Declaration had t o l d
M i k h a i l Gorbachev's U.S.S.R. t h a t East and West were no longer adver-
saries. Gorbachev's o w n t o p strategist, Georgy A r h a t o v , had put the case
m o r e b l u n t l y — m o r e usefully, i n the Pope's o p i n i o n — w h e n he had sol-
emnly declared that " C o m m u n i s m is d e a d . " T h e C o l d War was over. The
second a n d far more theatrical event had been the c o u p d'etat i n M o s c o w
d u r i n g A u g u s t o f the f o l l o w i n g year, when the U.S.S.R. regime o f M i k h a i l
Gorbachev was v i r t u a l l y t e r m i n a t e d . Gorbachev's resignation had f o l -
l o w e d o n Christmas D a y , and the new regime o f Boris Yeltsin had come
into power.
It was a telling element o f the new rapprochement o f East and West
t h a t , like Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Gorbachev and Yeltsin b o t h i n -
sisted that n o w there was a t o t a l break w i t h the Sovier past; t h a t there was
n o c o n t i n u i t y between the f o r m e r Soviet regime a n d the new regime. " I n -
d e e d , " the Pope underscored the significant p o i n t t o M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l ,
" r h e West had t o be convinced that this was s o . "
It was essential as a basis for the economic and financial help expected
f r o m the West. Essential, t o o , f o r the inclusion o f Russia as a member of
rhe i n s t i t u t i o n s to be b u i l t for the N e w W o r l d O r d e r . Essential above all
for u n i f y i n g and stabilizing w h a t Gorbachev had called " t h e European
space f r o m the A t l a n t i c to the Urals and o n to the shores o f the Pacific";
and w h a t Eduard Shevardnadze, dicrator o f Georgia, described as " t h e
Great Europe, u n i t e d Europe, f r o m the A t l a n t i c t o V l a d i v o s t o k , the
European-Asian space . . . "
W e l l before the August c o u p , and like every other deeply i n f o r m e d
world-class leader, the Slavic Pope had k n o w n that the terrain had been
prepared f o r b o t h Yeltsin and Gorbachev i n their new roles. By 1 9 9 1 ,
Yeltsin had already publicly q u i t the C o m m u n i s t Party and had publicly
challenged M i k h a i l Gorbachev. It was t o p - f l i g h t theater, and as such i t
had been witnessed by rhe Soviets and a l l the peoples o f the West c r o w d e d
a r o u n d their television sets. I t was d u r i n g that t i m e that Yeltsin had been
treated t o the first o f several private tours of the Unired States, tours that
had included the Esalcn I n s t i t u t e , where he had i m b i b e d the basic p r i n c i -
ple o f the Esalen p r o g r a m m i n g m e t h o d — " b r e a k i n g e v e r y t h i n g d o w n and
b u i l d i n g i t up a g a i n . " O n that a n d subsequent visits, he was also i n t r o -
duced to a n u m b e r o f A m e r i c a n legislators, bankers, i n d u s t r i a l CEOs and
f o u n d a t i o n heads.
M i k h a i l Gorbachev's future parh was likewise smoorhed. Even before
the August c o u p , he k n e w his next l o c a t i o n and destination. Elis was to be
a g l o b a l role o n a transatlantic basis. U l t i m a t e l y , he w o u l d be at the center
THE RESIGNATION" P R O T O C O L 471

of the Conference on Security and C o o p e r a t i o n i n Europe. M o r e i m m e d i -

ately, however, his base o f operations w o u l d be the Gorbachev Founda-
t i o n — G F for shorr. Its m o t t o , chosen by Gorbachev: " M o v i n g t o w a r d a
New Civilization."
As early as A p r i l o f 1 9 9 1 , his A m e r i c a n friends and sponsors had set up
the n o n p r o f i t nucleus for that F o u n d a t i o n , calling i t the Tamalpais Insti-
tute o f San Francisco. They c o u l d n ' t decently call i t the Gorbachev Foun-
d a t i o n w h i l e Gorbachev was still the master o f all the Russias! But they
c o u l d — a n d i n M a y o f that year, d i d — h o l d a f u n d - r a i s i n g dinner at N e w
York's W a l d o r f - A s t o r i a . T h e r e , in the presence of H e n r y Kissinger, o f f i -
cials of the Rockefeller Brorhers F u n d , rhe Carnegie E n d o w m e n t for Inter-
n a t i o n a l Peace, the F o r d F o u n d a t i o n , and the Pew and M e l l o n Funds all
pitched in w i t h a guarantee t o supply the Gorbachev F o u n d a t i o n w i t h its
s t a r t - u p b a n k r o l l o f $3.05 m i l l i o n .
T h u s , w e l l before Gorbachev ostensibly q u i t national Russian politics at
the end o f that year, plans f o r his f u t u r e role were nicely on their w a y .
A n d n o t for GFAJSA o n l y . A M o s c o w branch o f the Gorbachev Founda-
t i o n — G F / R u s s i a — w o u l d be housed by Yeltsin in the long-established I n -
ternational Lenin School. The 1LS offered such advantages as its location
at the center o f M o s c o w and its trained w o r k i n g sraff o f one hundred
academics, all p r o v i d e d ar government expense.
W i r h i n r w o years of Gorbachev's " o u s t e r , " GF/USA had moved inro the
disused m i l i t a r y offices o f the Presidio in San Francisco. There, w i t h the
fantastic v i e w o f the Bay to cheer h i m , Gorbachev set a b o u t his new role
in earnesr. He launched CP/Netherlands a n d GE/(Rajiv G a n d h i ) l n d i a . A n d
he f o r m u l a t e d plans for Green Cross I n t e r n a t i o n a l , his o w n version of
ecumenical activity for the " s p i r i t u a l alliance o f all true believers i n man's
earthly h a b i t a t . " As she had always done, Raisa Gorbachev entered i n t o
the s p i r i t o f her husband's latest endeavors, i n c l u d i n g his new ecumenism.
T h o u g h a convinced atheist, she had even sported a cross a r o u n d her neck
d u r i n g a recent visit t o the U n i t e d K i n g d o m .
A l l t o l d , then, by the time the P o n t i f f had entered Gemelli Polyclinic,
Gorbachev had been w e l l o u t f i t t e d and perfectly placed f o r his t w o m a i n
tasks: T o p r o m o t e the p o l i t i c a l , monetary and c u l t u r a l unification o f " t h e
European space f r o m the A t l a n t i c t o the Sea o f J a p a n . " A n d to p r o m o t e
his o w n new role w i t h i n the CSCE.
W h a t made the Slavic Pope's geopolitical antennae vibrate d u r i n g his
t i m e o f rest and recuperation at Castel G a n d o l f o were the results he a n t i c i -
pated f r o m that seeding. " I s i t n o t a w o n d e r t o b e h o l d ? " W i t h a w r y smile,
the H o l y Father asked M o n s i g n o r e Daniel the critical questions. " I s not
the w h o l l y new c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f the once m o n o h t h i c a l l y solid U.S.S.R. a
w o n d e r t o behold? A n d are n o t the bonds being forged between the U.S.A.
a n d the ' n e w ' Russia under the title o f "Partnership f o r Peace' an even
grearer wonder? Once there was the Soviet U n i o n . N o w , i n the b l i n k of an
eye, we behold Russia: a n d we see all o f its f o r m e r c o m p o n e n t parts, the
 472 WINDS WFPT HOUSE

so-called N e w Independent States, the N1S. Russia and the N I S , are n o w

described i n the West as the CIS. The C o m m o n w e a l t h o f Independent
States!"
The Slavic Pope and his secretary b o t h k n e w that " c o n f e d e r a t i o n " was
a p o o r t r a n s l a t i o n o f the h y b r i d Russian jawbreaker "sodruzbetvu"
w h i c h means s o m e t h i n g like " c o - f r i e n d s h i p " or " p a r t n e r s h i p . " I t was a
w o r d t h a t struck the P o n t i f f as belonging squarely i n the Soviet lexicon o f
benign terms s i g n i f y i n g deadly serious intent. Like N i k i t a Khrushchev's
description o f an atomic e x p l o s i o n as " a b u c k e t f u l of sunshine," its very
w h i m s i c a l i r y seemed sinisrer. A n d this seemingly sudden p o l i t i c a l realign-
ment o f sovereign states promised to be no less sinister.
Amnesia was one early c o m p o n e n t o f t h a t realignment. Amnesia about
the C o l d W a r had seized all the minds o f Western politicians. Amnesia
about the G u l a g p r i s o n camps. Amnesia a b o u t the hundreds o f thousands
of KGB operations—camp commandants; wardens; jailers; torturers;
spies; trained assassins; couriers; cryptographers; special assignmenr m i l i -
ria. Amnesia a b o u t the array o f special aerodromes, A r m y divisions. N a v y
ships, ballistic missiles and logistical e q u i p m e n t under K G B c o n t r o l . A m -
nesia abour rhe estimated 7 5 , 0 0 0 carefully placed K G B moles and double
agents disseminated t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d , p a r t i c u l a r l y in the Americas
Amnesia even a b o u t the a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 5 , 0 0 0 A m e r i c a n GIs captured by
rhe Soviets, interrogated by the K G B , but never returned to the United
States. I n the "gentleman's agreement" between Russia and the U.S.A., a
mere change i n the name o f the K G B had w i p e d everyone's m e m o r y clean.
For the Slavic Pope, m i n d s that c o u l d find satisfaction in such an ar-
rangement were t h o r o u g h l y c o r r u p t . Yet such minds were a m o n g the g u i d -
ing lights o f the new society o f nations. A n d w i t h the connivance of those
m i n d s , an even more special deal had been w o r k e d o u t . W i t h a w i n k and a
n o d f r o m the Western allies, Russia was n o w a l l o w e d t o d o m i n a t e the
N e w Independent States; and to d o so i n ways that Western democracies
had f o u n d i n a p p r o p r i a t e and inconsistent w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w in other
members o f the society o f nations. So i t was, t h e n , t h a t w h e n the freely
elected President o f the Independent State o f Georgia, Zviad Gam-
s a k h u r d i a , tried t o act independently o f M o s c o w , his poisoned and bullet-
riddled body had t u r n e d up in a shallow grave. A n d so ir was t h a t Eduard
Shevardnadze, Gorbachev's a l l y , was n o w the c l a i m a n t d i c t a t o r o f Geor-
gia.
Far f r o m decrying such behavior, A m e r i c a , the U N and a l l m a j o r p o w -
ers had a d m i t t e d Russia as a player i n the global game o f politics. O n l y
one example was enough t o make that p l a i n . Russians, w i t h their Western
allies in L o n d o n , W a s h i n g t o n and Paris, had insisred rhat Russia's p r o -
Serbian views be p a r a m o u n t in dealing w i t h the current civil w a r i n Yugo-
slavia. C l e a r l y , the West c o u l d have kept Russia o u t as defender of the
Serbian cause; there w o u l d have been a certain advantage i n d o i n g so, in
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 473

fact. Just as clearly, however, greater advantage had been perceived in

strengthening Russia's h a n d .
Collective amnesia a b o u t an evil past and connivance i n rhe uses of
b l o o d y w a r f a r e were not w i t h o u t precedent in history. W h a t was more
d i s t u r b i n g by far was t h a t , de facto, the U.S.S.R. was srill in its geographi-
cal extent and sociopolitical influence. Except f o r rhe Baltic Sratcs and rhe
U k r a i n e — o r so the Pontiff h o p e d — t h e same national security infrastruc-
ture of the U.S.S.R. remained t h r o u g h o u t the N I S , w i t h rhe same person-
nel, the same headquarters, the same privileges and the same methods.
E x t e r n a l l y , since 1991 Russia had established a c o m p l e x n e t w o r k o f
bilateral treaties and declarations. By the second quarter of 1994, that
n e t w o r k had included sixteen European countries. W i t h Yeltsin w o r k i n g
the political side, and w i t h Gorbachev w o r k i n g socially and p h i l a n t h r o p i -
cally, Russia was w e l l o n the way t o achieving a new Stability Pact be-
tween the CIS and all rhe members o f rhe European U n i o n , as the rapidly
e x p a n d i n g EC was n o w frequently called. U n l i k e the more clubby Euro-
pean C o m m u n i t y , and h a p p i l y f o r rhe new Russia, rhe E U envisaged itself
as encompassing all the states of Europe i n the n o t disrant future.
Against such a b a c k g r o u n d , rhose macromanagemenr bonds being
forged berween rhe U.S.A. and Russia—bonds being p r o m o t e d aggres-
sively by the new U.S. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the nineties under the title of the
" P a r t n e r s h i p f o r Peace"—were significant portents o f the gravest k i n d .
W h e n H i s Holiness had first heard the Partnership f o r Peace mentioned,
he had experienced a m o m e n t a r y frisson, as i f somebody had stepped o n
his grave. T h e parallel was n o t lost o n h i m berween rhe " p a r t n e r s h i p " that
u n i t e d Russia w i t h all the N e w Independent States and the Partnership for
Peace n o w supposedly u n i t i n g the U n i t e d States w i t h Russia.
M o r e t h a n a few times d u r i n g the summer of his searching review of
present realities and i m m i n e n t threats, the P o n t i f f c o m m e n t e d t o M o n s i -
gnore Daniel that he had to a d m i r e the skill of the architects—the "master
engineers and f a c i l i t a t o r s , " as C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i t h o u g h t o f t h e m —
w h o had managed all this.
Several elements and many f a m i l i a r names came readily t o H i s Holiness'
m i n d . There was the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Foreign Policy Association, for i n -
stance. Based i n San Francisco's Presidio, the IFPA had been co-founded
by E d u a r d Shevardnadze and D r . James G a r r i s o n , a bureaucrat w i t h exec-
utive experience i n the Esalen Institute. A m o n g those w o r k i n g w i t h G a r r i -
son were Senator A l a n C r a n s t o n o f C a l i f o r n i a a n d f o r m e r U.S. Secretary
o f State George Shultz.
T h e n there was rhe U.S. C o m m i t t e e t o Support Democracy i n Georgia,
rhe f o r m e r Soviet Republic. George Shultz was co-chair o f this organiza-
t i o n , an h o n o r he shared w i t h former Presidenr J i m m y Carrer, f o r m e r U.S.
Secretary of State James A . Baker HI and Carter's erstwhile N a t i o n a l Secu-
r i t y A d v i s o r , Z b i g n i e w Brzezinski. A n d n o w rhere was the Partnership f o r
 474 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Peace, The b i g u m b r e l l a benearh w h i c h rhe current U.S. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

herded b o t h the U.S.A. and the CIS.
It was small w o n d e r t h a t Russia had n o w been a d m i t t e d i n t o the delib-
erations and decisions or the G-7 G r o u p — t h e seven most p o w e r f u l indus-
trialized nations o n earth. Small w o n d e r , t o o , that there was n o w the
o b v i o u s l y intended i n t e g r a t i o n o f the U.S. and Russian space programs; o f
their p u b l i c educational systems; o f the overall logistical structures o f their
armed forces.

Given the i m p l i c a t i o n s o f the H o l y Father's analysis o f the new global

realities, i t came as no surprise t o M o n s i g n o r e Daniel w h e n , t o w a r d sum-
mer's end, the Pope sent an urgent message to Father A u g u s t i n K o r d e c k i ,
A b h o r o f the H e r m i t s o f St. Paul, at Jasna Gora Monastery in Czesto-
c h o w a i n Poland.
Farher Kordecki's clandestine r a d i o had been a key factor i n the danger-
ous maneuvers between the u n d e r g r o u n d Polish resistance and the
Stalinist government o f the sixties a n d seventies. H e still maintained thar
r a d i o and the courier i n f o r m a t i o n n e t w o r k established d u r i n g the C o l d
W a r , and t o this day, he and his c o m m u n i t y at Czestochowa functioned as
the mosr accurare source o f news about the East. The H e r m i t s o f St. Paul
sent a perpetual barrage o f holy prayer f r o m Czestochowa to the Heavens;
b u t they were also the perpetual recipients o f hard facts o f life in the
" p o s t - U . S . S . R . " epoch.
If y o u w a n t e d t o k n o w h o w many o f the o r i g i n a l 2 , 8 0 0 Sovier G u l a g
prison camps still f u n c t i o n e d in the nineties, K o r d e c k i c o u l d tell y o u . It the
status o f f o r m e r K G B officers interested y o u , K o r d e c k i had the details.
A n d if you w a n t e d t o be i n t o u c h w i t h a clandestine papal operative such
as Father Angelo G u t m a c h e r w i t h o u t d r a w i n g notice to h i m , K o r d e c k i
was y o u r m a n .
Shortly before the H o l y Father was due t o r e t u r n t o the Apostolic Palace
in R o m e , Father A n g e l o G u t m a c h e r arrived f o r a couple o f days of quiet
c o n s u l t a t i o n at Castel G a n d o l f o . H i s latest travels had taken h i m t h r o u g h
Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, U k r a i n e and A r m e n i a . He b r o u g h t i n f o r m a -
t i o n and d o c u m e n t a t i o n f r o m such varied sources as Russian O r t h o d o x
prelates; the Russian Interior M i n i s t r y , o r M V D , in M o s c o w ; under-
g r o u n d g r o u p s ; i m p o r t a n t p o l i t i c a l offices such as the mayoralties o f M o s -
cow and St. Petersburg. He broughr copious correspondence from
Gorbachev and other personal friends and acquaintances of Flis Holiness.
A n d he b r o u g h t a trove o f firsthand observations—among t h e m , reports
o f a new i n i t i a t i v e o n l y n o w becoming evident a m o n g the f o r m e r members
o f the U.S.S.R. and its European satellites.
In his first and briefest session w i r h rhe Pope, Gutmacher confirmed the
Pope's analysis. " S o m e t h i n g new is starting over there, Holiness. It's hap-
pening almost in silence. But it's real. You can feel i t . The people sense i t .
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 475

Yet I d o u b t if even a t h i r d o f t h e m yet realize what's really happened t o

their territories and n a t i o n s — o r to themselves as h u m a n beings."
" B u t there are always the exceptions, Father A n g e l o . " The Pontiff
t u r n e d f r o m the w i n d o w and its shining blue vista of Lake G a n d o l f o . " I n
that part of the w o r l d , there are always the ones w h o k n o w . You've talked
to m a n y of r h e m , P m sure."
" H o l y Father, w h a t they're saying over there is that something has been
set i n stone n o w . A new system is in place. M o s r of the people I spoke to
d o n ' t like w h a t ' s happened; but they stress t o me their sense that East and
West have reached a definitive settlement. They use that w o r d all rhe rime,
Holiness, D e f i n i t i v e . "

By rhe rime the t w o churchmen sat d o w n together for a m o r e protracted

conference, the P o n t i f f had gone t h r o u g h most of the documents Father
A n g e l o had b r o u g h t w i t h h i m . A n d f r o m the outset, the most i m p o r t a n t
element in their discussion was conveyed by one name, Russia,
" Y o u are aware. Father A n g e l o , t h a t I must make a papal pilgrimage ro
Russia. I w a n t e d to go o n the eve of Yeltsin's rise to power. But I was not
able to elicit the c o l l a b o r a t i o n o f my Cardinals. You must realize by n o w
rhat I have an absolute rule: I musr have rhe agreemenr and c o l l a b o r a t i o n
of m y Cardinals in my policies. A n d rhis, r o o , even w h e n ir is a marter of
the Blessed V i r g i n . "
" A n d n o w , Your Holiness?" G u t m a c h e r was beginning t o understand
w h y he had been called home so urgently.
" N o w , Father A n g e l o , I must review the w h o l e idea of my pilgrimage in
the light of Russia's new i n t e r n a t i o n a l role. So my first question to you is
this: is i t y o u r o p i n i o n that Russia w i l l soon evolve t o the p o i n t of block-
ing a pilgrimage by the Pope o f Rome t o its 'near a b r o a d ' Territories, to
use Yeltsin's expression?"
G u t m a c h e r was f r a n k . " A s y o u i m p l y , Holiness, it's a question o f t i m -
ing. Yeltsin has never been a f r i e n d . A n d Russia's allies in the CIS are
i n i m i c a l ro the H o l y See, m a i n l y o n account of the Patriarch of M o s c o w
and the Patriarch of C o n s t a n t i n o p l e . In spite of all that, t h o u g h , H o l y
Father, I t h i n k y o u stand a chance o f being invited t o visit Russia and
U k r a i n e . The w i n d o w of time is n a r r o w . A n d Yeltsin w i l l resist. But if
enough m o r a l pressure can be broughr t o bear t h r o u g h t h i r d parties . . , "
" C o n s i d e r i n g w h a t is at stake, Father A n g e l o , and however I am able to
arrange i t , I a m resolved to undertake my pilgrimage ro rhe East—my
'Russia t r i p , ' as C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i calls it w i t h some d i s d a i n . "
G u t m a c h e r wasn't in disagreemenr. Far f r o m i t . But, given the Pope's
dependence o n his Cardinals, ir was d i f f i c u l t t o see h o w he c o u l d manage
to g o t o Russia.
" I expect there w i l l be a price ro p a y , " rhe Pope acknowledged. " B u t
every sign convinces me rhar the rime has come t o test Fleaven's w i l l to the
l i m i t i n this matter. A n d besides, Farher A n g e l o " — a mischievous t w i n k l e
 476 WINDSWEPT H O V SE

touched the P o n t i f f s eyes n o w — " w h e n it comes to horse t r a d i n g , I d o u b t

that even C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i is a march f o r o u r Blessed M o t h e r ! "

The days were still lazy and Rome was still largely barren of its major
figures w h e n C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i welcomed a select g r o u p o f c o l -
leagues t o his penthouse aparrmenr.
Seriously disgruntled at h a v i n g been recalled f r o m rhe beauties of Stresa,
C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i was the last of the distinguished g r o u p t o arrive. Like
an u n w i l l i n g G u l l i v e r , he f o l l o w e d the t i n y valet past those photographs of
H e l s i n k i t o H i s Eminence's perpetually b o o k - s t r e w n study, and considered
the g r o u p already gathered there. He smiled at M a e s t r o i a n n i himself, and
at C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State G i a c o m o G r a z i a n i . He greeted the three
p u r p o r t e d i f still u n o f f i c i a l papal candidates—Cardinal Karmel o f Paris
first; then the newest C a r d i n a l , the handsome M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o o f
Genoa; a n d , finally, his acerbic Vatican colleague, N o a h Palombo. The
struggle a m o n g those three w o u l d eventually have t o be settled amicably
and behind closed doors. W i t h that t h o u g h t i n m i n d , A u r e a t i n i exchanged
a nod w i t h C a r d i n a l Leo Pensabene, the acknowledged Pope-maker in any
forrhcorning Conclave.
I n the high-pressure atmosphere that was b o u n d t o h o l d Rome in a tight
g r i p in rhe c o m i n g m o n t h s , i t had been agreed t h a t n o t h i n g must be left t o
the caprice o f partisan politics or the w h i m o f personal a m b i t i o n , papal or
otherwise. C a r d i n a l Secretary of State G r a z i a n i , therefore, had felt the
need t o a p p o i n t this small, select ad hoc committee " t o assist His E m i -
nence M a e s t r o i a n n i in processing the earliest tallies of the C o m m o n M i n d
Vote. T h i s tally w a s n ' t rhe real r h i n g , of course. N o t quite yet. But once
11

C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i c o u l d assure Graziani and the others that they

were m o r a l l y assured of a quasi-unanimous C o m m o n M i n d Vote ( C M V )
f r o m the bishops of the C h u r c h Universal, then all the phases of their plan
could be i n i t i a t e d .
The first phase—the pressure of the public and highly publicized
C M V — w o u l d be used as the trigger f o r the second. A n d the second—
securing the consent of the Pope t o sign the resignation l e t t e r — w o u l d
encompass the t h i r d . For t h a t letter had been redrafted so that the Pon-
tiff's signature w o u l d make it De Successione Papali; the Pontifical Consti-
t u t i o n regulating rhe resignation, v o l u n t a r y or i n v o l u n t a r y , of this Pope.
T h a n k s in large parr t o the excellent surveys being done by Christian
Gladstone, i t was already possible t o construct a w o r k i n g model of the
C M V and t o assess it as the trigger mechanism f o r the Slavic Pope s resig-
n a t i o n . If the early signs were r i g h t , i t w o u l d n ' t be l o n g before the actual
vote a m o n g the w o r l d ' s bishops w o u l d be c o m i n g in f r o m the scores of
Internal A f f a i r s Committees i n the Regional and N a t i o n a l Conferences of
Bishops.
F r o m everyone's p o i n t o f v i e w , therefore, it was time f o r a serious real-
ity check. F r o m C a r d i n a l Graziani's v i e w p o i n t in particular, ir was time to
THE R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 477

arrange for a little personal insurance. He c o u l d accept the idea of a r m

t w i s t i n g and the use of q u i d p r o quos in securing the C M V . Hut this ad
hoc commirree w o u l d assure t h a t , p r i m a facie, all w o u l d be correct i n
f o r m ; all w o u l d he legitimate i n that sense. A n d i t w o u l d ensure that
others c o u l d be named as responsible in the event of a fiasco. T h e Cardinal
Secretary o f State was g o i n g t o be nobody's patsy.
C a r d i n a l P a l o m b o had a bolder reason for an early check o n the status
o f the C o m m o n M i n d Vote. I f these early tallies t u r n e d o u t as Maestro-
i a n n i expected, it w o u l d be Palombo's signal t o unleash the pressure
moves he had i n store f o r the Slavic Pope.
As for C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i , i t was r e w a r d enough that his labors t o
galvanize the bishops i n t o a quasi-unanimous C M V were a b o u t t o come
t o f u l l f r u i t i o n . H e had no d o u b t that this p r e l i m i n a r y head count w o u l d
be a successful d r y r u n of the actual C M V . T h e real t h i n g w o u l d be a
simple matter of directing his n e t w o r k o f colleagues, friends, appointees,
disciples, dissidents and acquaintances in the many provinces of rhe
C h u r c h and i n rhe many lands a n d nations that had been H i s Eminence's
b a i l i w i c k for so l o n g .
W i t h i n hours o f Aurearini's tardy a r r i v a l , everyone present had his
w i s h . " A l l we lack n o w " — M a e s t r o i a n n i gathered up the tally estimates
w i t h deep s a t i s f a c t i o n — " a r e the final episcopal surveys Father Gladstone
w i l l b r i n g w i t h h i m f r o m the U n i t e d States."
" A n d w h e n w i l l that be, Eminence?" C a r d i n a l Palombo was intent o n
timing.
" W i t h i n the week. Eminence. Barring rhe unforeseen, we should be
ready f o r the public spectacle o f the C M V by s p r i n g , as p l a n n e d . "

O n the second day of Father Gutmacher's visit t o Castel G a n d o l f o , the

subject of p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l t o o k center stage in rhe Pope's general re-
v i e w of conditions in the East. Soon after his return t o Rome, as he t o l d
G u t m a c h e r by w a y of b a c k g r o u n d , the Pontiff was scheduled f o r an i m -
p o r t a n t conversation w i r h Bischara Francis, rhe head o f the United N a -
tions Fund for Popularion A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . A n d n o t l o n g after that, a U.S.
envoy by rhe name of Gibson A p p l e y a r d w o u l d be paying a second visit t o
rhe papal study.
" T h e first time a r o u n d , M r . A p p l e y a r d and I had an interesting chat
a b o u t H o l y See policy w i t h regard to Russia. T h i s time a r o u n d , like Si-
gnora Francis, his concern is H o l y See policy w i r h regard ro global popula-
tion."
" Y o u r Holiness' policy is h a r d l y a secret," Gutmacher offered.
" E x a c t l y , Farher. So i t looks like I ' l l be i n for some serious international
a r m t w i s t i n g . " A few more bouts of a r m t w i s t i n g were rhe leasr of the
Pontiff's concerns. " L e r me he plain about this matter, Father A n g e l o . "
The P o n t i f f stood u p t o stretch his legs. " T h e A m e r i c a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n is
insisrent on pushing p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l universally w i t h a b o r t i o n , contra-
 478 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

ception and all rhe other means at its disposal. A n d i n t o the bargain, the
Chinese a n d T h a i experimenrs in forced p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l have s h o w n
t h a t , by d r a c o n i a n means, p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h can be reduced t o zero w i t h -
o u t raising the standard o f l i v i n g . Those w h o have the money and the
p o w e r , in other w o r d s , have f o u n d o u t the technique to m a i n t a i n large
areas o f o u r w o r l d i n a state of economic backwardness as a source o f r a w
materials and w h a t a m o u n t s to slave l a b o r .
"1 have n o t l o o k e d f o r this i m b r o g l i o w i t h the A m e r i c a n a d m i n i s t r a -
t i o n . " T h e P o n t i f f s face darkened. " B u t I have made it clear t o all the
agencies of the H o l y See, and t o all o f its representatives, that 1 w i l l n o t
sanction or a l l o w anyone ro back rhe artificial l i m i t a t i o n o f b i r t h s , o r even
t o propagandize rhe idea o f l i m i t i n g families ro one o r t w o c h i l d r e n . I w i l l
tell Bischara Francis and U N F P A t h a t . I w i l l tell G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d and his
President t h a t . T h i s is a hattle w e m u s t fight.
" I k n o w the enemies P m u p against i n the W e s t , " the P o n t i f f concluded
the brief o u t l i n e o f his s i t u a t i o n . P o w e r f u l organizations like the W o r l d
Bank, the D r a p e r Fund and the W o r l d - W i d e Fund for N a t u r e and others
were all q u i t e openly genocidal in their i n t e n t . W h a t H i s Holiness w a n t e d
to k n o w was w h e t h e r G u t m a c h e r had seen evidence o f any change —any 1

w o r s e n i n g was w h a t he m e a n t — i n Russia's p o l i c y o f p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l .
" T h e change is m o r e i n degree t h a n i n substance, Floliness. But speak-
ing o f d r a c o n i a n means . . . " G u t m a c h e r reached i n t o one of his pockets
and came up w i t h a videocassette tape he had b r o u g h r back w i t h h i m .
" I t ' s a sales presentation, I suppose y o u c o u l d say. I t was prepared by rhe
M o s c o w I n t e r n a t i o n a l Institute o f B i o l o g i c a l M e d i c i n e i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h
the Russian Center o f Perinatology and Obstetrics. A n d w h a t they're sell-
ing is their new prowess as mass-market abortionists. Between t h e m , these
t w o institutes n o w a t t r a c t big sums o f needed foreign capital i n t o Russia
and produce b i g profits f o r their A m e r i c a n investors."
G r i m - f a c e d , the P o n t i f f watched Father Angelo insert the tape i n t o the
V C R a n d then listened t o the voice-over e x p l a i n h o w these Moscow-based
medical centers n o w acted together as " t h e largest bank o f medical r a w
materials i n the w o r l d . . . "
T h e sales patter c o n t i n u e d as rhe camera panned over n o t h i n g less than
an assembly line o f w e l l - f o r m e d babies being aborted alive; dismembered,
sorted a n d packed, p a r t by p a r t , in neat plastic sacks; then frozen i n cate-
gories—brains, hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, glands. T h e final scene
showed special containers being loaded f o r speedy Transport t o foreign
markets, like Beluga caviar.
One early sequence so shocked the Pope t h a t he cried like one o f those
c r y i n g babies as he w a t c h e d a w o m a n — " t h e m i d w i f e , " said the voice on
the t a p e — h o l d up a freshly delivered i n f a n t boy still attached t o his u m b i l -
ical c o r d . He w a t c h e d the baby react w i t h cries to the c o l d o f the operating
r o o m . Watched t i n y hands shiver t o w a r d yet b l i n d eyes while the u m b i l i c a l
c o r d was c u t . A n d he watched as the i n f a n t was handed o v e r — " t o a
THF K I. S I G N A T I O N PROTOCOL 479

s u r g e o n , " said the voice o n rhe t a p e — r o be dissected, alive and screaming,

into "useful parrs."
T h e Pope was r o o h o r r i f i e d ro speak f o r some rime afrer the tape had
ended. T o o h o r r i f i e d ; and t o o stunned by the parallel between the gross,
organized, m a r k e t - o r i e n t e d atrocities he had watched and w h a t he k n e w
had been predicted i n the Patima message o f 1917. Surely he had jusr seen
rhe very h o o f o f Satan. I f Fatima meant a n y t h i n g , t h e r e f o r e — i f Christ's
M o t h e r was t o keep her promise o f 1917, and if his o w n pontificate was
ro have as large a p a r t i n the conversion o f Russia and i n establishing a
new reign o f peace in the w o r l d as the Blessed V i r g i n had indicated t o h i m
in 1981—rhen n o t h i n g c o u l d be a l l o w e d t o stand in the w a y o f his Russia
t r i p this t i m e . N o t the A m e r i c a n government. N o r rhe U N or rhe E U or the
CIS. N o r his C a r d i n a l s . N o t any p o w e r o n earth.

SO C H A N G E D d i d Rome seem t o C h r i s t i a n Gladstone w h e n he and

D a m i e n Slattery returned in mid-September t h a t he felt o f f balance, like a
sailor w h o had been t o o l o n g at sea.
H e p u t it d o w n to n a t u r a l rhings at first, Carnesecca's death h i t h i m all
the harder here; Rome w o u l d be a harsh a n d coarser place w i t h o u t h i m . It
became all the more coarse w h e n he was w e l c o m e d back as a member o f
rhe A n g e l i c u m f a m i l y , w h i l e Slattery—an outcast a m o n g his D o m i n i c a n
brothers n o w — h a d t o be housed at the H o l y Father's pleasure as a perma-
nent resident i n a Vatican guesthouse, the Casa del C l e r o o f f the Piazza
N a v o n a . Insult was o n l y added to i n j u r y w h e n Father Bartello, the new
Rector o f the A n g e l i c u m , assigned Slattery's o l d quarters t o G l a d s t o n e —
" C o u r t e s y o f H i s Eminence M a e s t r o i a n n i , " the Rector t o l d C h r i s .
W i t h i n hours o f his a r r i v a l at the A n g e l i c u m , t h o u g h , C h r i s t i a n began t o
realize t h a t the change he sensed had little t o d o w i t h personal distress,
and e v e r y t h i n g t o d o w i t h the queer ecclesiastical and p o l i t i c a l atmosphere
that had settled like smog o n the Eternal C i t y . " P m n o t an accomplished
R o m a n . " Chris practically accosred Slattery w h e n the t w o met before
d a w n o n their second day back. Reports i n h a n d , and w i t h C h r i s t i a n
g r u m b l i n g all the w a y , the r w o friends headed f o r their first brief meeting
w i t h the H o l y Father. " I k n o w Pm n o t capable o f the perceptions that
were second nature t o Father A l d o . But there's n o t h i n g subtle about the
scuttlebutt m a k i n g the r o u n d s ar the A n g e l i c u m . "
H e t o l d D a m i e n h o w students and faculty members alike gossiped
a b o u t H i s Holiness as a lame-duck Pope. I t was p a i n f u l to hear their
p i t y i n g remarks a b o u t "// vecchia Papa, the o l d Pope." But i t was d o w n -
 480 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

right i n f u r i a t i n g t o scan the magazines a n d journals w i r h their speculation

a h o u t the H o l y Father's resignation, abour where he w o u l d live and rhe
cost o f his keep, w h a t his title w o u l d be, w h a t sort o f an apostolate he
w o u l d have, w h a t degree o f a u t h o r i t y he w o u l d enjoy, w h a t changes his
successor w o u l d i n t r o d u c e .
Published speculation o f t h a t sort w a s n ' t entirely new t o Gladstone, or
to Slattery either. Even i n the States, e d i t o r i a l c o m m e n t a r y along that line
had spilled over f r o m R o m a n Catholic publications i n t o the secular press.
But here, it seemed, the coverage had escalated i n t o an onslaught. It d i d n ' t
take an accomplished R o m a n to figure o u t the meaning o f such a relentless
c o m m e n t a r y . For C h r i s Gladstone's m o n e y , i t meant t h a t for an identifi-
able section o f clerical R o m e and the Vatican bureaucracy, rhe Slavic Pope
no longer counred as a f o r m i d a b l e factor. Ir meant rhat those w h o were
desirous o f change were actively f o m e n t i n g and n o u r i s h i n g a consensus
that death o r resignation and retirement w o u l d soon remove the Slavic
Pope f r o m the papacy.
" I t m e a n s , " Slattery i n t e r r u p t e d as the pair slipped i n t o the still deserted
Vatican Secretariat, " t h a t those w h o desire a change are t i n k e r i n g w i t h the
g r i d o n w h i c h p o w e r in papal Rome is t r a n s m i t t e d . "

W h e n M o n s i g n o r e Daniel Sadowski welcomed them t o the f o u r t h f l o o r o f

the A p o s t o l i c Palace a n d accompanied them i n t o the Pontiff's private
study, it was a joy for Gladstone and Slattery alike t o see H i s Holiness
w e l l again after his o p e r a t i o n . I t was like b a l m f o r their souls t o kneel and
kiss his papal r i n g . T o hear the genuine w a r m t h o f his greeting and sense
his mental v i g o r and strength o f purpose made them grateful he was still
alive, still their P o n t i f f , still their visible source o f hope.
T h e little g r o u p settled i n t o a circle o f chairs near the w i n d o w where
they c o u l d see the early light creep over the r o o f t o p s o f Rome. The P o n t i f f
chatted f o r a few minutes abour rhe general status o f his r e t u r n i n g collabo-
r a t o r s — a b o u t health and f a m i l y and associates; a b o u t their impressions o f
Rome afrer rheir l o n g absence. There was t a l k o f Carnesecca as w e l l , h u t
Chris saw n o reason t o m e n t i o n the riddle o f Father A l d o ' s d i a r y . A n d ,
like the elephant in the r o o m that n o b o d y sees, the c u r r e n t gossip abour
the Pope w a s n ' t m e n t i o n e d either.
W h e n the catch-up conversation t u r n e d inevitably to general p o l i t i c a l
developments, Slattery asked about the s i t u a t i o n in Eastern Europe.
" I t ' s p r o m i s i n g if you are one of the archirects o f the N e w W o r l d O r -
d e r , " the Pope replied. " B u t it's a bleak o u t l o o k f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y . They
intend t o b u i l d a new Europe f r o m the A t l a n t i c t o the Sea o f Japan, but
w i t h o u t the faith o f o l d Europe. M y recent correspondence w i t h M i k h a i l
Gorbachev has been enlightening. A l l has been r e a d i e d . "
" F o r w h a t , H o l i n e s s ? " C h r i s t i a n made n o bones today o r any day a b o u t
his geopolitical ignorance. "Readied f o r w h a t ? "
T h e Pope guessed w h a t was behind the question. " F o r a different Eu-
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 481

rope f r o m the Europe y o u r brother helps administer. Father Christian- For

a different U.S.A. f r o m the counrry y o u were h o r n i n t o . For a different
w o r l d f r o m the w o r l d redeemed by C h r i s r . " T h e Pope cut his analysis
short. In all l i k e l i h o o d , he realized, Gladstone and Slattery w o u l d n o t be
able t o envisage the new landscape u n t i l they came face t o face w i t h i t .
" L e t us t a l k o f this another day. It is time for us t o t u r n t o the urgent
matter o f Father Damien's status. As l o n g as I a m here. F a t h e r " — t h e Pope
reached f o r a folder l y i n g o n the table beside h i m — " y o u w i l l n o t lack a
home and w o r k . . . "
M a y b e the queer atmosphere o f Rome had gone t o Christian's head, but
w h e n i t became clear t h a t the P o n t i f f w a s n ' t g o i n g t o m e n t i o n Slattery's
failure to find a bishop w i l l i n g to incardinate h i m , he fell v i c t i m t o a
sudden f l o o d o f impatience. A promise like that is n o t w h a t Damien de-
serves f r o m y o u , Holiness, Gladstone said in his head. He's been t h r o u g h
hell f o r y o u r sake. Holiness. Supposing all the gossip is r i g h t , Holiness.
Suppose you die o v e r n i g h t , Holiness. W h a t then? He's suffering this
d r e a d f u l ostracism—he's been t h r o w n t o rhe dogs, in facr—because he's
f a i t h f u l t o y o u , Holiness. F l o w can you a l l o w t h a t . Holiness?
In the next instant, however, Christian's vehemence turned t o chagrin.
D a m i e n , ir seemed, was ro rake over supervision o f rhe new u n d e r g r o u n d
n e t w o r k o f priesrs whose f o r m a t i o n had kept Cessi so busy lately at W i n d -
swept House. T h e new post w o u l d be n o t h i n g like heading up the great
D o m i n i c a n O r d e r . But at least Chris felt there w o u l d he some protection
for D a m i e n in the fact that n o less p o w e r f u l a figure than C a r d i n a l San-
stefano o f PECA had signed o n as Protector. A n d i t d i d n ' t h u r t t h a t C a r d i -
nal R e i n v e r n u n f t o f C D F had approved the rule for the O r d e r .
" A clear a n d simple rule, as you w i l l see." T h e P o n t i f f handed the folder
to Slattery. " O f course, y o u w i l l be t r a v e l i n g t o the U n i t e d States o n a
fairly frequenr schedule—perhaps one week o u t o f f o u r . "
"Yes, H o l y Father." Ehe assignment was o b v i o u s l y grist f o r Slattery's
m i l l . " B u t i t also means I w i l l be i n R o m e , and at Your Holiness' disposal,
for the other three w e e k s . "
His satisfaction at Damien's enthusiasm p l a i n to see, the Pontiff reached
out at last f o r the reports rhe r w o priests had prepared for h i m . " T h i s may
he a t u r n i n g p o i n t . " T h e Pope t h u m b e d the pages o f both volumes as he
spoke. " G r e a t changes may come a b o u t n o w . . . " W i t h no more than a
glance at his w a t c h , Sadowski reminded the H o l y Father that the day's
schedule was pressing in o n t h e m . " I w o n ' t have a m o m e n t today to start
reading, Pm a f r a i d . C a r d i n a l Palombo is c o m i n g this m o r n i n g w i t h repre-
sentatives o f the Jewish Ecumenical C o m m u n i t y o f D i j o n . They w i l l be
f o l l o w e d by ten A m e r i c a n bishops . . . "
Christian winced inwardly as the P o n t i f f rattled o f f the names o f the
prelates whose t u r n i t was t o give their Pope an accounting o f their d i o -
ceses over the last five years. A l l ten were f r o m the East Coast, and all
figured i n Christian's r e p o r t . Ideally, the Pope should k n o w beforehand
 482 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the distressing i n f o r m a t i o n documented a b o u t t h e m . G i v e n the obvious

press o f t i m e , h o w e v e r — o r was t h a t no more t h a n a cover f o r his o w n
weakness?—Gladstone let the m o m e n t pass.
. . and t h e n , before I welcome my bishops again for dinner, I must
have a very i m p o r t a n t conversation w i t h Bischara Francis, w h o has come
t o plead the cause o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Fund for P o p u l a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a -
tion."
Slattery was beginning to w o n d e r if there w o u l d ever be a b r i g h t spot in
the papal schedule again, w h e n the P o n t i f f t o l d them o f plans for a brief
pilgrimage t o the H o l y House o f Lorero in cenrral Italy.
A c c o r d i n g t o t r a d i t i o n , this was the actual house where Jesus had lived
his hidden years w i t h M a r y and Joseph at N a z a r e t h ; according to legend,
i t had been transported to L o r e t o i n the thirteenth century by angels. Flis
Floliness confided t h a t he had l o n g w a n t e d t o add his name t o the long list
o f Popes w h o had visited the H o l y House. But i t was less his w o r d s than
the l o o k o f expectation in his eyes t h a t t o l d o f the Pope's deep devotion to
the H o l y Family. " B e f o r e I leave for L o r e t o " — t h e Pontiff still held the
reports i n his h a n d s — " I w i l l study this material w i t h great care. Give me
some days. T h e n we w i l l get together f o r a full discussion."
Gladstone and Slattery left the papal study w i t h hearts h i g h . H i s H o l i -
ness had spoken o f their reports as "a t u r n i n g p o i n t " and of his expecta-
t i o n that "great changes may come about n o w . " T h a t c o u l d o n l y signal his
intent t o b r i n g his C u r i a l Cardinals and his disobedient, recalcitrant and
erring bishops i n t o line and t o elicit more w i l l i n g c o l l a b o r a t i o n f r o m his
Vatican officials. A t u r n i n g p o i n t , indeed!
M o n s i g n o r e DaniePs t h o u g h t s were o f a d i f f e r e n t sort as he watched the
t w o priests head for the elevator. A f t e r their l o n g absence, he k n e w there
was no way they c o u l d gather the seemingly disparate strands of this
m o r n i n g ' s conversation i n t o one cohesive fabric. Nevertheless, such con-
versation meant t h a t the Fatima mandate was foremost i n the Pontiff's
m i n d n o w . A c c o r d i n g t o Fatima, the fate o f the w o r l d w o u l d depend on
Russia. If great changes were t o come a b o u t , then surely the H o l y Father
expected his pilgrimage t o the East to be the t u r n i n g p o i n t .
In all l i k e l i h o o d the Pope had wanted t o share some o f his thoughts on
t h a t subject, and had been disappointed t h a t t i m e h a d n ' t permitted h i m t o
d o so t o d a y . A n d yet, Daniel reflected as he closed the d o o r t o the h a l l w a y ,
there were compensations. Perhaps Gladsrone and Slattery had attained
no real vantage p o i n t w i t h i n the geopolitical l o o p ; no deep understanding
o f rhe subjecr mosr dear t o the Pontiff's hearr and mosr constantly on his
m i n d . But they d i d share the one t r a i t t h a t made f a i t h f u l service possible.
They believed in this man's holy office, the papacy.

C a r d i n a l N o a h Palombo was his usual t a c i t u r n self as he led seven dele-

gates o f the Jewish Ecumenical C o m m u n i t y o f D i j o n i n t o one of the recep-
t i o n rooms o f the A p o s t o l i c Palace for their meeting w i t h the Slavic Pope
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 483

and M o n s i g n o r e S a d o w s k i . Beyond the required i n t r o d u c t i o n s , His E m i -

nence had n o t h i n g t o say. A t least n o t directly. Brother Jeremiah was the
spokesman. Like rhe other six delegates, he was a bearded m a n clad in a
w h i t e ankle-length robe. He explained t o the H o l y Eather t h a t they wished
him t o h o l d an ecumenical service in Sr. Peter's Basilica as an acr o f repa-
ration for C h r i s t i a n responsibility and c u l p a b i l i t y in the H i t l e r i a n H o l o -
caust.
T h e P o n t i f f fixed his gaze o n P a l o m b o as he listened t o Brother Jer-
emiah. T r y as he m i g h r , he c o u l d nor get the C a r d i n a l t o l o o k h i m in the
eye; b u t he k n e w Brother Jeremiah's p r o p o s i t i o n had come f r o m His E m i -
nence's m i n d ; rhat this was another piece o f mischief on Palombo's part;
another t u r n Of the screw; another w a y of saying t o the P o n t i f f , " W e also
r u n the C h u r c h ; Peter is n o t s u p r e m e . "
Finally, H i s Holiness t u r n e d f r o m rhe C a r d i n a l and began ro address
Brorher Jeremiah's specific proposals one by one. T h e P o n t i f f said he d i d
not t h i n k such an ecumenical service should be held in St. Peter's. Brother
Jeremiah himself had included a m o n g his proposals rhe removal o f any
Cross o r C r u c i f i x d u r i n g the ceremony; b o t h symbols, he said, evoked
p a i n f u l memories f o r Jews. But there were so many Crosses and Crucifixes
in Sr. Peter's that such an idea was i m p r a c t i c a l . " A n d , " His Holiness
added w i r h another unrerurned l o o k ar C a r d i n a l P a l o m b o , " i t is also i m -
permissible."
In fact, the P o n t i f f t h o u g h t a m e m o r i a l concert w o u l d be a more firting
event. Ecumenical services implied t h a t the participants desired and
prayed for eventual u n i o n w i t h each other, and H i s Holiness d i d nor think
this was the desire o r the intent of the Jewish C o m m u n i t y . As to the site
for such a concert. H i s Holiness felt the huge reception hall built by a
recent papal predecessor w o u l d be suitable. It stood right beside St. Pe-
ter's; and it contained o n l y one Cross, w h i c h c o u l d be t e m p o r a r i l y shifted
to a closet.
Once such points were clarified, the delegates accepted His Holiness'
suggestion o f a m e m o r i a l concert. " T h e Shoah M e m o r i a l C o n c e r t " —
Brother Jeremiah came up w i t h the name o n the spot—a fitting name t h a t
encompassed images o f ravage and desrruction, of waste and terrible hor-
ror.
Flis Holiness rose and shook hands w i t h each s m i l i n g member of rhe
D i j o n delegation. " M y personal secrerary, M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski, w i l l be
at y o u r disposal. But Flis Eminence w i l l be in charge o f the event. H e w i l l
be w o r k i n g w i r h rhe G o v e r n o r of Vatican C i t y a n d the C a r d i n a l Vicar o f
Rome, o f c o u r s e . "
T h a t was the o n l y t i m e — a fleeting s e c o n d — w h e n Palombo lifted his
head and gave one steady l o o k i n t o the P o n t i f f s eyes. W h a t that l o o k was
meant t o convey was anyone's guess. But w h a t the P o n t i f f saw left h i m
w i t h a sense o f shock greater than the C a r d i n a l ' s malign c o n t e m p t had
ever sparked i n h i m . H a d he been a m a n disposed to fear, i t w o u l d have
 484 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

been baleful. As i t was, it b r o u g h t to m i n d h o w D a m i e n Slattery had

described the l o o k i n the eyes o f those completely possessed by the d e m o n .
" T h a t was w h a t I saw in H i s Eminence's eyes, M o n s i g n o r e , " the Pope
confided t o Sadowski w h e n rhe visiting party had left. " A complerely alien
l o o k . It was as t h o u g h I was facing a h o l l o w m a n ; a t o t a l stranger w i r h
w h o m I had never exchanged a single w o r d . "

Chris Cladsrone's schedule that day was no more pleasant than the H o l y
Father's. The t i m e had come for h i m t o begin his double game as a mole
and a deceiver.
N o sooner had he set f o o t again in C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's office than
H i s Eminence enveloped h i m in a genial welcome and sat h i m d o w n beside
his desk. The preliminaries were b r i e f — M a e s r r o i a n n i hoped rhat G l a d -
stone w a s n ' t overtired afrer his journey and t h a t his new quarters ar the
A n g e l i c u m were t o his l i k i n g . Brevity and the i m p l i e d disdain for D a m i e n
Slattery aside, however, every w o r d was o b v i o u s l y inrended ro make the
younger m a n feel like a long-losr son. Like a favored intimate. L i k e a
Sancho Panza. T h e n , it was d o w n t o business.
Ripples o f satisfaction soon filled the atmosphere as M a e s t r o i a n n i went
t h r o u g h the packed envelopes Chrisrian had broughr back w i r h h i m f r o m
America. "Excellent! . . . Excellent, m y dear Father Gladsrone! . . .
Jusr the material we need! . . . " W h e n he had concluded his preliminary
reading and folded everyrhing away, rhe aging C a r d i n a l rested his elbows
on rhe arms o f his chair, his hands clasped beneath his c h i n . I t was a
solemn m o m e n t for h i m . In all p r o b a b i l i t y , this y o u n g priest—so surpris-
ingly able f o r an A n g l o - S a x o n — w o u l d be the last disciple he w o u l d pre-
pare for service in the Process. " I t is a b o u t r i m e , my dear F a t h e r , "
M a e s t r o i a n n i began q u i e t l y , " t h a t I tell you w h a t we have launched. First,
let me ask y o u discreetly i f you've seen the H o l y Father since y o u r re-
turn?"
"Yes, Eminence. B r i e f l y . "
"Your impression?"
" I t ' s h a r d to say, Your Eminence . . . "
"Yes. It's always hard t o tell a b o u t h i m . " The C a r d i n a l seemed satisfied
b u t pensive as he cocked his head sideways at Gladstone like a wise o l d
o w l a b o u t t o hatch an egg. T h a t impression, i t t u r n e d our, wasn'r far
w r o n g . For the better parr o f t h i r t y minures, Chrisrian was treated ro a
srunning revelation o f Maestroianni's soul. W i t h absolure candor, Flis Em-
inence laid o u t rhe extravagant conceptions t h a t had animated his m i n d
for so many years a n d that had exacted f r o m h i m the p i t i f u l l y heavy price
o f his f a i t h . The little Cardinal's eyes shone as he shared the dream o f his
belief in the Process as the true force behind the forces o f history. Fie
seemed electrified w i t h energy as he spoke o f the need to suppress divisive-
ness a n d t o develop the machinery f o r a cooperative spirit i n the w o r l d .
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 485

" T e l l me, Farher Gladsrone. In y o u r academic career, have y o u read

m u c h abour the grear French sratesman R o b e r t S c h u m a n ? "
C h r i s t i a n was still reeling i n w a r d l y ar h o w completely C a r d i n a l
M a e s r r o i a n n i had been srripped nor o n l y o f his R o m a n i s m bur o f any
rrace o f C a t h o l i c i s m . N o t once i n his paean t o the forces o f history had he
m e n t i o n e d C h r i s t , m u c h less the Blessed M o t h e r or the Apostles or the
Fathers o f the C h u r c h . H e was at a loss t o understand w h y H i s Eminence
asked n o w a b o u t such an o u t s t a n d i n g C a t h o l i c as Robert Schuman; b u t he
a l l o w e d as h o w he k n e w as m u c h as most.
" T h e n , m y dear Father" —the C a r d i n a l came d o w n t o cases—"you
1

must k n o w h o w dedicated Schuman was to a new ideal f o r Europe. A n d

you k n o w enough ro appreciare rhe significance o f an ecumenical gather-
ing t h a t t o o k place o n the occasion o f the official Schuman M e m o r i a l
celebrations i n Strasbourg early last year . . . "
Chris felt his heart skip a beat. Was i t t o be so easy, then? Was the
C a r d i n a l g o i n g t o spill the beans, just like t h a t , a b o u t the Strasbourg
meeting Slattery had t o l d h i m about at W i n d s w e p t ? Was he g o i n g to hear
a b o u t the plans t h a t had made h i m , and his brother, t o o , i n t o such simple-
m i n d e d pawns in M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s a n t i p a p a l schemes?
" A r e y o u all r i g h t , Father G l a d s t o n e ? " H i s Eminence offered his visitor
some water f r o m the carafe on his desk. " Y o u l o o k p a l e . "
" E m fine, Eminence. Just the excitement o f the m o m e n t . . . "
"Perfectly u n d e r s t a n d a b l e . " N o stranger to such excitement himself, the
C a r d i n a l relaxed again. " I see y o u are quick t o comprehend i m p o r t a n t
matters. Ler me come to the p o i n t . As a man o f experience, y o u w i l l n o t be
surprised t o hear that we are actually engaged in the t r a n s i t i o n between
r w o pontificares. T h e presenr one, w h i c h clings to o u t w o r n ideas, a n d a
new one, w h i c h w i l l be m o r e attuned to the enlightened future a w a i t i n g
us. As l o y a l sons o f the C h u r c h , we must all d o o u r best to facilitate that
t r a n s i t i o n . W h e n I say w e , ' o f course I mean the C h u r c h o f C h r i s t in the
4

persons o f his bishops, the successors o f the Apostles. Peter and his breth-
ren, t o use the o l d phrase." The C a r d i n a l cocked his head as if ro elicit a
response.
U n w i l l i n g t o trusr his tongue, C h r i s stared at M a e s t r o i a n n i , h o p i n g that
neither the expression i n his eyes n o r the color t h a t flooded his face—a
flush o f anger, a blush o f d i s g u s t — w o u l d betray h i m . A t last, he managed
to n o d his head.
A p p a r e n t l y t h a t was enough. Patiently and m e t h o d i c a l l y , M a e s t r o i a n n i
explained the basic concept o f the C o m m o n M i n d Vote, the Resignation
P r o t o c o l , the l i n k between the t w o , and the urgent t i m i n g o f the plans
under w a y . Pie spoke o f the magnificent c o n t r i b u t i o n Gladstone's w o r k
had made to the C M V . H e expressed his debt o f g r a t i t u d e t o Paul G l a d -
stone for his t i m e l y interventions at the EC o n behalf o f i n d i v i d u a l bish-
ops. " P i v o t a l w o r k , F a t h e r , " the C a r d i n a l cooed w i t h a t h r o a t y chuckle.
" B l o o d is thicker rhan w a t e r , eh?"
 486 \v i N r> s w r p T H o v s F.

T h a t was n o t t o be the end o f the m a t t e r , b u t o n l y the beginning. So

certain was H i s Eminence o f Gladstone as a y o u n g man o f perception and
promise t h a t he had n o m i n a t e d the g o o d Father f o r the grade o f domestic
prelate. " T h a t t o u c h o f violet in y o u r clothes and robes w o r k s wonders in
this city and elsewhere."
" Y o u r Eminence is t o o k i n d . " C h r i s t i a n all b u t choked on the w o r d s .
The last t h i n g he w a n t e d was to deck himself o u t i n the violet-colored
buttons and robes o f a monsignore.
" N o r ar a l l , Padrecito." The w a r m f a m i l i a r i t y o f that f o r m o f address
on the Cardinal's lips wasn't lost on Gladstone. " I a m presuming you w i l l
continue t o w o r k w i t h us. We d o still have some i m p o r t a n t loose ends to
tie u p . . . " M a e s t r o i a n n i was abour t o go i n t o those loose ends in some
detail w h e n M o n s i g n o r e Taco M a n u g u e r r a k n o c k e d at the d o o r .
" I k n o w y o u w a n r no i n r e r r u p r i o n s , Eminence." M a n u g u e r r a was all
afluster. " B u t Professor C h a n n i n g . . . "
A n n o y e d at w h a t he regarded as a necessary evil, the C a r d i n a l reached
for his phone and signaled f o r Christian t o remain where he was. " A
pleasure t o hear f r o m y o u , D r . C h a n n i n g . . . . Yes, I was just speaking to
a y o u n g colleague on the subject. . . . Yes, yes; you have understood
correctly. T h e C M V is quite o n schedule. . . . W h a t ' s that, Professor?
. . . Supplemental initiatives. . . . I see. . . . Yes, D r . C h a n n i n g . W h y
d o n ' t we leave i t like that? The m o m e n t we're ready f o r definitive action,
you w i l l be rhe first to k n o w . . . . W e l l , o f course, i f y o u feel the need t o
come t o R o m e . . . . "
For a m o m e n t , M a e s t r o i a n n i seemed t o forget Gladstone was there. It
was a fleeting t h i n g , and almost unheard o f i n a m a n so adept at romamta;
but, for the first time i n his association w i t h the little C a r d i n a l , Chris
r h o u g h t he saw the flicker o f open e n m i t y .
" D o forgive the i n t e r r u p t i o n , F a t h e r . " H i s Eminence returned t o f o r m
the m o m e n t he h u n g u p . " N o w , where were we? A h , yes. The loose ends
rhar musr be tied u p . "
For the m o m e n t , those loose ends consisted o f certain bishops i n Spain
and Portugal w h o needed a visit. Father Gladstone w o u l d find their names
and the usual array o f b a c k g r o u n d i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e m in the first o f
the folders the C a r d i n a l handed h i m . In the second folder, he w o u l d find
the tallies o f the C M V to date, and a copy o f the Resignation Protocol.
" S t u d y those, Father, and you w i l l have a better understanding o f the
tactics we are using. Keep me abreast o f y o u r w o r k o n a l l f r o n t s . M y d o o r
is open for y o u day and n i g h t . "
A s s u m i n g he had been dismissed, Chris tucked the t w o folders i n t o his
briefcase and rose f r o m his chair.
" A m o m e n t . " M a e s t r o i a n n i glanced ar his w a r c h . " P m expecting r w o
visitors r i g h t a b o u t n o w . L i k e y o u , Padrecito, they realize the need for
radical change. I w a n t y o u t o meet t h e m . Say a brief hello, and then be on
your w a y . "
THE R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 487

The first m a n , dressed i n the f l o w i n g w h i t e robes o f a D o m i n i c a n , was

i n t r o d u c e d to C h r i s t i a n as Father George I Iotelet, an h o n o r a r y member of
rhe Pontifical Academy o f Sciences and General Secrerary o f the Interna-
t i o n a l T h e o l o g i c a l C o m m i s s i o n . " F a t h e r also functions as a theologian f o r
the papal h o u s e h o l d , " M a e s t r o i a n n i expanded o n Hotelet's credentials.
T h e second m a n , a l a y m a n , had the bearing and the name o f a d i s t i n -
guished Italian aristocrat. " D r . C a r l o Fiesole-Marracci at y o u r service,
Reverendo."
Again M a e s t r o i a n n i supplied the credentials. " D r . C a r l o is current Pres-
ident o f the Pontifical Academy o f Sciences and an o u t s t a n d i n g demogra-
pher. A n d a very g o o d f r i e n d . "
A l w a y s adepr at b r i n g i n g rrusted colleagues together, H i s Eminence ex-
plained t h a t Father George and D r . C a r l o , a l o n g w i t h six other experts at
the Pontifical A c a d e m y , had just completed a superlative study o f p o p u l a -
t i o n c o n t r o l and demographic trends. " Y o u w i l l read i t soon. Father, and
w i t h great s a t i s f a c t i o n . "
Equally adept at dismissing colleagues at the proper m o m e n t , Maestro-
ianni made it clear thar this was the cue f o r Gladstone to take his leave.

It was a hefty w a l k f r o m the A p o s t o l i c Palace to Lucadamo's office in the

Porta Sanr'Anna. Just w h a t he needed, Chris decided. He w a n t e d time to
himself afrer his meeting w i r h M a e s r r o i a n n i .
U n t i l t o d a y , it had been easy t o dislike H i s Eminence and let i t go at
that. But i t w a s n ' t so simple n o w . The C a r d i n a l ' s sermon o n the bleak,
i n h u m a n , faceless t h i n g called the Process forced h i m t o w o n d e r . It was
disheartening to see a man so capable, so high u p and so far gone. But
w h e n he began t o ask himself w h a t had happened t o Maestroianni's f a i t h ,
Chris w o n d e r e d i f the same m i g h t not happen t o h i m . H o w c o u l d anyone
w o r k i n g in present-day Rome manage to stay in God's grace?
In a m o o d somewhere between sadness and exasperation, and w i t h no
answers for his questions, Chris arrived at the Porta S a n f A n n a , made his
w a y t h r o u g h rhe Vatican's a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o m p l e x ro Lucadamo's office
and f o u n d Slattery and the security chief already i n deep discussion,
" I can'r pur my finger o n i r , G i u s t i n o . . . " D a m i e n acknowledged
Chris's entrance w i t h a n o d . " T h e H o l y Farher seems full o f life, w h i l e
burdened by life. H e seems ready for c o m b a t , b u t r e t i r i n g and m i l d . There
was real fire in h i m w h e n he t o l d us a b o u t his meeting w i t h Bischara
Francis, b u t w h e n he mentioned C a r d i n a l Palombo and the Jewish Ecu-
menical C o m m u n i t y o f D i j o n , there was a l o o k i n his eye . . . "
" Y o u can'r blame h i m f o r t h a t , " Lucadamo answered. " T h a t Ecumeni-
cal C o m m u n i t y is full o f a n t i p a p a l snakes. But you needn't w o r r y about
H i s Holiness* health. The doctors say his pontificate is g o o d for another
ten years."
" N o t i f C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i has a n y t h i n g to say a b o u t i t . " Chris
settled i n t o the e m p t y chair beside Slattery and explained the details of the
 488 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

C o m m o n M i n d Vote o f the bishops exactly as M a e s t r o i a n n i had explained

it t o h i m .
L u c a d a m o cook i n every d e t a i l . H e k n e w t h a t Strasbourg had been rhe
launch f o r some sort o f organized vote by the N a t i o n a l and Regional
Conferences o f Bishops. He k n e w relations between the Pope and his C u -
rial enemies had reached an a l l - t i m e l o w , w i t h b o t h sides hardened i n their
attitudes. H e had watched disintegration take its t o l l on the H o l y Father's
c o n t r o l of the levers o f p o w e r in the Vatican bureaucracy. Like Slattery
and Gladstone, he had read all the c o m m e n t a r y t h a t removed any element
o f surprise o r shock f r o m the idea o f a papal resignation. A n d o f course he
knew a b o u t the resignation letter itself t h a t had been d r a f t e d and re-
drafted.
But u n t i l n o w . he h a d n ' t understood the mechanics o f the C M V . H e
hadn't discovered h o w i t was t o f u n c t i o n as the heart o f the assault on the
papal office; h o w the p u b l i c spectacle o f a vote of no confidence f r o m his
bishops, together w i t h all the other pressures and h u m i l i a t i o n s Maestro-
ianni and his colleagues c o n t i n u a l l y piled up against h i m , w o u l d be engi-
neered to convince the Slavic Pope t h a t he c o u l d no longer effectively
govern his C h u r c h . " A n d the c u l m i n a t i o n o f all t h a t , " L u c a d a m o finished
Gladstone's e x p l a n a t i o n for h i m , " w i l l be the Pontiff's signature o n rhe
Resignation P r o t o c o l . Is t h a t the way they have i t figured?"
"Pretty m u c h . "
" D o y o u have a timetable yet, F a t h e r ? "
" S p r i n g is rheir target date. A n d , thanks ro me, the C o m m o n M i n d Vote
is a sure t h i n g . " Gladstone popped his briefcase open as he spoke and
handed rhe early C M V tallies to L u c a d a m o . " P l l need this material back. I
have to have i t d o w n c o l d before 1 see the C a r d i n a l a g a i n . "
L u c a d a m o gave the C M V tallies to a secretary t o copy. T h e n , t u r n i n g to
Gladstone and Slattery again, he a l l o w e d as h o w M a e s t r o i a n n i always
seemed t o have the Devil's o w n t i m i n g on his side. " I f the H o l y Father's
present plan w o r k s o u r , he c o u l d be in Russia at a b o u t the time the C M V
is supposed to take place."
"Russia be d a m n e d ! " Slattery b o o m e d his o b j e c t i o n . " T h e H o l y Father
w i l l have ro scuttle this C M V p l o t right n o w ! "
" W e ' l l see. Father D a m i e n . He's dead set o n the Russia t r i p , but y o u ' l l
have y o u r chance t o convince h i m . He's t o l d me he has y o u r reports. Pll be
getting copies myself as soon as M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l gets them over to me.
He plans to have a meeting w i t h all o f us as soon as he's read them
t h r o u g h . I n the meantime, y o u ' r e to m e n t i o n his Russia t r i p t o no one.
Either o f y o u ! "
Despite Slattery's o u r b u r s t and Lucadamo's s t a r t l i n g news t h a t the Pon-
t i f f had p u t his plans for a pilgrimage t o Russia i n t o high gear, Chris was
deep in his o w n t h o u g h t s . " T h e r e ' s a m a n called C h a n n i n g . He's a doctor
or a professor o f some sort. T h a t ' s all I k n o w a b o u t h i m , except that he's
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 489

somehow tied up in the C M V and that he has some supplemental initiative

up his sleeve. ' 1

" A n y t h i n g else?"
" M a y b e . " Chris asked Slattery a b o u t a D o m i n i c a n by the name o f
George H o t e l e t . " H e and the current head o f the Pontifical Academy o f
Sciences t u r n e d up in Maestroianni's office just as I was on my way o u t .
H i s Eminence is all excited about a study they're d o i n g o n p o p u l a t i o n
control."
" F a t h e r G e o r g i e ? " Damien scowled. "Yes. I k n o w h i m . Butter w o u l d n ' t
melt in his m o u t h , b u t he's definitely p a r t of the antipapal cabal. I f George
is in on a n y t h i n g — s a y , this study by the Academy o f Sciences—it's bad
news f o r the Pope and f o r the C h u r c h . "
T h a t figured, Chris t h o u g h t dejectedly. But he c o u l d n ' t help w o n d e r i n g
aloud whar Farher A l d o Carnesecca w o u l d r h i n k of h i m n o w . " W o u l d n ' t
he t h i n k , " C h r i s t i a n answered his o w n question w i t h another, " t h a t i t
smacks o f insanity t h a t , f o r the sake o f the Pope and the g l o r y of G o d , Pm
t u r n i n g i n t o a first-class deceiver? A n d w o u l d n ' t he t h i n k i t smacks of
m o r a l cowardice t h a t , for the foreseeable f u t u r e , Pll be a b r o w n noser to
men like H o t e l e t ? "
" Y o u must be o u t o f y o u r m i n d ! " Slattery r o u n d e d on Chris. " H o w the
blazes do y o u t h i n k Father A l d o g o t t h r o u g h the fifty years o f his Vatican
career w i t h o u t a pratfall? H e d i d everything he had to do i n order t o
survive, and t o do whatever good he c o u l d do w i r h i n the system!"
Slattery's o u t b u r s t h i t Chris like a bucket of ice water. I t b r o u g h t h i m
face to face again w i t h the fact t h a t his wise and gentle friend had finally
r u n o u r o f ways t o survive. A n d ir b r o u g h r h i m back to the questions
about Father A l d o ' s m u r d e r .
L u c a d a m o d i d n ' t need m u c h p r o m p t i n g . The red-eyed demon of re-
venge was very m u c h w i t h h i m . " W e ' v e made copies of his d i a r y . " Gius-
t i n o t o o k the w o r n leather volume f r o m a locked d r a w e r and returned i t
to Gladstone. " I ' v e gone t h r o u g h several years of entries myself, and I
have a couple o f m y best men on i t as w e l l . But so far there's n o t h i n g that
stacks up as a m o t i v e for m u r d e r . "
" I t has to be here, G i u s r i n o . Whatever A l d o w a n t e d us t o find has to be
here."
L u c a d a m o was still prey ro the grisly images o f Carnesecca's agony. Bur
he confessed that i t w a s n ' t only m u r d e r n o w that drove h i m to find the
key. Above a l l , he said, it was the m e t h o d . " W h a t e v e r he wanred us to
find—whatever it was he s a w — w a s so i m p o r r a n t that i t wasn't enough
just to k i l l h i m . I t was as if some maniac wanted to b u r n his eyes our first
for h a v i n g seen i t . As if someone w a n t e d t o b u r n every shred o f m e m o r y
f r o m his b r a i n . "

Once dinner was over and the exhaustive personal interviews w i t h his
A m e r i c a n bishops were behind h i m at last, the Slavic Pope t o o k advantage
 490 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

o f the first quiet moments o f his long day to d r a f t a h a n d w r i t t e n reply to

the latest letter f r o m M i k h a i l Gorbachev. He had jusr settled d o w n to thar
task w h e n , pen i n h a n d , he let himself be tempted by the t w o reports
M o n s i g n o r e Daniel had left o n the corner of his desk. " 1 w o n d e r . . . " H e
brearhed the w o r d s half a l o u d to himself.
A c c o r d i n g to those ten East Coast bishops, their i n d i v i d u a l dioceses
were v i b r a n t w i t h g o o d w i l l f o r the H o l y Eather and b r i m m i n g w i t h exhila-
r a t i n g examples o f the religious renewal His Holiness encouraged and
recommended. To hear rhose worthies t a l k , in fact, their dioceses were
financially s o u n d , internally cohesive, f a i t h f u l ro the directives of their
bishops and pastors; and they were in the very f o r e f r o n t o f zeal and reli-
gious observance. O f course, the P o n t i f f t o o k such talk w i t h a grain o f
salt. But w h a t he d i d n ' t k n o w was whether the bishops were p u l l i n g rhe
w o o l over their o w n eyes or were consciously engaged in a facade of
d e v o t i o n to the papacy.
" 1 w o n d e r . . . " He decided to d i p i n t o the thicker o f the t w o reports.
It was Gladstone's, as i t happened, and its i n f o r m a t i o n was laid out w i t h
the care o f a true academician. A n d sure enough, each of the visiting
A m e r i c a n bishops t u r n e d u p in the inclusive index o f names and subjects.
" W e concentrate o n the q u a l i t y , n o t the q u a n t i t y , ot o u r priests, H o l y
Father . . So rhe Bishop f r o m A l b a n y had said. Bur according to G l a d -
stone's r e p o r t , t h a t same bishop declared constantly t h a t the o l d concept
o f priesthood was " o b s o l e t e " ; that priests no longer needed " t h e m e d i -
evalism o f celibacy," t h a t homosexuality was a " p e r f e c t l y acceptable"
w a y o f life. The P o n t i f f shook his head like a d o g emerging f r o m a pool as
he t r i e d t o shed the m e m o r y o f the pious-sounding voices of the other
bishops whose personal mores and m o r a l teaching were o u t l i n e d in G l a d -
stone's r e p o r t . He w i n c e d at the g u l l i b i l i t y those men presumed in h i m .
But inner h u r r w a s n ' t even the half o f his suffering n o w . There was in h i m
a c o l d , repulsive h o r r o r ar his o w n g u i l t .
Was he nor the one u l t i m a t e l y responsible t o the A l m i g h t y ? W h a t right
had he, then, to ask i f the bishops were p u l l i n g the w o o l over his eyes? D i d
justice n o t demand that he ask another question? Instead o f simply being
deceived all this t i m e , had he conveniently shut his eyes? H a d he conve-
niently t o l d himself, and all w h o asked, t h a t such c o r r u p t i o n ot faith and
morals in the hierarchy was ineradicable at rhis time? T h a t the very splen-
dor o f rhe t r u t h w o u l d dispel all the errors?

" H o l i n e s s . . . ?"
T h o u g h M o n s i g n o r e Daniel barely breathed the w o r d , the Pontiff was
startled at the s o u n d . Was it 5 A . M . already?
" H o w m a n y people are c o m i n g this m o r n i n g , M o n s i g n o r e ? "
Sadowski understood the question. O n e o f the Slavic Pope's first i n n o -
vations in the Vatican had been to a d m i t guests to his m o r n i n g Mass at
s i x - t h i r t y and then t o breakfast w i t h h i m a f t e r w a r d . But the sight o f the
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 491

Ponriff lefr rhe papal secretary roo shocked ro answer. This was a man
w h o never sought piry or c o m m i s e r a t i o n for his inner pains. Bur Daniel
saw rhe stain o f tears; he saw rhe reporrs open o n the desk a m i d a sea o f
h a n d w r i t t e n notes; and he k n e w the deeper signs o f t u r m o i l in this c h u r c h -
man w h o m he had served for thirty-five years.
"Monsignore Daniel?"
" T w e l v e in a l l . H o l i n e s s . " Still shaken, Sadowski answered rhe question.
" T h e ten U.S. bishops y o u met w i t h yesterday and those French Brothers
f r o m the Ecumenical C o m m u n i t y o f D i j o n . "
The Slavic Pope rubbed his eyes, as if t h a t w o u l d clear away the w e a r i -
ness o f his soul. "Please p u t t h e m off, M o n s i g n o r e . T o d a y , let me say Mass
and breakfast a l o n e . " T h e P o n t i f f stood u p , stretched himself and was just
heading o f f t o bathe and shave and prepare for Mass w h e n he turned
back. " I n fact, M o n s i g n o r e , clear the week o f all b u t the most i m p o r t a n t
interviews and public appearances. I t w i l l be better t h a t w a y . I w i l l be tied
to these reports f o r d a y s . "
" O f course, H o l i n e s s . "
Daniel remained behind in the study f o r a time. He had begun to read
his o w n copies o f those reports a n d , like a l o t o f other things in the
Vatican these days, he wished he c o u l d wish them a w a y . But all he c o u l d
do was ask himself the question he had asked a thousand times before. O n
whose shoulder c o u l d a Pope lean ro shed his tears?

X L 111
O N T H E POPE'S I N S T R U C T I O N S , Sadowski cleared rhe papal calendar
as m u c h as possible. As a convenient e x p l a n a t i o n , and w i t h the c o n n i v -
ance o f D r . Fanarote, he hinted at a great fatigue a f f l i c t i n g the H o l y Fa-
ther—a ploy rhat led ro yer another spate of r u m o r s abour a papal resigna-
tion a n d , alternatively, the i m m i n e n t death o f the H o l y Father. R u m o r s
were the least o f M o n s i g n o r e Daniel's w o r r i e s , however. Ir was the Slavic
Pope's suffering rhar pained this f a i t h f u l servant and l o v i n g c o l l a b o r a t o r .
Sadowski k n e w this man t h o r o u g h l y . I n the course o f his career as
bishop, C a r d i n a l a n d Pope, merciless dilemmas and ugly choices had been
r h r o w n at h i m ; b u t always he had devised acceptable alternatives. A l w a y s
rhis Slavic Pope had w a l k e d a charmed life—never d o u b t i n g , ever h o p i n g ;
never resourceless, ever b u o y a n t ; never i m p a t i e n t , ever sure o f his destiny.
N o w , however, i t became t r u l y d i f f i c u l t to stand a p a r t and w a t c h the
Pontiff w i l t visibly. M o s t of his d a y l i g h t hours were spent reading and
analyzing the reports and t a k i n g notes. Once a day, o n D r . Fanarote's
stern orders, he t o o k a quick-paced s w i n g t h r o u g h the Vatican gardens;
 492 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

but then i t was m o r e reading, m o r e analysis, m o r e note t a k i n g . N o r were

nights a t i m e o f rest. H e t o o k solitary n o c t u r n a l w a l k s t h r o u g h the c o r r i -
dors o f rhe A p o s t o l i c Palace. Once, he spent hours d o w n in the Tombs o f
the Apostles beneath the H i g h A l t a r o f St. Peter's. A n d on three m o r n i n g s ,
w h e n Daniel entered rhe Pope's private Chapel at a r o u n d 5 A . M . t o pre-
pare f o r Mass, he f o u n d the w h i t e - r o b e d figure stretched prone o n rhe
f l o o r before the Tabernacle, where he had o b v i o u s l y passed rhe night.
For once, Sadowski was t r u l y helpless. He was reading the same m a t e r i -
als as the Pope; k n e w the Pope had created m a n y o f the bishops and
Cardinals w h o figured in rhe reports; k n e w h o w i t must sicken the Pope to
see the details o f s o d o m y and Satanism in the c l e r g y — t o see all the names
and dates and places.
But he also k n e w there was more t o it for the Pontiff t h a n that. His
Holiness had become obsessed w i t h finding an answer to some t o r t u r i n g
question; a m a n engaged in a personal crisis t h a t w e n t beyond the u n -
t h i n k a b l e realities established in the reporrs as factual.
I n his helplessness, Sadowski spoke to D r . Fanarote a b o u t the strain o n
the Pope a n d o n his vital powers. But he f o u n d precious little hope there
either, ' i f strain c o u l d k i l l this m a n , he w o u l d already be dead. A n d any-
w a y , M o n s i g n o r e , he s i m p l y doesn't care one w a y or rhe other about that.
Pm his d o c t o r and I k n o w . Wharever i t costs h i m — i n c l u d i n g his l i f e — h e ' l l
d o w h a t he t h i n k s he s h o u l d . "

In and o f themselves, the g r i m facts Gladstone and Slattery had d o c u -

menred i n their reports d i d not surprise the Slavic Pope. H o m o s e x u a l i t y
and Satanism were a m o n g the oldest viruses l u r k i n g in the body politic o f
the C h u r c h . T h e difference n o w was t h a t homosexual and Saranisr activity
had attained a new status w i t h i n t h a t body politic. In certain sectors o f the
C h u r c h , its members had come up f r o m the u n d e r g r o u n d and claimed the
right to be represented in the public f o r u m o f C h u r c h life. T h e i r apparent
acceptability t o their colleagues and associates was a signal thar all i n -
volved had ceased to believe in C a t h o l i c teaching. Some h a d beliefs so
alien t h a t effectively they c o u l d no longer be reckoned as Catholics. A n d
yet, none w a n t e d t o q u i t the C h u r c h , as M a r t i n Luther had done. N o r d i d
they i n t e n d t o live somehow w i t h i n the C h u r c h according to irs laws and
d o c t r i n e , as Erasmus had done.
Suddenly i t became unarguable that n o w , d u r i n g rhis papacy, rhe Ro-
man C a t h o l i c o r g a n i z a t i o n carried a permanent presence o f clerics w h o
w o r s h i p p e d Satan a n d l i k e d i t ; o f bishops and priests w h o sodomized boys
and each other; o f nuns w h o p e r f o r m e d rhe " B l a c k Rites" o f Wicca, and
w h o lived i n lesbian relationships w i t h i n as w e l l as outside o f convent life.
Suddenly i t became clear t h a t d u r i n g this papacy the R o m a n Catholic
C h u r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n had become a place where every day, i n c l u d i n g Sun-
days and Floly Days, acts o f heresy and blasphemy a n d outrage a n d i n d i f -
ference were c o m m i t t e d a n d permitted at h o l y A l t a r s by men w h o had
THF. RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 493

been called ro be priests. Sacrilegious actions and rites were n o t o n l y per-

f o r m e d at Christ's A l t a r s , b u t had the connivance or at least the tacit
permission o f certain C a r d i n a l s , archbishops and bishops. Suddenly shock
set in at the actual lists o f prelates and priesrs w h o were i n v o l v e d . In t o t a l
n u m b e r , they were a m i n o r i t y — a n y t h i n g f r o m one t o ten percenr of
C h u r c h personnel. But o f that m i n o r i t y , many occupied astoundingly high
positions of rank a n d a u t h o r i t y i n chanceries, seminaries and universities.
A p p a l l i n g t h o u g h i t was, however, even this picture wasn't the w h o l e
cause o f H i s Holiness' crisis. T h e facts that b r o u g h t the Pope t o a new
c o n d i t i o n o f suffering were m a i n l y t w o : T h e systematic organizational
l i n k s — t h e n e t w o r k , in other w o r d s — t h a t had been established berween
cerrain clerical homosexual groups and Satanist covens. A n d the i n o r d i -
nate p o w e r and influence of rhar n e t w o r k .
O f those r w o facrs, rhe p o w e r of the n e t w o r k — s o urterly d i s p r o p o r t i o n -
ate t o its m i n o r i r y starus in C h u r c h ranks—was the most devastating for
rhe Slavic Pope. Both Gladstone and Slattery had accumulared evidence
tending t o show that this i n o r d i n a t e p o w e r and preponderant influence of
rhe n e t w o r k was due ro its alliances w i t h secular groups outside the Ro-
m a n C a t h o l i c field a n d t o the o v e r w h e l m i n g n u m b e r o f teachers in semi-
naries, universities and Carholic school systems w h o dissented openly and
as a matter o f course f r o m C a t h o l i c dogma and m o r a l reaching.
But there was a t h i r d fact: T h i s P o n t i f f w h o had been called u p o n by
Christ to be most directly responsible f o r H i s C h u r c h had made that i n f l u -
ence possible. H e had seen the c o r r u p t i o n . H e had even spoken of his
suspicion that some n o w resident source of evil had entered the hierarchic
structure of the C h u r c h and infected most of its parts. But his decision had
been n o t t o e x c o m m u n i c a t e heretics. N o t to defrock errant priests. N o t t o
dismiss apostate professors f r o m their posts at pontifical universities. H i s
decision had been to speak t o t h e m . To speak t o everyone, everywhere.
H a d n ' t he, like Peter, been roo headstrong? H a d n ' t he, like Peter, be-
trayed Christ?
Three rimes betrayed, C h r i s t had asked Peter three times, " S i m o n , son
o f J o h n , lovest t h o u M e . . . ?" Three times betrayed by Peter, C h r i s t
had t o l d Peter three times t o feed H i s lambs; t o guide and g u a r d a n d
govern H i s C h u r c h . But h a d n ' t the Slavic Pope many m o r e than three
betrayals t o answer for? H a d n ' t he reason not o n l y to d o u b t his o w n
j u d g m e n t b u t t o question whether the entire enterprise of his pontificate
had been a betrayal? A nasty joke g i v i n g rise t o a rictus of c o n t e m p t o n the
face o f the ancient Adversary?
M a n y m o r e t h a n three times d u r i n g those days and exceedingly d a r k
nights, therefore, the Slavic Pope prostrated himself before Christ a n d ,
m o r e anguished t h a n Peter, gave his reply t o the question he k n e w he must
answer.
"Yes, L o r d , I saw the c o r r u p t i o n . . . But I presumed w h a t my t w o
 494 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

predecessors in this sacred office presumed. I presumed that the spirit o f

the Second Vatican C o u n c i l was Your s p i r i t .
"Yes, L o r d . I saw the c o r r u p t i o n that had set in in the churchly o r g a n i -
zation d u r i n g those r w o previous pontificates. A n d I decided that rhe
t r a d i t i o n a l C h u r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n had been t h o r o u g h l y d i s m a n t l e d ; w o u l d
never be restored; w o u l d never again be as it was.
"Yes, L o r d . I saw the c o r r u p t i o n . Bur I presumed the spirit o f Vatican I I
was creating a new c o m m u n i t y o f C h r i s t i a n s — t h e N e w Jerusalem. As
Pope for all peoples, I presumed i t was my d u t y t o give witness t o that
spirit a m o n g the nations o f the earth. To assemble all the people o f G o d i n
readiness f o r the appearance o f the Queen o f Heaven i n h u m a n skies
a n n o u n c i n g a new era o f peace and religious revival a m o n g rhe nations.
"Yes, L o r d . 1 saw the c o r r u p t i o n . . . "

"Yes, M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l , Fve seen the reports. Finished reading them

t h r o u g h last n i g h t , i n fact. T h a n k you f o r b r i n g i n g t h e m o v e r . " C a r d i n a l
Sansrefano leaned f o r w a r d t o nurse an a r t h r i t i c leg as he spoke quietly
i n t o his private phone at the Vatican Bank. H e had n o idea w h y his a r t h r i -
tis always flared w h e n t r o u b l e was o n the h o r i z o n , but years o f experience
had t a u g h t h i m h o w accurate a baromerer it was. "Confession you say,
M o n s i g n o r e ? Yes, o f course. W h e n w o u l d suir H i s Holiness?"
Sanstefano was somewhat surprised ar rhe Pontiff's s u m m o n s to come
t o the papal Chapel to confess h i m . Every Friday, a certain Father Jan
K o w a l s k i made rhe t r i p f r o m St. Stanislaus K o s t k a C h u r c h i n rhe Tras-
tevere d i s t r i c t o f Rome to the Apostolic Palace, slipped into the small
private Chapel o f the Popes a n d there heard the H o l y Father's confession.
Father Jan was semi-retired n o w ; but he'd become such a permanent part
o f this papacy that security personnel t o o k notice only w h e n he d i d n ' t t u r n
up on schedule.
O n the other h a n d , this w a s n ' t the first t i m e Flis Holiness had asked the
head o f PECA t o confess h i m . H e had done so twice before. A n d because
each t i m e had been a m o m e n t o f crisis and o f grave decision, Sanstefano
prepared himself n o w by letting those r w o earlier occasions seep back inro
his m e m o r y .
T h e first occasion, he recalled, had been i n late December, barely t w o
m o n t h s after the Slavic Pope had been elected. T h e n e w l y elected Pontiff,
so f u l l o f ebullience a n d s a n g f r o i d , had begun w i t h the usual f o r m u l a for
declaring his i n t e n t i o n to confess his sins. But instead o f u n b u r d e n i n g his
soul o f his personal faults, and m i n d f u l t h a t his confidence was protected
by the seal o f the confessional. H i s Holiness had t u r n e d his a t t e n t i o n to
the Vatican Bank. T h e n as n o w , it was the I R A ' s independence that most
interested the Slavic Pope. Its charter made rhe I R A totally untouchable by
a n y b o d y i n the Vatican except the H o l y Father himself.
H i s queries were direct and p o i n t e d : H o w much had the Floly See lost i n
w h a t p o p u l a r reports descrihed as i n t e r n a t i o n a l scandals and scams? W h o
I HE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 495

was implicated i n those losses? H a d the failure been engineered? By

w h o m ? W h a t great debts d i d the H o l y See owe?
As n u m b e r t w o m a n i n the I R A back t h e n , Sanstefano had called a
spade a spade. In the first t h i r t y years o f the I R A ' s existence, there had
been a solid hope that Vatican finance—including its financial arrange-
ments w i t h all the w o r l d w i d e provinces of the R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h —
c o u l d h o l d its o w n as an independent b a n k i n g system, and present itself as
a peer in association and c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h the other b a n k i n g systems in
the w o r l d marketplace.
But the I R A had been the focal p o i n t o f financial troubles that had
begun i n the sixties and c o n t i n u e d i n t o the seventies. T h a t series of scan-
dals a n d scams the Pope h a d mentioned had led t o a loss of professional
standing and a grave loss o f l i q u i d i t y — " o v e r a b i l l i o n dollars at least/*
Sanstefano had said r u e f u l l y . The result had been a lessening of the IRA's
a u t o n o m y and liberry o f action i n the money markets of the w o r l d . The
former hope o f becoming a player at the big board had been dissipated.
T h e I R A ' s moves had t o be t a i l o r e d t o those o f the " r e a l g i a n t s , " as the
A r c h b i s h o p called t h e m . A l l was decided i n view of a financial hegemony
wielded by powers outside the R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h . Sanstefano had
w a n t e d t o p u t the best face o n a d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n ; but that wasn't easy.
" W e ' r e up against a hegemonic strength greater by far t h a n any we have at
o u r disposal; greater than any other o n earth. It's a situation that may
severely m o d i f y Your Holiness' foreign policies."
T h e P o n t i f f t o o k the news i n the spirit of a fighter. As priest, bishop and
C a r d i n a l , he had already faced r w o alien regimes h a n k e r i n g after w o r l d
hegemony. N o t yet s i x t y , a n d Pope i n t o the bargain, he intended to do
n o t h i n g less i n Rome t h a n he had done in his h o m e l a n d . " L e t me t h i n k
a b o u t all t h i s , " he had answered Sanstefano that day. " T h e strength of the
papacy—its a u t o n o m y i n the furtherance of f a i t h p r o p a g a t i o n — w a s the
w h o l e a i m of the Pope w h o set up the I R A . But i t seems t o m y p o o r brain
that someone set o u t t o reduce us t o the status of camp f o l l o w e r s . Yet we
have many friends a b r o a d w h o share o u r dislike o f such hegemonic con-
t r o l . T h r o u g h them a n d w i t h t h e m , i t may be possible t o get back o n
track. We have t o achieve a u t o n o m y . "
T h e second occasion o n w h i c h the P o n t i f f had called Sanstefano i n as
confessor had been a couple o f years after A l i Agca had rried t o k i l l the
Slavic Pope i n St. Peter's Square.
T h e H o l y Father had made Sanstefano a C a r d i n a l and p r o m o t e d h i m t o
head the Prefecture o f Economic A f f a i r s , w i t h f u l l c o n t r o l over the I R A .
A n d i n those early years o f his pontificate, the Slavic Pope had been as
g o o d as his w o r d i n matters affecting the Vatican Bank. One o f his major
undertakings had been t o repair the losses i n l i q u i d i t y a n d in standing
suffered by the H o l y See i n the seventies. I n those years, and in rhe few
recuperative years after the attempted assassination, the ebullience and
sangfroid o f rhe Slavic Pope were t r a n s f o r m e d . It was a t i m e when one of
 496 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the t w o superpowers was p r e p a r i n g t o step i n t o o b l i v i o n , and the other

was likewise faced w i t h a course o f action none o f its earlier leaders—the
fathers o f the A m e r i c a n R e v o l u t i o n — h a d dreamed of. A t i m e w h e n the
Pope acquired a clear perception o f the machinery t h a t administers
the macromanagement o f this w o r l d ' s c o m p l e x s t r u c t u r e — i t s matter, its
energy, its p h y s i o l o g y , its v i t a l i s m . D u r i n g those years, the H o l y Father
deepened and expanded his contacts w i t h many o f this w o r l d ' s great fig-
ures whose decisions shaped the lives o f b i l l i o n s o f people. He nourished
his contacts, t o o , w i t h certain personages in the Soviet U n i o n . W i t h Rus-
sian c h u r c h m e n , he f o r m e d an u n d e r g r o u n d o f priests. W i r h Parry mem-
bers he f o u n d a c o m m o n a l i t y based o n their m u r u a l realization thar a new
order was d a w n i n g in the w o r l d . I t was one o f rhose Parry members w h o
w r o t e t o the Slavic Pope so candidly a n d trenchantly a b o u t that w o r l d
o r d e r — a n d in w o r d s so redolent o f the Pontiff's discussion w i t h San-
stefano in their first confessional e n c o u n t e r — t h a t the H o l y Father had
s h o w n t h a t c o m m u n i c a t i o n t o the Vatican banker.
" A t least," t h a t official had w r i t t e n , " w e are free o f the illusion o f
superpower status; and Y o u r Holiness, o f any i l l u s i o n t h a t y o u are head o f
a super-church. In o u r w o r l d there is o n l y one superpower; not o u r
U.S.S.R., n o t the U.S.A. A n d n o w t h a t the C h u r c h o f Satan is established,
y o u r papal a u t h o r i t y is no longer a b s o l u t e . "
Privately, Sanstefano had always been convinced t h a t something a b o u t
those w i d e - r a n g i n g contacts i n the early eighties had p r o m p t e d the Slavic
Pope t o insist o n a private conversation w i t h his w o u l d - b e assassin, A l i
Agca. I n a R o m a n p r i s o n called Regina Coeli i n h o n o r o f the Queen o f
Heaven, the t w o men had engaged in a conversation o f such whispered
i n t i m a c y t h a t no other h u m a n b e i n g — n o intelligence agency in Washing-
ton or M o s c o w — w o u l d ever k n o w w h a t had passed between t h e m . The
day after t h a t meeting, rhe Slavic Pope had called u p o n Sanstefano t o
confess h i m f o r the second t i m e .
" I have asked y o u to hear m y confession, E m i n e n c e , " the P o n t i f f had
begun, "because I have some crises o f conscience." Because his conversa-
t i o n w i r h A l i Agca had taken place under the seal o f confession, the Pope
c o u l d reveal o n l y those facts for w h i c h the penitent l u r k had given ex-
plicit permission. T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f those facts had sent chills
t h r o u g h Sanstefano at the t i m e .
" T h e r e need be no fear f o r an u n n a t u r a l t e r m i n a t i o n o f m y l i f e , " H i s
Holiness had said w i t h icy c a l m , " p r o v i d e d this H o l y See does not seek a
hegemonic p o s i t i o n at the b i g b o a r d o f the w o r l d m a r k e t and in the new
i n t e r n a t i o n a l order n o w emergent a m o n g the nations. We can s u r v i v e — o n
that score."
T o help the cause o f h u m a n h a r m o n y , he w o u l d have t o use the univer-
sally accepted prestige o f the H o l y See and its C a t h o l i c C h u r c h as a means
of fostering a certain u n i t y a n d c o m m o n a l i t y a m o n g all religions. F r i c t i o n
between Jewry and the papacy w a s singled o u t f o r p a r t i c u l a r attention
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 497

because, as i t was said by some, the H o l y Sec had never really made
amends for rhe role played by its members i n the H o l o c a u s t ; and because,
it was said by some, the Holocaust was the b r a i n c h i l d o f Christians and
the final resulr o f t r a d i t i o n a l C h r i s t i a n anti-Semitism.
Some papal action was called f o r — a c t i o n p l a i n l y i n d i c a t i n g that the
R o m a n C h u r c h accepted the Synagogue as a peer w i t h i n the scope o f the
w o r l d ' s great religions a n d h o n o r i n g rhe Jewish people as bearers o f a
special historical mission.
W i t h the arena o f his concern set o u t i n general terms, the Pope p r o -
ceeded ro details. " N o Pope has ever visired the Jewish C o m m u n i t y in this
city o f R o m e . I musr. N o Pope has visited A u s c h w i t z . I must. N o Pope has
established d i p l o m a t i c relations w i t h Israel. I must. N o matter h o w long it
takes, no marrer w h a t effect i t has on others, I must d o a l l of t h a t , and all
w i l l be well w i t h the C h u r c h on the material side o f things. We must sue
f o r peace, if peace is w h a t we desire."
Sanstefano had the sense t h a t the Pontiff was repeating actual recom-
mendations t h a t had been made to h i m . As head o f P E C A , he also knew
f u l l well that, i n the marketplace of money and t e m p o r a l p o w e r , the H o l y
See c o u l d no longer even plan ro act a u t o n o m o u s l y . A l l efforts in that
d i r e c t i o n had been halted by the attempted assassination.
The H o l y Father n o w had specific questions of conscience. W o u l d d i p l o -
matic recognition o f Israel i m p l y any abandonment o f Catholic tradition?
H a d the C h u r c h been w r o n g , theologically or m o r a l l y , t o abandon its
previous teaching that the Jews rejection o f Jesus had incurred God's
1

anger? Should the Jews be the object o f C a t h o l i c proselytizing efforrs?

" F o l l o w the dictates o f a w e l l - f o r m e d conscience." Sanstefano kept i n -
v o k i n g the o l d Catholic p r i n c i p l e . " Y o u must educate, n o t d i s t o r t , y o u r
conscience."
" D o y o u t h i n k . Eminence, t h a t I may d i s t o r t , or already have distorted,
my conscience?"
" P u t i t like this, Floliness. M a n y of the f a i t h f u l — t h o s e most f a i t h f u l to
t r a d i t i o n a l teaching—do t h i n k so."
" Y o u r advice, t h e n ? "
There had been a longish pause at that m o m e n t . The C a r d i n a l had to
make a choice: tell his papal penitent to pray for enlightenment o r open
the scope o f this confession o n t o a w i d e r plane. Sanstefano's b l u n t charac-
ter p r e d o m i n a t e d . " P l o l y Father"—Sanstefano spoke w i t h quiet a u t h o r -
i t y — " l e t me t r y t o p u t these questions i n t o the broader context of Y o u r
FIoliness pontificate.
,

" W e b o t h realize that y o u have a theology t h a t is n o t o r t h o d o x and

t r a d i t i o n a l ; that y o u r p h i l o s o p h y is n o t T h o m i s r ; rhat y o u are a phenome-
nologist. We also realize that you have given up o n the presenr clerical
o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the C h u r c h ; a n d that m u c h of the clerical o r g a n i z a t i o n has
given up o n y o u . They w a n t y o u o u t of their hair, definitively and soon.
" B u t for all o f t h a t . Holiness, we b o t h k n o w y o u are Pope of all C a t h o -
 498 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

lies and Christ's sole represenrative a m o n g men. M y one strong precept ro

you is that you be m o r a l l y sure o f w h a t y o u do as Pope. A n d because we
morrals sin nor o n l y by commission but by omission, be just as sure m o r -
ally o f w h a r y o u are deliberarely not d o i n g . For, in y o u r case, H o l y Father,
it is w h a t y o u are not d o i n g — w h a t y o u have n o t d o n e — t h a t distresses
many o f the f a i t h f u l . "
T h i s was as far as Sanstefano had taken his advice at that second con-
fession.

A r t h r i t i c flare-up and a l l , C a r d i n a l Sanstefano was o n l y a m i n u t e or t w o

late. H e p u t his head in the d o o r o f M o n s i g n o r e SadowskPs f o u r r h - f l o o r
office, a n d rhen w e n t next d o o r ro the private Chapel w h i l e Sadowski
i n f o r m e d the H o l y Father rhar his confessor was w a i t i n g for h i m .
T h i s confession was rhe shortest; but time was n o t its measure.
" E m i n e n c e . " T h e P o n t i f f spoke in short sentences. A l m o s t c u r t l y . " Y o u
must answer my first question as chief o f the I R A . Imagine for a m o m e n t
t h a t I accept the advice o f my Cardinals. T h a t 1 resign f r o m the office o f
Peter. H o w w o u l d t h a t affect o u r standing in the m a r k e t ? "
T h e Cardinal's C a t h o l i c i s m was bred in his bones. Bur under the icy
blast o f the Slavic Pope's realism, his inner g r i p o n t h a t Catholicism be-
came bleak and joyless. " W h e n w o u l d this resignation be expected to take
place?"
" A n y t i m e between n o w and my seventy-fifth b i r t h d a y . "
" P r o v i d e d y o u are replaced by someone w i r h friends neither y o u nor I
have c u l t i v a t e d , H o l y Father, a resignation in t h a t time span w o u l d proba-
bly boost o u r standing. We both k n o w t h a t those w h o exclude us n o w
f r o m certain investment sectors w o u l d open doors at the m o m e n t o f Your
Holiness' resignation. Amici di amici. Friends o f friends . . . "
" Y o u must answer m y second question as one of m y Cardinals and as
my confessor. But first, a statement. M o n s i g n o r e Daniel has t o l d me you
have read rhe r w o reports I sent over t o y o u . N o w , I have more rhan one
reason for c o n t e m p l a t i n g resignation. But m y chief reason—the reason
rhat concerns me uppermost at this m o m e n t — i s the shocking c o n d i t i o n
i n t o w h i c h I have a l l o w e d churchmen t o lapse d u r i n g m y papacy. M y chief
reason, then, is t h a t I am n o longer effective as Pope. N o w , Eminence, the
question: W h a r was m y m a i n mistake?"
Sanstefano leaned f o r w a r d , his forehead resting o n one hand. " U n -
d o u b t e d l y , H o l y Father, y o u r failure to interpret the doctrine of the Sec-
o n d Vatican C o u n c i l a u t h o r i t a t i v e l y a n d — 1 repeat, Holiness: and—in
agreemenr w i t h t r a d i t i o n . Beyond any shadow o f d o u b t , the documenrs o f
rhat C o u n c i l , as they n o w stand, are nor c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t r a d i t i o n a l Ro-
man C a t h o l i c i s m . Y o u thus a l l o w e d error t o flourish w i t h o u t correction.
T h a t a m o u n t s t o misfeasance—possibly even malfeasance—at the papal
level."
" G i v e n m y motives, are w e t a l k i n g a b o u t m o r t a l or venial g u i l t ? "
1 H E R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 499

" G i v e n rhe damage, m o r t a l . "

" I s it your opinion, rhen, thar I should resign?"
"Pontifex maximus a nemini judicatur." Sanstefano was quoting old
C a n o n L a w . " N o one is entitled to pass judgment on the Pope. T h a t
judgment is yours ro make. Yours alone and exclusively."
" B u t I am asking merely your opinion. Eminence. As my confessor."
Sanstefano's breath felt tight in his chest. " I cannot answer you as con-
fessor, Holiness. 1 have no opinion. N o one is competent to have an opin-
ion in this matter. N o sensible believer would hazard a guess. N o one who
knows his posirion would attempt a reply. 1 have only my faith in Peter's
office. Y o u are the Anointed of G o d . W h o lays his hands on the Anointed
will die the death. So Scripture tells u s . "
There was little more to say. With grave guilt at issue, both men knew
the requirement to repair the damage done and to correct the fault. But
both knew, too, that repair and correction added up ro a rail order when
policies of srate and C h u r c h were involved. Like D r . Fanarore, however,
Cardinal Sanstefano was certain that whatever it might cost him—includ-
ing his life—the Slavic Pope would do whar had ro be done. In that moral
certainty, he imposed his penance and gave absolution to the Floly Father.
As he poked his head into Monsignore Daniel's office to say goodbye
and then left the papal apartment, there was more than guilt for San-
srefano to think about. Flis hands shaking, his brearh still tight in his chest
as he rerraced his steps through the Apostolic Palace, the Cardinal re-
flected that much had remained unsaid in this papal confession. Unspoken
reasons—something beyond his own accountability for rhe systemic sins
of his contemporary churchmen, beyond his o w n judgment of himself as
useless—had brought His Holiness to the edge of the unthinkable. San-
stefano could only guess at what those reasons mighr be.
T h i s Cardinal had seen five Popes come and go. H a d k n o w n them per-
sonally before they were elected, Each of them, once he had accepted the
papacy, had crossed an invisible line into a place of aloneness. For all the
depth and breadth of his human sympathy, the Slavic Pope was no excep-
tion.
" N o matter how much we care for him, or he for u s , " Sanstefano said
in his heart, " o n our terms and within our w o r l d , we cannot fathom his
distress and discomfort. We can only give him the truth. Too often, the
truth hurts. But it also heals."
 500 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

XLI V
C H R I S G L A D S T O N E and the others saw right away that this private
p r e d a w n meeting w i t h the Slavic Pope to w h i c h M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski
had s u m m o n e d them w o u l d be special. For one t h i n g , instead of settling
into c o m f o r t a b l e chairs i n rhe P o n t i f f s study, they gathered a r o u n d a
conference rable in a small reception r o o m in rhe papal aparrmenrs o n the
f o u r r h floor of the A p o s t o l i c Palace. A n d for another, the Pope came in t o
this meeting, reports in h a n d , w i t h a definitive agenda. M o s t o f a l l ,
t h o u g h , C h r i s t i a n was struck by the change that had taken place so
q u i c k l y in the H o l y Father's appearance. Flis very smile still w a r m e d G l a d -
stone's heart. But the p a l l o r o n his face, rhe lines o f suffering a r o u n d his
eyes and m o u r h , the deep resonance of his voice, rhe noticeable curve in
his shoulders—all rhese t o l d of something far deeper t h a n time's visible
ravages.
Still, this was a gathering of l o v i n g and caring friends united by their
c o m m o n d e v o t i o n t o the Slavic Pope. N o t one o f t h e m — n o t Christian
Gladstone or D a m i e n Slattery; not Angelo Gutmacher or Giustino L u -
c a d a m o ; not even Daniel S a d o w s k i — f u l l y understood the Ponriff or his
papal policies. M o r e t h a n one o f them entertained severe doubts about his
w i s d o m f r o m time t o t i m e . Yet merely to be together w i t h each other and
in the H o l y Father's presence was a joy for each one.
It was an added joy for C h r i s t i a n and Father Angelo t o see one another
again—the first time since that m o r n i n g in rhe T o w e r Chapel ar W i n d -
swepr House w h e n rhey had each answered very differenr calls ro a life of
service t o R o m e . There wasn't m u c h t i m e for catch-up talk today, h o w -
ever.
Immediarely, H i s Floliness raised r w o items of particular interest. W i t h
a glance at G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o , he made i t clear that he had been fully
briefed o n Gladstone's detailed intelligence concerning the plans and an-
tipapal motives for a public C o m m o n M i n d Vote a m o n g his bishops. A n d ,
he i n f o r m e d Gladstone, he had signed the documents a p p r o v i n g his ad-
vancement i n clerical r a n k . Farher C h r i s t i a n was n o w entitled to be ad-
dressed as M o n s i g n o r e and t o sport that distinctive violet t o u c h o n his
clothing.
T h a t o p e n i n g was already t o o m u c h for C h r i s t i a n . His new status as
domestic prelate, he b l u r t e d o u t w i t h some vehemence, was the direct
result of his h a v i n g been taken as an ally by c h u r c h m e n w h o wished to
encompass the near-furure t e r m i n a t i o n o f H i s Holiness' pontificate. " I n
fact, ever since m y permanent status in R o m e was effected, I've been an
THE R E S I G N A T I O N PROTOCOL 50!

u n w i t t i n g ally o f theirs. I've traipsed over Europe and the United States as
a p o l i t i c a l shill for Your Holiness enemies, and abused m y f a m i l y ties ro
1

b o o t , to f u r t h e r plans f o r m e d , Em c o n v i n c e d , i n the m i n d o f Satan. A n d

yet, here I a m , rorally accepred by Your Eloliness and by y o u r close associ-
aies."
N o b o d y stirred for a few seconds. L u c a d a m o broke rhe silence. " D o n ' t
kick yourself roo h a r d f o r having been used by t h e m . We also have used
y o u . Y o u r i n f o r m a t i o n o n rhe proposed C M V has already filled some
crucial gaps in o u r k n o w l e d g e . But you're just beginning t o understand
w h a t you've signed up f o r . In the mess we're all i n , the task n o w is to take
the i n i t i a t i v e away f r o m the other side. A n d that's w h y we're here this
morning."
H a v i n g been yanked by L u c a d a m o o u t o f his selfish personal anger and
back t o the plane o f the papal agenda, Gladstone t u r n e d ro rhe Ponriff
again, an apology f o r his ourburst f o r m i n g o n his lips. The Pope mer his
eyes w i r h a h u m o r o u s smile that spoke a p p r o v a l and confidence. A l l is
u n d e r s t o o d , rhat smile said. N o w , let's get o n w i t h the essentials.
T h e firsr o f those essentials concerned rhe reports Chris and Slarrery had
given h i m a week or so before. Bur the conclusions the Slavic Pope had
d r a w n f r o m those reports t u r n e d out t o be far differenr f r o m rhe practical
conclusions Chris had anticipated. ' T h e t o t a l i m p a c t o f these reports,
rogerher w i r h the i n f o r m a t i o n M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s r i a n has c o m m u n i c a t e d t o
us o n the C o m m o n M i n d Vote o f m y bishops, makes one t h i n g clear. T h e
o p p o s i t i o n has seized the o p p o r t u n e m o m e n t f o r all their plans t o be
i m p l e m e n t e d . T h e y see w h a t I n o w see so clearly; but they see it f r o m a
totally differenr p o i n t o f v i e w . From an adversarial p o i n t o f v i e w .
" T h e y see the i m m i n e n t schism between the papacy and the bishops o f
the C h u r c h . They nor o n l y see bur have connived ar a steady demise o f
C a t h o l i c i s m . It's fair t o say, in fact, that a m a j o r i r y o f Catholics are n o w
alienated t o one degree or anorher f r o m rhe Catholic t r u r h . Rome and rhe
papacy are no longer objects o f obedient d e v o t i o n , b u t at best merely o f a
vague a n d r o m a n t i c veneration. A vast n u m b e r o f Masses and confessions
are i n v a l i d . A n u n t o l d n u m b e r of priesrs have n o t been v a l i d l y ordained.
A n d I have nor yet attempted t o assess h o w many bishops either are nor
v a l i d l y consecrated or have become unbelievers.
" C h r i s t is no longer h o n o r e d in o u r Tabernacles, so Fie has left o u r
churches, o u r convents, o u r religious orders, o u r seminaries and o u r dio-
ceses. Indeed, w h y should O u r L o r d stay where H e is neglected, insulted
and denied? I t is n o t H e w h o needs us, afrer a l l . N o w " — H i s Holiness
l o o k e d at each m a n at the conference table i n t u r n — " i f I have any re-
course at a l l , it is to the p r o t e c t i o n o f the Queen o f Heaven. As a special
act o f v e n e r a t i o n , I m u s t — i f at all possible, I m u s t — m a k e my pilgrimage
to Russia and U k r a i n e . "
Everyone listening to the Slavic Pope at t h a t m o m e n t k n e w the implica-
tions o f w h a t he was saying. Even Chris Gladstone understood that the
 502 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

rumors engulfing Rome m i g h t be true. T h a t the H o l y Father's o u t l o o k

encompassed his o w n possible departure f r o m the papal scene. T h a t rhe
end o f his pontificare was a t h a n d ; and w i t h i t , the c l i m a x o f his geopoliti-
cal endgame w i t h rhe narions.
As i f ro c o n f i r m rhar collective r h o u g h t , rhe Slavic Pope went o n t o give
a further j u s t i f i c a t i o n — a geopolitical j u s t i f i c a t i o n — f o r his Russia t r i p . H e
lisred such items as the serious and p o t e n t i a l l y vicious differences about
p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l c o m i n g t o a head between the H o l y See and the present
U.S. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ; rhe equally serious differences o n that and other bed-
rock issues* between the H o l y See and the U N , and between t h e H o l y See
and the European U n i o n ; the rising enmiry o f Russia and irs allies i n the
CIS t o w a r d the H o l y Sec.
" W i l l Your Holiness consecrate Russia t o the blessed V i r g i n d u r i n g your
time in Moscow?" D a m i e n Slattery was still keen o n the H o l y Father
staying i n R o m e t o fight the C M V p l o t ; but at this m o m e n t , t h o u g h , he
was t h i n k i n g o f the promise made by rhe V i r g i n at Fatima t h a t , if the Pope
o f i 9 6 0 consecrated Russia t o the protection o f the M o t h e r o f G o d , the
C h u r c h w o u l d be saved f r o m terrible persecution, wars w o u l d cease and
humanity w o u l d enjoy peace and prosperity.
" N o . " The Ponriff was b l u n t . " I am not the Pope o f 1960. She d i d n o t
tell me t o do i t . 1 have no mandate in that regard. W h a t I w a n t is ro resrore
t o the Russian people their beloved Icon o f O u r Lady o f Kazan, w h i c h is
presenrly i n rhe possession o f this H o l y See. A n d I w a n t t o g o t o Kiev,
because that is where Prince V l a d i m i r baptized Russians a rhousand years
ago, en masse, i n rhe waters o f the Dnieper.
" B u t you are r i g h t , Father D a m i e n . M y Russia t r i p has everything t o do
w i t h the V i r g i n ' s promises and revelations. A n d m y d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o make
this pilgrimage has been strengthened by these reports. I mentioned r o
Farher A n g e l o recenrly rhar I have l o n g suspecred rhar m y recent papal
predecessor was r i g h t w h e n he spoke a b o u t t h e smoke o f Satan having
entered rhe C h u r c h . Today, I a m convinced o f ir. N o one w h o has read
rhese reports and digested the details o f the C M V p l o t can d o u b t that we
arc in need o f special help. I n p a r t i c u l a r . . , " H i s Holiness' voice broke
just this once, b u t he recovered himself q u i c k l y . " I n p a r t i c u l a r , w e need
help f o r this H o l y See o f Peter, i f i t is n o t t o collapse and be taken over by
the D e m o n . "
Gladstone shot a l o o k at Slattery. W h e n he had spoken a few moments
before o f the C M V p l o t as a scheme hatched i n the m i n d o f Satan, i t had
been a figure o f speech. But i t seemed t o h i m that the Slavic Pope was dead
serious.
" I a m resolved, Therefore," rhe P o n t i f f c o n t i n u e d , " t o make m y papal
pilgrimage t o M o s c o w and t o K i e v . M y one purpose is t o elicit the special
help w e need f r o m rhe Blessed M o r h e r . She musr speak r o her Son. She
musr rell H i m o f a l l rhe souls that are w i t h e r i n g . She musr rell H i m again,
THE R E S I G N A T I O N PROTOCOL 503

as she d i d once d u r i n g her rime w i r h H i m o n rhis earrh: They have lirrle or

no w i n e o f belief l e f t / *
T h e silence rhat f o l l o w e d was as deep as rhe H o l y Father's voice had
been. A n d again i t was L u c a d a m o w h o broke the quiet of the r o o m w i t h a
practical reminder. " H o l i n e s s , rhe news rhar Farher—er, M o n s i g n o r e
C h r i s t i a n has b r o u g h t us means that Your Holiness can expect renewed
pressure t o sign the Resignation Protocol. Unless w e intend t o be led by
the nose t o the place o f execution, so to speak, we need to take the i n i t i a -
tive/'
" A g r e e d , G i u s t i n o . " T h e Pontiff n o d d e d ; b u t his m a i n focus was clear.
" F a t h e r A n g e l o w i l l fetch the Icon f r o m Portugal to Rome. l i e w i l l then
pay another visir ro M r . Gorbachev ro discuss w h a r can be done ro secure
an early i n v i t a t i o n f o r our visir ro his l a n d . As ir w o u l d be unwise ro put
all o u r eggs in rhar basket, however, I w i l l choose rhe o p p o r r u n e m o m e n t
to . , . "
Gladstone d i d n ' t hear the rest o f t h a t statement. A w h i l e ago, he had
been ready to apologize f o r having been duped by the Pope's adversaries.
D u r i n g m u c h o f his rime i n rhe Stares, and especially since his r e t u r n , he
had taken o n the role o f a double agent, dealing in h a l f - t r u t h s and double
entendre. The o n l y positive f r u i t o f all t h a t double-dealing had been the
r e p o r t he had delivered t o the H o l y Father w i t h all the documentary evi-
dence needed—names, dates, places, affidavits, transcripts o f audiotapes,
p h o t o g r a p h s — t o clean o u t the w h o l e b r o o d o f c o r r u p t clerics and false
religionists. " W h y " — i n another sudden flare o f e m o t i o n , C h r i s t i a n broke
in o n the H o l y F a t h e r — " w h y . Holiness, d o I ger rhe impression t h a t the
reports are g o i n g to be p u t in cold storage?"
A l l eyes were o n Gladstone, but o n l y Father Gutmacher seemed pre-
pared t o tackle his y o u n g friend's argurnenr srraighr o n . " H o w l o n g ,
C h r i s , d o y o u r h i n k y o u and Father Slattery w o u l d last here i n Rome or
anywhere else once ir was undersrood w h o d r e w up those" reporrs? A n d
besides, those reports w i l l alert the H o l y Father's o p p o s i t i o n as t o h o w
much we really k n o w a b o u t their mischief. Forewarned is forearmed. To
put the reports in the hands o f the C u r i a l Cardinals w o u l d be to c o u r t
greater d i f f i c u l t y f o r H i s Holiness than before. T h e y w o u l d be ready for
any i n i t i a t i v e — a n y move at a l l — t h a t the Floly Father makes against
them."
Father Angelo's argument w a s n ' t half g o o d enough t o satisfy C h r i s t i a n .
" Y o u can't just keep a l i d o n e v e r y t h i n g , " he argued. " Y o u r Holiness
doesn't have t o give the reports o u t t o everyone. But y o u can f o l l o w the
data o f the reports. You can take action. You can expel any bishop s h o w n
to be leading an actively homosexual life; any bishop w h o has a mistress;
any bishop a l l o w i n g Wicca nuns i n his diocese; any n u n k n o w n to be an
active lesbian. You can deal i n some a p p r o p r i a t e w a y w i t h priests, nuns,
bishops a n d Cardinals w h o are undeniably and identifiably un-Carholic.
" W i t h a l l respecr, Your Holiness, it m i g h t begin w i t h the fact thar al-
 504 W I N D S W E P T 11 O U S h

ready a n u m b e r o f A m e r i c a n w o m e n have undergone a w o u l d - b e o r d i n a -

t i o n ceremony f o r the priesthood at the hands o f a bishop still in charge o f
one A m e r i c a n diocese. I have also s u b m i t t e d some evidence t h a t the same
has happened i n one Canadian diocese. C a n o n i c a l l y , those bishops are
already a u t o - e x c o m m u n i c a t e d . But I recommend that they be relieved of
their positions by direct papal decree. T h e scandal is already vigorous
a m o n g the people; they k n o w something is w r o n g . "
It was a grim-faced Slavic Pope w h o heard Gladstone o u t . T h e A m e r i -
can was still r o u g h in his approach to things; b u t , like the irreplaceable
Father A l d o Carnesecca, he w a s n ' t a f r a i d to pursue p a i n f u l problems.
T h a t being so, the P o n t i f f answered C h r i s t i a n w i t h the candor he de-
served. " W h a t y o u proposed, M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n , w o u l d be feasible
o n l y i f i t was i n m y p o w e r t o make and u n m a k e bishops i n the C h u r c h ,
a n d to dismiss priests, and t o expel nuns f r o m c o n v e n t s . "
" H a s n ' t Your Holiness t h a t power? As Supreme Pastor?"
" O f f i c i a l l y , yes. A c t u a l l y , n o . " T h e Slavic Pope stared Gladsrone i n rhe
eye, seeking his a c k n o w l e d g m e n r o f reality. A n d finally, after an eternity
o f some f e w seconds, Chris nodded and lowered his gaze.
A n g e l o G u t m a c h e r b r o k e into t h a t m o m e n t o f bitter understanding
w i t h a new suggestion for a papal reaction to the data o f the t w o reports.
H i s Holiness s h o u l d w r i t e an encyclical letter t o the C h u r c h Universal—an
ex cathedra l e t t e r — s t a t i n g clearly rhe c o n d e m n a r i o n of homosexual activ-
ity a n d o f all f o r m s o f Saranisr riruals and organizations. A c c o r d i n g ro rhe
declarations o f such a lerrer, anyone v i o l a t i n g rhose mandares w o u l d be
automatically excommunicated.
T h e idea appealed t o the P o n t i f f . I n facr, he began ar once ro expand o n
ir. Even w h i l e Father Slattery rook over supervision o f Signora Gladsrone's
g r o u p o f u n d e r g r o u n d priesrs in rhe U n i r e d Srates, he was to d r a w a firsr
d r a f r o f an encyclical lerrer direcred against the abuses—homosexual ac-
t i v i t y and Satanist rirual acriviry. Bur, especially i n rhe light o f the Pope's
recent meeting w i t h U N F P A ' s Bischara Francis—specifically, i n the light o f
her i n f o r m a t i o n rhar rhe United N a t i o n s was a b o u t t o e m b a r k o n an inren-
sive g l o b a l campaign ro f o r m u l a r e a consensus in favor o f an accelerared
a n d highly emphasized b i r r h c o n t r o l p o l i c y — S l a t t e r y was also to include
i n the encyclical such basic issues o f sexual m o r a l i t y as contraception and
c u r r e n t methods o f p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l .
T h e enterprise was t o be kept as quiet as possible, Flis Holiness cau-
t i o n e d ; b u t he acknowledged t h a t an ex cathedra encyclical letter c o u l d n ' t
be k e p t entirely secrer for long. " C e r r a i n l y nor f r o m rhe Secrerary o f
Srare," he said by w a y o f obvious example.
T h e Russia t r i p was a differenr marrer. One rhar required a delicare
b a l a n c i n g o f logistics. " I musr go public w i r h ir s o o n , " rhe P o n t i f f said.
"Unless I a m t o rely entirely o n M r . G o r b a c h e v — a n d t h a t w o u l d be u n -
wise—a p u b l i c a n n o u n c e m e n t o f m y intentions must be added t o my ef-
forts ro secure an i n v i r a r i o n w i r h i n the desired t i m e frame. M y Cardinals
THE R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 505

in Rome t h i n k so badly of t h a t pilgrimage, h o w e v e r — t h e y are so opposed

to M a r i a n d e v o t i o n i n general and t o Fatima in p a r t i c u l a r — t h a t 1 must
choose the m o m e n t . T o the degree I can catch the Cardinals o f f balance, to
t h a t degree 1 w i l l have seized the i n i t i a t i v e f r o m t h e m .
" M e a n w h i l e , M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n , I have heard y o u r plea concerning
the reports. W h e n I first commissioned r h e m , my intent was t o use them t o
b r i n g m y C u r i a l Cardinals back inro some cooperation w i r h rhe Floly See.
But as Father Gurmacher has poinred our, that is n o t practical. There are
some i n d i v i d u a l bishops t o w h o m I can and should show the reports on an
eyes-only basis. But I begin t o t h i n k w e can do more t h a n that. Over the
past several days I have been considering whether to call a l l m y Cardinals
in f r o m a r o u n d the w o r l d f o r an e x t r a o r d i n a r y Consistory. T o use the
rcporrs ro pur t h e m on notice t h a t the C h u r c h is in crisis and rhat we can't
go on as we are. N o w , w i t h so m u c h on the rable—rhe reporrs, the ex
cathedra encyclical lerrer, my pilgrimage ro rhe East—I see such a Consis-
t o r y as i m p e r a t i v e . "
Eather D a m i e n had severe doubts about a secret Consistory as part o f
the Pope's plans. Given the politics o f the Cardinals these days, he said,
any sudden willingness o n rheir parr ro cooperate w i t h His Holiness
w o u l d be n o t h i n g short of a miraculous conversion.
G u t m a c h e r disagreed. " T h e Cardinals are i m p o r t a n t in the Regional
and N a t i o n a l Bishops Conferences," he reasoned. " I r ' s those Conferences
rhar w i l l be rhe vehicles for the C M V . A n d it's the Cardinals, nor the
bishops, w h o elect Popes. I f there's any chance to take the i n i t i a t i v e f r o m
the Vatican cabal once and f o r a l l , a secret Consistory of Cardinals c o u l d
be the best w a y to do it. T h e real question for me isn't whether rhe Consis-
r o r y should be called, bur w h e n . "
T h e P o n t i f f rook charge again. Fie agreed w i r h Gurmacher rhar r i m i n g
w o u l d be crucial. But because the Consistory was linked i n his m i n d t o the
Russia t r i p — o r , m o r e exactly, t o his expectation o f some sign f r o m rhe
Floly V i r g i n d u r i n g rhat p i l g r i m a g e — t h e t i m i n g for a meeting w i t h his
Cardinals w o u l d have t o remain open u n t i l the pilgrimage dates were ser.
As far as I lis Holiness was concerned, everyrhing was serried. Fie polled
each o f his collaborarors w i r h a l o o k ; and each nodded agreemenr—excepr
Giustino Lucadamo.
" F r a n k l y , H o l y Farher, Pm srill concerned abour rhe pressure I anrici-
pare w i l l be pur o n y o u ro sign rhe Resignation P r o t o c o l . " T h a t was the
best way Lucadamo k n e w to h i n t at w h a t really w o r r i e d h i m . T h o u g h he
d i d n ' t have such an i n t i m a t e v i e w o f the Pope as M o n s i g n o r e Daniel d i d ,
G i u s t i n o had kept fairly close rabs o n H i s Holiness d u r i n g the week when
he had been consumed i n reading rhe reporrs. In his reckoning, ir seemed
possible rhar this Pope had been b r o u g h t t o such an extreme of choices
t h a t he m i g h t w a l k away f r o m the papacy as being beyond his capacity. If
rhe course o f action he had o u t l i n e d today failed t o set things somewhat t o
rights i n the hierarchy, he m i g h t actually sign the Protocol.
 506 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

T h e H o l y Father responded t o Lucadamo's w o r r y f r o m a different per-

spective. C a r d i n a l Sanstefano had reminded h i m o f the m o r a l necessity t o
correct the damage done t o his C h u r c h and to correct his o w n grave faulr.
A l l rhe plans that had been laid o u t this m o r n i n g had rheir justification
w i t h i n t h a t context. " F r a n k l y , G i u s t i n o , J also am concerned. But i f my
departure is w h a t the Blessed M o t h e r has i n m i n d — i f that is the price t o
achieve a true r e f o r m o f rhe C h u r c h srructure and t o restore peace . .
T h e rest—the u n t h i n k a b l e — h e left unsaid.

Seizing the i n i t i a t i v e f r o m the o p p o s i t i o n was everything n o w . A n d in his

r o u t i n e briefing w i r h the C a r d i n a l Secretary of State o n the m o r n i n g of his
departure for his L o r e t o pilgrimage, the Pontiff had every reason t o be
pleased w i t h the opening o f his c a m p a i g n .
" A n encyclical letter. H o l i n e s s ? " H i s Eminence b l i n k e d somewhat more
rhan usual. "Ebbene. G o o d judgment is p a r a m o u n t i n such marters."
" B u t d o you not t h i n k . Your Eminence, that good judgment requires
that the papacy pronounce an ex cathedra statement o n such plagues as
homosexual activities and Satanist cults? A b o u t contraception and the
assault o n the innocent in the name o f p o p u l a t i o n control? Is it not time
for such a statement, i n f a c t ? "
" H o l y Father, I have always t h o u g h t the t r u t h makes its w a y more
t h o r o u g h l y w h e n there isn't t o o m u c h strife and screaming. Such a cat-
egoric manner as an ex cathedra statement does usually evoke much strife
and screaming nowadays."
" A poinr I have considered, E m i n e n c e . " T h e Pontiff was smooth but
insistent. " 1 plan a gentle-toned presenrarion. But we have to d r a w the line
o f d e f i n i t i o n , especially i n view o f governmental policies that are increas-
ingly i n i m i c a l t o the Church's teaching."
" I suppose so, H o l i n e s s . " I t was u n c o m f o r t a b l e for Graziani that the
Pope was m a k i n g it so hard t o be n o n c o m m i t t a l . " N o d o u b t about i t ; a t
present we are i n a cold w a r situation w i t h the E C and the U N — n o t t o
speak o f the United States and the vast m a j o r i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l governments
today. But m y question is whether w e w a n t to escalate to a hot w a r status.
A f t e r a l l , b i r t h c o n t r o l is considered by the Americans t o be a strategic
necessity for their c o u n t r y . " Satisfied rhar he had shifted the burden o f rhe
argurnenr o n t o the Americans, rhe C a r d i n a l b l i n k e d benignly i n the H o l y
Father's d i r e c t i o n .
" H a v e n ' t they g o t a phrase i n A m e r i c a , Eminence, about letting the
chips fall where rhey m a y ? "
" C h i p s ? A h , yes. Indeed they have, H o l i n e s s . " The C a r d i n a l Secretary
smiled a little and rose f r o m his chair. The best t h i n g he could do in the
face o f a w a r n i n g like that w o u l d be t o renew his good wishes for the
Pope's safe journey t o Loreto and m a k e a graceful exit.
" A m o m e n t . E m i n e n c e . " Graziani remained sranding. " P m sure Your
T H E R E S I G N A T I O N PROTOCOL 507

Eminence agrees we s h o u l d n ' t let it be k n o w n t h a t I am p r e p a r i n g this

lerter. Surprise may be a principal elemenr in its success."
" I c o u l d not agree m o r e , H o l y Father. Surprise has saved Rome several
times in the past. I t shall remain an official secret u n t i l the date o f its
publication."
T h e Slavic Pope watched the Cardinal's receding figure, calculating h o w
m u c h t i m e it w o u l d take for those interested i n a b o r t i n g his encyclical
letter ro hear rhe news. The rime needed t o w a l k the length o f the c o r r i d o r
between the papal study and the Secrerary's office? The rime ir w o u l d rake
ro dial a Telephone number?
A c c o r d i n g to Lucadamo's surveillance, ar least some o f rhose parties in
Europe and N o r t h America were aware o f the encyclical before the Pope
reached L o r e t o t h a t a f t e r n o o n .

T h e enemies o f the Slavic Pope, and most o f his friends as w e l l , were taken
completely by surprise w h e n the papal spokesman, M i g u e l Lazaro-Falla,
called an unscheduled m i d d a y press conference o n October 13. T h e date,
chosen by H i s Holiness, was the anniversary o f the celebrated miracle of
the sun t h a t had occurred at Fatima in 1917. In his most businesslike
manner, he announced that the H o l y Father w o u l d shortly s u m m o n all his
Cardinals f r o m a r o u n d the w o r l d t o meet w i t h h i m in a special Consis-
t o r y . The t i m i n g , Lazaro-Falla said, had n o t yet been decided; but i t w o u l d
not be later than one year hence. In the meantime, H i s Holiness was
expecting an official i n v i t a t i o n f r o m the governments o f Russia and
U k r a i n e to visit their countries in a purely spiritual capacity. T h e H o l y
Father w o u l d travel as a p i l g r i m , n o t as the head of a sovereign state.
T h e h u b b u b o f questions shouted by reporters left Lazaro-Falla u n -
fazed. H e declined ro be more specific, referred all queries to the Secrerar-
iat o f State a n d the t w o home governments and deftly disappeared f r o m
the p o d i u m .

A l l nerves at the best o f times, M o n s i g n o r e Taco M a n u g u e r r a appeared

strained to the l i m i t as he answered t w o phones at once, and nodded
Gladstone i n t o C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's office.
. . such unpredicrable, M a c h i a v e l l i a n moves o n rhe part o f this o u t -
of-date Slavic mystic o f a Pope . . . " C a r d i n a l Silvio A u r e a t i n i stopped
his protest in mid-sentence w h e n the A m e r i c a n stepped i n t o the office.
" A h , M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s r i a n . " For once, even M a e s r r o i a n n i was evi-
denrly caught o f f g u a r d .
" I f y o u w o u l d prefer to postpone o u r a p p o i n t m e n t , Eminence . . . " I t
was a sight t o see the tables turned o n these t w o men w h o specialized in
behind-the-scenes moves, and Chris was enjoying every m o m e n t of i t . " I
can come back at a m o r e convenient t i m e . "
" O u r appointment . . . O f course . . . " M a e s t r o i a n n i was a picture
 508 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

o f distress. " E m a l w a y s glad t o see y o u , M o n s i g n o r e . But . . . Yes . . .

C o u l d y o u remake the a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h M o n s i g n o r e Taco . . . "
The C a r d i n a l was i n t e r r u p t e d by M a n u g u e r r a ' s flustered announcement
over the i n t e r c o m t h a t Secretary of State G r a z i a n i was on the phone. N o
rest f o r the w i c k e d , Chris p u r r e d to himself as he caught the first words o f
Maesrroianni's end o f rhe conversation.
" B u t I k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t i t , Eminence. . . . Yes, yes, I was charting
w i r h H i s Holiness yesrerday. . . . Eh? . . . N o , nor a w o r d . H e rold me
rhe entire hisrory o f rhe H o l y House o f l.orero. . . . I ' m nor changing the
subject. Eminence. . . . I d o n ' t k n o w w h o arranged all this. 1 suggest you
speak to the m a n i n M o s c o w . . . . Y o u did? . . H e knew noth¬
ing? . . . "
C h r i s closed rhe d o o r behind h i m . The Pope had spoken about the
tactical advantage of choosing the righr m o m e n t for his announcements;
and L u c a d a m o had emphasized the need to seize the i n i t i a t i v e . To judge by
the scene he had just witnessed, a fair beginning had been struck.

"Disrressed, Y o u r Eminence?" D r . Ralph C h a n n i n g serried i n t o C a r d i n a l

Maesrroianni's office as t h o u g h it belonged t o h i m . " W h y should I be
distressed? It's w o n d e r f u l news rhar rhe H o l y Farher wants to visit M o s -
c o w and K i e v . Have the t w o governments issued a f o r m a l i n v i t a t i o n ? "
" W e d o n ' t k n o w . " M a e s t r o i a n n i , disrressed enough for b o t h men, was
extremely annoyed at the Professor's cavalier arrirude, " C o m m u n i c a t i o n
w i r h eirher government is d i f f i c u l t and p r o b l e m a t i c . We w i l l k n o w in a
couple o f d a y s . "
" B u t we are nor g o i n g ro w a i t a couple o f days, Eminence. One or the
other governmenr may d e m u r ; bur it is in our inreresr rhar they issue the
i n v i t a t i o n s , because it is in our interesr rhat the H o l y Father make rhe
t r i p . " C h a n n i n g explained h o w d i f f i c u l t i t had been for his colleagues t o
undersrand the w a y plans had been dragged our in Rome. W i r h o u t men-
t i o n i n g the A v a i l i n g T i m e , he explained the need those colleagues felt to
devise supplemental initiatives to speed the final phase o f their enterprise.
And he explained h o w perfectly the Pontiff's Russia t r i p m i g h t play i n t o
those supplemental initiatives.
" Y o u say y o u can evoke the C o m m o n M i n d Vote o v e r n i g h t . Eminence.
W e l l , w h y n o t d o just that? Provided y o u secure H i s Holiness' signarure
on the Resignation P r o t o c o l , the Pontiff's Eastern trip w i l l p r o v i d e us w i t h
an excellent venue f o r o u r supplemenral i n i t i a t i v e , and w i r h a happy end-
ing t o this protracred s r r u g g l e ! "
M a e s t r o i a n n i was enlightened, bur srill disrressed o n one major p o i n t .
" B u t can y o u ensure that those invitations w i l l be issued?"
" T h e least o f o u r w o r r i e s , Eminence, p r o v i d e d I can use your secure
Telephone f a c i l i t i e s . "
" Y o u m e a n , righr n o w ? "
"Yes, Eminence. R i g h r n o w . "
THE R E S I G N A T I O N PROTOCOL 509

"Please come w i t h m e . " The C a r d i n a l led the w a y t o a private c o m m u -

nications r o o m where he had no choice b u t to leave the Professor t o make
his call i n p r i v a c y .
In a mere ten minutes or so, C h a n n i n g returned t o Maestroianni's office
to announce t h a t all was in order. " B y this time t o m o r r o w " — h e smiled
t h r o u g h his g o a t e e — " w h a t we require w i l l have been a c c o m p l i s h e d . "
It was o n l y after l u n c h at M a s s i m o ' s , and a m o r e t h o r o u g h discussion o f
Channing's supplemenral iniriatives, t h a t H i s Eminence was free to h u r r y
back ro his office ro discover w h a r he c o u l d a b o u t the Professor's call.
M o n s i g n o r e Taco was gone to siesta by then, so M a e s t r o i a n n i eased i n t o
the chair behind his desk and t u r n e d o n the tape recordings o f the m o r n -
ing's telephone calls. Eventually he f o u n d the one he w a n t e d . C h a n n i n g
had dialed d i r e c t . T h e C a r d i n a l listened t o the ring o f the distant phone,
and then sat b o l t u p r i g h t at the f a m i l i a r sound o f the male voice that had
answered.
"Hallo! Hallo! Sekuler."
" H e l l o ! H e r r Sekuler!"
"jawohl!"
" C h a n n i n g f r o m N e w Y o r k . Speaking f r o m R o m e . I have a request."
" V e r y w e l l . " T h e answer came back i n English. " O n e m o m e n t please,
D r . C h a n n i n g . We are o n an open c h a n n e l . "
H i s Eminence cursed at the sudden voice fade-out f o l l o w e d by a l o w -
pitched buzz. H e w a i t e d f o r abour a m i n u t e . T h e n , w i t h a sigh, he t u r n e d
rhe machine o f f . T h e resr o f rhe conversation was o f f - c h a n n e l . Maestro-
ianni had learned one r h i n g , however. H e r r O r r o Sekuler apparenrly en-
joyed a m o r e exalted p o s i t i o n i n the hierarchy t h a n had been evident at
the Schuman D a y meeting in Strasbourg. A l l in a l l , H i s Eminence figured,
it h a d n ' t been a bad day's w o r k .

N o one in the A m e r i c a n government raised an e y e b r o w in surprise or

c u r i o s i t y ar rhe media reporrs that the Slavic Pope w o u l d hold a Consis-
tory o f his Cardinals i n R o m e or rhar he intended ro rravel t o Russia and
U k r a i n e . A r rhe State Deparrmenr and the t w o U.S. Embassies in Rome,
the news was barely w o r t h a shrug. A n o t h e r papal trip? A n o t h e r meeting
o f Cardinals? H o - h u m . G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d d i d take notice o f the an-
nouncements. Bur he already had received sufficient assurances f r o m the
Slavic Pope concerning his Russia p o l i c y . A n d the news came at a m o m e n t
w h e n G i b was preoccupied w i t h w h a t seemed a far m o r e viral issue for
U.S. inreresrs—rhe decline o f A m e r i c a n leadership in Europe since rhe new
a d m i n i s r r a r i o n had taken over, and the new belligerent role being assumed
by Russia.
So i t was t h a t no subordinate official underlined these press items for
the eyes o f A d m i r a l Bud Vance, or referred rhem to the acting secretary for
the N a t i o n a l Security C o u n c i l , u n t i l the U.S. Ambassador i n M o s c o w sig-
naled W a s h i n g t o n t h a t the Russian g o v e r n m e n t , c o n j o i n t l y w i t h the U k r a i -
 510 WINDSWtPT H O I S E

nian g o v e r n m e n t , had actually issued an i n v i t a t i o n to the Slavic Pope that

he come o n pilgrimage to their lands w i t h i n the next twelve m o n t h s . The
Ambassador's c u r i o s i t y had been piqued by several details i n connection
w i t h the i n v i t a t i o n , and he proceeded to list t h e m .
First, said the Ambassador, the t w o governments in question had been
approached o n behalf o f the Slavic Pope by the presiding c h a i r m a n o f a
r e m a r k a b l y insignificant member o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s
called rhe W o r l d Solidarity o f Ethical T h o u g h t . Second, the name o f the
W O S E T c h a i r m a n was O t t o Sekuler, and the Ambassador recalled seeing
that name on a departmental questionnaire some t i m e back. T h i r d , i t was
n o r m a l practice for the Vatican t o make its o w n requests o f governments,
or t o solicit the i n t e r v e n t i o n o f the U n i t e d States, Germany or France. In
this instance, the Vatican had apparenrly bypassed rhe usual channels, and
the Ambassador t h o u g h t he should alert his superiors to t h a t fact. D i d n ' t
it indicate a grearer independence f r o m Wesrern powers and a greater
influence by rhis Pope in orher areas t h a n the D e p a r t m e n t had ascribed to
him?
F o u r t h , the i n v i t a t i o n was backed by strong s u p p o r t f r o m a very u n -
usual source—namely, Russian O r t h o d o x Patriarch K i r i l o f M o s c o w . As
K i r i l was a w e l l - k n o w n f o r m e r K G B agent and an acknowledged enemy of
the Slavic Pope and his C h u r c h , w h a t was behind this sudden favor for the
R o m a n Pope?
I t d i d n o t help A d m i r a l Vance's bad h u m o r one m o r n i n g to find a copy
o f the Ambassador's signal o n his desk, together w i t h a sharply w o r d e d
note f r o m rhe Secrerary o f State: " H o w d i d this happen w i t h o u t my being
w a r n e d about i t ? "
A l m o s t by i n s t i n c t , Vance dialed G i b A p p l e y a r d ' s n u m b e r and asked
m o r e or less rhe same question. " W h a t ' s y o u r b l o o d y Pope up to n o w ? "
" H e ' s n o t my Pope, Bud . . . "
" Y e a h , I k n o w . He's the Pope o f all rhe Catholics. But thanks t o h i m ,
I've got to face the C o m m i t t e e o f Ten i n a couple o f minutes, and then I
have a meeting w i t h the N S C . Let's meet here abour eleven-rhirry. I n facr,
come in beforehand and brief yourself. I ' l l leave the stuff w i t h my assis-
tant."
" S u r e , B u d . But can y o u give me a h i n t a b o u t w h a t ' s g o i n g o n ? "
" R e m e m b e r O t t o Sekuler?"
"Yes."
" H e ' s back t o haunt u s . "

G i b A p p l e y a r d serried i n r o Vance's office to study the materials the A d m i -

ral left f o r h i m . He f o u n d the M o s c o w Ambassador's m e m o interesting.
But he spent a great deal more t i m e on the backup documents concerning
O t t o Sekuler. T h e i n f o r m a t i o n was still t h i n ; i t was as i f there were a w a l l
o f a r m o r a r o u n d h i m . A p p l e y a r d remembered h o w the head man o f the
G r a n d O r i e n r o f I t a l y , G r a n d Masrer M a s e l l i , had been so evasive abour
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 511
Sekuler. Srill, w h a r data rhere was made ir clear rhar rhe German had
become rruly i m p o r r a n r w i r h i n rhe past year. A n d rhar fir in w i t h a n u m -
ber of other rhings rhar had been especially Troubling for A p p l e y a r d .
One of those things was rhe a p p a l l i n g Lodge crisis o f one year ago t h a t
had shaken the o r g a n i z a t i o n o n borh sides o f rhe A t l a n t i c and that had at
least t e m p o r a r i l y c r i p p l e d rhe frarernal empathy between L o n d o n and
W a s h i n g t o n . V a r i o u s l y referred ro as rhe " s p l i t , " or rhe " d e b a c l e , " or
" l i g h r n i n g over L o n d o n , " rhe crisis had affected A p p l e y a r d and Vance
alike. T o o , because rhe crisis seemed ro be merely rhe staging for a deep
change in U.S. foreign policy vis-a-vis Europe and the U N , ir had affected
both men professionally as well as M a s o n i c a l l y .
F o l l o w i n g the installation o f the new U.S. a d m i n i s r r a r i o n , uncertainty
and sudden changes had unsettled the e q u i l i b r i u m o f the European b u -
reau—the largest bureau i n the State D e p a r t m e n t , responsible f o r t h i r t y -
eight countries and all inrernarional relationships. Vance was its Execurive
Secretary, next in a u t h o r i r y ro the Secretary o f State; and A p p l e y a r d was
number r w o t o Vance.
G i b c o u l d n ' t figure w h i c h came firsr, rhe " s p l i r " between L o n d o n and
W a s h i n g r o n , and rhen rhe in-house changes ar Srate. O r the in-house
changes at State, and then the " s p l i t . " But he k n e w the " s p l i t " had starred
w i r h a d i v i s i o n i n Italian M a s o n r y . A n e w l y f o r m e d G r a n d Regular Lodge
o f Iraly ( G R L I ) had b r o k e n away f r o m rhe o l d G L I , rhe G r a n d Lodge o f
Italy. T h e n the G r a n d Master o f the n e w l y b o r n G R L I had declared he
was establishing a " E u r o p e a n G r a n d L o d g e " w h i c h was t o be a confedera-
t i o n o f all European G r a n d Lodges, East and West. T h e Masons o f the
United Lodge o f E n g l a n d , led by their G r a n d Secretary, had opposed rhe
idea o f a " E u r o p e a n " G r a n d Lodge. M a s o n r y is universal, the U L E de-
clared.
The United Lodge of F^ngland had convened a w o r l d conference o f
G r a n d Masters f r o m sixty-seven G r a n d Lodges. T h e y had met in Crystal
C i t y near W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . — a n d they handed a defeat t o the U L E . In
reality, ir was a defeat f o r " s p i r i t u a l i s t " and " t h e i s t " M a s o n r y , as opposed
t o the " r e l a t i v i s t " and " a t h e i s t " version.
For A p p l e y a r d and Vance, and f o r those Fratres o f a like m i n d , i t was a
defeat. Especially f o r their ecumenical a t t i t u d e t o w a r d corporate religious
bodies such as rhe R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . They had always regarded
such bodies as potential allies. " W h e n the M a s o n i c Temple shall shine
over the w h o l e universe," Frater Blumenhagen had w r i r r e n , " w h e n irs roof
shall be rhe blue heavens, rhe r w o poles irs w a l l s , rhe T h r o n e o f Perer and
rhe C h u r c h o f Rome irs pillars, rhen w i l l the powers o f the earth . . .
bequeath t h a t freedom to the people w h i c h we have laid up in store for
t h e m . " T h e new a t t i t u d e , however, was to regard all such bodies n o t o n l y
as expendable b u t as targets f o r e l i m i n a t i o n .
The practical consequences o f all rhat were n o w beginning to be felt.
Gone were the t i g h t l y coagulated transatlantic bonds o f N A T O and the
 512 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

A n g l o - A m e r i c a n - E u r o p e a n alliance. The U.S.A. was disengaging f r o m Eu-

ropean entanglements and a i m i n g at global alliances. The N e w Covenant
was being implemented i n g l o b a l decisions. By n o w , the new perspective
had f o u n d its expression in the Brussels Declaration of 1994: The Euro-
pean U n i o n was p r o c l a i m e d , w i t h broader and more inclusive aims than
the EC; the new Eurocorps for defense was t o u t e d in place o f N A T O ;
Eastern European States—former satellites of the U.S.S.R.—were invited
to become "Partners for Peace."
T h e latest expression of the new perspective was reflected in the intensi-
fied pressure f o r global i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l policies
enshrined in U.S. N a t i o n a l Security M e m o 2 0 0 , n o w the global policy o f
the U N .
I t was in the context o f that w h o l e " d e b a c l e , " A p p l e y a r d noted, that the
mysterious H e r r O t t o Sekuler had come inro his o w n . Ir was reasonable to
conclude, then, that Sekuler belonged to the side that had come up w i n -
ners in the " s p l i t . " But that d i d n ' t explain Sekuler's influence in the ragtag
remnants o f the Soviet U n i o n ; or w h y Sekuler w o u l d come to the a i d of
the Pope. A n d , above a l l , i t d i d n ' t explain w h y , of all the p o w e r f u l parties
G i b c o u l d t h i n k of, Sekuler had been the one to pop up at just the right
m o m e n t t o secure the papal i n v i t a t i o n .

" A bad day at the N S C , B u d ? " O n e look at his boss's face t o l d A p p l e y a r d

the w h o l e story.
The A d m i r a l sank i n r o rhe chair behind his desk w i t h a g r o a n . " N o t
o n l y d o I ache in every bone f r o m the p u m m e l i n g I just got at N S C b u t I
d o n ' t understand a d a m n t h i n g any longer. W h a t is i t about this Pope that
gets a w h o l e N S C session so riled up over his attitude a b o u t condoms, and
about the t w a d d l e of that little nun f r o m I n d i a — I declare t o G o d , I've
b l o t t e d o u t her name . . . "
" M o t h e r Teresa?" A p p l e y a r d laughed. " T h e N S C had a meering abour
M o r h e r Teresa?"
" P a r r o f a meering, but that was plenty. She sure has made enemies in
the W h i t e H o u s e ! "
"So w h a t a b o u t the rest of the meeting? A n d w h a t about the Ten?"
Gibson held up the M o s c o w Ambassador's c o m m u n i q u e . " W h y are they
suddenly so upset about the Pope's travels?"
" T h a t was just the j u m p i n g - o f f p o i n t . " Vance ambled across the r o o m
and p o u r e d himself some coffee. " W o r d is that this Pope is preparing an
official letter about b i r t h c o n t r o l . A real assault. O u r people w a n t some-
t h i n g done about i t . Otherwise . . . " The A d m i r a l sat w e a r i l y d o w n at his
desk again.
"Otherwise what. Bud?"
" O t h e r w i s e , it's open w a r between this a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and the present
Pope."
" I see." G i b felt a k n o t f o r m i n g in his gut. " A n d o u r instructions?"
THE R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 513

" V e r y simple. G o t o h i m and get h i m o f f his high horse about popula-

t i o n c o n t r o l . W i t h the usual p r o v i s o s . "
A p p l e y a r d stirred i n his chair. " T h e y can't mean all the provisos. Surely
they can't . . . "
" O f course they can, G i b . A n d they d o . It's strategic, remember? Execu-
tive O r d e r stuff. Has been all the time since N i x o n . The last t w o adminis-
trations fudged it slightly. But nobody's f o o l i n g a r o u n d n o w . You should
have heard the Veep go after the encyclical letter at the N S C this m o r n i n g .
It was r o u g h . A n d it was serious."
" A n y deal t o be o f f e r e d ? "
" T h a t ' s for y o u t o find o u t . ASAP. But i f you're asking me d o I t h i n k
there's any possible deal, the answer is n o . I d o n ' t t h i n k s o . "
N e i t h e r c o u l d A p p l e y a r d see a w a y to m a k e any k i n d of deal w i t h the
Slavic Pope. They were faced w i t h t w o irreconcilable absolutes. American
insistence o n b i r t h c o n t r o l and rhe papal ban o n b i r t h c o n t r o l . H a l f afraid
Vance m i g h t make his eyes and guess at the t h i r d absolute that was f o r m -
ing in his m i n d , G i b t u r n e d away. I f anyone expected h i m t o carry a threat
of physical e x t i n c t i o n t o this Pope in R o m e , or expected h i m to be the one
whose report w o u l d set the macabre machinery in m o t i o n , they were
crazy. He c o u l d n ' t do t h a t . N o t o n the issue o f b i r t h c o n t r o l . N o t on any
issue. N o t t o this m a n .

BY M I D - N O V E M B E R , the prospect of the f o r t h c o m i n g papal journey to

Russia b r o u g h t a fresh wave of currenr surging i n t o the power grid of
r e l i g i o n , politics, money and culture o n w h i c h papal Rome has always
f u n c t i o n e d . Reasonable people began t o entertain the electrifying near-
future possibility of the t r i p l e event that periodically revivifies the whole of
R o m e — t h e end of one papacy, the Conclave election of a new Pope and
rhe start o f a fresh papacy.
N o one w h o was anyone in Rome needed to ask w h y the mere an-
nouncement of yet another papal trip)—the Slavic Pope's n i n e t y - f o u r t h —
should d r a w such excitement and expectation. Everyone w h o was anyone
saw this particular journey as the Pontiff's last m a j o r move i n his papal
endgame; as his o n l y recourse in his straitened circumstances. It was a
gamble that m i g h t pay o f f handsomely, r o u t i n g and dispossessing his ene-
mies, and leaving h i m supreme in the p o w e r g r i d . O r it m i g h t complete the
failure o f his pontificate.
C e r t a i n l y , t h e n , f o r such a consummate R o m a n as C a r d i n a l Cosimo
M a e s t r o i a n n i it was essential to move things a l o n g . N o w that the end was
 514 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

in sight, it w o u l d n ' t do t o leave the initiative t o the Slavic Pope. It was

time to take stock, regroup his colleagues and get o n w i t h the business o f
history's mandate.
M a e s t r o i a n n i gathered three o f his chief collaborators in his office f o r a
strategic p l a n n i n g session. Together w i t h T h e i r Eminences Palombo and
A u r e a t i n i , the little C a r d i n a l listened as Vatican Secretary of State Grazi-
ani g r u m b l e d a b o u t the recent visit of the Ambassadors o f Russia and
U k r a i n e on the same d a y , p r o m p t l y at the opening h o u r f o r public busi-
ness, to presenr the official request o f their respective governments that the
H o l y Father make a state visit to their countries w i t h i n one calendar year.
" N o t e s of i n v i t a t i o n , " G r a z i a n i emphasized, " t h a t were identical n o t only
in their terms b u t i n their phraseology. I n each case, the same m o t i v e for
rhe i n v i t a t i o n was alleged: the H o l y Father's already explicit w i s h to make
the j o u r n e y . Whar's g o i n g o n a r o u n d here?" Still angry and embarrassed
that he had been blindsided by the Pope, he waved the t w o invitations in
his h a n d . " T h e y actually request the Pope's presence! A r e we simply to
s w a l l o w h a r d and accept the apparent fact that the ex-Soviet officials in
b o t h governments, rogerher w i r h the Pope-hating Russian O r t h o d o x
clergy, suddenly feel the need for the H o l y Father's blessing?"
W i t h the m e m o r y of Professor Channing's recent visit v i v i d l y i n m i n d ,
M a e s r r o i a n n i c h u c k l e d . But w h a t he really w a n t e d f r o m Graziani was the
latest update o n the Pontiff's Russia t r i p .
"Ir's a p u n i s h i n g i t i n e r a r y . " Graziani extracted rhe H o l y Father's sched-
ule f r o m one of rhe folders he carried. " I t ' s all still subject t o change, o f
course. Bur as ir stands n o w , the P o n t i f f plans to arrive in Kiev o n M a y 8,
and drive o u t to the T r i n i t y Chapel at FIrushiv. O n M a y 10, he's sched-
uled t o visit Kiev proper. O n M a y I I , he proceeds to St. Petersburg. O n
the t w e l f t h , he arrives at the Troitse-Sergiyeva L a v r a , a M o n a s t e r y outside
M o s c o w . There w i l l be a semi-official welcome at the M o n a s t e r y , f o l -
l o w e d by an ecumenical service conducted by H i s Holiness and Russian
O r t h o d o x Patriarch K i r i l . The papal party w i l l deparr for Rome in the late
a f t e r n o o n o f the t w e l f t h . "
" H a v e n ' t y o u left something o u t ? " M a e s t r o i a n n i reached for the sheet
o f paper. " A h , yes. Here we are. The immediate antecedents to the H o l y
Father's t r a v e l . I see that the Shoah M e m o r i a l Concert w i l l complicate life
for H i s Eloliness at the b r i n k o f his departure. A n d I see he plans t o
convene the General Consistory o f Cardinals a mere t w o days before he
leaves R o m e . T h e i r Eminences arrive o n the sixth and settle i n . The C o n -
sistory starts o n M a y 7 . "
" I t ' s a f u n n y t h i n g a b o u t t h a t . Eminence." Despite the i n d i g n i t y o f hav-
ing the schedule practically snatched f r o m h i m , G r a z i a n i b l i n k e d pleas-
antly. " H i s Holiness hasn't said so exactly, but I have the impression that
he intends for the Cardinals to remain in Rome u n t i l he returns f r o m his
Russia t r i p . "
"Are you serious?" C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i seemed galvanized by that
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 515

possibility. He c o u l d hardly believe the Slavic Pope w o u l d play so w i l l -

ingly i n t o the hands of his adversaries.
" A s I say, Eminence, ir's o n l y an impression 1 have. But, yes, I ' d say it's
a serious p o s s i b i l i t y . "
" W e l l , then. Let's set the scage p r o p e r l y for such a grear evenr. Pve been
discussing o u r enterprise w i r h one o f o u r secular colleagues, and we've
w o r k e d o u t a series of w h a t we m i g h t call supplemental initiatives. A little
s h o w - a n d - t e l l t o demonstrate where the future a u t h o r i t y of the C h u r c h
t r u l y lies." W h a t M a e s t r o i a n n i envisioned was the type o f operation that
w o u l d demonstrate the a b i l i t y of the new force at the organizational cen-
ter of the C h u r c h to b r i n g a b o u t changes independent o f any papal stric-
tures t o the c o n t r a r y .
T h e first such initiative C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i had in m i n d had to do
w i t h the issue o f A l t a r g i r l s — a ready-made field of c o n t e n t i o n i f ever there
was one. The H o l y Father was not in favor o f A l t a r girls. Fie had said so
recently, both in private and in public. He had promised there w o u l d
never be papal permission for A l t a r girls. There had been a time not so
l o n g ago when serving i n the Sanctuary of the c h u r c h had been reserved
f o r boys, just as the priesthood was reserved exclusively for men. Indeed,
this had been the i m m e m o r i a l practice o f the C h u r c h d u r i n g nearly t w o
thousand years.
Nonerheless, for rhe past t w e n t y years o r so, bishops all over the
C h u r c h had permirted y o u n g girls to f u n c t i o n as servers at the Roman
C a t h o l i c Mass. A t first, bishops and the R o m a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n had turned
a b l i n d eye. Then rhey had rolerared rhe use of A l t a r girls. Then rhey had
a l l o w e d the usage. Finally, they encouraged i t . In all t h a t t i m e , nobody
had even pretended the practice was legal. But by n o w there were areas in
the United States that had more girls than boys serving at the A l t a r . There
was even an annual c o m p e t i t i o n in some U.S. dioceses f o r the year's besr
A l t a r girls, affairs that bore all the marks o f beauty contests, except that
the local bishop gave out the prizes and rhere was no swimsuir parade.
T h e Slavic Pope k n e w this. The official guardians o f the p u r i t y o f Ro-
m a n Catholic doctrine knew this. It was public knowledge. Yet the papal
stricture remained. M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s first supplemental i n i t i a t i v e , Therefore,
w o u l d be aimed ar t a k i n g the w h o l e issue o f girls in the Sanctuary out ot
the hands of the Slavic Pope once and f o r a l l . A little added legwork
a m o n g some few bishops w o u l d be required, but that was n o t h i n g the able
M o n s i g n o r e Gladsrone c o u l d n ' t handle once he was p r o p e r l y insrructed.
T h e second supplemental i n i t i a t i v e w o u l d targer rhe Pontiff on the cen-
t r a l issues where he had never given an inch: p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l and rhe
Traditional m o r a l teachings o f the C h u r c h . Faced w i t h rhe utterly unac-
ceptable consensus being f o r m u l a t e d by Bischara Francis' U N agency in
favor of an accelerated global p o l i c y for b i r t h c o n t r o l , the Slavic Pope had
already begun a counterattack. He had been seizing every o p p o r t u n i t y
lately to go after the p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l m e n t a l i t y and to plead against the
 516 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

use o f a b o r t i o n and contraceptives. A n d o n t o p of all that, there was the

f o r t h c o m i n g ex cathedra encyclical to consider.
W h a t better t i m e , then, to arrange for the unveiling o f the p o p u l a t i o n
c o n t r o l study prepared by D o m i n i c a n Father George Hotelet and D r .
C a r l o Fiesole-Marracci under rhe auspices o f the Pontifical Academy o f
Sciences?
" 1 t h i n k it's safe t o say t h a t b o t h o f rhese supplemental initiatives w i l l be
ready ro be launched w e l l before the Cardinals gather in Rome for rhe
C o n s i s r o r y . " M a e s t r o i a n n i all but smacked his lips. " A d d e d to the other
means we can devise, they w i l l b r i n g pressure o n H i s Holiness ro sign rhe
Resignarion Protocol—before he leaves f o r K i e v , o f course."
Beyond t h a t , M a e s t r o i a n n i said, they w o u l d play everything by ear. The
closer they came to the c l i m a x , the more they c o u l d expect the field o f
battle t o change. " B u t be confident, my friends. W i r h the C o m m o n M i n d
Vote all b u t in o u r pocker, and w i r h all rhe Cardinals in the w o r l d c o m i n g
to t o w n , the initiative remains w i t h us. Despite the Pontiff's little sur-
prises, the initiative remains w i t h u s . "

" G l a d s t o n e here." Reluctantly, Chris answered the phone i n his study at

the A n g e l i c u m . H e had managed to set aside most o f this day t o make
some serious headway in deciphering the cramped entries i n A l d o
Carnesecca's d i a r y before serring o f f o n yer anorher r o u n d o f chicanery
a m o n g rhe bishops for C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . Fie d i d n ' t relish the idea o f
needless i n t e r r u p t i o n s .
" G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d speaking, Father. Forgive the i n t r u s i o n . Perhaps
y o u remember me. Jan B o r l i u t h o f the EC was k i n d enough t o b r i n g me
a l o n g f o r a visit at y o u r brother's house in Deurle at C h r i s t m a s . "
"Yes. M r . A p p l e y a r d . O f course I r e m e m b e r . "
" I k n o w it's short notice, Father. Bur is rhere any chance we can have a
t a l k ? " The silence o n the line t o l d G i b he had some resistance t o over-
come. " I t is i m p o r r a n r , Farher. Pm to see H i s Floliness o n M o n d a y m o r n -
ing o n behalf o f my g o v e r n m e n t . O u r governmenr. It w o u l d be t o our
m u t u a l benefit to m e e t . "
" H o w about t o m o r r o w afrernoon here ar rhe A n g e l i c u m , M r . A p -
pleyard?"

Gladstone dialed G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o t o find o u t w h a t the security chief

m i g h t k n o w about an A m e r i c a n government man by the name o f Gibson
Appleyard.
G i u s r i n o recognized the name at once. A n d he k n e w of the M o n d a y
meeting w i t h the Pope—something to d o w i t h the s i t u a t i o n between rhe
H o l y See and the U.S. governmenr on p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l . " I f he's reached
our t o y o u , see h i m . " L u c a d a m o made i t sound like an order. "Essentially,
he's full o f g o o d w i l l . But he's no mean personage. Pll send over a c o n f i -
dential dossier o n h i m so y o u ' l l realize w h a r you're up against. A n d Pll
THE R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 517

t h r o w in a precis o f the P o n t i f f s recent dealings w i t h the American a d m i n -

istration f o r g o o d measure."
W i t h i n the h o u r , Gladstone had those materials in hand and began
b o n i n g up f o r a meeting he really d i d n ' t w a n t to have. Appleyard's per-
sonal dossier fixed certain salient points in Christian's m i n d . This A m e r i -
can d i p l o m a t was a p r o m i n e n t and serious member o f the Masonic Order
in the U n i t e d States. His history w i t h the O r d e r , as w e l l as his academic
b a c k g r o u n d and his g o v e r n m e n t a l career, m a r k e d h i m as one of those
perpetual insiders w h o never cut a very visible public figure, but w h o are
always at the f o r w a r d edge o f national affairs. Both A p p l e y a r d and his
w i f e , a C a t h o l i c by b i r t h , came f r o m o l d and solid money. T h a t part of the
profile was one Gladstone recognized. A l l in a l l , M r . Gibson A p p l e y a r d
figured as a trusred A m e r i c a n w h o enjoyed enormous credit at the upper
levels o f g o v e r n m e n t .
C h r i s t i a n t u r n e d to the rest o f the materials L u c a d a m o had sent over.
A p p a r e n t l y , a complete impasse had developed between the Slavic Pope
and the U.S. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . The United States sided w i t h the U N Fund for
Population A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n its push f o r universal p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l ,
and the widespread use o f a b o r t i o n as a means to that end. U n t i l recently,
the U N had subscribed to the principle that a b o r t i o n should n o t be ac-
tively p r o m o t e d as a means o f f a m i l y p l a n n i n g . N o w , however, that stance
had changed. .Ms. Francis and her colleagues were w o r k i n g their way
t o w a r d a declararion that w o u l d p r o m o t e a b o r t i o n as a fundamental right
and as a legirimate m e t h o d o f f a m i l y p l a n n i n g t h r o u g h o u r the w o r l d . If all
wenr as p l a n n e d , rhat declaration w o u l d be ratified in a f o r m a l documenr
at a m a j o r inrernarional conference on p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l scheduled t o
take place in C a i r o .
As rhe siruation stood even n o w , a n u m b e r o f nations represenred in rhe
U N Agency had already signed a consensus agreement recommending
a b o r t i o n and a w i d e g a m u t o f contraceptives as rheir official weapons for
b i r t h c o n t r o l . T h a t m u c h was a fait a c c o m p l i . N o t h i n g c o u l d u n d o i t .
O n l y a h a n d f u l o f nations stood w i t h the Slavic Pope's a n t i a b o r t i o n and
anticonrraceptive p o s i t i o n . Faced w i t h this c r u x , the H o l y Father had tele-
phoned the A m e r i c a n President ro plead his case. But neither the Presidenr
n o r his w i f e had given h i m any satisfaction. Borh were a d a m a n t l y in favor
o f a b o r t i o n and c o n t r a c e p t i o n . T h e President had promised t o send an
envoy w h o w o u l d e x p l a i n rhe U.S. p o s i t i o n to H i s Holiness. Gibson A p -
pleyard was that envoy.

F r o m the m o m e n t the t w o Americans sat d o w n together in Gladstone's

study there was a m u t u a l feeling o f respect and pleasure.
A s s u m i n g that Gladstone had checked h i m o u t , and relying o n his o w n
judgment of the priest as an o p e n - m i n d e d m a n , Gibson plunged i m m e d i -
ately i n t o his subject w i t h t o t a l candor. " I n the matter o f p o p u l a t i o n c o n -
t r o l , there is a t o t a l b r e a k d o w n o f undersranding berween H i s Holiness
 518 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

and rhe President. W i t h o u t some guidance, I feel I d o n ' t k n o w how to

create an understanding between t h e m . Can you help me in that, Father
Gladstone? M y a i m is solely to create u n d e r s t a n d i n g . "
C h r i s t i a n detected no partisan note in the query. N o defensiveness. N o
offensive undercurrent. " I s it y o u r o p i n i o n , M r . A p p l e y a r d , that neither
man is really free t o choose a p o s i t i o n ? "
G i b gave a straight answer to a fair question. " C o r r e c t , Father. H i s
Holiness is in strict c o n f o r m i t y w i t h his d u t y as Pope and w i t h the expec-
t a t i o n o f his sponsors—on earth and in H e a v e n ! Likewise, the President is
in strict c o n f o r m i t y w i t h his d u t y and w i t h the expectation o f his spon-
sors."
Gladstone rose f r o m his chair and opened the w i n d o w o n t o the piazza
b e l o w . H e needed a couple o f seconds t o find his w a y more deeply i n t o the
question his visitor had just raised. " T e l l me, sir. Way back at the begin-
ning o f this year—before the UN-sponsored conferences made such head-
way f o r the cause o f p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l — m a n y reports c o m i n g t o the
H o l y Father were o p t i m i s t i c f o r the P o n t i f f s v i e w p o i n t . Reports, I should
add, that came f r o m H i s Holiness' o w n M i s s i o n to the U N . W h a t hap-
pened since t h e n ? "
A p p l e y a r d showed n o change o f expression. " T h e r e has been a change
in emphasis, Father Gladstone, Ir has been clear f r o m the beginning o f this
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n that the Executive O r d e r we k n o w these days as N S M 200
w o u l d be strictly and categorically a p p l i e d . H o w e v e r , the Catholic Liaison
G r o u p t h a t w o r k s w i t h the W h i t e House assured the President that the
N o r t h A m e r i c a n hierarchy w o u l d n o t judge the p o p u l a t i o n question solely
f r o m a R o m a n C a t h o l i c p o i n t o f v i e w . It's fair t o say that assurance ce-
mented the President's p o l i c y . "
H a v i n g learned so m u c h about so many in the A m e r i c a n hierarchy,
Chris wasn't surprised at A p p l e y a r d ' s statement. But he was puzzled
a b o u t particulars. "Refresh my m e m o r y , sir. T h e membership of that o f f i -
cial Liaison G r o u p escapes m e . "
" W e l l " — G i b ticked o f f the roster o n his fingers—"there's Catholics f o r
a Free Choice. A n d the D i g n i t y people. T h e C a l l t o A c t i o n people. The
C a r d i n a l o f C e n t u r y c i t y . The Secretary o f the A m e r i c a n Bishops C o m m i t -
tee f o r Democratic A f f a i r s . . . "
Gladstone got the picture. "So those early and o p t i m i s t i c reports c o m -
ing t o R o m e created rhe perfecr climate in w h i c h the U N Agency c o u l d
proceed t o w a r d a consensus, w i t h o u t a note o f a l a r m being sounded be-
forehand in the H o l y Father's ears."
Chris questioned Gibson w i t h a l o o k , and read assent in his eyes. " 1 see.
W e l l , M r . A p p l e y a r d , no w o n d e r there's a c r i s i s . "
N o t yet, G i b t h o u g h t t o himself. You d o n ' t see i t all yet. It was one t h i n g
ro understand the aims o f those organizations w h o sent their delegates t o
the C a t h o l i c Liaison G r o u p ar rhe W h i r e House. For d i f f e r i n g reasons, all
were opposed t o the Pontiff's stand o n c o n t r a c e p t i o n , homosexual life-
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 519

styles, a b o r t i o n a n d allied questions. But there was more t o i t than that.

" W e must remember, Father. T h e President's stand was bolstered in the
A m e r i c a n public arena by this Liaison G r o u p . But the stand itself stems
f r o m a higher l e v e l " — A p p l e y a r d let a second or t w o pass; just a m o m e n -
tary pause to a l l o w understanding t o catch u p w i t h w o r d s — " w h i c h , of
course, no wise Presidenr can a f f o r d t o i g n o r e . " Gladstone t h o u g h t for a
m i n u t e , then d r e w a deep breath. In an absent sort of w a y he noted that
d a y l i g h t was f a d i n g . A l r e a d y the streetlamps had been lir.
" L e r me be f r a n k w i r h y o u , F a r h e r . " A p p l e y a r d hoped Gladsrone w o u l d
see that he meant those w o r d s sincerely. " 1 f o r one do n o t share the
demographic fears o f o u r contemporaries. For one t h i n g , h u m a n feckless-
ness always seems ro come to the aid of nature ro redress any excessive
p o p u l a r i o n imbalance. But I also believe the evidence concerning over-
p o p u l a t i o n has been inflated; t h a t the claims of i m m i n e n t danger ro rhe
planet are fueled more by ideology than by scientific k n o w l e d g e . O n that
score, I consider such organizations as the Planned Parenthood Interna-
t i o n a l about on a par w i t h the already discredited C l u b o f R o m e , whose
professional r e p u t a t i o n was ruined by all their scientifically false pother
a b o u t a g l o b a l w i n t e r in the eighties.
" A n d the entire w o r l d economic picture has changed since President
N i x o n ' s day, w h e n that Executive O r d e r was first issued. I see no solid
scientific data i n d i c a t i n g thar i m p o s i n g b i r t h c o n t r o l and a b o r t i o n on
T h i r d W o r l d countries measures up as a legitimate strategic necessity for
rhe U n i t e d States."
A p p l e y a r d leaned f o r w a r d . " W h a r Pm saying ro you is rhat Pm glad
someone as p r o m i n e n t as H i s Holiness raises his voice. T h a t ' s m y personal
feeling. Nevertheless, Pm here t o represent m y government's brief. N o one
expects H i s Holiness n o t to protest this planned global p o p u l a t i o n con-
t r o l . But a direct challenge to the Unired States in this area is something
else again. It's w a r . Wars—even n o n m i l i t a r y w a r s — k i l l people. Usually
the innocent.
' T v e come here t o ask y o u r help in a v o i d i n g the death o f innocents."
T h e silence that fell between the t w o men was the silence o f m u t u a l
understanding. Perhaps even the silence of trust. Still, C h r i s t i a n wasn't
sure he w o u l d ever get used t o shocks like this. H e ' d h a r d l y h a d time t o
grapple w i t h the possibility o f a papal resignation; and n o w an even more
u n t h i n k a b l e possibility h a d been shoved under his nose.
" E m grareful to y o u , M r . A p p l e y a r d . " Gladstone stood u p . "Please be
assured of m y c o o p e r a t i o n . E m certain the H o l y Father w i l l understand
the President's position more deeply n o w . "

T h e o f f i c i a l p u b l i c announcement o f the f o r m a l invitations f r o m M o s c o w

and Kiev overshadowed the day*s activities in Rome a n d in m a n y another
w o r l d c a p i t a l . By the time A p p l e y a r d stepped i n t o the papal study at m i d -
 520 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

m o r n i n g , the Slavic Pope had already been deluged w i r h communications

that ran the predictable g a m u t f r o m congratulations t o c o m p l a i n t ,
" W e k n o w a visit t o those t w o lands has been a long-nourished desire o f
Your H o l i n e s s . " G i b came d o w n on rhe side of the well-wishers. " I do
hope it satisfies all Y o u r Holiness' desires."
The P o n t i f f recognized the personal sincerity o f rhe envoy's sentiment,
t h a n k e d h i m for ir and then went straight to the p o i n t of the meeting.
" M o n s i g n o r e Gladsrone has made it possible for me to undersrand and
appraise rhe p o s i t i o n o f y o u r Presidenr, M r . A p p l e y a r d . A n d rhar is most
i m p o r t a n t . " The H o l y Father t o o k a chair near the w i n d o w and gestured
his visitor i n t o another. " E q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t f o r me is t o clarify the m a n -
agement levels o f government in rhe U n i t e d States. W h a t I call the
macromanagement level, as disrinct f r o m the micromanagement level. O f
course, I k n o w that b o t h levels meld o n the plane of practical administra-
t i o n . But they are separate levels."
A p p l e y a r d smiled. Gladstone had o b v i o u s l y understood everything he
had said, and had been t h o r o u g h in his r e p o r t t o the H o l y Father. That
eased the w a y f o r b o t h men t o deal n o w w i t h harsh d i p l o m a t i c realities.
"Yes, Holiness. [ w o u l d say that. A n d the u l t i m a t e answer is that the
p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l policy is strictly a p r o d u c t o f the macromanagement
level."
" A n d the f o r t h c o m i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l conference—the one planned f o r
Cairo? T h a t , t o o , is macromanagement's b a i l i w i c k ? "
" O f course, H o l i n e s s . "
There was some conversation about the more obvious participants at
that level and a b o u t the general principles a n i m a t i n g t h e m . But the Pontiff
came q u i c k l y enough to his central theme, and stated it w i t h the frankness
and c l a r i t y that G i b so rarely f o u n d elsewhere and that he so valued in rhis
m a n . " M r . A p p l e y a r d , I w a n t y o u and the President to understand o u r
policy and o u r o p i n i o n o n this side of the fence. In his last message, y o u r
President proposed to me that he and I agree to make a c o m m o n state-
ment i n favor of a universal rule f o r Catholics and non-Catholics. A rule
o r n o r m o f t w o c h i l d r e n per couple at a m a x i m u m . Of course, I refused."
"Holiness, at that moment the President was speaking from the
macromanagement point of view."
" A n d I a m speaking f r o m the p o i n t o f view of C h r i s t — t h e real governor
and manager o f this cosmos. F r o m that perspective, it seems p l a i n that the
b i r t h c o n t r o l policy o f the U n i t e d States as enshrined n o w i n N S M 2 0 0 is
the result o f N o r t h A m e r i c a n c u l t u r a l i m p e r i a l i s m imposed o n T h i r d
W o r l d narions whose n a r u r a l resources the U.S.A. covets for the strategy
o f its survival as a superpower. M o r e o v e r , the s u p p o r t given by the U.S.A.
to the latest paper produced by the U N F u n d on Population C o n t r o l is a
cause o f shame to Christians and a serious setback for h u m a n i t y . It w o u l d
legitimize a b o r t i o n o n d e m a n d , sexual p r o m i s c u i t y and distorted notions
THE R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 521

o f the f a m i l y . In short, i t proposes the i m p o s i t i o n o f libertine and i n d i v i d u -

alistic lifestyles as the base and n o r m f o r the society o f n a t i o n s . "
A p p l e y a r d flushed slightly. The H o l y Father was being f r a n k , all right.
So f r a n k that the American was pinned i n t o a corner. He had said t o
Gladstone t h a t he saw his government's policy in this area as driven n o t
by facts, b u t by ideologues. But, like the Pope, he also saw it as a n t i f a m i l y
and as i n i m i c a l ro the social order. Righr n o w , t h o u g h , there was the other
side t o the s i t u a t i o n . H e d i d n ' t believe in the efficacy o f u l t i m a t u m s in this
n e g o t i a t i o n — t h a t was w h y he had sought Gladstone o u t . But if he was to
head o f f a crisis, he needed an answer t o one question. T h a t being so, he
decided to respond to the Pontiff's candor w i t h an equal measure o n his
side.
" H o l y Father, the official p o s i t i o n o f m y government aparr, I personally
share Your Holiness' assessment of this s i t u a t i o n . M y d i f f i c u l t y — a n d Your
Holiness', t o o — i s that at the macromanagement level, the opposite view
n o w reigns. A n d at that level, there is p o w e r enough t o impose that v i e w . "
" A n d ? " The Pope k n e w A p p l e y a r d h a d n ' t come here merely t o state the
obvious.
" T h e r e are r u m o r s , H o l y Father. The urgent question is whether Your
Holiness w i l l directly challenge U.S. policy o n p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l by pub-
lishing an ex cathedra pronouncement c o n d e m n i n g a b o r t i o n and contra-
ception."
Something more rhan r u m o r s , the Pope t h o u g h t w i t h a glance in the
d i r e c t i o n o f C a r d i n a l Graziani's office. T h e n , r e t u r n i n g his full attention to
the A m e r i c a n d i p l o m a t , he laid the s i t u a t i o n o u t as p l a i n l y as he c o u l d .
There was n o need t o enter i n t o the consequences o f such a papal chal-
lenge, he said. H e had reckoned them all u p , and they were insignificant in
his eyes. " W h a t does matter, M r . A p p l e y a r d , is rhe t i m i n g o f any such
challenge. N o w , this double i n v i t a t i o n f r o m Eastern Europe changes the
t i m i n g for rhis H o l y See. So the answer to y o u r m a i n query is that the
Presidenr need no longer expect a near-future papal statement c o n d e m n -
ing his p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l policies as irreconcilable w i t h Catholic
dogma."
G i b was relieved but mystified.
" Y o u are w o n d e r i n g , M r . A p p l e y a r d " — t h e P o n t i f f guessed the meaning
o f the quizzical l o o k o n the envoy's f a c e — " w h a t m y t r i p t o M o s c o w and
Kiev has t o d o w i t h the d i f f i c u l t y berween the papacy and the presidency.
T h e e x p l a n a t i o n is simple. T h a t I am a l l o w e d t o undertake this pilgrimage
is a direct favor f r o m the person we Catholics call the Queen o f Heaven.
She has been selected by G o d f r o m all ages and in every age for a special
role a m o n g us. She is in charge of a l l this. O f all o f us. She has w i l l e d this
papal t r i p — t h i s p i l g r i m a g e , I should say—to take place. Therefore, I have
g o o d reason t o believe t h a t , in her o w n w a y , she w i l l use the occasion o f
m y so-called Russia t r i p t o resolve the p r o b l e m between my papacy and
your A m e r i c a n presidency."
 522 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

A p p l e y a r d nodded b e n i g n l y — a n apr disguise, he hoped, for his b e w i l -

derment ar the ease w i t h w h i c h the Pope moved f r o m rhe practical plane
o f life-and-death decisions ro a level rhar seemed abstract and alien to
concrete reality. T h e Slavic Pope's face was wrearhed in such an expres-
sion o f joyous confidence, and his eyes shone w i r h such happiness, rhar
Gibson had ro r u r n his o w n gaze elsewhere. If I ever felt the way this man
does n o w , G i b heard himself say in his m i n d , 1 w o u l d have ro fall on my
knees, crave his blessing and his forgiveness f o r m y sins and weep tears
Pve never w e p r . . .
" I n rhe meantime, however . . . " The Slavic Pope was back on w h a t
Gibson regarded as practical t e r r a i n . " I n the meantime, and as I have
w r i t t e n t o all the heads o f s t a t e — i n c l u d i n g your Presidenr and rhe
Secrerary-General o f rhe U N — y o u cannot expecr rhar rhose o f us on this
side o f the fence w i l l accept such an a l l - o u t attack on the values o f nature,
m o r a l i r y and religion w i t h o u t protest. Hur if y o u w i s h , M r . A p -
pleyard . . . " The H o l y Farher all but banished the tension o f the m o -
ment w i t h one o f those open smiles o f his. " I f y o u w i s h , i n g o o d time I w i l l
send y o u an early copy o f the letter I have planned o n this subject. A n d
you have my w o r d t h a t I w i l l n o t publish i t u n t i l after m y t r i p next year to
Russia and U k r a i n e . "
The American's relief this t i m e was clear and u n c l o u d e d . A promise like
that f r o m rhis m a n was as good as g o l d . Perhaps rhe w a r hadn't been
called o f f . But at least he c o u l d reporr ro Vance rhar rhere was no i m m e d i -
ate crisis. In the circumstances, A p p l e y a r d c o u l d n ' t ask f o r more.

W i t h M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s i n j u n c t i o n to b r i n g constant pressure on the H o l y

Father to sign the Resignation Protocol as his g o a d , C a r d i n a l Secretary
G r a z i a n i devised ingenious reasons to see the P o n t i f f more frequently than
usual. A m o n g the most legitimate o f those reasons was the need t o firm up
as much as possible at this early date the m a i n events o f the Pope's Russia
t r i p and the plans f o r the General Consistory o f Cardinals.
" T h i s is g o i n g to be a cruel pilgrimage. H o l y Father, A l l o f Their Emi-
nences at home and abroad have expressed fear f o r Your Holiness health 1

and f o r the governance o f rhe C h u r c h . A t this perilous m o m e n t in the

Church's life, we need Your Holiness* undivided a t t e n t i o n . "
W i t h Graziani's intent clear to h i m , the Slavic Pope answered as casu-
ally as he c o u l d . " I w i l l rely o n my d o c t o r s ' j u d g m e n t . Eminence."
"Yes, o f course. H o l y Father. But medical w i s d o m extends so far, and
no farther. The m a r g i n of e r r o r is w i d e . As Your I loliness' chief advisors
and co-gerents o f the C h u r c h ' s welfare, T h e i r Eminences are convinced
that their w o r d should be the ultimate factor entering i n t o Your Floliness'
judgment."
T h e C a r d i n a l Secretary had reminded Flis Holiness o f a simple fact o f
papal life and Vatican a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . The Pope w o u l d n o t go on his
Russia t r i p w i t h o u t the a p p r o v a l o f his Cardinals as a college of C h u r c h
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 523

advisors. T h a r was h o w this Pope had acred f r o m day one o f his p o n t i f i -

cate. T h a r was h o w he w o u l d act n o w . A n d besides, according to rhe
P o n r i f f himself, no less a personage rhan the Blessed M o t h e r required rhe
c o o p e r a t i o n f r o m rhe Cardinals for rhis particular p i l g r i m a g e .
H i s r r u m p card o n rhe rable, Graziani rummaged a m o n g the folders on
his l a p , exrracted one m a r k e d " R e s i g n a t i o n P r o t o c o l " and laid i t o n the
Pontiff's desk. " H a v e compassion o n o u r w o r r i e s , Ploly Farher. Ler me
leave rhe larest drafr t e x t of the Protocol T h e i r Eminences hope Your
Holiness w i l l approve as a p o n t i f i c a l c o n s t i t u t i o n g o v e r n i n g papal succes-
sion. We do w o r r y , y o u k n o w , w h e n Your Holiness is away on these
strenuous rrips. We need ro rake sreps. We, r o o , bear rhe burden o f rhe
Church Universal."
A b l i n k . A smile. A n d the C a r d i n a l Secretary was gone.
" I have just been taught my lesson for t o d a y . " The Pontiff was already
scanning the Protocol as M o n s i g n o r e Daniel entered f r o m his a d j o i n i n g
office.
" W h a r lesson is t h a t , H o l y Father?"
T h e Pope gave his o l d friend a sardonic smile. "Popes, t o o , must behave
themselves. O t h e r w i s e , rheir Cardinals w o n ' t be nice to t h e m ! "

XLVI
N E A R L Y E V E R Y T H I N G a b o u t the closing weeks o f that year and the
o p e n i n g weeks o f the next left a bad taste in Gladstone's m o u t h . As gen-
eral gofer i n C a r d i n a l Maestroianni's o p e r a t i o n , he'd been detailed to
make the rounds o f key bishops in several European capitals and then go
on t o the U n i t e d States again, where he w o u l d see some dozen or so
r a n k i n g members o f the A m e r i c a n hierarchy, i n c l u d i n g the C a r d i n a l o f
C e n t u r y c i r y . As M a e s t r o i a n n i explained i t t o Chris, and as Chris ex-
plained i t to G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o , his m a i n f u n c t i o n i n all cases was to
light a fire under rhe bishops in rhe marrer o f rhe C o m m o n M i n d Vote.
" I r looks like they're g o i n g to skip the public phase o f rhe C M V , "
Gladsrone t o l d rhe Vatican security chief. " M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s idea seems to
be t o accelerare rhe rimerable. H e wants the f o r m a l results in hand f r o m
all rhe Internal A f f a i r s Committees by A p r i l . "
L u c a d a m o almost expected something like this, he said. If the C a r d i n a l
and his cronies c o u l d presenr ar leasr a quasi-unanimous C M V ro rhe f u l l
College of Cardinals i n early M a y , rhar m i g h t be the final wedge in the
e f f o r t t o be r i d of the Slavic Pope. " A n y t h i n g else o n y o u r travel agenda,
M o n s i g n o r e ? " G i u s t i n o seemed ready for more bad news.
" S o m e more p o l l i n g and p o l i t i c k i n g . " Chris shrugged. " H i s Eminence
 524 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

seems inreresred in s r i r r i n g things up over the issue o f A l t a r girls, b u t he

hasn't t o l d me w h a t that's all a b o u t . "
Chris had one question o f his o w n before he left to pack for his travels.
A l d o Carnesecca's m u r d e r was never far f r o m his m i n d . Bur n o . L u -
c a d a m o and his team had come up w i t h n o t h i n g .
" L o o k at it this w a y , M o n s i g n o r e , " G i u s r i n o q u i p p e d . " W i r h all rhe
Traveling y o u ' l l be d o i n g , ar least y o u ' l l have a l o t o f plane and t r a i n rime
ro devore ro the d i a r y . "

Gladstone began his weeks o f travel i n Europe w i t h a couple o f days at

G u i d o h u i s . Paul was away in L o n d o n , b u t Yusai greered h i m w i r h open
arms ar rhe a i r p o r t , and Declan seemed positively ecstatic t o see h i m .
Christian's a r r i v a l , i t seemed, coincided w i t h one o f the happiest events in
his nephew's y o u n g life. Still aflame w i t h enthusiasm for cave e x p l o r a r i o n ,
Deckel was ro be initiated the f o l l o w i n g day as a full-fledged J u n i o r M e m -
ber o f rhe R o y a l Belgian Sociery of Speleologues. N o t h i n g w o u l d do bur
thar Uncle C h r i s should be his special guest o n a rour he w o u l d lead
Through rhe famed cavern k n o w n as the Lesser Danielle. "Please c o m e , "
Deckel pleaded as Yusai drove rhem home ro Deurle. " D a d d y has ro be
away for a special meering, and Pd be so p r o u d , Uncle C h r i s . Please say
yes . . . "
C h r i s d i d say yes, and regretted i t .
The next a f t e r n o o n , ir was a very p r o u d Declan Gladsrone w h o led his
uncle and a small parry o f Sociery officials and guesrs inro rhe Lesser
Danielle. T h r o u g h a c o m p l e x o f caves they w e n t , a r o u n d n a r r o w hairpin
bends, d o w n sudden drops and up sreep u n d e r g r o u n d ascenrs. Bur by the
time the g r o u p reached its d e s t i n a t i o n — t h e vaulted chamber k n o w n as
Sainte Chapelle—the excursion had taken its t o l l on Christian's m i n d . H e
listened to his nephew talk a b o u t " d r a p e r i e s " and " c u r t a i n s " ; but the echo
of the boy's voice in the otherwise utter stillness o f the earrhen cavern
assumed a macabre rone f o r C h r i s t i a n . T h e image o f innocent c h i l d h o o d
s w a l l o w e d up in darkness w o u l d n o t leave his m e m o r y .
C h r i s rried ro pass rhe experience o f f as parr o f his m o o d rhese days. Bur
in all innocence Yusai made rhar impossible. She had her o w n w o r r i e s , and
she was grareful to be able ro confide rhem ro her b r o t h e r - i n - l a w before
dinner rhar n i g h t at G u i d o h u i s . " I t ' s P a u l . " She l o o k e d at Chris w i r h an
embarrassed smile. "Sometimes Pm afraid Pm losing h i m . M o r e rhan once
in rhe pasr year he's had ro be away f o r a few days . . . "
Infidelity? Paul? N o t a chance! "Lie's been a w a y before, Yusai. He's
Secrerary-General of rhe European U n i o n , afrer all . . . "
Yusai shook her head. N o r another w o m a n ; n o t h i n g like that. Some-
r h i n g t o d o w i t h Paul's Lodge association. Some sorr o f Turmoil, some sorr
o f split t h a t had Taken place, somerhing rhar left h i m i l l - h u m o r e d and
disrracred f o r days ar a rime. "Eve been so desperare rhar Eve even begun
t o say the R o s a r y . "
T 11 h RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 525

C h r i s t i a n promised to speak w i t h Paul. H e ' d be busy the next day w i t h

the bishops o f G h e n t and Bruges, and then w i t h the C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p
o f M a l i n e s in Brussels. But he'd see his brother at the B e r l a y m o n t the next
afternoon before g o i n g o n t o Pans.
Chris saw Paul all r i g h t . H e even caught a w h i f f o f that strange new
element in his brother's character that Yusai had described. But whatever
it was, there w o u l d be no t i m e t o get at i t o n this visit. Instead, there was a
reception ar rhe Berlaymonr rhar evening f o r a dense c r o w d o f luminaries
f r o m all rhe European insritutions and the global organs o f rhe U N . Paul's
presence as Secretary-General of the European U n i o n was m a n d a t o r y ; a n d
he rook care ro i n t r o d u c e his distinguished brother f r o m rhe Vatican to the
Commissioners and t o several i m p o r r a n r colleagues.
Bur Christian's advenrures w i r h Declan i n the Lesser Danielle, his c o n -
versation w i t h Yusai and his o w n day's w o r k a m o n g rhe bishops of
Belgium had left h i m i n p o o r h u m o r f o r c r o w d scenes. H e saw Gibson
A p p l e y a r d and was just m a k i n g his w a y across the r o o m to have a w o r d
w i r h h i m w h e n Jan B o r l i u t h came up beside h i m , t o o k h i m i n t o w and
presented h i m to a little g r o u p whose central figure needed no i n t r o d u c -
t i o n . " M i k h a i l Gorbachev, founder and head o f the Green Cross Interna-
t i o n a l . . . " Chris heard rhe name and up-ro-dare credentials on Bor-
liuth's lips; b u t a l l he c o u l d t h i n k o f as he felt the firm handclasp was the
Slavic Pope. Somewhere inside himself, he rebelled at the t h o u g h t o f this
man as an i n t i m a t e correspondenr o f rhe H o l y Father.
"And," Borliuth continued the introductions, "this is H e r r Otto
Sekuler. H e and M r . Serozha Gafin here are board members of M r .
Gorbachev's G O . "
Sekuler—a spare, bald-headed bespectacled character given to c l i c k i n g
his heels—regisrered as an o d d duck w h o m Chris w o u l d rather nor ger ro
k n o w . The husky, slant-eyed G a f i n , o n the other h a n d , regisrered as Some-
one he'd seen before. . . .
" Y o u may k n o w M r . G a f i n f r o m rhe concert stage." B o r l i u t h supplied
the missing clue. " A n d H e r r Sekuler is c h a i r m a n o f the W o r l d Solidarity o f
Ethical T h o u g h t . "
C h r i s t i a n smiled his way t h r o u g h some minutes o f small talk. H e
t h a n k e d M r . Gorbachev for his i n v i t a t i o n to visit h i m at San Francisco's
Presidio o r , better s t i l l , i n M o s c o w ' s Red Square. " M y t h o u g h r and rhe
H o l y Farher's t h o u g h t coincide p e r f e c t l y , " Gorbachev offered w i r h p o l -
ished p o l i t i c a l grace. " T h e w o r l d e n v i r o n m e n r a l crisis is rhe real basis f o r
o u r new e c u m e n i s m . "
"Ach, ja "
t Sekuler agreed.
"I hate to i n t e r r u p t such a pleasant conversation . . ." Gladstone
turned as Paul strode up b e h i n d h i m . " B u t i f my brother is g o i n g to catch
his t r a i n . . . "
C h r i s was grateful f o r the rescue. But he wished they could have had an
 526 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

hour alone. H e wished he c o u l d have explained his fears f o r Deckel, and

Yusai's fears f o r Paul.

There was a banal sameness abour all o f Christian's inrerviews this time
a r o u n d . Business was conducted o n a r i g i d l y impersonal note. The few
personal comments t h a t passed between h i m and the various Cardinals
and bishops were nonspecific. H e was offered neither a meal nor refresh-
ments by any one o f t h e m . A n d t h o u g h he k n e w the contents of the docu-
ments he c a r r i e d , only indirect reference was made t o the materials he
conveyed to t h e m . " A glorified m a i l m a n , that's w h a t I a m , " he t o l d h i m -
self as he r o u n d e d o f f the weeks o f his European r o u r and headed for his
flight ro the United States. " A n d n o t very glorified at t h a t ! "
The story o f his visits t o the U.S. Cardinals was rhe same. N o t even his
visit t o Jay Jay O ' C l e a r y in N e w Orleans broke rhe parrern. F r o m the
m o m e n r H i s Eminence gor a l o o k ar M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s accelerated rimerable
f o r the successful c o n d u c t o f a u n a n i m o u s C o m m o n M i n d Vore, and rhen
read rhe paragraph i n w h i c h M a e s t r o i a n n i held each C a r d i n a l personally
accountable o n this capital score, O'Cleary's reaction was m a r k e d more
by fear f o r his R o m a n a m b i t i o n s t h a n by his w e l l - k n o w n regard f o r his
c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the m i g h t y Gladstones.
There was one exceprion. To Christian's m i n d . H i s Eminence o f Cen-
r u r y c i t y d i d n ' t merely lack all sense o f social p r o p r i e t y ; he showed n o t a
grain o f o r d i n a r y c i v i l i t y . H i s eyes e m p t y o f feeling, he treated the Vatican
messenger as he d i d any subordinate. W h a t compelled h i m to deal w i t h
Gladstone at a l l — o r Gladstone w i t h h i m , for t h a t m a t t e r — w a s rheir com-
m o n relationship ro C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i . U n l i k e O ' C l e a r y , rhe C a r d i n a l
o f C e n t u r y c i t y d i d n ' t b l i n k at Maestroianni's accelerated schedule. The
deadline was A p r i l ? W e l l and g o o d . It was all to be accomplished t h r o u g h
rhe I A C s n o w , w i r h no public phase i n advance o f the General Consisrory?
Well and g o o d . M a e s r r o i a n n i w o u l d h o l d Cenrurycity d o u b l y accountable
for a successful outcome in rhe U.S.A.? In a pig's eye!
" Y o u w i l l carry back one message t o H i s Eminence, M o n s i g n o r e . " The
A m e r i c a n C a r d i n a l folded away the last o f the documents Maestroianni
had sent h i m . " T e l l h i m rhat n o w is the o p p o r t u n e time t o publish the
agreement already reached between the H o l y See and the U.S. hierarchy
concerning the use o f A l t a r girls i n the l i t u r g y and concerning the a p p o i n t -
ment o f deaconesses as parish pasrors." The Cardinal's smile was mechan-
ical. " I depend o n y o u , M o n s i g n o r e , ro convey rhar message accurarely."
Gladsrone managed to show an impassive face t o the C a r d i n a l . Fie
k n e w o f n o agreement between the H o l y See and the hierarchy abour A l t a r
girls, bur he had obviously been badly o f f rhe m a r k in reckoning rhe
imporrance o f rhe issue in Maesrroianni's plans. W h a r h i t h i m hardesr,
however, was that this ecclesiastical t u r n c o a t should remain so p o w e r f u l
ar rhe ropmosr level o f the A m e r i c a n hierarchy; and that he should make
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 527

such a brazen push f o r c a t a p u l t i n g i l l i c i t , i n v a l i d deaconesses into the role

o f parish adminisrrators.

Gladsrone's report ro a delighred C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i and his de-

briefing by a g r i m G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o added still more urgency to the
high-pitched atmosphere s u r r o u n d i n g the Pontiff's projected journey.
" N o w o n d e r H i s Eminence d i d n ' t care to c o m m i t his message to w r i t -
i n g , " L u c a d a m o g r o w l e d when Chris gor to that parr of his story. " O f
course there's been no papal agreement t o a l l o w the use o f A l t a r girls, and
cerrainly nor to a l l o w unordained deaconesses to serve as parish pastors.
It's just more o f their lies and rheir tactics. Clearly, the a i m is to have
w o m e n priests."
" T h a t ' s n o t the w h o l e a i m . " Gladstone was beginning t o t h i n k like
M a e s t r o i a n n i by n o w . " T h e goal is ro misrepresenr as meaningless any
legislative statements of this Pope. A n d the real message they intend t o
drive home is t h a t this Pope doesn't matter, doesn't c o u n t any longer. Ir's
rhe bishops w h o c o u n t . Ir's rhe l a i t y . It's the R o m a n Congregarions. U l t i -
mately, rhe message is rhar rhe C h u r c h has o u r g r o w n rhat medievalism
called the p a p a c y . "
S t i l l , Chris d i d n ' t see h o w the message c o u l d be implemented. "Surely
they c a n ' t publish a bogus d o c u m e n t just like that. I t w o u l d have to carry
someone's signature, and M a e s r r o i a n n i is t o o canny to come out i n the
open like t h a t . "
L u c a d a m o ' s response o f t i g h t - l i p p e d silence set oft an explosion i n
Gladstone's m i n d . A l d o Carnesecca had always said there was a plan
behind all this, and maybe he'd been r i g h t . But Carnesecca was dead, and
everyrhing seemed to be spiraling o u t o f h a n d . W h a t k i n d o f a plan was i t
that b r o o k e d such obvious c o n t e m p t for the Pope? In the silent explosion
of t h a t momenr, Chris k n e w L u c a d a m o had no answers for his questions.
Ir was like a replay o f the scene in the papal study w h e n he had under-
stood that the Pope w o u l d shove his report i n t o l i m b o . But n o w he had t o
w o n d e r if a n y t h i n g he d i d was g o i n g t o make a difference. N o matter h o w
m u c h evidence he uncovered or h o w d a m n i n g i t was, w o u l d any o f i t
make a difference?

W h e n Lucadamo filled rhe H o l y Farher i n o n Gladsrone's reporr, the Pon-

t i f f agreed w i r h their assessment of the goals o f his adversaries. Bur rhe
p r o b l e m rhar vexed Gladstone almost beyond endurance was not enough
ro deflecr rhe Slavic Pope f r o m rhe larger offensive he was c a r r y i n g f o r -
ward.
Parr o f that offensive had to d o w i t h the burgeoning consensus of Bis-
chara Francis' U N agency. It had become imperative rhar H i s Holiness
step u p his o w n counterattack o n rhe bartleground of p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l
and the t r a d i t i o n a l m o r a l teaching of the C h u r c h . H e used every o p p o r t u -
n i t y ro plead against rhe use of a b o r t i o n and contraceptives. I n his weekly
 528 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

public addresses, i n his speeches to visiting groups ot pilgrims and to the

regular How o f VIPs w h o wanted to add a personal audience w i t h the
H o l y Father to their p u b l i c record, he carried his attack vigorously for-
w a r d . F i n a l l y , he m o v e d rhe acrion to the f r o n t where he k n e w he could
make the most headway. To Embassy R o w .
Rome was the official residence for most o f the nations ambassadors 1

and consular representatives t o the Italian state—to " t h e Q u i r i n a l , " as

d i p l o m a t i c usage described t h e m . Further, there were d i p l o m a t i c represen-
tatives f r o m at least 117 nations accredited t o the H o l y See itself. This
double cluster of representation was, i n fact, w h a t gave the d i p l o m a t i c
corps o f the Eternal C i t y its peculiar luster. Irs unique value as a source of
i n f o r m a t i o n and an i n r e r n a t i o n a l w h i s p e r i n g gallery was enhanced by rhe
facr rhat Rome was considered the great global meeting g r o u n d ; rhe capi-
ral where Easr and Wesr mingled as a matter o f daily necessity.
T h e Slavic Pope saw ro ir t h a t his message c o u n t e r i n g the United N a -
tions consensus ranged up and d o w n this densely p o p u l a t e d , international
nerve cenrer. By turns rhar message was pleading or proresring; prayerful
or c a j o l i n g ; suggesting o r b l a m i n g ; encouraging or a n n o y i n g . But always i t
carried rhe same theme: " A r presenr, rhere is an organized arrack o n rhe
viral uniry o f rhe nation—each n a t i o n . N a m e l y , the f a m i l y . U l t i m a t e l y , this
is an attack o n each n a t i o n , o n the f a m i l y o f nations and on the h u m a n
race."
Because the Pope's counterattack was o p e n , because he mentioned
names and because A m e r i c a n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n financing p o p u l a t i o n con-
t r o l in T h i r d W o r l d countries r a n to the billions, the United States inevita-
bly became the target o f remarks and criticisms. Well-trained Vatican
spokesmen repeated the same message as they made their way in the cir-
cuit o f c o c k t a i l gatherings, buffets, receptions and dinners. Copies o f the
Executive O r d e r m a n d a t i n g an imperative U.S. b i r t h c o n t r o l policy
popped up as i f by magic and made the r o u n d s .
The Slavic Pope had a single aim i n this c a m p a i g n . H e had promised
G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d that he w o u l d n ' t publish his ex cathedra encyclical
lerrer w i t h o u t p r i o r notice. Bur he had preserved his prerogative t o use
every other means at his disposal to force the U.S. government t o open
talks w i t h the H o l y See in this grave marter.
Perhaps it t o o k longer than one m i g h t have expected. Bernard Pizzolato
was n o t the brighrest Ambassador rhe Americans had ever senr t o the
Q u i r i n a l . But the day finally came when even he g o t the message.

"Unless this campaign o f papal r u m o r m o n g e r i n g is halted, and s o o n " —

Bernie Pizzolato aimed his rage at a confused A d m i r a l Bud Vance—"the
United States w i l l have t o come to the Pope's b a r g a i n i n g table; and that
spells the effective e l i m i n a t i o n o f the Executive O r d e r ! "
" W h a t a b o u t i t , G i b ? " Bud turned to A p p l e y a r d . " W e gorra ger some
clarity here. W h a r ' s rhis Pope d o i n g w i r h all his r u m o r m o n g e r i n g abour
THE R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 529

the Unired Srares? Is ir jusr a prelude? Is he secretly preparing a letter after

all? Is he getting ready to c o n d e m n U.S. p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l p o l i c y ? "
" C o m e o n , Bernie." Gibson glared at Pizzolato. " L e t ' s cut out the hot
air. If y o u spent less time cozying up ro this Pope's enemies and more time
c u l t i v a t i n g the Pontiff, y o u m i g h r have a better feel for w h a t he's d o i n g . "
" A n d just w h a t m i g h t that be, A p p l e y a r d ? "
" P l l tell y o u w h a t it's n o t , M r . A m b a s s a d o r , " G i b shot back. " T h e r e ' l l
be no letter f r o m the H o l y Father for n o w . I f he conremplares anyrhing
like t h a t in the near f u t u r e , w e ' l l k n o w i t beforehand. A n d — I repeat,
and—we'll have a p r e l i m i n a r y l o o k at a n y t h i n g by w a y o f a letter or
d o c u m e n t he proposes to p u b l i s h . "
" W e l l , t h e n . " Pizzolato practically bared his teeth. " I guess you can say
I d o n ' t rrusr rhe Pope i n rhis marter. O r in much of a n y r h i n g else!" W i r h
rhar, he turned heel and stalked o u t o f the office.
Left i n the privacy of rheir o w n deliberations, Vance and A p p l e y a r d
w c n r ro the heart o f rhe matter.
" L o o k , B u d . " A p p l e y a r d sat back in his chair and crossed his long legs.
" W e all k n o w we're i n a minefield. One false srep and it w i l l b l o w us to
smithereens. We d o n ' t need the k i n d o f secondhand i n f o r m a t i o n Bernie
picks u p . " G i b was no Carholic, he reminded Vance, but he'd learned not
t o trust renegades. He wasn't a b o u t to stand by and let a mercenary go-
getter like Pizzolato m u d d y waters for no g o o d reason excepr rhat he
hared the r e l i g i o n of his fathers. I n fact, i t seemed t o h i m that a m a n w h o
w o u l d welsh o n his religion w o u l d welsh o n anyone and everyone.
" Y o u ' r e sure o f the Slavic Pope, rhen?"
" A s sure as I am of a n y t h i n g . Lie's w a l k i n g a t i g h t r o p e , and he's very
high u p . I mean, it's a long fall d o w n to where some of his o w n c r o w d
w a n t ro push h i m . Bur he's given his w o r d to us and . . . "
The l o o k o n Vance's face stopped A p p l e y a r d in mid-sentence. H e ' d seen
that expression before. It said: I k n o w more than y o u t h i n k , G i b ! " C o m e
o n , A d m i r a l . C o u g h i t u p . W h a t is i t ? "
" R e m e m b e r y o u r o l d friend Cyrus Benthoek?"
"Sure."
" A n d Professor Ralph C h a n n i n g ? "
" I ' v e never met h i m , but 1 k n o w w h o he is. Flveryone k n o w s w h o he is.
A n d i f m e m o r y serves, he came up i n O t t o Sekuler's file."
" W e l l , they both breezed in here the other day. T h e NSC called over to
announce t h e m . T h a t ' s w h y Pizzolato's reading of rhings has me so con-
fused. Benrhoek and C h a n n i n g c o n f i r m w h a t you've been t e l l i n g us abour
the Slavic Pope. N o t a b o u t keeping his w o r d . But a b o u t the pressure to get
him o u t . "
" W h a t exactly?"
" T h e y say w e ' l l have a new Pope i n Rome by the end o f M a y . "
A p p l e y a r d stopped breathing for a m i n u t e . " D i d you take that seri-
ously?" '
 530 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" A d d it Lip yourself. T h e pressure by rhe Pope's o w n c r o w d for h i m to

resign; the pressure f r o m the W h i t e House telling h i m to shut u p ; the
pressure on his central policies by the U N ; the voices thar secured his
i n v i t a t i o n t o Russia and U k r a i n e ; the papal doomsday balloon floated by
the likes of Benthoek and C h a n n i n g at the N S C itself; and n o w this
pointed and personal attack o n h i m by Ambassador Pizzolaro.
" Y e a h , I take i t seriously. I n fact, 1 d o n ' t k n o w h o w your Pope has
w i t h s t o o d that k i n d of pressure f o r as l o n g as he has!"
Suddenly and unaccountably, G i b felt as sad as if Vance had just an-
nounced the death o f an esteemed f r i e n d , a valued personality, an admired
role m o d e l , a beautiful m i n d . In all his professional life, he asked himself,
when had he ever regretted the passing of a high public official in any
land? Even i n the U.S.A.? W h e n had he ever been as sad as this—as lone-
some as this—over the disappearance of any of the greats he had k n o w n ?
Never, was the answer. Never. T h e n , w h y now? W h y was this piece of
news a b o u t the Slavic Pope so paralyzing?
" A r e you okay, G i b ? "
"Just a little taken aback. Guess y o u got me w i t h that news fore-
cast . . . "
" I k n o w y o u like the o l d g u y . " The A d m i r a l was t r u l y sympathetic.
" N o , B u d . " A p p l e y a r d got h o l d of himself. " I d o n ' t t h i n k y o u can really
like any o f these public leaders. The really b i g ones, I mean. T h e i r persona
as public leaders sers them outside that category. But . . . " He fell silent
again. H e t h o u g h t he undersrood w h y he w o u l d feel bereaved i f rhe Slavic
Pope disappeared so soon f r o m his life. The Trouble was rhar he had no
words for it.
" W e l l . . . " Vance shuffled rhe papers lying on his desk. Symparhy or
n o , he had some contradictions t o deal w i t h , and he needed Gibson's help.
" C h a n n i n g and y o u r pal Benrhoek were p r o b a b l y m i x e d up i n some way
in rhose invirarions f o r rhe Pope's Eastern t r i p . A t the very least, they
k n o w that Sekuler and that pianist character named Gafin made rhe ar-
rangements. They said as m u c h . We've k n o w n since Strasbourg that
Benthoek is w i r e d i n t o the C h u r c h scene in the U.S.A. and i n t o the Vati-
can. A n d C h a n n i n g is r i g h t up there in the same league. They were both
very keen on the papal visit g o i n g t h r o u g h . "
" H a v e I missed a beat, B u d ? " A p p l e y a r d scrarched his head. " I t h o u g h t
the a d m i n i s t r a r i o n ' s c o m p l a i n r abour rhe Slavic Pope had ro do w i r h his
stand on p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l , nor his Russia r r i p . "
" T h e adminisrrarion's c o m p l a i n t has to do w i t h t o o many m i x e d signals
c o m i n g o u t of R o m e . But let's go back t o p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l for a minure.
" E v e r y o n e k n o w s rhe Pope's stand on that score and o n rhe Traditional
m o r a l Teachings o f his C h u r c h . Even Bernie Pizzolato k n o w s the Slavic
Pope w o n ' t c o m p r o m i s e w i r h rhe U.S. government. A n d y o u yourself have
kepr t e l l i n g us t h a t this Pope is g o i n g t o fighr r o o r h and nail againsr all and
THE R E S I G N A T I O N PROT OCOI 531

every a t t e m p t by the U N General Assembly to impose a universal l i m i t a -

t i o n o n the number o f c h i l d r e n permitted i n each f a m i l y . "
"Sure I have. Bud. H e made that clear to me. A n d he made i t clear to the
head o f U N F P A , Bischara Francis. T spoke ro her myself, and I can rell you
she was pretty steamed after her audience w i t h rhe Floly Father."
" R i g h r . Bur n o w we've heard r u m b l i n g s that some b l u e - r i b b o n Vatican
t h i n k t a n k — t h e Pontifical Academy o f Sciences, I t h i n k it's called—is
about to p u t o u t a paper c o n t r a d i c t i n g e v e r y t h i n g you say this Pope says
about p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l and resources. N o w , if rhar srands up as o f f i -
c i a l — i f a b l u e - r i b b o n p o n t i f i c a l panel headquartered i n the Pope's o w n
city-state o f the Vatican actually issues a t u r n a b o u t o f papal p o l i c y — c a n
y o u blame us f o r being confused? O r , t o p u t i t another w a y , can you
blame us f o r t h i n k i n g this Pope isn't a straight hitter after a l l ? "
A p p l e y a r d was ready ro weigh i n on rhar, bur the A d m i r a l wasn't half
finished w i t h his p r o b l e m yer. A p p a r e n t l y , analysts at State had t o l d
Vance's superiors, i n c l u d i n g the C o m m i t t e e o f Ten, t h a t i t c o u l d be unwise
to take at face value the Pope's statement t h a t his Russia t r i p was simply a
religious pilgrimage. They t h o u g h t the Pope was up t o something else, and
that i t c o u l d involve the securiry o f rhe United States. L i k e Pizzolato, they
d i d n ' t trusr the Pope. T h e m i x e d signals c o m i n g o u t o f the Vatican o n rhe
p o p u l a t i o n question o n l y added fuel to their a r g u m e n t .
" T h a t ' s just g a r b a g e . "
" M a y b e , Crib. But listen t o their reasons."
First o f a l l , Vance said, there was rhe private relationship between the
Pontiff and M i k h a i l Gorbachev. T h e y had been closely i n touch w h i l e
Gorbachev was the Soviet s t r o n g m a n , and they remained so n o w . But
their relationship hadn'r started all o f a sudden w h e n Gorbachev became
Boss o f A l l the Russias.
D u r i n g its rise in Stalinist Poland i n the seventies and eighties, the Soli-
darity M o v e m e n t was manipulated remorely by the K G B center in M o s -
cow to serve irs o w n long-range plans. Vance k n e w that. G i b knew that.
N o b o d y i n the intelligence game was i g n o r a n t o f t h a t .
" W e ' r e quite cozy w i t h Gorbachev ourselves r i g h t n o w . " Vance came ro
the p o i n t . " B u t we may be i n bed w i t h a family o f cobras. O u r new
Parrnership f o r Peace arrangement w i t h Russia—Boris Yeltsin's Russia—is
the biggest gamble since W o r l d War 11. Yet we're always operating i n the
d a r k . We never see the b r i d e — w e ' r e n o t even sure w h o she is! But we have
to share the marriage bed w i t h her. A n d we have t o w o n d e r i f someone
else is c o u r t i n g her o n the s l y . "
" Y o u figure rhe Slavic Pope as rhe wanna-be b r i d e g r o o m ? "
" I figure there's reason t o question this Pope's statement o f intent. A
clear picture is beginning to emerge f r o m intelligence intercepts in Russia,
U k r a i n e , Belarus and Poland. The suspicions o f rhose o n the scene—the
people c a r r y i n g o u t rhis surveillance—cenrer o n t w o o r three m a i n facts.
For one t h i n g , most o f rhe radios operaring i n Greater Russia are in areas
 532 WINDSWEPT HOtSE

whose local Russian O r t h o d o x bishops have secretly acknowledged the

Slavic Pope as their s p i r i t u a l leader. A n d ir also turns our t h a t Belarus has
been invaded by hundreds o f Polish priesrs and Polish-trained Belarus
sians. So a case can be made rhar the Slavic Pope is s l o w l y t a k i n g over the
g o v e r n i n g structure o f the R O C . We c a n ' t a f f o r d to forget that this man
used a bunch o f clerics to beat the s t u f f i n g o u t o f the Stalinists in Poland.
We have to ask ourselves i f he intends to scuttle the boat in w h i c h we've
floated o u r srill rickery Partnership f o r Peace."
There was still m o r e , and Vance piled i t o n f o r A p p l e y a r d . Papal finger-
prints were all over some o f the data, he said. There were t w o papal
emissaries o r couriers—a G e r m a n and an I r i s h m a n — w h o were c o n t i n u -
ally Traveling between R o m e and Eastern Europe, i n c l u d i n g Greater Rus-
sia. Several lerrer drops rhar had been identified in Europe had been tied ar
leasr renrarively to the H o l y See itself.
A p p l e y a r d leaned f o r w a r d . " W h a t you've g o t , B u d , is a clear picture o f
a Pope w h o ' s w o r k i n g to convert people. Ehat's w h a t he does. That's his
j o b . Unless I miss m y guess, your inrercepts are p r o b a b l y filled w i r h refer-
ences ro Fatima and the T h i r d Secrer . . . "
" H o w rhe blazes d i d y o u k n o w r h a r ? "
Gibson ignored the question. W h a t else, he wanted t o k n o w , had turned
up i n the interceprs?
Vance l o o k e d sheepish. He had ro a d m i r rhar rhe code being used in the
radio transmissions and w r i r r e n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s hadn'r been broken yet.
The analysts pored over references like rhe ones G i b had mentioned. Ref-
erences ro F a t i m a , the Immaculate H e a r t o f M a r y , the T h i r d Secrer, rhe
Pilgrim Srarue o f the Q u e e n , the Blue A r m y . Bur rhey c o u l d n ' t pur i t all
rogerher. They c o u l d n ' r make o u t precisely w h a r was being c o m m u n i -
cated. " N e v e r t h e l e s s " — B u d went o n the offensive—"there's no d o u b t
a b o u t i t . There is an o n g o i n g p l a n . Some sort o f D-day event is being
organized. But there are t o o many crosscurrenrs for us to be able to make
sense o f i t .
" I can'r figure w h y Benrhoek and C h a n n i n g w o u l d come here ro tell us
they favor a papal r r i p ro Russia. I can'r figure rhe Pope getting help f r o m
Sekuler or G a f i n or thar h u m b u g R O C Parriarch K i r i l , O n rhe face of i t ,
none o f them are friends or well-wishers o f the Slavic Pope. O r arc they?
But most o f a l l , I can't figure rhe Pope himself. W h o ' s being suckered in
rhis game? W h o ' s managing w h o m ? 1 granr y o u rhar if rhe Pontifical Acad-
emy o f Sciences really does come d o w n o n rhe side o f l i m i t i n g the size of
f a m i l i e s — i f that stands up as official H o l y See p o l i c y — i t c o u l d ease things
between the Pope a n d the President. I mean, i f it's o k a y according to the
Pope to establish a l i d o f t w o children per f a m i l y , ir's o n l y a h o p and a
skip ro i m p o s i n g a one-child l i m i t . A n d it's a short j u m p f r o m rhere ro
i m p o s i n g childless marriages—to the President's goal o f zero p o p u l a t i o n
growth.
" B u t it's n o t that simple. If this Pope is t e l l i n g you one t h i n g and d o i n g
1 11 L R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 533

rhe exacr opposite i n rhe critical area o f p o p u l a t i o n p o l i c y — o r even i f he's

jusr w a f f l i n g i n i n d e c i s i o n — w h a t ' s ro say he isn'r d o i n g the same t h i n g in
his Russia policy? I hate t o say i t , G i b s o n . But maybe we're being made
fools o f by a c r o w d o f o l d men i n s k i r t s ! "
A p p l e y a r d k n e w as w e l l as a n y b o d y i n State h o w delicate the arrange-
ment was between the U.S. government and Russia. Vance had been right
a b o u t the rickety state o f the Partnership f o r Peace. A n d he had made a
g o o d case about the dangers inherent for America i n the contradictions
and confusions c o m i n g our o f rhe Varican over papal policies and intent.
Gibson's money was still o n the Slavic Pope as a straighr hitter, and he
said so. But he needed t i m e , he t o l d Vance. T i m e t o sort o u t w h a t was true
and w h a t was n o t . T i m e to find o u t w h a t was t r u l y i n America's best
interest. T i m e to get back t o Rome.
" D o as y o u judge best." Vance barely managed a smile. " T h i n g s are
heating up berween rhe Pope and rhis a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , so I haven't got a l o t
o f leeway to give y o u . But for n o w , ir's y o u r b a b y . "

" W i t h all respect, Eminence, I d o n ' t see where rhe c o n f u s i o n lies." C a r d i -

nal M a e s r r o i a n n i l o o k e d i n d u l g e n t l y ar C a r d i n a l K a r m e l . The orher m e m -
bers o f Secrerary Graziani's ad hoc committee w h o had gathered f o r an
update on a few m a i n items of business—only Pensabene and C o u t i n h o
were absent—decided t o sit this contest o u t f o r the m o m e n t , France's
C a r d i n a l Joseph K a r m e l was n o t a man to be i n d u l g e d .
" W i t h all respect, Eminence," Karmel boomed back at M a e s t r o i a n n i in
his redoubtable O l d Testament style. " Y o u can t a l k all y o u like a b o u t y o u r
so-called supplemental initiatives. The fact remains t h a t the P o n t i f f has
been consistent in his o p p o s i t i o n t o the use o f girls i n the Sanctuary. H e
has promised rhere w i l l never be permission for A l r a r girls. O n l y a few
m o n t h s ago, he forbade A l r a r girls. A n d o n l y a few weeks ago he rold
M o r h e r Teresa he w o u l d never a l l o w A l r a r girls. Therefore, 1 do nor see
h o w y o u expect t o publish a counterstatement and get away w i t h i r . "
" W e ' v e gotten a w a y w i t h m u c h more rhan rhat over the years." N o a h
Palombo f o u n d ir hard ro believe rhar any man w h o hoped ro be Ponriff
himself i n rhe near f u t u r e , as K a r m e l d i d , c o u l d be so r i m i d . " T h e f o r m u l a
is tried and true by n o w . Once we slip something past h i m and get it
accepted as c o m m o n usage, this Pope w o n ' t fight t o u n d o i t . "
" Q u i t e so, Eminence." M a e s t r o i a n n i smiled. "Eve w o r k e d our rhe de-
rails. For the first t i m e , a statement w i l l come f r o m this R o m a n Chancery
p e r m i t t i n g Alrar girls. A n d close o n rhe heels o f rhar i n i i i a r i v e , we have
arranged f o r a crisis i n papal proposals abour p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l and
demographics. You musr agree, Eminence. These w i l l serve as r w o excel-
lent examples o f the bishops acting for rhe g o o d o f rhe C h u r c h , even i f
they must c o u n t e r m a n d k n o w n papal views t o do i t . As the Americans are
so f o n d o f saying, let us see w h o blinks firsr."
It was t o o mysterious f o r Karmel's rasre; he w o u l d have liked to k n o w
 534 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

rhe details. H e was clearly o u t n u m b e r e d , however. A n d M a e s t r o i a n n i was

keen t o get o n to the central matter of the Resignation Prorocol itself.
Ar rhe slightest n o d f r o m the little C a r d i n a l , Secretary of State Graziani
launched i n t o a detailed account o f h o w he had managed t o place the
Resignation Protocol i n the c o n t e x t o f the papal t r i p t o the East.
" E m i n e n c e ! " M a e s t r o i a n n i i n t e r r u p t e d . " H a v e we got a definirive rext
or nor? I f w e have, please show ir ro u s . "
" W e have indeed, Eminence. I f s nor perfecr. Bur it w i l l d o . " Graziani
had no i n t e n t i o n o f p u t t i n g copies o f this d y n a m i t e text i n t o f o u r different
pairs o f hands. N o t w i t h o u t t a k i n g certain precautions. N o t today.
" C h i e f l y , " he c o n t i n u e d w i r h stately d i g n i t y , " w h a t we have n o w , as a
result o f m u c h labor o n my p a r t , is a text w h i c h clearly states t h a t , in the
event o f a t o t a l physical d i s a b i l i t y o n this H o l y Father's parr ro govern
d u r i n g his Russia t r i p , he w i l l be deemed to have resigned f r o m the papacy
legally, v o l u n t a r i l y a n d forever. Recovery, partial or complere, w i l l make
n o difference. T h e T h r o n e o f Peter w i l l be considered e m p t y . We w i l l have
sede vacantc. The n o r m a l machinery for the election o f a new Pope w i l l go
into action."
Cardinals Palombo and A u r e a t i n i shifted i n their chairs. They had been
nervous a b o u t leaving such a t r i c k y business i n Graziani's hands, b u t ap-
parently he had pulled it off.
" H i s Holiness d i d insist o n t w o p o i n t s , h o w e v e r . " G r a z i a n i ignored the
glance that passed between Palombo and A u r e a t i n i . " H e insists that this
new legislation have o n l y one a p p l i c a t i o n , and o n l y o n a one-time basis.
T h a t i t apply o n l y t o himself, and o n l y d u r i n g the time of his Russia t r i p .
If no a p p l i c a t i o n of rhe Prorocol rakes place before his return f r o m the
East, rhen the legislation falls i n t o abeyance. It cannot be i n v o k e d again in
his case, or i n the case o f any other Sovereign P o n t i f f . "
M a e s t r o i a n n i waved all possible objections aside. " W e never envisaged
m o r e t h a n one a p p l i c a t i o n . "
T h a t m u c h accepted by a l l , G r a z i a n i c o n t i n u e d w i t h rhe next papal
c o n d i t i o n . ' ' N o matter w h a t I said o r d i d , I c o u l d not get the H o l y Father's
agreement to sign the d o c u m e n t before his departure f o r the East. H e w i l l
i n i t i a l i t . But he w i l l sign i t o n l y if circumsrances d u r i n g rhe t r i p make it
a b u n d a n t l y clear that he should d o so."
It was C a r d i n a l K a r m e l again w h o g r u m b l e d . H o w c o u l d a comarose
Pope decide ro sign anyrhing? Unaccounrably, however, he f o u n d himself
steamrollered for the second t i m e . N o one else seemed to see his logic or t o
share his concern.
O n the c o n t r a r y , G r a z i a n i was ready to explain the w h o l e question
away i n legal terms. " W e all k n o w , Eminence, rhat an i n i t i a l i n g of a legal
d o c u m e n t can be probated i n t o a f u l l signature, under C a n o n L a w . "
" I , t o o , w o u l d prefer a full signature at the o u t s e t , " M a e s t r o i a n n i
c h i m e d i n . " B u t we can make d o w i t h a mere i n i t i a l i n g . We've made do
w i r h less in other cases . . . "
T H E R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 535

"One final point." Graziani looked at each man in the room. " H i s
Holiness wishes the document to be held secrer until and unless i t acquires
the force of law b y its implementation."
"We can live with all o f those conditions, Eminence." Eor the final time,
Maestroianni spoke for rhe group. " N o w , may we have copies o f the
document?"
For the first time, Graziani bested Maestroianni at his own game. " O f
course, Eminence. Just as soon as all the technical details arc completed.
The prorocol classification and so forth "
The little Cardinal was tempted to insist. But whar was the point?
Thanks to Monsignore Gladstone, the C M V was assured; and the message
he had brought back from Centurycity had been most timely. The Pontiff
himself was tired; t o o tired, surely, ro withstand rhe pressure of the
double-barreled supplemenral initiatives about to hit his pontificate. And,
while Dr. Channing felt a shortcut might have to be arranged at some
crucial stage, any way you looked at ir, rhe Russia journey would be rhis
Pope's final effort. Ir was a small matter, then, to let Graziani have his
head for a while longer. " A s you say, Eminence. All i n good time, eh?"

If Cardinal Palombo had his way, history would soon be smiling upon him
i n particular. He stayed o n after the others ro share a glass of wine wirh
Maestroianni and to work out a strategy t o present his candidacy for
Peter's Chair. Though his voice and his face were as blank as ever, he was
plainly benr o n having that strategy set before the General Consisrory o f
Cardinals opened i n early May.
"Absolutely, Eminence. I will turn my attention to i t in the next few
weeks!" Maestroianni knew how essential i t was t h a t he hold his own
forces together. This was n o more rhan a problem of success, he rold
himself. It wouldn'r be long, i n fact, before he would have all rhe other
papal contenders like Courinho and Karmel to bargain with—not to men-
tion such obvious Pope-makers as Pensabene of Rome, Boff of Westmin-
ster and His Eminence of Cenrurycity. Srill, n o one with an ounce of
experience and a desire ro survive would rackle Cardinal Palombo fron-
tally, especially o n the subject of his own papal candidacy. It was with a
grear deal of skill thar rhe lirrle Cardinal managed ro smile this most sullen
of his colleagues t o the door without the issue coming to a head.
"We will talk." Such was Palombo's skill with overrones that his Three
bland words o f parting remained behind as a living presence i n Maestro-
ianni's life. As a request and a statement. As a suggestion and a command.
As a prediction and a threat.
 536 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

X L V 11
BY M I D - F E B R U A R Y , D a m i e n Slatrery was beginning ro d o u b r his grip o n
rhings. W i t h the Pontiff's Russia t r i p jusr ren weeks o f f , he c o u l d feel
tension all a r o u n d h i m as rhings beared u p in Rome. Bur his precipitate
fall f r o m D o m i n i c a n grace meant, a m o n g other things, t h a t he was n o
longer ar the center o f action as he had been f o r so many years a t the
A n g e l i c u m . These days, i n fact, w h e n he w a s n ' t holed u p a t the Casa del
Clero w o r k i n g o n the Pope's encyclical o n contraception, a b o r t i o n and
h o m o s e x u a l i t y — C u r r e n t Errors and Abuses, i t was called—he was traips-
ing a b o u t the U n i t e d States t e n d i n g t o his duties as spirirual director o f
Cessi Gladstone's g r o w i n g corps o f u n d e r g r o u n d priests.
O n the m o r n i n g w h e n he was due f o r a special catch-up conference w i t h
the H o l y Father, Therefore, Slartery called Chris Gladstone a t first light
and coaxed h i m ro an early breakfasr ar Springy's earery. H e was l o o k i n g
for solace and a g o o d , solid update o n things. W h a t he got was an earful
o f bad news.
" I declare t o G o d and all H i s a n g e l s " — C h r i s t i a n tore i n t o the platter
Springy set before h i m — " i f I hear one more bishop relling me o f his plans
ro draft a new mission statement for his diocese, o r a p p o i n t i n g some new
rask force t o identify i n t e r m e d i a r y objectives and u l t i m a t e goals f o r
C h u r c h life, I m i g h t just t h r o w rhe w h o l e mess ar Maesrroianni and rell
h i m w h a t t o do w i t h i t ! "
" W h i c h o f them is it n o w ? " D a m i e n raised his coffee cup t o Springy for
a timely refill.
" T h a t w h i t e d sepulcher a n d u n w o r t h y prelare, m y L o r d Bishop o f
N a s h v i l l e , Connecricur. It's all just d r i v e l , D a m i e n . But he's a perfecr man
for M a e s t r o i a n n i . Ele's constantly s t u m p i n g f o r female deacons and the
o r d i n a t i o n o f w o m e n . M e a n w h i l e , his diocese is the Devil's o w n joke. He
has the highest rate o f high school pregnancy and the lowest rate o f Mass
attendance o n the eastern seaboard. N o Sunday sermons ever. The t w o
cases o f priestly pedophilia he settled o u t of c o u r t last year alone cost h i m
m i l l i o n s . A n d he's got A l t a r girls and female Eucharistic ministers c o m i n g
o u t o f his e a r s ! "
D a m i e n shook his head. " T h e P o n t i f f has been muzzy a b o u t a l o t o f
issues, b u t he has been clear a b o u t t h a t ! "
" A n d so have a l l his predecessors. But prepare yourself, m y friend.
M a e s t r o i a n n i plans t o publish some k i n d o f bogus d o c u m e n t t o get
a r o u n d H i s Holiness on this score. I d o n ' t k n o w h o w he expects t o pull i t
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 537

o f f , bur I do k n o w w h y . If they're g o i n g ro hijack the H o l y Farher into

resigning, they'd better prepare people for rhe change."
" H a v e y o u t o l d H i s Holiness?"
" L u c a d a m o has. But I ' m a f r a i d , D a m i e n , rhis is g o i n g to be one more
battle lost i n a l o n g and birter w a r . " Chris shoved his plare aside. " I ' v e
been r e t h i n k i n g o u r conversations w h e n we were at W i n d s w e p t . We were
so eager ro do a g o o d j o b of w o r k for H i s Holiness. Bur, like water poured
o u t o n cement, it's all come to n o t h i n g . So tell me. D o y o u still t h i n k this is
the m a n C h r i s t wants as Pope precisely at this c r i t i c a l juncture of events?"
" Y e s ! " M a y b e D a m i e n was losing his g r i p o n some things, but a b o u t
this he remained as certain as sunrise.
" D o y o u t h i n k this H o l y Father is still a R o m a n Catholic believer?"
"Yes."
" O n whar grounds?"
" O n rhe grounds of R o m a n C a t h o l i c fairh. H e refuses to abandon the
basics. In m o r a l i t y , he maintains o u r Catholic o p p o s i r i o n ro a b o r t i o n ,
c o n t r a c e p t i o n , h o m o s e x u a l i t y , divorce and bedrock rules of t h a t k i n d . In
d o g m a , he champions all the m a i n beliefs—rhe d i v i n i t v of C h r i s t , the p r i v -
ileges o f M a r y , Heaven, Flell, the Last Judgment. H e ' l l never change on
any o f t h a t . "
" O k a y . So he keeps banging a w a y a b o u t those four or five m o r a l rules.
But all the w h i l e , he lets the w h o l e C h u r c h slide inro chaos and r u i n . O r
are y o u prepared ro argue rhat he's a comperenr governor of rhe C h u r c h ? "
" N o . Incomperenr. But I am prepared to argue rhat he w o u l d n ' t be
P o p e — c o u l d n ' t be Pope—if C h r i s t d i d n ' t w a n t h i m t o be Pope. A n d I ' m
prepared to argue that anyone w h o expects a restoration of rhe o l d c o m -
fortable C h u r c h we k n e w w h e n y o u were in knee britches can forger ir. As
m u c h as we abhor i t , we're p a y i n g the piper for the i n t e n t o f all those
bishops ar Vatican IL Ir was as t h o u g h they were saying, 'We d o n ' t k n o w
exactly w h a t we're d o i n g , b u t n o b o d y — n o t G o d , not Chrisr, not rhe Peo-
ple o f G o d , nor rhe w i d e w o r l d of m a n k i n d — w i l l tolerate the absolutist
m o n a r c h y of the papacy any longer.' "
" H o l d o n , D a m i e n , " Chris flared. " I ' v e been machine-gunned by roo
m a n y bishops w i t h all t h a t pap a b o u t the intent of Vatican I I . But you h i t
the nail o n the head, m y f r i e n d . M o s t of them d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t rhey were
d o i n g . They let themselves be suckered by a c r o w d of people w h o had lost
their C a t h o l i c f a i t h . They were taken over by the Rahners, the M a r i t a i n s ,
rhe Reinvernunfrs, the K i i n g s , the C o u r t n e y M u r r a y s , the von Balrhasars,
rhe Congars, rhe de Lubacs. A n d rhey've been c a r r y i n g the water ever
since f o r all rhe o r h e r s — f o r w o m e n w h o see H o l y Orders as n o r h i n g more
rhan another n o t c h o n their g u n o f equality; f o r homosexuals w h o t h i n k
v i n d i c a t i o n lies in the C o n c i l i a r C h u r c h ; for abortionists w h o beat a
b l o o d y path f r o m their s t i r r u p couches to their countinghouses."
" W a i r a m i n u t e , l a d d i e ! " D a m i e n held u p a huge hand i n m o c k defense.
" P m o n y o u r side, r e m e m b e r ? "
 538 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" S o r r y , Slattery," Chris relented. " I k n o w you're r i g h t . The o l d C h u r c h

isn't c o m i n g back. N o t w i t h this Pope. N o t w i t h any Pope. But neither d o
I t h i n k the bishops o f Vatican I I meant to shove us i n t o this permanent
state o f w a r . So 1 just can't figure i t . We b o t h k n o w the Slavic Pope isn't
s t u p i d . A n d we b o t h k n o w he's n o t an apostate. But I can't figure w h y he
goes o n a l l o w i n g w h a r he himself calls rhe fraudulence o f o u r ecclesiasrical
life."
D a m i e n had no sure answers. M a y b e Chrisr had chosen this man t o be
H i s Pope more for his faults t h a n f o r his other qualities. M a y b e the Pontiff
himself had let things go t o o far t o get them i n h a n d . M a y b e he'd given up
so m u c h p o w e r because he k n e w rhe o l d system was dead. Still, come
w h a t may, Slattery was sure o f t w o things.
" P l l bet y o u another breakfast at Springy's t h a t H i s Holiness is n o t
g o i n g to cave in and resign. He's more useful as Pope t h a n any o f the
radical progressivists l i k e C o u t i n h o and Palombo and K a r m e l and m y o l d
pal f r o m C e n t u r y c i t y w h o are p a n t i n g for a chance t o take his place. You
and I borh k n o w rhat m u c h . I reckon rhe H o l y Farher k n o w s ir, r o o . "
"And?"
" M a y b e rhis w i l l r u r n o u t to be another bartle lost, as y o u say. But
always remember, Gladsrone. The w a r w o n ' t be over t i l l the L a s t T r u m p e r
sounds. A n d no matter h o w many bartles we lose, it ends w i t h the v i c t o r y
of Chrisr."

T h e Slavic Pope seemed so confident t h a t m o r n i n g t h a t Slattery was prac-

tically ready t o collect his bet w i t h C h r i s r i a n . T h i s was nor a m a n , Slarrery
rhoughr, w h o was ready to cave i n . The firsr t h i n g His Holiness wanted
was an update o n the progress o f Signora Gladstone's projecr in A m e r i c a ,
and rhis was one reporr D a m i e n was happy ro give.
" T h e r e are difficulties and some i n d i v i d u a l failures, H o l y Father. Bur as
a g r o u p , rhe u n d e r g r o u n d n e t w o r k has met w i t h immediate success in its
m a i n purpose. O u r priests supply v a l i d Mass, Confession and Baptism to
s m a l l , dedicated groups o f the f a i t h f u l in their neighborhoods all across
rhe United States. A n d as an organized g r o u p we have escaped detection
by the A m e r i c a n hierarchy. One o f o u r priests—a youngster by the name
o f Father M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y — h a s a theory t o e x p l a i n t h a t part o f o u r suc-
cess. Fie t h i n k s the U.S. hierarchy is t o o arrogant t o conceive of anyone
f l o u t i n g their a u t h o r i t y . "
The Pontiff pursed his lips. O ' R e i l l y ' s name and something o f his char-
acter had figured in Gladstone's report. "Overconfidence is the brother ro
arrogance, Farher D a m i e n . I hope you've made that p o i n t to Father
O'Reilly."
"Cessi Gladsrone made rhe p o i n r f o r me, H o l i n e s s . " Slarrery smiled. " I
may be rhe j u r i d i c a l center for these priesrs. Bur rhar grear lady is a lor
m o r e rhan rhe financial backbone o f rhe new order. She's made ir her
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 539

business ro stiffen the spine o f a n y b o d y w h o needs i t , i n c l u d i n g y o u n g

O'Reilly."
" I can well believe i t , Father D a m i e n . " H i s Holiness answered Slartery's
smile w i r h one o f his o w n . Fie had his memories o f Signora Gladstone,
and he seemed delighted t o hear h o w she had broughr O ' R e i l l y ro heel.
M o r e , he was prerry sure she had w a r n e d O ' R e i l l y about the ecclesiastical
roughnecks and clerical thugs they were up against. In the Pontiff's m i n d ,
thoughts like t h a t b r o u g h t h i m n a t u r a l l y ro rhe m a i n purpose of this meet-
ing w i t h Slattery. " Y o u ' r e c o m i n g a l o n g w e l l w i r h rhe rexr o f Current
Errors and Abuses, Farher Damien?"
" I have a b o u t r w o - r h i r d s o f rhe first d r a f t ready. H o l y Father."
" W e l l , then. 1 have another and related task for y o u . A second encyclical
letter t o be ready simultaneously w i t h the first."
Slarrery lisrened ro rhe Slavic Pope w i r h a special sense o f sarisfacrion
and privilege. W h a r was w a n r e d , the H o l y Father explained, was a theo-
logical c o n f i r m a t i o n o f rhe cenruries-old and quasi-universal belief a m o n g
Catholics t h a t M a r y , the M o t h e r o f G o d , had been chosen by rhe M o s t
H i g h f r o m all eternity and f o r all time to exercise a special f u n c t i o n in the
m o r t a l life o f all w h o aspired to I leaven as their goal. T o reach that g o a l ,
each one needed special help in the f o r m of supernatural grace. By divine
appoinrmenr, M a r y was the m e d i a t r i x o f rhar grace. Canonized sainrs had
been guided by rhis belief. M a r r y r s had died f o r ir. Popes had raughr it.
The C h u r c h at large had always presumed ir. N o w rhe Slavic Pope i n -
tended ro p r o m u l g a t e ir as a dogma o f rhe f a i t h . " N o w all of us—and 1 i n
p a r t i c u l a r — n e e d her special p r o t e c t i o n . Ir is m y p r a y e r f u l hope rhar she
w i l l be gratified by o u r action i n celebrating her d i g n i t y as mediatrix of all
supernatural grace. A n d it is my hope that she w i l l therefore obrain f r o m
G o d rhe precise p r o t e c t i o n we need. For orherwise, Farher, we are facing
e x t i n c t i o n . Pope, papacy, C h u r c h and rhe R o m a n Catholic people are
facing o b l i t e r a t i o n . T h a t is the essence of m y t h i n k i n g in this matter, Fa-
rher D a m i e n . I realize rhe rime is short. We are r a l k i n g abour completing
two encyclical letters before rhe General Consisrory opens barely ten
weeks f r o m n o w . So rhe practical questions come d o w n ro r w o . Can you
do i t , Father? A n d w i l l y o u d o i r ? "
C o u l d he d o ir! The o n l y question in Damien's m i n d was whar had
taken the H o l y Father so l o n g ! H i s very m o r r o p r o c l a i m e d the dedication
o f his pontificate t o M a r y . As Pope and as evangelist t o the w o r l d , he had
carried rhar m o r r o like a second Sr. L u k e t o practically every nation of
peoples. N o w he was heading for rhe land M a r y had specifically claimed
at F a t i m a . For Russia, whose errors she had predicted. For Ukraine where
she had appeared many rimes since rhen " i n rhe Farima m o d e . "
" D o I gather, Holiness, t h a t the second encyclical is to remain a secrer
until the righr m o m e n t ? "
" I n this case, yes. The w h o l e w o r l d k n o w s abour rhe first lerter. O n l y
 540 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

y o u , M o n s i g n o r e Daniel and I k n o w abour the second. It's better ro keep

it that way f o r rhe present."
As he left, D a m i e n was tempted t o ask at w h a t m o m e n t the Slavic Pope
intended t o publish b o t h letters. Bur he decided t o h o l d back. It was
enough to k n o w n o t o n l y t h a t the H o l y Farher was preparing ro make a
srand againsr his enemies bur that he w o u l d call on the Queen of Heaven
as defender o f the papacy.

Easter rhar year w o u l d fall in rhe second week of A p r i l . W h e n he arrived

in Rome in February, G i b A p p l e y a r d was certain there w o u l d he plenty o f
time to get back to the States before the usual i n f l u x o f pilgrims and
tourists i n t o Rome t o o k the place over. A l l Bud Vance was l o o k i n g for was
reliable c o r r o b o r a t i o n that there was n o t h i n g in the o f f i n g o n the papal
scene that w o u l d upset the administration's plans or be embarrassing to
the President. T h e A d m i r a l c o u l d n ' t a f f o r d to care abour Vatican squab-
bles over p o w e r or a b o u t papal journeys to Russia or anywhere else. The
Pope c o u l d travel ro rhe d a r k side o f rhe m o o n and back, G i b figured, just
as l o n g as U.S. interesrs weren'r affected.
W h e n he got d o w n to i t , the task t u r n e d out to be more formidable than
he had anticipated. Papal Rome was caught i n a peculiar spasm of excite-
ment and c o n f u s i o n that made everyrhing harder ro decipher. A n d G i b
f o u n d rhar Vatican politics were different f r o m a n y t h i n g he'd unraveled i n
Beijing, say, or i n M o s c o w or Paris or B o n n . N o d o u b t about i t ; men like
M a e s t r o i a n n i and Graziani and the others he'd met at Strasbourg were
chasing after the same goal as any p o l i t i c i a n . Power. But the way they
went a b o u t it was w h a t made the difference. T h e i r bastion, the Vatican
Secretariat, was the oldest p o l i t i c a l chancery in the w o r l d , and they had
learned its lessons w e l l .
The first t h i n g t h a t h i t G i b was a buzz saw o f r u m o r s abour the P o n t i f f s
health that plunged R o m e i n t o a new frenzy o f speculation. Reporters and
commenrarors garhered in like vulrures come early f o r the feast. The at-
mosphere became a suffocating fabric of reports a b o u t " t h e Pope's physi-
cal f r a i l t y , " Armies o f " u n n a m e d Vatican e x p e r t s " were quoted as saying
the H o l y Father was dearhly i l l w i t h s o m e t h i n g — w i t h hearr problems;
w i t h the a f t e r m a t h o f a series o f small strokes; w i t h cancer; w i r h Parkin-
son's disease; w i t h Alzheimer's disease. Denizens o f Embassy R o w like
Bernie Pizzolaro shaved close to the ghoulish in their enthusiasm f o r rhe
P o n t i f f s demise.
" G o o d L o r d , G i o v a n n i , " A p p l e y a r d complained to the p r o p r i e r o r o f the
Raffaele one evening over M o z a r r and w i n e . " W h a r o n earth is happening
t o y o u r Church? If the Pope hears all the r u m o r s I hear, he must be
checking to see i f he still has all his body p a r r s ! "
" I d o u b t i t , G i b s o n . " Lucadamo k n e w where ro l o o k for explanations.
" I t must be d i f f i c u l t f o r y o u ro undersrand w h a r is being done to our H o l y
Farher. I k n o w y o u have a grear regard f o r h i m . Bur like most Popes, the
THE R E S I G N A T I O N PROTOCOL 541
presenr Ponriff has his enemies w h o are anxious for his demise, and w h o
are certain rhat the next Pope w i l l be their Pope."
O f course, w h e n G i o v a n n i t a l k e d about the Pope's enemies, he included
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i and the others w h o had been at Strasbourg. But
that was the simple p a r t . Even w i t h the canniest instinct for upsetting the
papal applecart, they c o u l d n ' t have managed all this c o n f u s i o n i n Rome
w i t h o u t some serious help. But t h e n , h a d n ' t t h a t been w h a t the Strasbourg
meeting was all about? Reaching o u t f o r some serious help?
G i b s o n was still t r a c k i n g that line o f reasoning r h r o u g h intercepts and
intelligence reports and personal travels to key posts in Brussels and L o n -
d o n w h e n , as H o l y Week approached, papal Rome was t h r o w n i n t o an-
other spasm o f excitement and confusion by one of the most peculiar
documents ever to reach the N a t i o n a l and Regional Conferences of Bish-
ops all over the w o r l d . T h o u g h i t p u r p o r t e d ro be o f f i c i a l , i t was unsigned.
A n d i t carried no p r o t o c o l n u m b e r .
These g l a r i n g deficiencies n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , the d o c u m e n t declared in
the name of the H o l y Father rhat rhe usage o f A l r a r girls had been f o u n d
ro be perfectly legitimate. T h a t , in fact, permission for A l t a r girls in the
l i t u r g y had been i m p l i c i t all along in C a n o n L a w 230.
As i t reached the f a r - f l u n g Catholic w o r l d more or less simultaneously,
the new i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of C a n o n L a w evoked an immediate flood o f reac-
tions. Those in favor o f i r — i n c l u d i n g , apparenrly, a g o o d m a j o r i t y o f
bishops and priesrs—were happy ar " t h i s step f o r w a r d in l i q u i d a t i n g the
c h a u v i n i s m of o u r C h u r c h . " Those against the new measure declared it t o
be yet another challenge ro rhe ancient faith of their fathers and " a s w o r d
of destruction aimed at the heart o f the priesthood i n the R o m a n Catholic
Church."
It t o o k another few days before ir was claimed rhat the d o c u m e n t came
f r o m rhe Vatican's C o n g r e g a t i o n for the D i v i n e L i t u r g y . By t h a t t i m e .
C a r d i n a l Baffi's signature and a prorocol n u m b e r had been added. Baffi
was a semi-rerired C a r d i n a l w h o filled various onerous b u t inconsequen-
tial jobs in the Vatican Chancery.
A p p l e y a r d had no sooner rerurned to the Raffaele f r o m his latest fact-
finding foray i n t o Belgium than G i o v a n n i Lucadamo t o o k h i m t o his p r i -
vate quarters and p u t the t w o versions o f the document in his hands.
" Q E D , m y f r i e n d ! " G i o v a n n i was f u r i o u s at the open deception.
" M a e s t r o i a n n i has n o t o n l y p u t the fat in the fire. H e has ser the w h o l e
R o m a n goose a f l a m e ! "
G i b had no idea w h y the issue o f A l t a r girls was so i m p o r r a n r . Surely,
t h e n , i t should be a simple matter for rhe Slavic Pope ro rescind this bogus
i n s t r u c t i o n and expose ir f o r w h a r ir was. A piece o f f r a u d u l e n t mischief.
" T h i n k again, G i b s o n . " G i o v a n n i shook his head. " Y o u k n o w that my
nephew is security chief at the Vatican, We share i n f o r m a t i o n o n l y n o w
and again, w h e n one o f us has some o v e r r i d i n g reason to d o s o . "
" H e called y o u a b o u t t h i s ? "
 542 W I M J S W E PI H OUSt

" T h e orher w a y a r o u n d . I called h i m . I r o l d h i m this was a fraud plain

and simple, and I asked h i m straighr our w h a r rhe H o l y Father plans to d o
a b o u t i t . D o you k n o w w h a t he t o l d me? He told me the Pontiff declared
that such fraudulence musr stop. H e t o l d me that the P o n t i f f intends to
m e n t i o n the matter to C a r d i n a l Secrerary o f Srate Graziani and the C a r d i -
nal o f rhe relevant C o n g r e g a t i o n . "
" A n d that's i t ? " Confused, A p p l e y a r d looked at b o t h versions o f the
bogus papal i n s t r u c t i o n . " H e ' s n o t g o i n g to rescind?"
" O f course n o r ! " Pain was w r i r t e n all over G i o v a n n i ' s face. " B y n o w
the news has been c o m m u n i c a t e d w o r l d w i d e . There's an ' o f f i c i a l ' copy,
signed and n u m b e r e d , i n every one o f over four thousand chanceries. It's
p r o b a b l y i n each o f the nineteen thousand or so parishes i n your o w n
c o u n t r y , and i n a l l rhe other dioceses and parishes t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d .
Ir's a fair a c c o m p l i . T o o many Cardinals and bishops have already praised
it as a wise move. T h e H o l y Father c o u l d n ' t rescind all r h a t . "
" W h y n o t ? " G i b d i d n ' t k n o w if he was m o r e incensed at the betrayal o f
the Slavic Pope o r at the P o n t i f f s acquiescence.
" H e hasn't g o t t h a t power n o w . "
" Y o u mean, he has rhe p o w e r , but he w o n ' t use i t . "
" T h a t , m y f r i e n d , " G i o v a n n i said sadly, " i s a d i s t i n c t i o n w i t h o u t any
practical difference."
As if t h a t telling p o i n t was the cause o f a sudden collapse of his energy,
A p p l e y a r d excused himself and retreated t o the solitude o f his o w n suite.
There was a l o t he needed t o t h i n k a b o u t n o w .
For one t h i n g , he was back to square one in his efforr ro make a realistic
assessment o f the intentions o f the Slavic Pope. Vance had made it clear
that the U.S. government's c o m p l a i n t a b o u t the Pontiff had to d o w i t h too
many m i x e d signals. They wanted t o k n o w rhey were dealing w i t h a pre-
dictable leader w h o c o u l d be relied o n t o keep his w o r d . A n d w h o c o u l d
blame them f o r that? T h e Pope's global reach was immense, and he had
s h o w n his a b i l i t y ro o u t f l a n k and o u r w i r rhe heaviest o f geopolitical
heavyweights.
G i b was undersrandably t o r n . There was his personal c o n v i c t i o n o f the
H o l y Father's g o o d f a i t h ; his certainty t h a t the Pope w o u l d keep the p r o m -
ises he had made concerning his currenr Russia p o l i c y , and concerning any
near-future p r o m u l g a t i o n o f an official srance againsr the U.S. position o n
p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l . N o w , however, A p p l e y a r d had every reason ro ques-
tion his o w n j u d g m e n t . The Pope himself had tackled the issue o f A l t a r
girls as a m a j o r area in w h i c h he w o u l d n o t budge. Fie had made serious
statements and given serious promises i n the matter. Bur according t o no
less an a u t h o r i t y t h a n the Vatican security chief, those promises meant
n o t h i n g . They c o u l d be tossed o u t the w i n d o w , just like t h a t .
G i b s o n realized t h a t his deepening sadness over the Slavic Pope had t o
do w i t h s o m e t h i n g more than questions o f professional judgment. It had
to d o w i t h age and its h u m a n analog, time. He had met the H o l y Father at
THF. RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 543

the m i d p o i n t in his life w h e n he c o u l d l o o k f o r w a r d t o his senior years and

old age. l ie had met the Slavic Pope at the a p p r o p r i a t e time for h i m ro
w o n d e r abour so m a n y trairs o f his life; abour the baggage o f his psyche
that poked up f r o m the deepest recesses o f his m e m o r y . A b o u t the ques-
tions he refused t o answer and the doubts he refused to solve. The fears he
failed ro c o n f r o n t . T h e judgments he avoided m a k i n g . T h e dusty corners
o f his life where dead mementos lay forgorten. T h e i n d i f f e r e n t places in his
m i n d he tolerated t h r o u g h laziness. His tacit decisions to cohabit w i t h evil
in others because it was convenient and c o n v e n t i o n a l .
O f course, he had l o n g since learned t o deal w i t h such baggage so that
his j u d g m e n t remained free and his self-confidence held firm. Yet every
once i n a w h i l e he felt some little pain o f regrer. N o r disillusionment,
exactly; more like a Tendency to " i f o n l y . " Even before he had experienced
the Slavic Pope, he had begun t o t h i n k h o w h u m a n l y valuable ir w o u l d be
if there were someone to w h o m he c o u l d describe himself w i r h o u t reserve.
Somebody w i t h the capacity t o understand a l l , forgive a l l , placate and
pacify a l l . Someone able to reconcile and unify all w i r h i n h i m , assuring
h i m of forgiveness for his mistakes. O f c o n s o l a t i o n f o r his losses. O f secu-
r i t y f r o m his fears. O f hope for rhe finale.
I n the last few m o n t h s , as he had d r a w n closer to the Slavic Pope—a
surprising process thar d i d nor depend o n frequenr meetings—that " i f
o n l y " tendency had begun t o give way to something else. To a consoling
w i s h . To a hope, perhaps, rhat one day he m i g h t find in this ageing prelare
an ideal repository for t h a t baggage o f his psyche. M o r e than once since
his first papal audience he had studied a little g o l d medal the H o l y Eather
had included a m o n g his p a r t i n g gifts. There was n o t h i n g e x t r a o r d i n a r y
a b o u t i t . It was stamped w i t h the Pope's likeness and his papal name
f o l l o w e d by t w o letters. Pp. Pater patrum. Father o f fathers.
"Pater patrum." A p p l e y a r d repeated t h a t title over and over again in his
m i n d and asked himself sadly i f those w o r d s should be invested w i t h the
lovely and consoling meaning he had begun t o enterrain. Perhaps they
were no more significanr t h a n one more pleasant but e m p t y h o n o r i f i c title.
It was i m p o r t a n t f o r G i b t o k n o w the answer.
T h e high-tech screech o f rhe scrambler phone o n rhe nearby desk star-
tled A p p l e y a r d o u t o f his chair. " G i b s o n ? "
Speak o f the D e v i l . " I was just t h i n k i n g a b o u t y o u , B u d . W h a t ' s u p ? "
" T h a t ' s w h a t I called t o ask y o u , p a l . " Vance d i d n o t sound pleased.
" R e m e m b e r rhose r u m o r s that a b l u e - r i b b o n papal t h i n k t a n k was about
to contradicr everything y o u r Pope has said abour p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l and
the drain o n n a t u r a l resources?"
" T h e Pontifical Academy of Sciences R e p o r t ? " G i b suddenly felt very
old. "Yeah. I remember/'
" W e l l , ir's n o t a r u m o r a n y m o r e . It's not g o i n g to be published until
M a y , b u t I have a copy i n my h a n d . It's called A Report on Demography,
Economics and Natural Resources, and it t h r o w s everyrhing this Pope has
 544 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

said a b o u t p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l i n t o a cocked hat. Listen t o some sentences.

T h e need has emerged . . .'—remember, G i b ; I ' m q u o t i n g the Slavic
Pope's o w n experts n o w . T h e need has emerged t o c o n t a i n the number o f
births . . . i t is u n t h i n k a b l e that we can sustain a g r o w t h t h a t goes m u c h
beyond t w o c h i l d r e n per couple.' H o w do y o u like rhar f o r an abour-face
o n basic papal p o l i c y ? "
A p p l e y a r d t h o u g h t he m i g h t be sick. " I f that report really is p u t o u t by
the Pontifical Academy o f Sciences, then I guess y o u can score one for
Bernie P i z z o l a t o . "
" I t looks official t o me. It's got footnotes and an a f t e r w o r d by Father
George Hotelet, O P , w h o ' s billed as theologian o f the papal household.
A n d the i n t r o d u c t i o n is signed by the President o f the Academy himself.
He's got one o f those triple-tiered I t a l i a n names. C a r l o Fiesole-Marracci."
Gibson picked u p the fake A l t a r g i r l documenrs f r o m his desk and
c r u m p l e d rhem in his fist. " L e t me do some sniffing a r o u n d and get back
to y o u , A d m i r a l . There's a lot o f w e i r d stuff c o m i n g o u t o f the Vatican
complex that looks official these d a y s . "
" O k a y . " Vance sounded relucranr and very nervous. " B u r remember.
T h e clock is r i c k i n g . Either we can trust this Pope to keep hands o f f o u r
policies or we can't. T h i s time it w o r k s o u t in o u r favor. But we can't
a f f o r d to play Russian r o u l e t t e . "

A p p l e y a r d f o u n d G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o again, gave h i m all the details

a b o u t the Pontifical Academy o f Sciences R e p o r t and asked h i m to find
out everything he c o u l d . T h e n , almost o n impulse, he rang t h r o u g h ro the
A n g e l i c u m and asked t o speak t o Father George Horeler. To his surprise,
the D o m i n i c a n came o n the line almosr immediately.
Yes, Father Hotelet said; A p p l e y a r d had heard correcrly. The Report
was a detailed argurnenr for i m p o s i n g a r w o - c h i l d l i m i t o n all families. But
no, he said; A p p l e y a r d was mistaken to t h i n k there was any conrradicrion
between w h a t the H o l y Father had said and w h a t the Academy Report
said. " Y o u must understand, M r . A p p l e y a r d . The H o l y Farher's concern
is—as ir s h o u l d b e — h u m a n ethics. H e speaks o n the basis o f faith inspired
by the H o l y Spirit. We at the Academy, m e a n w h i l e , are speaking as de-
mographers dealing w i r h rhe hard facrs of h u m a n life. Economic facts.
N u t r i t i o n a l facts. Educational facrs. Several times at the Vatican C o u n -
c i l — t h a t was before he was Pope, o f course—the H o l y Father himself
recommended the l i m i t a t i o n o f families. T h e n he was dealing w i t h facts.
N o w he's dealing w i t h ethics."
A n d I ' m dealing w i r h a shysrer rheologian, G i b rhoughr. H e thanked
H o t e l e t f o r his t i m e , h u n g up the phone and poured himself a sriff brandy.
Ir was nearly n i g h t f a l l by the time G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o came up w i t h
the i n f o r m a t i o n A p p l e y a r d w a n t e d . " I n f a c t , " he t o l d his friend, " I ' v e
come up w i t h a copy o f the actual Report. It's authentic. But there are
some bad signs, P m a f r a i d . "
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 545

" L i k e w h a t ? " Gibson t o o k the slim v o l u m e f r o m L u c a d a m o and turned

a few pages.
" W e l l , f o r starters, the Report wasn't p r i n t e d by the official Vatican
Press, the Editrice Vaticana. I t was p r i n t e d by a c o m p a n y that belongs ro
w e l l - k n o w n enemies o f this papacy. A n o u t f i t called V i t a e Pensiero o f
M i l a n . A n d a second bad sign is rhat His Eminence C a r d i n a l Palombo had
a hand i n i t a l l . "
There i t was again, then. T h e Strasbourg l i n k .
W h e n A p p l e y a r d p u t it all together i n his m i n d , and w h e n he aired i t o u t
for G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o over the dinner rhey shared, a few things seemed
clear e n o u g h . I t was evident, the t w o men agreed, rhat the antipapal cabal
was ready ro b r i n g things t o a head. A n d the t i m i n g o f the mischief was
linked to the c o m i n g papal t r i p to Russia. W h a t was not evident was h o w
far M a e s t r o i a n n i and his c r o w d were prepared ro go i n b r i n g i n g o f f their
palace c o u p . A n d f o r the life o f h i m , G i b c o u l d n ' t figure w h y the Slavic
Pope appeared t o be so acquiescent. " W h y doesn't he defend against the
plotters, Giovanni? I mean, i f an outlander like me can see what's u p , he
must k n o w w h a t ' s g o i n g o n . Doesn't he care?"
T h e discussion raised by questions like that went o n f o r some time, but
produced no answers that w o u l d satisfy Bud Vance and the Ten. It was
late i n the evening w h e n G i b let himself i n t o his r o o m again. He wasn't
ready yet to give up o n the Slavic Pope. A n d he had plenty o f reason n o t to
buy i n t o Vance's w o r r y that the Ponriff was being duplicitous about his
basic policies. But everything else—above a l l , the w a y the Pontiff was
r u n n i n g t h i n g s — w a s like a blank w a l l for h i m .
For the second time that day, he decided to make a phone call o n
impulse. H i s first meeting w i t h C h r i s t i a n Gladstone had produced rhe
results he w a n t e d . Gladstone obviously had the ear o f the Pope; and
he still stacked up as rhe o n l y straighr-arrow cleric A p p l e y a r d knew in rhe
Vatican. M a y b e another conversation w o u l d provide at least some o f
the answers he needed so badly. A n y w a y , ir was w o r t h a t r y . As Vance had
said, the clock in Washington was t i c k i n g .

I t was c o n f u s i n g and u n n e r v i n g f o r Chris Gladsrone thar his schedule

d u r i n g rhose early monrhs o f the new year was so o u t o f synch w i t h the
excitement g r i p p i n g R o m e and that rhe fruits o f his labors were so our o f
synch w i r h his bedrock loyalties. Ever since he had come to Rome f o r
g o o d , his constant travels for C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i and his assignment
for the Slavic Pope in America had barely left h i m t i m e to breathe. But
these days, w h i l e everyone else was caughr u p in the frenzy o f preparations
for the General Consistory, the Shoah M e m o r i a l Concert and the Pontiff's
Russia t r i p , the r h y t h m o f Gladstone's life geared d o w n ro a c h u r n i n g
process.
N o w a n d again he was sent o f f by M a e s t r o i a n n i t o double-check o n a
few bishops in Europe just t o be sure the C o m m o n M i n d Vote was c o m i n g
 546 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

a l o n g as expected. T h e little C a r d i n a l called h i m i n frequently—sometimes

to c l a r i f y this or t h a t verbal message he had b r o u g h t back f r o m some o f
the Cardinals i n rhe Unired States, bur m o r e ofren to chat w i t h h i m abour
rhe Process, rhe f o r w a r d footsteps of history and the architects and engi-
neers o f m a n k i n d ' s destiny.
Chris c o n t i n u e d to keep G i u s t i n o Lucadamo up to date o n w h a t he
learned o f rhe plans o f the o p p o s i t i o n . The fact remained, t h o u g h , thar no
matter h o w m u c h intelligence he managed t o ferret o u t , the opposition
c o n t i n u e d t o make all the headway, and the H o l y See continued t o be
hemmed i n at every t u r n .
A b o u t the o n l y g o o d t h i n g for Gladstone as H o l y Week approached was
rhat he finally had rime ro devote to A l d o Carnesecca's d i a r y . Even t h o u g h
he never f o r g o t he was searching f o r the clue that w o u l d e x p l a i n m u r d e r ,
Carnesecca's j o u r n a l rurned our to be a consolation for Chris. N o r h i n g
w o u l d ever rake the place o f so great a f r i e n d , b u t reading rhose entries for
hours at a t i m e was a little like t a l k i n g t o A l d o again.
There wasn't m u c h c o m m e n t in the j o u r n a l , o f course. The entries were
terse; there were gaps Chris c o u l d n ' t fill i n ; some o f the material was t o o
elliptical t o be deciphered. Still, everything Chris read put h u m a n flesh o n
the bones o f half a century of C h u r c h history. This j o u r n a l was A l d o
Carnesecca's testament o f love for his C h u r c h . Gladstone t o o k i t as that,
and was g r a t e f u l .
Once the weather began to taste o f " h i g h R o m a n s p r i n g , " as Slattery
liked ro say—open skies and scudding clouds driven by a c o o l i n g breeze—
Chrisrian reverred t o his custom of reading his Breviary up o n the r o o f o f
the A n g e l i c u m . I t was o n just such a day w h e n , in the midst o f his prayers,
he was seized by somerhing like a b r a i n s t o r m . " Y o u i d i o t ! " Gladstone
smacked his forehead w i t h an open palm as he scrambled d o w n the stairs
and back to his r o o m s . " I t was right there in f r o n t o f y o u , and y o u passed
it o v e r ! "
He was still c a l l i n g himself names as he sat d o w n at his desk,
Carnesecca's j o u r n a l i n h a n d , and riffled back t h r o u g h the pages searching
for the entries he w a n r e d . T h a t was the t h i n g that had t h r o w n h i m off. It
w a s n ' t one entry Father A l d o had been Talking a b o u t rhat day at Gemelli
H o s p i t a l . I t was a series o f entries l i n k e d together by one c o m m o n thread.
W i t h i n t w e n t y minutes Gladstone f o u n d w h a t he was l o o k i n g for. It t o o k
h i m another day t o check a few things o u t and then have a chat w i t h
M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l . W h a t he needed after rhat was to get t o G i u s t i n o
Lucadamo.

" 1 d o n ' t k n o w w h a t ' s i n the envelope, G i u s t i n o ! " Chris had finally m a n -

aged t o b u t t o n h o l e L u c a d a m o i n his office at the close o f a hectic day.
" B u r Ell tell y o u w h a r I do k n o w .
" I k n o w that each o f the t w o Popes w h o preceded the present H o l y
Father read its contents and left i t t o his immediate successor, so it's been
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 547

opened and resealed. I k n o w rhe envelope carries r w o papal inscriptions.

T h e firsr, wrirren by the o l d Pope, reserved the envelope 'For O u r Succes-
sor o n the T h r o n e or Peter.' The second papal inscription w r i r r e n by rhe
Seprember Pope says irs contents concern 'the c o n d i t i o n o f H o l y M o t h e r
C h u r c h after June 2 9 , 1963. I k n o w the envelope figured in rhe rriage of
1

papal documents ar the beginning o f the Slavic Pope's reign, and rhar both
Father A l d o and C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i — A r c h b i s h o p A u r e a t i n i back t h e n —
assisted at t h a t triage. 1 k n o w that Secretary o f State Vincennes conducted
the triage s h o r t l y before he was k i l l e d in a car accidenr, and rhar he held
thar envelope aside. A n d I k n o w f r o m M o n s i g n o r e Daniel rhat no such
envelope was a m o n g the private papers o f the r w o p r i o r pontificates t h a t
were given ro rhe Slavic Pope."
" H e r e , G i u s t i n o . " Gladsrone t o o k a single sheet o f paper f r o m his
pocket and laid it on Lucadamo's desk. "See for yourself. I've copied our
rhe relevant passages date by date, w o r d for w o r d . If y o u r h i n k I've made
a misrake o r missed something, y o u can check i t against your copy o f rhe
diary."
T h e security chief leaned f o r w a r d to study the paper.
June 29, 1977. Confessional matter of the gravest kind.
July 3, 1977. Private audience with Pp. Confessional material. Pp too ill
and too afflicted with domestic and foreign problems to undertake need-
ful. Material sealed and inscribed, %
For Our Successor on the Throne of
Peter/
September 28, 1978. Long conversation with Pp about envelope left by
immediate predecessor. Agrees no Pope will be able to govern Church
through Vatican until enthronement undone. Pp will do what he can, but
resealed envelope with second inscription, 'Concerning the condition of
Holy Mother Church after June 29, 1963/ Insurance, he says.
L u c a d a m o raised a querulous eye ro Gladsrone for a second. H e remem-
bered rhe surprise t h a t had attended the election o f the Seprember Pope,
and rhe shock at his sudden death w i t h i n barely a m o n r h o f his enrhrone-
menr. I f m e m o r y served, Seprember 28 was one day shy ot his death date.
W i t h o u t c o m m e n t , he rerurned his a t t e n t i o n to the final entry. Assisted
Cardinal Vincennes at double triage of personal papal documents. AB
Aureatini attending. All pro forma until both stunned by resealed envelope
in first set of documents bearing two papal inscriptions. Vincennes took
charge of envelope. Not certain if Pp s f
insurance may backfire.
L u c a d a m o laid rhe sheet of paper d o w n . " Y o u ' r e positive the Slavic
Pope d i d n ' t receive any such envelope?"
" M o n s i g n o r e D a n i e l is p o s i t i v e . "
" A n d w h a t a b o u t this enthronemenr business? A n y idea w h a r that
means? O r w h a r ir has to d o w i t h papal governance i n rhe V a t i c a n ? "
" N o n e . I've assumed the relevanr dare is June 2 9 , 1963. Bur the o n l y
e n t h r o n e m e n t 1 can find any reference f o r d u r i n g rhar year was rhe investi-
 543 W I N 1) S W E P T H O U SE

cure o f rhe o l d Pope w h o sealed the envelope in the first place and left it
for his successor."
"And w h a t about . . . "
" L o o k , G i u s t i n o . " Gladstone was at the end o f his patience. " Y o u said
yourself rhat Carnesecca had seen something so threatening t o someone
that they w a n t e d to b u r n ir our o f his b r a i n a n d k i l l h i m f o r ir. A n d you
hinted to me that it was Aureatini w h o arranged that attempt o n
Carnesecca's life in Sicily. So at the very least, we have a possible connec-
t i o n between those r w o things. N o w , I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t ' s in that enve-
lope. A n d i f that connection does h o l d u p , I d o n ' t k n o w w h y A u r e a t i n i
w o u l d have w a i t e d so l o n g t o d o s o m e t h i n g a b o u t i t . 1 d o n ' t even k n o w
that he d i d w a i t . M a y b e he tried even before Sicily and failed. But I ' l l tell
you one t h i n g . Pm g o i n g to find that envelope. W i t h y o u r help or w i t h o u t
i t , P m g o i n g t o find i t a n d read it and go f r o m t h e r e . "

Once the basic decision was made, Gladstone and L u c a d a m o faced a sim-
ple logistical p r o b l e m . A f t e r a rriage o f the papers o f any deceased Pope—
or t w o Popes, as i n this case—documents considered t o be o f m i n o r i m -
portance were consigned either to the special files o f rhe Secretariat o f
State or ro rhe Secrer Archives o f the Vatican L i b r a r y . O n the theory that
the envelope was as d a m n i n g as Christian's gut feeling t o l d h i m i t was,
and o n the further theory that C a r d i n a l Vincennes hadn't destroyed i t , it
made sense to surmise that he w o u l d have w a n t e d t o p u t it as far o u t o f
reach as possible. T h a t meant the Archives.
T h e y decided that Gladstone had to be the one to d o the search. The
fewer w h o k n e w a b o u t the envelope, the better. L u c a d a m o and his staff
were deeply engaged in rhe securiry arrangements f o r rhe Cardinals of the
C h u r c h w h o w o u l d soon be assembling in Rome f r o m the f o u r quarters o f
the globe, f o r the thousands o f distinguished guests w h o w o u l d attend the
Shoah M e m o r i a l Concert and for rhe papal r r i p itself. A n d besides, the
early searches Chris had done for the Slavic Pope i n the Archives—rhe
scout w o r k t h a t had made h i m so i m p a t i e n t d u r i n g his first weeks of
personal service t o the H o l y Father—had f a m i l i a r i z e d h i m w i t h the ter-
rain.
"Our d i f f i c u l t y " — L u c a d a m o f r o w n e d — " i s to arrange matters so rhar
no one k n o w s we're i n their b a i l i w i c k . D a y t i m e searches w o u l d raise ques-
tions, and A u r e a t i n i has ears e v e r y w h e r e / '
" T h e r e ' s anorher d i f f i c u l t y , " Chris put i n . " I f Pm g o i n g t o t u r n inro a
n i g h t b u r g l a r , there w i l l be locks ro o p e n . Pll have t o get in the m a i n d o o r .
T h e n there are sectional gares all over the place. A n d some o f the boxes
that h o l d the documents are l o c k e d . "
G i u s t i n o smiled and shook his head. T h a t was the least o f their p r o b -
lems as far as he was concerned. H e w o u l d derach one m a n for G l a d -
srone's exclusive use. G i a n c a r l o Terragente, he said, c o u l d open any lock
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 549

anywhere and close i t again, w i t h n o one the wiser. A n d he was a w i z a r d

at deactivating and reactivating alarms.
T h e far greater d i f f i c u l t y w o u l d be t i m i n g . The Secret Archives were
reckoned Technically to f o r m part o f the Biblioteca A p o s t o l i c a , the Vatican
L i b r a r y . T h e Archives were located w i t h i n the complex o f the Belvedere
Galleries, w h i c h also included the inventories of rhe Gallery of Charts, the
H a l l of Parchments, the R o o m of Inventories and Indexes, the Records of
the Consistory, the Picture Galleries and so o n .
Supervision of rhe w h o l e c o m p l e x , and access to i t , lay under the au-
t h o r i t y of C a r d i n a l A l b e r t o M a r i a Valdes, a crusty Spaniard legendary for
his independence f r o m Vatican politics and because of the e x t r a o r d i n a r y
hours he kept at the Biblioteca.
" I happen t o k n o w , " L u c a d a m o t o l d C h r i s t i a n , " t h a t H i s Eminence is
consumed these days i n the j o b of editing a series of correspondence be-
tween the nineteenth- and twentieth-century Popes and contemporary
statesmen. He's up ar six in the m o r n i n g . By eighr, he's said his Mass, had
his breakfast and is hard at w o r k i n the Archives. H e breaks f o r l u n c h ,
siesta and dinner; b u t the place isn't empty and records are kept of all
visitors. T h e n he's back at w o r k and stays u n t i l all h o u r s . " The only way
L u c a d a m o c o u l d devise to ger the y o u n g A m e r i c a n priest i n t o the Secret
Archives was to find a near-at-hand place f r o m where he c o u l d be spirited
t h r o u g h the locked doors w h e n the C a r d i n a l finally retired for the night.
" W h y n o t ? " Chris agreed t o the p l a n . " P m already a double agent. I
m i g h t as well add burglary t o my priestly resume!"

It was an i r o n y of the gentlest sort that the most convenient place—near at

hand and yet n o t under the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f C a r d i n a l Valdes—turned o u t t o
be t h a t ancient T o w e r of the W i n d s that o l d Paul Gladstone had visited
w i t h Pope Pius I X over a h u n d r e d years before and on w h i c h he had
parterned the T o w e r Chapel at W i n d s w e p t House. Christian's firsr sighr of
that place was an eerie experience. It stood m i d w a y between t w o secrions
o f rhe Biblioteca A p o s t o l i c a , the M u s e o Sacro and the M u s e o Profano.
Terragente led h i m u p a steep stairway to the t o p m o s t f l o o r o f rhe Tower.
" E l l be back for y o u rhe m i n u t e Valdes closes s h o p , " the picklock p r o m -
ised as he disappeared d o w n the stairs again.
Left t o w a i t in the d i m light of a single electric b u l b , Chris knew imme-
diately where he was. T h e R o o m o f the M e r i d i a n . H i s m e m o r y of O l d
Glad's j o u r n a l descriptions dovetailed w i t h everything he saw. H e sur-
veyed the walls covered w i t h frescoes depicting the Eight W i n d s as godlike
figures and w i r h scenes f r o m ancient Roman bucolic life d u r i n g the f o u r
seasons. H e paced the zodiac d i a g r a m on the f l o o r , designed ro coordinate
d u r i n g d a y l i g h t hours w i t h the sun's rays slanting r h r o u g h a slit i n one o f
the frescoed w a l l s . H e l o o k e d up t o see the anemometer o n the ceiling, and
k n e w its i n d o o r p o i n t e r was moved by a n outside weathervane t o indicate
w h i c h o f the Eight w i n d s was b l o w i n g across the Eternal C i t y .
 550 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

T h a r R o o m o f the M e r i d i a n cast a spell, b u t it w a s n ' t the spell Chris

w o u l d have expected. He was lulled by rhe keening of the w i n d s , by the
m o v e m e n t o f the ceiling p o i n t e r , by the peaceful scenes o f a pastoral life
that was no m o r e . H e was s u r r o u n d e d by the lonely emptiness o f the
r o o m , by the gentle creaking o f t h a t ancient s t a i r w a y , by the mausoleum
effect o f the s u r r o u n d i n g galleries o f the Archives. This place is all full o f
dead things, Gladstone's m i n d kept t e l l i n g h i m . A l l dead things . . .
" M o n s i g n o r e ! " Terragenre popped his head up rhe stairway. " I t looks
like the C a r d i n a l is g o i n g t o make a n i g h t o f i t . "
Chris l o o k e d ar his w a t c h . N e a r l y o n e - t h i r t y . " L e t ' s pack it i n , G i a n -
carlo. W e ' l l t r y again t o m o r r o w . "

In spire o f C a r d i n a l Valdes' erratic timetable, l e r r a g e n t e managed ro get

Gladstone i n t o the Secret Archives w i r h reasonable regularity. They had to
pace themselves, o f course, or r u n the risk o f t u r n i n g i n r o zombies for lack
o f sleep. Bur before l o n g they managed to develop a r o u t i n e . O n each
f o r a y , Chris w a i t e d patiently in the T o w e r f o r Terragente's all clear. Then
G i a n c a r l o sprang the locks a n d , flashlights in h a n d , the pair enrered the
sector Gladstone had blocked our for that night's methodical search. As
adept at p r o w l i n g i n the shadows as he was at breaking and entering,
Terragente was always o n rhe alert f o r any i n t e r r u p t i o n . O n l y once or
t w i c e , however, d i d the security m a n have to close himself and his c o m -
p a n i o n i n t o the search area, and then spring the lock again w h e n things
had settled d o w n .
" Y o u ' r e a n a t u r a l at this, M o n s i g n o r e . " G i a n c a r l o smiled the c o m p l i -
ment at C h r i s t i a n as he drove h i m back to the A n g e l i c u m after their f o u r t h
or fifth unsuccessful search f o r rhe mysterious papal envelope. " W i t h a
little practice, y o u c o u l d be the best cat burglar i n Vatican service. N e x t to
me, o f c o u r s e . "
Chris laughed d r y l y at t h a t . I le was beginning t o t h i n k the w h o l e exer-
cise was a waste o f everybody's time. T h e r e were o n l y so many places
where o l d papers were stuffed a w a y , and he had been t h r o u g h a b o u t half
o f r h e m . M a y b e Vincennes had destroyed the envelope after a l l .
" N o r a c h a n c e ! " G i a n c a r l o considered himself an expert o n h u m a n
nature. " R e m e m b e r y o u r President N i x o n ? He c o u l d have saved himself a
lot of t r o u b l e if he'd destroyed those tapes. I d o n ' t k n o w w h y he d i d n ' t .
A n d I d o n ' t k n o w w h y Vincennes w o u l d n ' t have destroyed the envelope.
But I ' l l wager a n y t h i n g y o u ' d like t o name t h a t it's somewhere in the
Archives. Y o u ' l l find i t , M o n s i g n o r e . "
M a y b e i n a h u n d r e d years f r o m n o w , Chris t h o u g h t as his c o m p a n i o n in
crime pulled the car t o a stop i n f r o n t o f the A n g e l i c u m . But right n o w he
was tired and discouraged, and all he w a n t e d was ro get a couple o f hours'
sleep before sunrise.
• J j j
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 551

" W h o ? " His eyes u n w i l l i n g t o o p e n , Gladstone f u m b l e d w i t h the phone

next ro his bed. " W h o d i d you say this is?"
" G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d , M o n s i g n o r e , c a l l i n g f r o m the Raffaele. Sorry for
r i n g i n g y o u so early, but you're a hard man to f i n d . I have a little p r o b l e m
and I r h o u g h r y o u m i g h t help me o u t again . . . "

XLVI11
T H E R E W E R E seven Cardinals i n rhe historic delegation of the Princes of
the C h u r c h w h o , by f o r m a l a p p o i n r m e n r , came t o a conference w i t h the
Slavic Pope as darkness fell over Rome o n M o n d a y o f H o l y Week.
T h e entire affair was stately. H i s Holiness, already seared ar the head of
the conference table, received a d u t i f u l sign of reverential obeisance f r o m
each C a r d i n a l . First came rhe t w o prime Pope-makers, cadaverous Leo
Pensabene and tiny Cosimo M a e s r r o i a n n i . Close b e h i n d , the r w o i n d i v i d u -
alists—the Frenchman Joseph K a r m e l and rhe agare-eyed Jesuit C a r d i n a l
A r c h b i s h o p o f Genoa, M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o . C a r d i n a l Secretary of State Gia-
c o m o Graziani came next. T h e n N o a h Palombo, clothed i n his usual
m o o d of arctic darkness. Lasr o f a l l , Silvio A u r e a t i n i b o w e d ro His H o l i -
ness and r o o k his place ar the farthest end o f the table.
T h e Slavic Pope's n o d o f recognition t o each was a fraternal greeting;
b u t just as m u c h was it notice served t h a t he knew each m a n for w h a t he
was. He had elevated some of t h e m to the C a r d i n a l i t i a l p u r p l e . H e had
seen all o f them flourish d u r i n g his papacy. He k n e w rheir in-house allies
and their external associations. W h e n he had learned of their Masonic
connections and their financial finaglings—when he knew enough to cash-
ier t h e m , i n other w o r d s — h e had n o t interfered w i t h t h e m . He had let
rhem have their head even w h e n rhey had encroached c o n t i n u a l l y and
substantially i n t o papal matters and Perrine issues.
I n f r o n t o f each man lay a copy of the Resignation Protocol. For this
was the subject o f the evening's august deliberations. N o one presenr
w o u l d even pretend this was merely a personal matter between the Slavic
Pope and the Cardinals, as if T h e i r Eminences simply disliked the Pontiff
personally and w a n t e d to be r i d o f his a n n o y i n g presence o n the T h r o n e of
Peter. Rarher, everyone here, i n c l u d i n g rhe Slavic Pope himself, knew thar
w h a t they were about this evening was a threat t o the spinal c o l u m n o f the
R o m a n Catholic b o d y : the papacy.
" Y o u are Peter." So Jesus had said ro Simon rhe Fisherman ar Caesarea
Philippi nearly 2 , 0 0 0 years before. " Y o u r s are rhe Keys t o the K i n g d o m of
H e a v e n . " The Slavic Pope's signature o n the Resignation Protocol w o u l d
be t a n t a m o u n t to his declaring: I n o w use that unique p o w e r of the Keys
fcb
 552 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

to surrender rhem to y o u , my colleagues. Together n o w we w i l l w i e l d the

power given to Simon Peter/ 1

W h a t they were h a n d l i n g , t h e n , was explosive, r e v o l u t i o n a r y and o m i -

nous. N o t h i n g less t h a n explosive. For i f the Slavic Pope acquiesced i n this
as he had done in so m u c h else, Petrine p o w e r w o u l d he invested n o t in a
papal persona, hut in a self-appointed committee. N o t h i n g less than revo-
l u t i o n a r y . For this unique p o w e r w o u l d n o w he shared hy so many fallible
men, w i t h o u t a divine guarantee. U n t i l t o n i g h t , papacies had been limited
by none b u t the hand o f G o d . If these seven Cardinals were successful, rhe
decision w o u l d henceforth be a collegial a f f a i r . Once that m u c h power
was surrendered, w h o w o u l d take i t back? A n d w h o w o u l d set the farther
limits? N o t h i n g less than o m i n o u s . For, inevitably and sadly, a l l , i n c l u d i n g
this H o l y Father, w o u l d have forgotten the m i l l e n n i a r R o m a n c a u t i o n :
Whoever strikes at the Petrine papacy w i l l die the death. Together, Pope
and Cardinals w o u l d strike at the Petrine papacy.
The Pope had blocked o u t t h i r t y minutes f o r the meeting. N o p r e l i m i -
nary maneuverings were expected. N o palaver. N o socializing. W h a t was
there to talk about? A l l the reasons for and against a papal signature had
been thrashed o u t ad nauseam. The o n l y t h i n g l a c k i n g n o w was a defini-
tive Yes or N o .
By agreement a m o n g themselves, T h e i r Eminences had neither an ap-
pointed leader n o r a c o m m o n spokesman. T h i s w o u l d be a headless con-
ference; f o r they had only one certain plank o f consensus o n w h i c h to
stand together: T h i s Pope should agree t o dismiss himself f r o m current
papal history. W i t h his signature o n this Resignation P r o t o c o l — w i t h his
initials, if they c o u l d do no better—they w o u l d have an instrument to
make his resignation legally effective because freely offered by h i m . " T h e
rest," as C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i had assured t h e m , " c o u l d be left to p r o v i -
dence."
For once C a r d i n a l Secretary o f State G r a z i a n i felt he c o u l d make his
position c o u n t as chief papal executive. H e t o o k i t u p o n himself to state
the case for Yes. " B y signing the Resignation P r o t o c o l , H o l y Father, you
put i n t o o u r h a n d s — i n t o the hands o f Your Holiness' colleagues—the
a u t h o r i t y to determine when y o u r papacy ends. You make the papacy
collegial. A d m i t t e d l y , this is a change. But I s u b m i t , Holiness, that y o u
have already been f o l l o w i n g the example o f t w o o f y o u r most recent pre-
decessors in rhis m a t t e r . " G r a z i a n i went o n — a bit inventively perhaps—to
recall for H i s Holiness h o w the good Pope o f the Second Vatican C o u n c i l
had been inspired w i t h the ideal o f a collegial papacy. Somewhat less
inventively he recalled h o w , by his actions over a reign o f fifteen years, the
good Pope's successor had approved the governance o f the C h u r c h by a
collegial papacy. Surely, therefore—especially as the Slavic Pope had in
essence f o l l o w e d the same principle since his o w n election by the College
of Cardinals in Conclave—ir was time t o formalize the de facto situation.
Graziani b r o u g h t his argument to a tactless crescendo. The Pope d i d n o t
THE R E S I G N A T I O N PROTOCOL 553

a p p o i n t the bishops, he said. " W e d o — w i t h Your H o l i n e s s . " The Pope d i d

n o t decide w h a t teachings are heretical, he said. " W e d o — w i t h Your H o l i -
ness." The Pope d i d nor decide w h o w o u l d become a C a r d i n a l , he said.
" W e d o — w i r h Your H o l i n e s s . "
" I f this is so—and it is so, Holiness—all that the m a j o r i t y o f y o u r C a r d i -
nals and bishops wish is that we formalize this present and actual collegial
arrangement. T r u t h i n our w o r d s ! Thar is w h a t the C h u r c h needs, H o l y
Father. Pur an end to the misery o f our self-doubts, of o u r q u a r r e l i n g , o f
o u r failure in f a i t h . C o n f i r m us in o u r collegial f a i t h , we beg y o u . "
The Slavic Pope listened in silence. N o n e c o u l d tell i f he cast his m i n d
back over the t w o pontificates adduced by the C a r d i n a l Secretary' o f State.
N o n e saw any sign t h a t he questioned the agreement o f those predecessors
to a f o r m a t o f governance that had a l l o w e d abuses and extended freedom
t o progressivist extremists. N o n e knew if he suffered a m o m e n t of regret
at the confusion caused by those t w o p r i o r Popes w h o had aided m i g h t i l y
i n shredding the once seamless fabric o f the Church's papacy. N o r w o u l d
they ever k n o w .
The Slavic Pope leaned f o r w a r d ever so slightly a n d read the Resigna-
t i o n Protocol one more t i m e . Seven pairs o f eyes watched as he uncapped
his f o u n t a i n pen. Watched as he b r o u g h t the t i p d o w n u n t i l i t almost
touched the signature line. , . . Then he paused. " A s successor t o the
Floly Apostle Peter . . . "
A t those w o r d s f r o m the Slavic Pope, the b l o o d froze in every heart b u t
his.
" A s successor t o the H o l y Apostle Peter, I take this most extreme mea-
sure i n order t o ensure the u n i t y o f m y bishops w i t h this H o l y See. As
Bishop o f Rome, I i n i t i a l this d o c u m e n t . Each o f Your Eminences is a co-
signatory. T h i s is t r u l y a collegial act. So help us G o d , the Father o f a l l . "
N o n e o f the Cardinals k n e w exactly w h a t d i s t i n c t i o n the H o l y Father
meant t o d r a w , i f any, between his role as rhe successor to the Apostle and
his role as the Bishop o f Rome. N o n e k n e w ; and none cared. W i r h a quick
f l o u r i s h , H i s Holiness i n i t i a l e d the Protocol. T h e n , u n w i l l i n g to w a i t for
rhe attending p o w e r brokers and papal aspiranrs to affix their o w n signa-
tures, he rose f r o m his chair in unexpected haste. W i t h M o n s i g n o r e Daniel
barely a stride behind h i m , the validly elected successor to Peter was gone.

Wearied by his failures and taxed by lack o f sleep, Chris Gladstone faced
i n t o his dinner at the Raffaele t h a t M o n d a y evening w i t h m i x e d feelings.
In their N o v e m b e r meeting he had f o u n d Gibson A p p l e y a r d ro be a
decent m a n , and he retained that i n i t i a l feeling o f pleasure and respect the
A m e r i c a n envoy had sparked i n h i m . Still, he d i d n ' t relish anorher discus-
sion a b o u t his c o u n t r y ' s p o l i t i c a l problems w i t h his Pope; and he d i d n ' t
really feel up t o a solo meeting w i t h A p p l e y a r d . I t was a relief, then, f o r
Chris to find t h a t G i o v a n n i Lucadamo w o u l d act as host and make the
parry a rhreesome.
 554 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

T h o u g h this was their first face-to-face encounter, the elder Lucadamo

was so m u c h a part of Vatican lore—so m u c h a part o f c o m m o n k n o w l -
edge and c o m m u n i t y t a l k — r h a t Gladstone felt he was i n the presence o f a
friend o f l o n g standing. M o r e , because G i o v a n n i Lucadamo's record o f
exploits had become the stuff o f legend, he k n e w he was in the presence of
a seasoned w a r r i o r ; a m a n w h o had proven himself over rhe years t o be
invaluable as an ally and u n y i e l d i n g as an enemy.
W h e t h e r by design or n o t , everything about the early part of the evening
put C h r i s t i a n at ease. The three men relaxed for a time over d r i n k s in the
l i v i n g r o o m o f G i o v a n n i ' s private quarters—a high-ceilinged, ornately dec-
orated apartment that bore all the marks o f a prosperous I t a l i a n w i t h a
fine taste f o r the classical and the means to indulge i t . Gladstone was
treated to a clinic in secular politics as A p p l e y a r d and Lucadamo dissected
and analyzed various governmenrs in E u r o p e — i n c l u d i n g the new govern-
ment o f I t a l y , w h i c h n o w included both neo-Fascists and C o m m u n i s t s . By
the time they moved to the d i n i n g r o o m and settled d o w n to a meal
prepared i n the Raffaele** superb kitchen, Chris was o n a first-name foot-
ing w i t h his c o m p a n i o n s , and the conversation shifted easily t o Vatican
affairs.
L u c a d a m o had a g o o d deal to relate about C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i — a
subject C h r i s t i a n obviously f o u n d absorbing. A n d that created the open-
ing for A p p l e y a r d t o take up the " l i t t l e p r o b l e m " he had mentioned o n the
phone to Gladstone. " I t ' s a p r o b l e m o f c r e d i b i l i t y , M o n s i g n o r e . " Gibson
broached his subject in p l a i n , unvarnished terms. " A n d again, strategic
requirements f o r rhe U n i t e d Srares are i n v o l v e d . T here are t w o issues at
stake."
"Whose credibility?"
" T h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f rhe H o l y Father." A p p l e y a r d shot a good-natured
f r o w n ar L u c a d a m o .
" A n d the t w o issues?" Gladstone exchanged his o w n quick glance w i t h
the Raffaele's p r o p r i e t o r .
" P o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l . A n d Russia."
Chris sar back to l o o k at his c o u n t r y m a n . " B u t y o u had i t out w i t h His
Holiness already on p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l . * '
" T h a t ' s w h a t 1 t h o u g h t , t o o , M o n s i g n o r e . But that Reporr f r o m the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences has put a monkey w r e n c h in rhe w o r k s . It
appears to some o f m y colleagues n o w t h a t , despite w h a t he's said, the
Pope is not against some p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l . . . "
" P r o v i d e d it's n o t achieved by artificial means," Gladstone i n t e r r u p t e d .
M a e s t r o i a n n i had p r o u d l y s h o w n h i m the Academy Report, and the
t h o u g h t o f it still made his b l o o d b o i l .
Gibson wasn't satisfied. H e needed something more reassuring than a
theological c o r r e c t i o n . "So, i n p r i n c i p l e , the H o l y Father w o u l d n ' t be
against a t w o - c h i l d l i m i t imposed by l a w ? "
"Yes, he w o u l d . That's fascism. You can't impose absolute limits w i t h -
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL 555

o u t ending up w i t h i n f a n t i c i d e , like M a o ' s C h i n a . A n d over and above

t h a t , it's capital t o remember t h a t the preferred C a t h o l i c method does n o t
countenance k i l l i n g the c h i l d . "
" B u t w h a t about the Academy Reporr? G i o v a n n i here rhinks ir's part o f
an e f f o r t t o denigrate the H o l y Father's a u t h o r i t y . "
" A n d to secularize Catholic m o r a l i t y . " L u c a d a m o decided to speak up
o n that p o i n t , and t o add another. " T h e Reporr is in the same category o f
R o m a n clerical politics as the scandal over A l t a r girls. W o u l d n ' t y o u say
so, M o n s i g n o r e ? "
A g a i n Gladstone sat back in his chair. H e w a s n ' t w i l l i n g t o risk his
delicate political balancing act i n the Vatican by sharing his m i n d t o o
freely. I t wasn't Signor G i o v a n n i w h o w o r r i e d h i m ; he was held in huge
esteem by the Vatican security chief, and w h o w o u l d k n o w h i m better
rhan his o w n nephew? Bur w h a t about Appleyard? Was it enough t o rely
on his personal sense of trust in that quarter?
" M o n s i g n o r e ? " Signor G i o v a n n i ' s gentle p r o d was almost sufficient to
t i p the scales. But n o t quite. Before he w o u l d respond, Christian wanted to
pursue the second strategic p r o b l e m that bedeviled the A m e r i c a n govern-
ment.
" Y o u m e n t i o n e d the question o f Russia, G i b s o n . "
" Y e s . " A p p l e y a r d showed no sign o f reticence. " P l a i n l y stated, they're
a f r a i d back home that this H o l y Father may interfere w i t h the special
relationship this U.S. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n is c u l t i v a t i n g w i t h Boris Y e l t s i n . "
Plainly stated, indeed. Gladstone was m i n d f u l o f Gibson's November
w a r n i n g a b o u t the death o f innocents. As thar w a r n i n g had been coupled
w i t h the question o f p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l , it was sobering to k n o w that
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s mischievous " s u p p l e m e n t a l i n i t i a t i v e s " had m u d d i e d that
s i t u a t i o n f o r the Americans. But just as sobering was the idea that the
Pontiff's f o r t h c o m i n g pilgrimage to Russia had been t h r o w n into the same
scales. If ever there was a m o m e n t for candor, C h r i s t i a n decided, this was
i t . " T h e best way I can reply to such i n s a n i t y " — C h r i s turned a pair o f
blazing eyes o n his c o m p a n i o n — " i s ro answer the question Signor G i o -
vanni asked a m i n u t e ago.
" T h e A c a d e m y Report apparently has the U.S. government up in arms
again over their precious p o p u l a t i o n p o l i c y . Bur t h a t Report, as w e l l as the
counterfeit d o c u m e n t o n A l t a r girls, is part o f a scheme to have the present
Pope removed. Such rricks merely prepare the w a y . So y o u can go back to
y o u r colleagues in W a s h i n g t o n , and y o u can tell them that they have n o t
understood this Pope. A n d because they d o n ' t understand h i m , they're fair
game for the c r o w d o f theological thugs and geopolitical miscreants w h o
feel compelled to remove h i m .
" A s t o Russia . . . " C h r i s r i a n relaxed a little i n his posture, but not a
w h i r i n his intensity. " M y advice to y o u is t o go straight t o the H o l y
Father, tell h i m straight o u t w h a t you've r o l d me. Tell h i m y o u r govern-
 556 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

ment doesn't trust his w o r d . Tell h i m h o w confused they are. T h e n carry

on f r o m there. ' 1

Both o f Gladstone's companions were taken o f f guard by the honesty o f

his w o r d s and the force o f his e m o t i o n . But it was his unequivocal state-
ment a b o u t the p l o t t o remove rhe Slavic Pope—the first in-house confir-
m a t i o n o f the serious progress o f that p l o t — t h a t sparked a spontaneous
and even violent response f r o m A p p l e y a r d .
" Y o u may find i t h a r d to believe a w o r d o f w h a t I say, M o n s i g n o r e . "
H i s voice, n o r m a l l y so relaxed and measured, rose to an unusual pitch of
intensity. " E v e n G i o v a n n i may find it hard to believe. But 1 w i l l do any-
t h i n g i n my p o w e r to pre vent the success o f any such p l o t . "
G i b was r i g h t . C h r i s d i d find those w o r d s hard to believe. Leaving aside
the question o f M a s o n r y , he was t a l k i n g to a senior envoy o f the U.S.
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . Ir was one r h i n g t o be overcome by m o m e n t a r y emotions;
but it w o u l d be something else f o r a man o f A p p l e y a r d ' s rank and accom-
plishments t o oppose the official stance o f his home governmenr.
" Y o u w o u l d be m a k i n g a mistake to take such a promise l i g h t l y , M o n s i -
g n o r e . " L u c a d a m o read the d o u b t o n Gladstone's face and responded to
it. " I have trusted m y life to Gibson more than once over the years. A n d as
y o u see, I am here to tell the s t o r y ! "

For rhe r e m a i n i n g days o f H o l y Week, A p p l e y a r d shoved his nose as

deeply as he c o u l d i n t o papal politics. For all o f his recently acquired
expertise i n Vatican affairs, the simple fact was that he d i d n ' t k n o w half
enough t o make his argument in favor o f the Slavic Pope. N o t enough to
make i t c o u n t in W a s h i n g t o n , at any rate. W h a t he needed was as much
data as he c o u l d find on the men lined u p to replace the presenr Pontiff,
should it come to that.
T h e t w o U.S. Embassies in Rome were all b u t useless; but that was only
to be expected. W i t h G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o to ease his w a y , G i b made the
rounds o f the best tipsters he c o u l d find. M o r e often than n o t , they turned
up a m o n g the city's resident newsmen w h o had been a r o u n d for genera-
tions. A n d one o f the first lessons they taught h i m was the difference
between Pope-makers, papal wanna-bes and serious papal candidates. By
G o o d F r i d a y , he k n e w that a m o n g the a n t i p a p a l prelates he had consorted
w i t h at Strasbourg, C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i and C a r d i n a l Pensabene were
Pope-makers o f the firsr order. Fie k n e w that C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i was a
papal wanna-be. H e k n e w rhat Graziani m i g h t be a l o n g shot. He knew
that most o f others mentioned frequently in local gossip as papabili
w o u l d n ' t even make i t to a ballot in a papal Conclave. A n d he knew the
struggle w o u l d be a m o n g three men.
A p p l e y a r d had learned m u c h o f w h a t he needed to k n o w a b o u t t w o o f
those three candidares i n his face-to-face encounter w i t h them at Stras-
b o u r g . C a r d i n a l N o a h Palombo and C a r d i n a l M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o were
men attuned t o the w o r l d . I n their speeches that n i g h t , b o t h had impressed
THE RESIGNATION PROTOCOL. 557

A p p l e y a r d as cynics. Palombo had seemed d o w n r i g h t sinisrer. By the mere

fact that they were involved in a clandestine p l o t against the reigning
Pope, borh had s h o w n a dangerous and shifty side. A n d , n o t surprisingly,
b o t h had s h o w n themselves i n thar meeting to be adept at s t r i k i n g a public
pose o f selfless idealism that was patenrly at odds w i t h their words and
actions.
T h e t h i r d pafmbile—a Frenchman by the name o f Joseph K a r m e l — w a s
an u n k n o w n q u a n t i t y for A p p l e y a r d at first. But assiduous digging in that
Cardinal's public record showed h i m to be cut f r o m the same fundamental
p a r t e m as rhe orher t w o . Karmel's a u t h o r i t a t i v e , O l d Testament demeanor
and his charismatic behavior made h i m a little more e n t e r t a i n i n g , perhaps.
Beneath the veneer, however, he was more u n r e l i a b l e — a n d therefore more
dangerous i n Gibson's v i e w — t h a n either C o u t i n h o or Palombo. He ap-
peared to use e m o t i o n rather than reason as his guide. A n d despite that
O l d Testament profile he c u l t i v a t e d , he made a meaningless blur of all
distinctions berween the religions of the w o r l d .
W h a t it came to in the e n d , t h e n , was exactly w h a t C h r i s t i a n Gladstone
had said at the Raffaele. I f the p l o t against rhe Slavic Pope were successful,
Washington w o u l d p r o b a b l y be left to deal w i t h a c r o w d o f theological
thugs and geopolitical miscreants.
T h a t was deeply i m p o r t a n t to A p p l e y a r d . As a Rosicrucian, as a univer-
salist and as a career servant of his government, he believed there was and
should always be r o o m i n God's cosmos for rrue diversity o f belief, and
that no one should be dragooned inro a m o n o l i t h i c ideology. He had no
d o u b t that the Strasbourg g r o u p — r h e individuals w h o hankered afrer the
universal p o w e r o f the R o m a n Catholic apparatus—were globalisr in their
ambitions- But thar was so far f r o m his o w n universalism as to make
Gibson shudder. G l o b a l i s m — a t least as he t h o u g h t o f the term—meanr
the fashioning o f a global village in w h i c h , come H e l l or high water, no
one w o u l d be different f r o m anyone else. There w o u l d be one frame f o r
everything, and everything i n one frame. The elemenr globalists d i d not
insist o n was the one element that made R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m so valuable
in a volatile w o r l d : the stability o f a cohesive m o r a l u n d e r p i n n i n g as rhe
basis of personal and c o m m u n i t y life.
Palombo and C o u t i n h o had made it clear at Strasbourg rhat they fa-
vored a looser, more w o r l d l y a n d m o r a l l y permissive p o i n t o f view. N o
d o u b t rhat was w h a t Gladstone had meant by theological thuggery. A n d
no d o u b t , either, t h a t , w i t h o u t a stable m o r a l base, such men w o u l d easily
become geopolitical miscreants.
But the question was: W o u l d Gibson's superiors i n Washingron care?
H a d n ' r rhey been after a looser, more w o r l d l y , more permissive poinr o f
view o n Varican Flill? If rhe m o r a l cohesion fostered by the H o l y See could
be f u n d a m e n t a l l y , f o r m a l l y and finally d i s r u p t e d , w o u l d n ' t that make
things easier when i t came t o such a basic U.S. strategy as p o p u l a t i o n
c o n t r o l a n d to such a precarious U.S. gamble as the Partnership for Peace?
 558 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

T h e answers A p p l e y a r d gave to his o w n questions convinced h i m that

Gladstone had been right on yet another p o i n r . As hectic as things were
n o w , barely rhree weeks i n advance o f the General Consistory and the
H o l y Father's departure for Russia, G i b w o u l d have to ask for an urgent
meeting w i t h the P o n t i f f . T o have any chance o f m a k i n g his case i n Wash-
i n g t o n , he w o u l d have to tell the Slavic Pope w h a t he had t o l d Gladstone,
and then carry o n f r o m there.

A p p l e y a r d w o u l d always remember his M a y 1 interview w i t h H i s Holiness

as the most p a i n f u l and most insightful conversation o f his life. A meeting
whose value for h i m lay n o t in its details, b u t in the entire event-
In prepararion for the hectic timetable rhat w o u l d rule his movements
d u r i n g the firsr t w o weeks o f M a y , H i s Ploliness had decided to resr u p for
a few days i n the papal villa at Caste I G a n d o l f o .
" T h e H o l y Father is f o l l o w i n g an elastic schedule," M o n s i g n o r e Daniel
had t o l d A p p l e y a r d w h e n he had called so urgently f o r an audience.
" W e ' v e eased up o n deadline dates and fixed a p p o i n t m e n t s , d o m e early-
ish, b u t be prepared to w a i t . "
A p p l e y a r d d i d come early. G i o v a n n i Lucadamo's sraffer guided the l i m -
ousine along the drive that sloped gently u p w a r d r h r o u g h gardens still
s p a r k l i n g under rhe night's fall o f dew. I m m e d i a t e l y Gibson stepped o u t
o n t o the cobbled c o u r t y a r d , the double doors o f the m a i n entrance were
opened and he was greered by a pleasant-faced l a y m a n . His Ploliness was
at Mass and Benediction,, the d o o r m a n said. Perhaps M r . Appleyard
w o u l d care ro stroll o n rhe grounds u n t i l M o n s i g n o r e Daniel called h i m .
G i b was a b o u t to f o l l o w that suggestion w h e n the sound o f organ music
changed his m i n d . The genrle cadence was his guide r h r o u g h a spacious,
ornarely decorated c o r r i d o r and i n t o a large g r o u n d - f l o o r chapel. Except
for rhe amber light o f t w o chandeliers, the place was i n semi-darkness.
M i l d incense evoked memories o f the summer glories and a u t u m n harvests
of Appleyard's boyhood.
G i b s o n slipped inro one o f the rear pews and sat d o w n to w a t c h . A few
priests and some half dozen nuns kneeling i n the pews chanted a Latin
prayer i n h a r m o n y w i t h the o r g a n . The Slavic Pope knelt on the lowest of
the three steps leading t o the A l t a r , t w o acolytes knelt beside h i m . A n
enormous c r u c i f i x h u n g f r o m the ceiling above the A l t a r . T h e gleam o f
candles played against the precious stones a n d richly embossed golden
d o o r o f the Tabernacle. A t o p the Tabernacle, a monstrance held the Sacred
Host to view.
A l l at once, the music t h a t had d r a w n G i b s o n here ceased. A m i d the
silence o f sacred things, the H o l y Father rose f r o m his knees. H i s hands
draped in c l o t h - o f - g o l d , he raised the monstrance and s l o w l y traced a
cross o f blessing u p o n all present.
It was a m o m e n t o f grace that ended all t o o a b r u p t l y . A brief litany
f o l l o w e d i n praise o f a b o u n t i f u l Fleaven. T h e P o n t i f f removed the H o s t
THE RESIGNATION P R O T O C O L 559

f r o m rhe monstrance, draped i t w i t h a c l o t h , placed it in the Tabernacle,

genuflected and f o l l o w e d the acolytes f r o m the Sanctuary. One of the
priests stayed behind l o n g enough to extinguish the candles and the chan-
deliers and remove the monstrance. A n d then A p p l e y a r d was alone. O n l y
the small red lamp remained alight in the Sanctuary, flickering against the
shadows.

" M r . Appleyard?"
G i b t u r n e d to the chapel d o o r . A r a lirtle gesture f r o m Monsignore
D a n i e l , he f o l l o w e d the papal secretary to one of rhe private reception
rooms o n rhe g r o u n d f l o o r o f rhe villa where a s m i l i n g Pope awaited h i m .
Despite a l l the r u m o r s of the many h o r r i d afflictions about t o claim his
life, the P o n t i f f looked amazingly w e l l . Gibson expressed his deep pleasure
at seeing H i s Holiness so fit.
" P m really not a city m a n , M r . A p p l e y a r d . " The Pope acknowledged
the American's greeting w i t h obvious pleasure and gestured t o w a r d the
A l b a n H i l l s visible t h r o u g h the open w i n d o w s . " A s l o n g as I can w a l k in
the open air i n the sight of woods and tall m o u n t a i n s , Pm fine.
N o w . . . " The H o l y Father chose a pair o f easy chairs beside those
w i n d o w s , and the pair settled d o w n t o their t a l k . " T e l l me, M r . A p -
pleyard. W h y is y o u r government so afraid of my p o o r little Russian p i l -
grimage? I assure y o u , Pm nor p l a n n i n g any interference i n U.S.A.-Russia
relations. But w h y this suspicion?"
" H o l i n e s s " — A p p l e y a r d responded in k i n d — " I t h i n k the key men in the
present a d m i n i s t r a t i o n are less afraid o f y o u than ot their o w n memories.
They recall the role played by you and the Catholic C h u r c h i n defeating
the C o m m u n i s t s in y o u r h o m e l a n d . They remember h o w y o u beat them
w i t h o u t guns or bullets, but just by o r g a n i z a t i o n and force of s p i r i r . "
" A h ! " The P o n t i f f brushed the air w i t h one h a n d . " W e ' r e ralking about
apples and oranges. Your a d m i n i s t r a t i o n in the U n i t e d States has special
bonds w i t h Russia n o w . "
H o w like this Pope to give h i m the opening he needed, Gibson t h o u g h t .
" W o u l d Your Holiness prefer that the presenr a d m i n i s t r a t i o n not forge
those special bonds? Bonds, I a d m i t , that are closer and tighter rhan m y
government has f o r m e d w i t h any other p o w e r , Easr or W e s t . "
"Before I answer y o u r pointed question, M r . A p p l e y a r d , let me be ex-
plicit a b o u t those newly forged bonds as I understand them today. Take
item n u m b e r one. Recently, Russian warplanes manned by Russian pilots
conducted b o m b i n g missions i n Yemen. The Saudis financed that secret
o p e r a t i o n , and your present a d m i n i s t r a t i o n gave its blessing to i t . Item
n u m b e r t w o . Your Washington people have given the Russian regime a
green l i g h t t o d o m i n a t e not merely Georgia bur any o f the CIS states; and
t o do so m i l i t a r i l y as well as economically. The massacre of Chechnya is
still g o i n g o n , even as we speak.
" I t e m n u m b e r three. The U n i t e d States voted i n the U N t o give the
 560 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Russia-dominated CIS equal 'observer status' w i t h N A T O , and regional

status i n the U N itself. T h a t means U N sanction to t h r o w Russia's weight
a r o u n d i n the 'near a b r o a d , ' and eventually i n the 'far a b r o a d . ' Item n u m -
ber f o u r . Your presenr W a s h i n g t o n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n is very much inclined to
accept rhe new and secret U.S.A.-Russia alliance presented to them by
Yeltsin's emissary, V l a d i m i r Shumeiko. W h a t rhe Russians n o w seek is
j o i n t rule w i t h the U.S.A. over peacekeeping actions in the w o r l d . C o n d o -
m i n i u m over g l o b a l arms sales. C o n d o m i n i u m over rhe e x p o r t o f military
and civil technology to T h i r d W o r l d countries.
" N o w , M r . A p p l e y a r d , you have asked me in effect if I like all this. O f
course 1 d o n ' t like i t ! N o b o d y w i t h a knowledge o f the realities could like
it. But does that mean I ' m g o i n g t o undermine it? O h , n o , M r . A p p l e y a r d !
It w i l l come t o grief all by itself. A n d i n any case, I assure you that that is
n o t the geopolitics w h i c h occupies m e . "
If Gibson had come t o R o m e seeking c l a r i t y , Gladstone and the Slavic
Pope had each given h i m more than he or his government had any right t o
expect. He acknowledged as m u c h to H i s Holiness and promised to make
his p o s i t i o n as clear as he c o u l d back home.
For the briefest m o m e n t , the Pontiff and the d i p l o m a t shared an easy
silence. Together they savored the fresh m o r n i n g air and the mingled
sounds o f d a i l y life that reached them f r o m the t o w n beyond the gates. But
Gibson savored something more—some r e m n a n t o f his f o r m e r wish rhat
he could reach anorher, more personal plareau in his relationship w i t h this
Pope.
" O f f the record, H o l i n e s s . " G i b chose ro break the silence. " A r e you
srill in close correspondence w i r h M r . G o r b a c h e v ? "
" O f f the r e c o r d , M r . A p p l e y a r d , y o u k n o w berter than I or the w i d e
w o r l d w i l l ever k n o w that M r , Gorbachev is financed n o w by U.S. dollars.
He is t o t a l l y dependent o n his paymasters. H e flies in their corporate
jets. H e travels i n their b u l l e t p r o o f limousines. He garhers funds at their
galas. He holidays in rheir spas a n d w a t e r i n g holes. H e is rhe protege, the
creature, the marionette, the obedient servanr o f the macromanagers and
the d a r l i n g o f the master engineers.
" I have always maintained a link w i t h h i m . H e has been a useful means
o f k n o w i n g w h a t has really been happening ro us all since 1989. But none
o f us has any illusions a b o u t h i m and his aims. O n the personal level, he
remains a convinced materialisr and atheist. O n the sociopolitical level, he
remains a crass M a r x i s t . A n d on the m o r a l level, he is indistinguishable
f r o m a polar bear. M i k h a i l Gorbachev has mercy, compassion, sympathy
for n o one o n this e a r t h , myself included. A m I m a k i n g myself clear, M r .
Appleyard?"
" O f f the r e c o r d . H o l i n e s s " — G i b s o n laughed the way he sometimes d i d
w i t h G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o — " t h a t w o u l d be my s u m m a r y a l s o . "
"Perhaps y o u remember a speech M r . Gorbachev made in your country
a w h i l e back, M r . A p p l e y a r d , i n M a y o f 1992, at Westminster College in
T H E R E S I G N A T I O N P R O T O C O L 561

F u l t o n , M i s s o u r i . H e called that speech The River of Time* and the Imper-

ative of Action. It is an obvious n o t i o n , but a great one. The river flows
o n . Y o u must take its tide, o r miss the o p p o r t u n i t y .
' i have t o l d you w h a t I do n o t plan to d o o n m y pilgrimage ro the East.
I d o n o t plan t o disrupr y o u r government's arrangements. W h a t I should
tell y o u n o w is that I have accepted the dual i n v i t a t i o n f r o m M o s c o w and
Kiev because surely the tide in the river of my life is r u n n i n g t o w a r d the
open sea . . . " T h e Slavic Pope broke o f f gently, as i f w h a t he left unsaid
did n o t need saying. ' T h i s m o r n i n g , M r . A p p l e y a r d , i t pleased the good
L o r d rhar y o u should arrive jusr in time for Benediction after Mass. It
pleased G o d that y o u should be here for a special t h a n k s g i v i n g I wished to
give t o H i m for having sent y o u . You have made things so much easier
than many other d i p l o m a t s w o u l d have done in similar circumstances. For
thar, our Farher in Heaven w i l l thank y o u w i t h abundant blessings and
grant y o u r heart's desire."
There had been a time w h e n the American w o u l d have responded to
those w o r d s as an expression o f gratitude for one more piece o f d i p l o m a t i c
w o r k well done. But he k n e w enough n o w to understand that the signifi-
cance o f the m o m e n t went deeper t h a n the smooth surface of d i p l o m a c y .
" W i l l y o u be r e t u r n i n g to y o u r c o u n t r y at once, M r . A p p l e y a r d ? " The
P o n t i f f rose f r o m his chair. It was time for his m o r n i n g w a l k w i t h M o n s i -
gnore Daniel.
" N o r quire yet, H o l i n e s s . " Gibson fell c o m f o r t a b l y i n t o step beside the
H o l y Father. " I have some business to get t h r o u g h up n o r r h in the L o w
Countries firsr."
" I see. W e l l , when y o u arrive home, please carry my blessing w i t h y o u .
For your f a m i l y . A n d for y o u r c o u n t r y — y o u r people and y o u r govern-
ment. M a y the H o l y Spirit give w i s d o m t o all of y o u . "
" I cannot tell you h o w reassuring I find rhar prayer, H o l i n e s s . " A p -
pleyard f o u n d himself responding w i t h a sentiment no other human being
had ever evoked in h i m . " I am impressed that you see the movement of the
H o l y Spirit as possible even i n a political system such as ours, w h i c h sets
such an alien face in our time t o the essence of Catholicism and Christian-
ity itself."
T h e Pontiff stopped just short of the d o o r to the c o u r t y a r d where
Sadowski was already w a i t i n g for h i m . " M r . A p p l e y a r d , if you see me
traveling across the w h o l e w o r l d to meet w i t h people o f all civilizations
and religions, it is because I have faith in the seeds o f w i s d o m w h i c h the
Spirit has planted in the conscience o f all those various peoples and tribes
and clans. F r o m those hidden grains w i l l come the true resource for rhe
f u t u r e o f m a n k i n d i n this w o r l d of o u r s . "
A p p l e y a r d and the H o l y Father stepped i n t o the sunlight. There was a
handshake and a p a r t i n g glance before the Pope turned a n d , leaning
l i g h t l y on Sadowski's a r m , entered the broad path leading i n t o the private
grounds behind the v i l l a . As he watched t h e m , Gibson considered his
 562 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

promise to Gladstone to do all he could to foster this man's permanence in

the papacy. H e considered, too, all the names that had figured in his
conversations with the Slavic Pope. Yeltsin, Gorbachev, Shevardnadze,
Reagan, Bush, Thatcher, K o h l , Mitterrand, C l i n t o n , Mandela. Those and
many more had come up explicitly or by implication.
Yet of all the greats, it seemed to Appleyard that only this one—only
this Slavic Pope—was worth saving, worth protecting, worth perpetuat-
ing. So long as such a man cut a figure on the international stage, for so
long would wisdom and salvation and progress be possible for the society
of nations. " P o o r , poor E u r o p e . " Not all that long ago, G i b recalled, the
Slavic Pope had written those words to the E C Committee charged with
filling the post of Secretary-General. " P o o r , poor w o r l d , " he might have
said.
His mind deep in such thoughts, Appleyard watched the rwo figures
recede into the gardens, one robed in somber black, the other in white.
Before rhe path took them both from view, the figure in white turned back
for an instant to wave farewell.
" H o l y F a t h e r , " Gibson said half aloud and raised his hand to rerurn rhe
gesture. "Pater patrum"
 XLIX
H A M M E R A N D T O N G S . T h a t was the feel of everything in Rome dur-
ing the firsr rwo weeks of M a y . So much so that even before he rerurned
from Castel Gandolfo, rhe Slavic Pope was enmeshed as rhe cenrerpiece of
events that everyone sought to control and rhar could only end in some
sharrering climax.
True, rhose who knew the details of the radical change being planned
for rhe papacy weren'r talking, and those who did most of the talking
knew next to nothing. But because no real secrers are possible for any
world leader whose decisions affecr rhe lives and fortunes of millions, the
general conviction that had been growing for so many months—the silent
consensus that this Rome of the Popes was about to change and would
never again be the same—strengrhened in intensity, much as the size of the
Roman press corps expanded from irs normal complemenr of some hun-
dreds ro a lirrle over rhree rhousand. Given time, even news agencies
caught the unmistakable scent of a big story and garhered in for rhe kill.
Conrriburing ro rhe fever raking hold of Rome was rhe whirlpool of
information and speculation iflowing like contagion from diplomatic back
channels, intelligence intercepts, specialized agencies reporrs, inquisirive
1

media, gossip columnisrs, spin doctors, vested interesrs and rhe gut instinct
of ordinary people.
In rhar climate, Cardinal Maestroianni's "supplemental initiatives"
wreaked their inrended effect. The confusion caused by the illicit docu-
ment on Altar girls and by rhe reporr on population control pur our by His
Eminence's allies in rhe Ponrifical Academy of Sciences ser media minds
aflame like dry rinder. By rhe rime rhe 157 Cardinals of rhe Universal
Church began ro arrive for the May 6 opening of the General Consis-
tory—a mere trickle of rhem on May 1; some decades by May 4; rhe
whole flood of them by May 5—a new pitch of uncertainty reigned every-
where. Whar was really going on ar rhe Church's highesr sear of govern-
menr? Who was really in charge?
Insread of conrriburing ans wers ro rhose quesrions, however, the Cardi-
nals rhemselves were buffeted by the staged publicity and propaganda
devised by rhe Slavic Pope's adversaries, and beser by rhe suddenly frenetic
lobbying of conrenders and prerenders in rhe papal race. Srill, and despire
the public confusion, none of these gathering Princes of rhe Church would
be able to excuse themselves later by saying rhey vveren'r on rhe spor for
 566 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the events a b o u t t o take place, o r t h a t the issues were h i d d e n f r o m t h e m .

A l l had ample o p p o r r u n i r y ro consult together as colleagues in a closed
sociery o f their o w n , where no intruders c o u l d venture. They had rhe
special status o f brothers of Peter rhe Great Fisherman, w h o , rhey had
been divinely assured, w o u l d strengthen their weaknesses and reinforce
their f a i t h . A n d the very fact o f rheir physical presence underscored rhe
rrurh that the universality of rhe R o m a n C h u r c h was at stake. Indeed,
their lives d u r i n g rhose r w o weeks w o u l d be lived according ro one of t w o
alternative scenarios, a n d guided according t o each one's goals and a l l i -
ances.
A c c o r d i n g t o H i s Holiness' enemies, the last R o m a n Carholic Pope was
a b o u t t o be eased o u t o f the papacy by a c o m b i n a t i o n of his o w n deficient
leadership, the firm w i l l of those w h o listened to the lessons of history and
k n e w their d u t y to h u m a n i t y a n d , t h o u g h few a m o n g them knew i t , the
covert tenacity o f those Fratres intent o n the sands filtering inexorably
d o w n t h r o u g h rheir hourglass o f rhe A v a i l i n g T i m e .
A c c o r d i n g ro those w h o still believed i n the R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h as
the unique source o f eternal salvation for all of h u m a n i t y , the Slavic Pope
srood o n the b r i n k o f a near-apocalyptic change. For t h e m , lie was the last
C a t h o l i c Pope not because his was the last papacy, b u t because an era was
a b o u t ro end. H i s pilgrimage to the East n o t o n l y m a r k e d the c l i m a x i n his
personal drama as P o n t i f f and as a h u m a n being b u t signaled the close of
these C a t h o l i c times that had begun t w o thousand years before.
W i t h such considerations in the balance, it was u n t h i n k a b l e , but unde-
niable, that the greatest effect the assembled Cardinals managed to achieve
was t o heighten rhe p u b l i c sense o f spectacle. T h e i r erhnic, linguistic, cul-
t u r a l , political and religious diversiry made for great theater. A n d their
srage presence was boosted by the fact that each was attended by a retinue
of at least one bishop, t w o theological experts and any n u m b e r of c o l o r f u l
and o u t s p o k e n diocesan officials. Further spice was added w h e n i t was
discovered rhar several bishops f r o m the U n i t e d States, H o l l a n d , Germany
and Switzerland were accompanied by teams of A l t a r girls and female
Eucharisric minisrers. It was an exotic aspect of diversity tailor-made for
r a b l o i d rhapsodies.
T h e l e f t - w i n g // Borghese snickered rhat "haute couture n o w graces
C h u r c h ceremonies," a n d that " t h e hierarchs have enlisted Chanel, D i o r ,
L a u r e n and Klein i n t h e i r search for divine b e a u t y . " The Corriere di Roma
countered w i t h heady headlines that t r u m p e t e d " R o m e ' s f e m i n i z a t i o n , "
Editorials elsewhere w a x e d poetic about " t h e C h u r c h Universal, replete
w i t h h u m a n inventiveness/" a n d about the Cardinals—some o f rhem, at
least—as " w o r t h y representatives o f that prophetic h u m a n i s m w h i c h is
the c r o w n i n g achievement o f R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m in this t w e n t i e t h cen-
t u r y . " The appetite of the secular press was wherted all the more w h e n i t
became k n o w n that several y o u n g A m e r i c a n bishops were accompanied
by w o m e n theologians i n a private capacity. " H o p e f u l l y , " w i n k e d the
QUO VADIS ? 567

Socialist weekly Uomo Nuovo, "these prelates, j u n i o r in age and standing,

w i l l o u t r a n k rheir seniors in v i r t u e / "
W i t h the M a y 6 o p e n i n g of rhe General Consistory c o m i n g up fasr,
newspapers in Europe and the Americas began to play rhe festivities to the
h i l t . N o t all the media a t t e n t i o n was lavished o n such stories, however.
D u r i n g rhe o p e n i n g days o f M a y , rhe Erernal C i t y was transformed i n t o
the u l t i m a t e showcase for rhe success o f a parienr and guileful straregy
t h a t , over a period o f t h i r t y y ears, had fragmented the sacramental u n i t y
a n d r r a d i r i o n a l piety o f the C a t h o l i c Mass i n t o a hodgepodge o f invented
rires rhar aped local cultures a n d thar bore abour as m u c h resemblance ro
one another as water bears t o o i l .
Once u p o n a recenr t i m e , anyone attending any Catholic Mass any-
where in rhe w o r l d had been confidenr i n his understanding and w o r s h i p .
Language and vesrmenrs, gestures and movements had all been redolent
w i t h the same identical m o t i v e and meaning. N o w , however, Mass had t o
d o w i t h local t r i b a l t r a d i t i o n s , local p o l i t i c a l ideologies a n d , not infre-
q u e n t l y , local sensual pathologies. T h e Mass said by the Slavic Pope in St.
Peter's Basilica bore no resemblance ar all to the so-called D i g n i t y Mass
celebrarcd ar the same h o u r i n M i l w a u k e e , Wisconsin; or to the L i b e r a t i o n
Mass t a k i n g place in the Base C o m m u n i t i e s at Sao Paulo, Brazil; or to the
Cioddess Gaia Mass chanted in the Archdiocese o f Seattle.
A w a r e that r e v o l u t i o n and diversity make for byline c o p y , representa-
tives o f the press swarmed over Rome t o w r i t e about the spectacle. In a
single day at the C h u r c h o f Sanra M a r i a M a g g i o r e , an Indian srringer
p h o r o g r a p h e d C a r d i n a l K o m a r a s w a m i ' s c o l o r f u l H i n d u i z e d Mass; an A f -
rican reporter covered the a m a z i n g Congolese Mass o f C a r d i n a l Bon-
sanawi o f Z a i r e ; and a Brazilian Television crew trained cameras and lav-
ish c o m m e n t a r y o n the guitar-and-dance f o l k Mass o f C a r d i n a l R o m a r i n o
o f Belize.
In the m i d s t o f all this precedenr-shattering acriviry, the H o l y Father
rerurned to the A p o s t o l i c Palace in a spirit o f unshakable e q u a n i m i t y .
Rested and v i g o r o u s , he received each o f rhe visiring Cardinals f o r a per-
sonal audience—events well publicized i n H i s Floliness' o w n newspaper
w i t h banner headlines a n d front-page photographs. He made himself l i b -
erally available t o C a r d i n a l G r a z i a n i w h e n final details had to be w o r k e d
o u t for the Consistory and the Shoah Concerr. A n d he was rhe predictable
target o f a heighrened level o f d i p l o m a r i c a c t i v i t y .
To some degree, such d i p l o m a t i c a t t e n t i o n had t o do w i t h the Pontiff's
c u r r e n t c o n t e n t i o n w i t h the U.S. President. To some degree, it was an
admission that his f o r t h c o m i n g t r i p to Russia and U k r a i n e had already
enhanced his unique srarus still f u r t h e r in rhe arena of w o r l d leaders. Bur it
was also tacit r e c o g n i t i o n , ar leasr a m o n g rhe Rome-resident d i p l o m a t i c
missions, t h a t this Pope's a v a i l a b i l i t y was shorrening; rhar n o w was rhe
time t o capitalize o n rheir acquaintance w i r h h i m for an unusual string o f
favors.
 568 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

The face the Slavic Pope showed t h r o u g h o u t all the hugger-mugger—his

s m i l i n g performance in p u b l i c ; his acquiescence in a l l rhe arrangemenrs
made by the Secrerariar o f Srare for rhe General Consistory; his satisfac-
t i o n at the vastly increased numbers o f p i l g r i m s and rourists t h r o n g i n g
R o m a n srreets and m o n u m e n t s — a l l this fed the festive and celebrarory
m o o d . Bur i t seemed to papal intimates like Sadowski, Gladstone and
Slattery as r h o u g h , u n m i n d f u l o f rhe sharp cracks and lerhal fissures in rhe
w a l l o f C a r h o l i c i s m being papered over by rhe b o n h o m i e g o i n g o n around
h i m , the Pope had his eyes fixed o n some N o r t h Srar visible o n l y ro h i m .

For C h r i s r i a n , w a t c h i n g the s i t u a t i o n was the easy parr. As a bonus for

w o r k w e l l and l o y a l l y d o n e , and as a roken o f rewards yer to come, C a r d i -
nal M a e s r r o i a n n i made ir a p o i n r ro keep h i m ar the center o f things. H e
spent l o n g hours each day i n rhe Cardinal's office, where he helped ro deal
w i r h rhe pressures o f v i s i r i n g consulranrs, d i p l o m a r s , emissaries, couriers,
conference members and rhe inevitable hangers-on.
U n a v o i d a b l y , he spenr m o r e time than ever w i r h Silvio A u r e a t i n i and
G i a c o m o G r a z i a n i . H e exchanged a w o r d or r w o w i r h his brother's great
m e n t o r , rhe fabled M r . C y r u s Benthoek, and w i t h the mysterious Pr.
Ralph C h a n n i n g , w h e n rhe r w o " d r o p p e d i n , " as C h a n n i n g was pleased ro
say, " r o savor rhe e x h i l a r a r i n g armosphere." H e was burronholed by re-
tired C a r d i n a l Pier Svensen, w h o had come d o w n f r o m Belgium ro install
himself as a day resident i n State's consulting rooms. O n rhe lower end of
the scale, he f o u n d i t useful to strike up an acquaintance o f sorts w i t h
Aurearini's gofer, the gossipy and not very b r i g h t A r c h b i s h o p Buttafuoco.
Gladstone saw n o t h i n g o f D a m i e n Slattery d u r i n g rhose first hectic days
of the m o n t h . But i n his capacity as double agent, he saw Lucadamo as a
matter o f necessity. For caution's sake and because o f the demands each
day p u t o n t h e m , they came t o rely on late-night meetings well away f r o m
rhe Vatican.
One such meeting m a r k e d a new t u r n i n g f o r Gladsrone. O n M a y 4 they
met over a couple o f sandwiches ar a cappuccino cafe rucked away in the
Trasrevere disrricr. As usual, Chris passed a l o n g a quick bur derailed ac-
count o f the i n f o r m a t i o n he had been able to pick u p . But, also, he had a
c o m p l a i n t to register. H e was upser over rhe delay in rhe search operation
for t h a t mysterious double-sealed envelope srill buried somewhere in the
Secret Archives.
The securiry chief was sympathetic. H e shared Gladstone's anxiety to
find that envelope. But he reminded Chris rhat C a r d i n a l Valdes' schedule
had become more erraric t h a n ever, and w o u l d doubtless remain so until
the Consistory gor under w a y . The search w o u l d have ro w a i t until then.
" B y that t i m e , " L u c a d a m o cautioned his c o m p a n i o n , " y o u and Giancarlo
Terragente w i l l have to w o r k o n your o w n . O n e way and anorher, I ' l l be
w i r h H i s Holiness every w a k i n g hour. F r o m rhe time of the Floly Father's
Q U O V A 0 I S ? 569

f o r m a l welcome to the Cardinals t o m o r r o w night u n t i l we rerurn f r o m

Russia o n the t h i r t e e n r h , I d o n ' t plan to let h i m o u t o f my s i g h t . "
" C o n s o l e yourself, G i u s t i n o . W i t h the w a y M a e s t r o i a n n i and Palombo
and Pensabene and A u r e a t i n i have been w o r k i n g T h e i r Eminences over, it
w o u l d be a d o w n r i g h r relief t:o ger o u t o f Rome. I o n l y wish I were going
along."
" A relief for M a e s t r o i a n n i , m a y b e . " Lucadamo picked u p on G l a d -
srone's rhoughr w i t h an ugly laugh. " L i e and Palombo and the others can'r
wair ro ger rhe Pope o u t o f Rome so they can have full play w i t h the
College o f Cardinals. They have the C o m m o n M i n d Vote o f the bishops in
hand n o w to use as a w h i p . T h e y have their precious Resignation Protocol
i n i t i a l e d . W h a t else do they need? Afrer EEs Holiness deparrs, w o u l d n ' r ir
be p r o v i d e n t i a l i n their eyes if somerhing happened along the way that
w o u l d a l l o w them t o i n v o k e the Protocol i n t o law? Hey presro! The C o l -
lege o f Cardinals becomes a ready-made papal Conclave and proceeds ro
elecr a successor to the Slavic Pope. La commedia e finita!"
"Assassination?" Gladstone had been alarmed enough t o hear Gibson
A p p l e y a r d t o u c h o n that possibility. But this w a s n ' t A p p l e y a r d t a l k i n g
n o w . T h i s was the dispassionate, realistic, coolheaded, professional secu-
rity chief calculating the odds o f papal disaster. " A r e y o u ralking abour
assassination?"
" T h a t ' s m y d i f f i c u l t y , C h r i s r i a n . I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t they're p l a n n i n g . I
d o n ' t k n o w w h e n or h o w rhey intend t o carry ir o u t . But I start w i t h the
c o n v i c t i o n that this w i l l be the neatest chance t h e y ' l l ever have to be r i d o f
this H o l y Farher."
" B u r rhe w h o l e idea o f rhe C M V was ro embolden the bishops and
demoralize the H o l y Father." M o r e appalled than ever ar his o w n involve-
ment i n the scheme, Chris was searching for solid g r o u n d . " T h e plan was
ro force his resignation, n o t to murder h i m . I've learned nor ro pur any-
t h i n g past this c r o w d I ' m w o r k i n g w i t h . N o t after A l d o Carnesecca. But
we're r a l k i n g abour the Pope n o w , G i u s t i n o . A n d besides, your security o n
papal trips is always a i r t i g h t . "
" M a y b e so. A t least it's as tight as we can make i t . A l l the same, I have
this a w f u l feeling at the p i t o f m y stomach. I can practically hear G r a -
ziani's pious p r o c l a m a t i o n t o Rome and the w o r l d thar rhe Pope is dead or
resigned o r comarose, or whatever they've a r r a n g e d . "
" H i s Holiness musr be aware o f rhe possibilities, G i u s t i n o . " Chris was
grasping ar straws n o w . "1 mean, have y o u suggested p o s t p o n i n g the Rus-
sia t r i p u n t i l rhe Consisrory is over? I k n o w ir's lare, but . . . "
L u c a d a m o w a v e d the r h o u g h r aside. " H e ' s aware o f the possibilities all
righr. That's one reason w h y he's insisted that Father D a m i e n come along.
If a n y r h i n g does happen, he doesn't w a n t Slarrery t o be left here to be
eaten a l i v e . "
Gladstone heaved a grear sigh. Ir sounded t o h i m as if the Pope was
almost eager ro be gone.
 570 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

" N o . " L u c a d a m o rurned suddenly pensive. " H i s attitude has ro do w i t h

Farima. H e expects the Blessed V i r g i n ro give h i m some sign o f God's w i l l
on this pilgrimage. I ' m n o t sure w h a r rhat means. Some indication o f
Christ's w i l l f o r his pontificate, I imagine. A n d for rhe C h u r c h . Bur w h a t -
ever ir is. H i s Holiness is confident. He's t o l d me in so many w o r d s that no
matter w h a t motives anyone else may have—wharever morivared rhe gov-
e r n m e n t i n v o l v e d to i n v i t e h i m , and whatever motivates Maestroianni
and rhe others—they have all made this pilgrimage possible *in God's
providence.* Those were his w o r d s , C h r i s r i a n . i n G o d ' s p r o v i d e n c e . ' "
Absolurely speaking, Gladsrone k n e w the P o n t i f f was r i g h t . Ultimately
everything is part o f God's providence. Given recent h i s t o r y , however, he
was Troubled beyond t e l l i n g ro t h i n k w h a r H i s Holiness mighr do w i r h
whar G o d had p r o v i d e d .

O n the afternoon o f F r i d a y , M a y 5, one day shy o f the opening o f the

Consistory. C a r d i n a l Secretary Graziani p r o v i d e d each o f T h e i r Eminences
w i r h a dossier prepared by his staff. A m o n g its contents were rhree items:
A carefully rabulared reporr o n the C o m m o n M i n d Vore, bolsrered by
backup evidence and sratements f r o m rhe augusr members o f Cardinal
Graziani's ad hoc c o m m i t t e e . A photocopy o f the De Successione Papali
document, together w i r h affidavits f r o m Cardinals G r a z i a n i , Maesrroianni
and A u r e a r i n i . A n d a s u m m a r y o f H i s Holiness' srate o f healrh rhat was
w o r r i s o m e . A separare lerrer signed by rhe C a r d i n a l Secrerary o f State
emphasized that there was ro be neither public nor collegia] discussion o f
rhis marerial. T h e i r Eminences were ro feel free, however, to discuss it
privarely w i r h the " r e l e v a n t a u t h o r i t i e s . "
T h a t same evening, f r o m a c o n t r o l boorh high above rhe second-floor
amphirhearer o f rhe N e r v i H a l l of Audiences, G i u s t i n o Lucadamo and a
couple o f his t o p aides scanned the distinguished c r o w d gathering i n for
the PonrifPs address o f f o r m a l welcome. The Cardinals had all assembled
well before rhe time scheduled for H i s Holiness' a r r i v a l . So, r o o , the h i g h -
r a n k i n g officials o f all rhe Vatican Congregations and rhe heads of all rhe
Religious O r d e r s . Emissaries f r o m the A n g l i c a n and Eastern O r r h o d o x
Churches r o o k rheir o w n places in rhe semicircular rows of seats. The
expression o n a l l rhe faces appeared ro be a blend o f satisfaction and
expectation. O f particular interest to Lucadamo were rhe R o m a n officials
w h o had gathered i n Srrasbourg for rhat historic meering o f the antipapal
cabal. Patiently, he searched each of them o u t i n the c r o w d . N o t one was
missing.
" W h e r e the body i s , " G i u s t i n o muttered Christ's remark recorded in rhe
Gospels, "rhere rhe vulrures garher."

A t n i n e - t h i r t y o n rhe m o r n i n g of M a y 6, H i s Excellency A l b e r t o Vacchi-

Khouras arrived f o r an unannounced visir w i r h A b b o r Augusrin Kordecki
ar Jasna G o r a M o n a s t e r y in Czestochowa in southern Poland, l ie was
QUO VA DI S? 571

here on official business as the A p o s t o l i c N u n c i o o f Warsaw, His Excel-

lency i n f o r m e d the A b b o t , a n d he wished ro address rhe enrire c o m m u n i t y
o f m o n k s o n a marter o f u t m o s t imporrance. The A b b o r summoned rhe
Sacrisran ro his office. In r u r n , rhe Sacrisran hastened t o s u m m o n the full
c o m p l e m e n t of Pauline m o n k s . W h e n all were gathered, H i s Excellency
declared that the news he was about t o share was to be sealed w i t h the
secrecy s u r r o u n d i n g rhe Confessional.
Satisfied that all u n d e r s t o o d the severe penalties for v i o l a t i o n of confi-
d e n t i a l i t y , the Papal N u n c i o was pleased t o announce t h a t , f o l l o w i n g the
severe rigors o f his journey ro Ukraine a n d Russia, rhe H o l y Farher w o u l d
be m a k i n g a privare visir ro rhe Monasrery. To ensure seclusion, Flis H o l i -
ness and a few companions w o u l d arrive i n c o g n i t o . The suite assigned to
the P o n t i f f and six a d j o i n i n g rooms w o u l d be o f f limits to all except the
few m o n k s required ro attend the visitors' needs. The papal parry w o u l d
dine alone; a n d , w h i l e rhey w o u l d confine themselves for the most part t o
their quarters, the m o n k s were to consider certain areas o f rhe Monasrery
off l i m i t s to the c o m m u n i t y . M e n t i o n e d specifically were the Gothic
Chapel o f O u r L a d y , rhe C h u r c h o f rhe A s s u m p t i o n , the l i b r a r y and rhe
refecrory.
For the few days in question, the m o n k s w o u l d make do w i t h the
Chapel o f the Last Supper f o r rheir devotions. Should rhere be any chance
encounrers between the c o m m u n i t y members and rhe papal parry, rhe
clandestine and recuperative nature o f rhe visit was ro be respected. W h i c h
was to say, no w o r d s or c o m m u n i c a t i o n w o u l d be tolerated.
" I n f a c t " — H i s Excellency' covered the p o i n t s m o o t h l y — * 1 invite you all
to enter inro rhe reflective silence and solirude o f a rhree-day rerrear, be-
g i n n i n g o n M a y 12. A n y Television and radio sets o n rhe premises w i l l be
put under lock and key. N o m o n k w i l l leave the M o n a s t e r y , and no one
w i l l enter f r o m rhe ourside. A l l Telephone lines w i l l be disconnected for rhe
d u r a r i o n o f rhe papal visit. Ler ir be a rime o f prayer and penance, d u r i n g
w h i c h we w i l l all ask G o d t o e n d o w o u r Pope and o u r bishops w i r h a new
w i s d o m f o r a new age."
Ir was shorrly past t e n - t h i r t y w h e n , h a v i n g c o m p l i e d w i r h his instruc-
tions to the letter, Vacchi-Khouras bid farewell ro rhe A b b o r and clam-
bered i n t o his limousine for rhe 125-mile journey back ro Warsaw.
K o r d e c k i warched as rhe sleek Mercedes-Benz, flags fluttering o n its
fenders, glided d o w n the d r i v e r o w a r d rhe superhighway. C o m e M a y 12,
he and his m o n k s w o u l d have no choice bur ro lock Jasna Gora d o w n as
required. F r o m n o w u n t i l the papal party departed, he was bound to
secrecy. Nevertheless, he k n e w as a Pole w h a t no Palestinian like Vacchi-
K h o u r a s , and none of his masters ar rhe Vatican Secretariat, Would ever
learn. Deep in his bones, K o r d e c k i shared rhe bond rhat had always united
the Slavic Pope to his people. They w o u l d k n o w he was present a m o n g
t h e m . T h e y w o u l d k n o w he was i n danger. Despite the precautions and
the security, somehow rhey w o u l d k n o w .
 572 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

• J • •
Ac n i n e - t h i r t y on the m o r n i n g o f M a y 6, Chrisrian hunkered d o w n in the
a n o n y m i t y o f a small balcony arop rhe second-floor audience hall ar the
N e r v i t o w a t c h the Princes; o f his C h u r c h file i n f o r the opening of the
H o l y Father's General Consisrory.
T h o u g h they were all decked o u t in their jeweled crosses and ermine
cloaks, Gladstone was less impressed w i r h their splendor rhan w i t h their
pathetic quiescence. N o t m a n y of t h e m , he k n e w , were cur f r o m rhe same
clorh as H i s Eminence o f C e n r u r y c i t y . M o s t were p r o b a b l y more like Jay
Jay O ' C l e a r y . Bur one and a l l , rhey were key t o Maestroianni's plan t o
dismantle the C a t h o l i c t r a d i t i o n to w h i c h they belonged and to w h i c h they
o w e d their o n l y c l a i m ro ecclesial i d e n t i t y .
" B u t t e r w o u l d n ' t melt i n their m o u t h s , w o u l d i t , l a d ? " Father Damien
slipped i n t o the seat beside Gladstone.
" S l a r t e r y ! " T h a r deep voiice was rhe happiest sound Chris had heard i n
weeks. " W h e r e ' v e y o u been! You've missed a lor rhar's been going o n
around here."
The t r u t h was rhar D a m i e n hadn'r missed a n y r h i n g . H e had seen rhe
Pope ar leasr once a day for rhe pasr m o n r h u n t i l he had finished compos-
ing and e d i t i n g the t w o encyclical letters i n accordance w i r h H i s Holiness'
specifications. T h e n he had supervised the p r i n t i n g o f b o t h encyclicals in
time for the Consistory. As he was s w o r n t o m e n t i o n that w o r k ro no one,
however, he kept his a t t e n t i o n o n the scene below.
" N o w o n d e r C h r i s t is l i q u i d a t i n g this Catholic o r g a n i z a t i o n , C h r i s . "
Slartery caughr sighr o f C a r d i n a l Pensabene c h a t t i n g earnestly w i t h a
g r o u p o f prelares f r o m his o l d s t o m p i n g grounds in L a t i n America. " A n -
orher ren years under the haind o f men like that, and the destruction of rhe
C h u r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l be complere. B u t by n o w I guess w e k n o w
enough not t o be surprised. T h a t was the p l a n , after a l l . "
" P m nor s u r p r i s e d . " Gladsrone leaned f o r w a r d t o get a better view.
"Just disgusted. D i s a p p o i n t e d . Frustrated. A n d , t o be f r a n k , sometimes
disillusioned w i t h this Pope. H a l f the time I can't figure h i m at a l l . M i n d
y o u , I ' m not ready t o give u p o n h i m . He's Peter, warts and a l l . Wherever
he resides, there is the C h u r c h o f Chrisr. A n d he is Bishop o f Rome. So
here I stay, religiously and p h y s i c a l l y . "
" P m w i r h y o u in all o f rhar, C h r i s t i a n . " D a m i e n lowered his voice to a
whisper as the amphitheater fell i n t o silence. " A n d yet, w e ' d be fools not
t o k n o w that we're l o o k i n g d o w n on the sclerotic backbone o f an ecclesi-
astical o r g a n i z a t i o n that doesn't serve G o d f a i t h f u l l y , and doesn't serve
man e f f i c i e n r l y . "
Ar exacrly ren o ' c l o c k , the Slavic Pope a r r i v e d . H e w a l k e d slowly bur
firmly ro his place as presider over the assembly. I n gestures rhar had
become f a m i l i a r ro mosr of the w o r l d , he saluted all the Eminent Cardinals
and a l l the eminent guests w i t h a wave o f his r i g h t hand and a smiling
face. W i t h his left h a n d , he l i g h r l y rouched rhe pectoral cross suspended o n
Q U O V A I) I S ? 573

its gold chain. Every movemenr showed the unmisrakable picrure of good
healrh, of confidence and of welcome. His Holiness opened rhe Consisrory
by inviring all to rise and join wirh him in recking the verses of a prayer ro
the Holy Spirit, the Vent, Sancte Spiritus. Then Monsignore Sadowski laid
a manila folder on the lectern in front of the Pontiff.
"Venerable Brorhers." The Holy Farher turned rhe cover of rhe folder.
" I have three documenrs ro presenr ro you for consideration. The firsr rwo
are letters of insrrucrion for the Church Universal. The third conrains a
canonical modification of existing Church legislation regulating rhe pa-
pacy . . Wirh those words as preamble. His Holiness proceeded to
rurn his address to this firsr session of rhe General Consisrory into a stun-
ning blow to the egos of many Cardinals, and a surprise to all.
He began with the letter declaring rhe Church's bans on conrraception,
homosexual activity and all forms of Satanist observance to be infallible
teachings; violation would entail the pain of automatic excommunication.
Then he went on to the second letter, which declared it to be a dogma of
Roman Catholic faith that all supernatural aid from God—in the tradi-
tional language of the Church, all divine grace—came through a special
function granted ro the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of Christ. She
was, therefore, to be revered as Mediatrix of All Graces.
The texts of these two ex cathedra lerrers were nor yer definitive. His
Holiness told their Eminences. Fie was confiding rhe documents to them
now so that during his absence of five days in the Eastern lands of Europe,
rhey could study them, discuss them, critique them and improve them.
With their collaboration, he hoped to promulgate both encyclicals offi-
cially soon after his return ro Rome on May 13.
The Holy Farher spenr a shorter time on the Resignation Prorocol in irs
definitive form. He had initialed the De Successione Papali document, he
explained, for one purpose only. To allay rhe filial fears of so many of his
Venerable Brothers that the Church might be left suddenly without an
elected head capable of governance. According to its terms, that agree-
ment between himself and his Cardinals was limited to a one-time, one-
case application. But that document, too, if rightly studied by Their Emi-
nences, mighr give them solace from their worries and food for serious
reflection during his absence.
" N o w , my Venerable Brothers . .
Those were the last words Gladsrone heard of rhe papal address. One of
Giustino Lucadamo's aides bad made his way up to the balcony and, at
that precise moment, touched him on the shoulder. "There's a crisis, Mon-
signore. Come."
 574 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

L
" W E D O N ' T K N O W , C h r i s . Declan may be dead. They all may be dead
by n o w . We d o n ' t k n o w ! "
Paul's son dead? T h a t v i b r a n t , bright-eyed, i n q u i s i t i v e , beloved boy
taken at the very t h r e s h o l d o f his life? W i t h i n minutes of his brother's
anguished call f r o m B e l g i u m , Gladsrone was o n the way to the a i r p o r t in a
helicopter musrered for h i m by G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o . T h a n k s to L u -
cadamo, t o o , A l i t a l i a held its flight to Brussels " f o r compassionate reasons
i n v o l v i n g a distinguished member o f the Eloly See"; and the mere m e n t i o n
of Paul Gladstone's name as Secretary-General o f rhe EC was enough for
N A T O to h o l d a helicopter ar the ready at the Brussels a i r p o r t to rush
C h r i s t i a n t o the site of the accident. The w h o l e o f that w i l d dash f r o m the
Vatican helipad to the D a n i e l l e cave c o m p l e x c o u l d n ' t have taken more
t h a n f o u r hours. Bur it was an eternity f o r C h r i s , t o r n by the threat of
death to his nephew in Belgium and by equally dire rhrears ro his Pope and
to the papacy itself in R o m e . Finally, t h o u g h , he was able to c o n t r o l his
emotions and force his m i n d to w o r k .
Ir had taken a few seconds to calm his brorher enough ro get the essen-
tials. I n b r o k e n sentences Paul t o l d h o w Deckel had been one o f a g r o u p o f
y o u n g spelunkers chosen f o r a three-day foray i n t o the Grearer Danielle.
" H o w c o u l d we say n o ? " Paul was on the verge o f breaking d o w n . Declan
had been so excited, and e v e r y t h i n g had been so carefully planned. T h e i r
leader was an experienced guide. Radio conract w o u l d be maintained w i t h
an a b o v e g r o u n d c o n t r o l center. The party w o u l d check in on an h o u r l y
schedule. The g r o u p had entered the Lesser Danielle o n M a y 1 . They
passed inro the Greater Danielle o n M a y 2. E v e r y t h i n g was fine. Then o n
M a y 3, w h e n they were ready t o start back t h r o u g h the caverns, a tremor
had been felt a b o v e g r o u n d and all contact w i t h the spelunkers had been
lost. A search parry had gone d o w n . W i t h i n a couple o f hours rhey had
radioed rhe worsr possible message. A cave-in!
Paul and Yusai had spenr the next t w o days at the surface entrance o f
the Danielle c o m p l e x . T h e Royal Belgian Society o f Speleologues had sent
a series o f teams t o w o r k in relays at the dangerous j o b o f t u n n e l i n g
t h r o u g h the debris. But by the time Paul had made his c a l l , hope was
fading and there was whispered talk o f death.
Once o n the g r o u n d i n Belgium, Chris had rhe feeling o f m o v i n g
t h r o u g h a l u g u b r i o u s b l a c k - a n d - w h i t e dream sequence. The N A T O heli-
copter rhat t o o k h i m to the cave site sped over a countryside sodden w i r h
a steady drizzle o f r a i n . Paul and Yusai were pale and n u m b w i t h grief.
QUO V A D 1S ? 575

T h e experts w h o briefed C h r i s t i a n poured o u t a flood o f d i z z y i n g technical

i n f o r m a t i o n . But when they t o o k h i m below to get a more precise idea of
the s i t u a t i o n , all the b u z z w o r d s came d o w n to hard reality. The seismic
disturbances were c o n t i n u i n g . C o n d i t i o n s b e l o w g r o u n d were deteriorat¬
ing. I t was dangerous ro venture even inro the Lesser Danielle. N o one
c o u l d tell w h a t things were l i k e , or m i g h t happen next, in the badly desta-
bilized p o r t i o n of the Greater Danielle they were t r y i n g t o reach. There
was discussion o f suspending the rescue operation lest lives be lost in the
effort.
T o w a r d m i d n i g h t , the official i n charge advised the Gladstones to go
home to Deurle for a few h o u r s o f resr. " W e ' l l keep at it for as long as we
possibly c a n , " he assured t h e m . " I t ' s a short ride by helicopter, and we'll
call at the slightest hint o f a b r e a k t h r o u g h . " Drenched by the misty r a i n ,
all three rerurned t o G u i d o h u i s , where H a n n a h D o w d and Maggie
M u l v a h i l l , half sick w i t h w o r r y themselves, waited up for any scrap of
news. By the t i m e they had changed i n t o dry cloches, there was some hor
soup o n the stove and a log fire blazing in rhe l i v i n g r o o m . Ir w o u l d , they
k n e w , be a sleepless night f o r everyone.
Yusai said very little. Chris felt there was a certain touch o f fatalism in
her reactions; but whatever her mind-ser, her suffering was matched only
by her self-control. She invented little tasks to busy herself for a while
u n t i l , overcome w i t h physical! e x h a u s t i o n , she curled u p in a chair across
the r o o m in silent i s o l a t i o n .
N o t so Paul. Once they were h o m e , he w a n t e d to t a l k . A t first he rattled
o n to his brother about the o d d s that Declan and the others m i g h t still be
alive. H e k n e w they had taken plenty of water, he said a dozen times. By
n o w , t h o u g h , they were p r o b a b l y o u t of f o o d . But w h a t about air? A n d
w h a t if they hadn't merely been trapped by rhe cave-in? W h a r i f they had
been buried by it? " A h , G o d i n H e a v e n ! " Paul's nerves were w e a r i n g r h i n .
" 1 hate t h i n k i n g w h a t i f ! Tell m e , Chris. W h y can't the good L o r d just save
my son w i t h o u t any ifs, ands or buts? W h a t ' s my little Deckel done to
deserve such an a w f u l death i n the d a r k and c o l d and muck o f rhar place?"
W h a t indeed, C h r i s r i a n r h o u g h r . H e k n e w Paul wasn't contending w i t h
G o d so much as he was t r y i n g to understand a very o l d mystery—the
reason for h u m a n suffering. * i d o n ' r chink it's a question of w h a t Deckel
deserves, P a u l . " Chrisrian gave rhe o n l y answer he c o u l d . " C h r i s t is i n n o -
cent, t o o . H e is innocence, i n fact. Innocence incarnate. But H e suffered
precisely ro take y o u r sins a n d my sins and all o u r sins o n H i m s e l f as
God's S o n . "
" A t o n e m e n t ? " Paul groaned and ran his hands t h r o u g h his hair. " I
can't imagine the good G o d t a k i n g his anger or displeasure o u t o n a little
child because o f the sins o f his: elders. I k n o w I ' m n o t a first-class Catholic,
but I've done m y best in d i f f i c u l t circumsrances. . . . N o , by G o d ! "
Sparks flew and flames danced high as Paul shot o u t of his chair and
 576 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

kicked the logs i n the fireplace. ' T h e r e isn't r o o m tor lies like char any-
more.
" G o d k n o w s I love my son. He's the pride and joy o f my life. I ' d d o
a n y r h i n g to save h i m . So w o u l d Y u s a i . " H e l o o k e d at his w i f e , w h o stared
back ar h i m , srarrled by his o u t b u r s t . " A n d G o d k n o w s I've given my boy
every material a d v a n t a g e . " Paul sat d o w n beside his older brother again.
" I ' v e done m y besr to prepare h i m t o live i n a w o r l d t h a t w i l l be different
t h a n a n y t h i n g that's come before. I've even done m y best to have a part in
shaping that w o r l d . T h a t ' s w h y my acceptance i n t o the G r a n d Lodge o f
Israel was so i m p o r t a n t . Remember, Chris? I rold y o u about that. A b o u t
Jerusalem and A m i n a d a b a n d feeling so close ro G o d and m y fellow man
up there o n t h a t m o u n t a i n t o p . But my boy hasn't ended up o n a m o u n -
t a i n t o p , has he? He's d o w n in that freezing, rotten h o l e ! "
Tears coursed d o w n Paul's face. " I w o n d e r if you can understand h o w
righr t h a t m o m e n t seemed up there at A m i n a d a b . So splendid w i t h p r o m -
ise. T h e n , after that, the firsr r w o oaths were so easy—the Entered A p p r e n -
tice Degree and the F e l l o w c r a f t Degree. So easy; so r e w a r d i n g . The T h i r d
O a t h was o k a y , t o o . I t made me a Master M a s o n , after a l l ; opened all the
doors. But that one cost me something special. A n d it cost Declan and
Yusai something special, t o o . A n d do y o u k n o w why? For rhe simple
reason that t a k i n g that o a t h was like c u t t i n g a r i b b o n w i t h scissors. Ir was
like k i l l i n g something inside me; something that had always been a part o f
o u r f a m i l y and o u r lives ar W i n d s w e p r House.
" T h a t was o k a y , I t h o u g h t . Just old-fashioned, o u t w o r n nonsense. Let it
go. A n d that's exactly w h a t I d i d . Even here, right n o w , I've reckoned the
odds o f life and death for my son in terms o f air and water and f o o d . "
" H a v e y o u , Paul?" Christian's voice was as soft as the firelight. "Have
y o u let it all g o ? "
H o w strange, Paul t h o u g h t , rhar such a l o v i n g question f r o m his brother
should h i t h i m like a sharp b l o w . " Y e s . " Fie had t o answer t r u t h f u l l y ; but
he had to be clear a b o u t i t . " I t ' s not me Pm t h i n k i n g a b o u t , Chris. It's
Declan. It's w h a t I never even t h o u g h t to give h i m . A l l the things you and
Tricia and I breathed i n l i k e the air at W i n d s w e p t House. I've left h i m
w i t h o u t t h a t innocent, t r u s t i n g sense o f God's omnipotence. O f His love.
O f H i s miracles. I never even taught h i m t o pray. I've left h i m w i t h o u t any
defenses d o w n there in the Danielle. Can you believe that?
"So maybe you're right after a l l , C h r i s . M a y b e G o d p u t this child of
ours i n t o o u r hands—Yusai's and m i n e — s a y i n g . T h i s is your g i f t f r o m
M e ; take g o o d care o f h i m . ' A n d maybe n o w G o d is saying, I f you can't4

do any better than t h a t , I've decided to take h i m f r o m y o u . ' " Stripped of

all his o w n defenses, Paul was reduced t o naked agony. " T e l l me! W h a t
a m I t o do? I ' d w i l l i n g l y die to save little Deckel, i f that's w h a t G o d wants.
Is t h a t w h a t i t takes, Chris? W o u l d rhar placate this G o d W h o n o w seems
to be t a k i n g H i s g i f t o f a son? W h a t does H e w a n t o f me? Tell m e ! "
C h r i s t i a n had heard e n o u g h . M a y b e he c o u l d n ' r do a n y r h i n g t o help
QUO VAD I S? 577

Declan. But he w o u l d n ' t stand by and let his brother cut himself ro shreds
w i r h helpless grief or be seared ro rhe bone by anger and self-pity, " H a v e
y o u been listening to yourself, Paul? Have y o u been Iisrening to the ques-
tions you've asked me? W h y is G o d w i t h d r a w i n g H i s g i f t , you ask? W e l l ,
try t u r n i n g that question a r o u n d . Tell me, Paul. W h y should G o d leave
H i s g i f t w i t h you? You t o o k the g i f t , and forgor the Giver. W h a r i n
Heaven's name have y o u done for G o d excepr spic i n H i s face?
" Y o u ask w h a t G o d w a n t s o f you? I have no i n f a l l i b l e answers; no
special c o m m u n i q u e s f r o m o n h i g h ; no p r e m o n i t i o n s o f things to come,
the w a y M o t h e r has. But I can answer rhis one. You've been clever in
b a r g a i n i n g w i r h M a m m o n . Clever enough to deal y o u r way righr i n t o
m o r t a l sin. So n o w , t r y d o i n f ; whar C h r i s t said. You d o n ' t have to be half
so clever i n bargaining w i t h G o d . You d o n ' t even have to go to A m i n a d a b
to strike a deal w i t h H i m . Tell H i m w h a t you w a n t , and w h a t y o u ' l l do to
get i t . Give back your soul t o G o d , and H e may w e l l give back His g i f t to
you!"
" P a u l ? " Yusai was always the firsr ro a d m i t t h a t she'd become a C a t h o -
lic w i t h o u t learning m u c h a b o u t C h r i s t i a n i t y . But w h a t Chris was saying
n o w was simple to understand. " P a u l ? " she called a second t i m e . B u t i t
was her eyes rhar d r e w her husband t o kneel by her side and take her in his
arms. Those eyes, glisrening w i t h tears o f helpless d i g n i t y unmatched in
the w h o l e o f God's universe. Those eyes, glistening w i t h the tears o f Ra-
chel.
So they remained, those three, silent i n s o r r o w and hope, unril rhe genrle
but insistent r i n g i n g of the telephone invaded that sacred m o m e n t .
"Say a g a i n ? " Chrisrian was nearesr the phone, and answered i t . " W h a t
was the n a m e ? "
"Regice Bernard, M o n s i g n o r e . G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o phoned me. Pm an
o l d friend o f his uncle. H e r o l d me a b o u t the boy trapped in the Danielle
cave-in. Have they f o u n d h i m yet?"

It was like G o d , Chris decided, to send a huge o x o f a W a l l o o n like Regice

Bernard t h u n d e r i n g i n o n his c o m p a n y helicopter as a signal t h a t He was
ready t o deal if Paul was.
Bernard was all business—crisp, o r d e r l y and r a r i n g t o go. He c o u l d see
that Paul and Yusai were in no c o n d i t i o n to make clear decisions. So he
d r e w Chris i n r o the study a n d explained as briefly as possible w h a t Gius-
t i n o already k n e w , and w h y he had called. A hale and hearty seventy-
s o m e t h i n g n o w , he ran his o w n heavy consrrucrion outfir in his narive
Liege. Back w h e n the Germans had invaded Belgium in 1940, he had been
a s t r a p p i n g lad i n his reens. N a r u r a l l y , he had taken ro rhe w o o d s and the
Ardennes foresr w i t h rhe m a q u i s . A n d because the n e t w o r k o f under-
g r o u n d tunnels and caverns h o n e y c o m b i n g certain parts o f his native
c o u n t r y had been indispensable f o r h i m and his f e l l o w partisans, he k n e w
b o t h rhe Lesser and Greater Sectors o f the Danielle complex like the back
 578 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

o f his h a n d . M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , he k n e w sections o f the Greater Danielle

that remained u n m a p p e d . A n d o n t o p o f t h a t , he k n e w another w a y inro
rhe maze; a second entrance some three miles f r o m rhe k n o w n enrrance
rhrough rhe Lesser Danielle, ' i n l a c t , " he rold C h r i s , " I k n o w ways in a n d
our and a r o u n d those caverns t h a t w o u l d make those speleologues r u n -
n i n g the rescue o p e r a r i o n sick w i r h envy. Thar's w h y G i u s t i n o called me.
I ' m n o t saying w e ' l l find the boy alive, M o n s i g n o r e . There's n o guarantee
abour that. But i f there's a n y w a y at all t o get t o h i m , I k n o w I can find i t .
So, if y o u ' r e game . . . "
" P m game, M r . B e r n a r d ! " Chris k n e w rhe sound o f hope w h e n he heard
ir. " A n d I ' m graceful. Let's put a call t h r o u g h t o the rescue ream. I guaran-
tee they'll cooperate. T h e n give me a m i n u t e to e x p l a i n the situation ro m y
brorher a n d his w i f e . "
The next half h o u r was helter-skelrer. Regice Bernard d i d n ' t so much
plead his case w i t h the Danielle crew chief as bark o u t a series o f n o -
nonsense p r e p a r a t o r y instructions. Yusai, alive w i t h hope again, r a n t o tell
H a n n a h a n d M a g g i e the news a n d then rushed t o t h r o w o n some w a r m
c l o r h i n g . Paul, r o o nervous; ro srand s t i l l , asked his brother to w a i t outside
w i t h h i m . " I suppose it's n o t usual, C h r i s , t o hear a confession s r r o l l i n g o n
rhe grass." Paul paced back and f o r t h beside Bernard's helicoprer, perched
near rhe o r c h a r d . " 1 d o n ' t even k n o w i f y o u have the necessary Confes-
sional faculries. I mean, I remember f r o m m y seminary days t h a t there are
certain sins t h a t n o t every priest is authorized t o forgive . . . "
" N o . " C h r i s r i a n p u t a sirop t o the w a f f l i n g . " I t ' s n o t usual. A n d it's n o t
usual f o r brorher ro absolve brother. Bur I d o have the necessary faculties,
and all things are a l l o w e d i n case o f necessity."
In the t i m e i t t o o k for silver-gray srreaks o f lighr ro pierce rhe clouds
along rhe easrern h o r i z o n o n rhar Sunday m o r n i n g o f M a y 7, G o d chose ro
collect H i s end o f the b a r g a i n w i t h Paul Gladstone. Solemn-faced and still
fearful f o r his s o n , the p r o d i g a l sratesman made his firsr v a l i d confession
in fifreen years. H e asked t o be cleansed o f sins that had culminated at
A m i n a d a b i n his r e n u n c i a t i o n o f Christ's Salvation i n favor o f p r i d e f u l ,
a m b i t i o u s dedication t o the k i n g d o m o f this w o r l d . In view of his deep
g u i l t , he asked f o r severe penance. A n d i n v i e w o f Christ's personal p r o m -
ise o f patience a n d endless mercy, he asked t o be given p a r d o n a n d peace
in rhe a b s o l u t i o n o f his offenses.
C h r i s t i a n c o m p l i e d w i t h the first request i n terms both men k n e w m i g h t
arresr Paul i n rhe u p w a r d spiral o f his career. H e had just complied w i t h
the second w h e n , w i t h Yusai scurrying gamely by his side, Regice Bernard
came s r r i d i n g t o w a r d rhe o r c h a r d . C h r i s exchanged a few quick w o r d s o f
e x p l a n a t i o n a n d a hasty bear h u g w i t h his brother. Then Paul rurned t o
help Yusai i n t o the helicopter a n d clambered i n beside her.
" Y o u w o n ' t be c o m i n g , M o n s i g n o r e ? " The s t r a p p i n g Belgian clasped
the hand his n e w y o u n g f r i e n d held o u r ro h i m i n farewell a n d heartfelt
thanks.
Q U O V A n 1s ? 579

"Whatever happens in rhose caves, M r . Bernard, I o w e y o u a debr 1 can

never repay. But there's more t h a n one life-or-dearh situation being played
o u t at this m o m e n t . I've d o n e everyrhing I can here. It's t i m e for me ro get
back to R o m e . "

H a d C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i been a believer, he w o u l d have rhoughr ir the

h a n d of G o d thar the Slavic Pope had caved in one more time and named
h i m ro the office of Camerlemgo. As ir was, he chalked ir up ro rhe tide of
h i s t o r y , ro his o w n prowess at b a r g a i n i n g and to the Pontiff's desire for
peace at all costs. But any w a y you sliced i t , as papal C h a m b e r l a i n , H i s
Eminence w o u l d h o l d all necessary a u t h o r i t y t o govern d u r i n g rhe crucial
days o f rhe H o l y Father's Russia r r i p .
Neverrheless, even w i r h rhe smell of v i c t o r y rising in rhe a i r , Maestro-
i a n n i k n e w better than to resi: conrenr. H e was up hours before d a w n thar
Sunday ro recap the risks and alrernarives he and his colleagues w o u l d face
over rhe nexr seven days. By seven o'clock he was ready to conduct a final
r u n - t h r o u g h w i t h the key members of the ad hoc committee at his pent-
house a p a r t m e n t . W i t h thar same sense of v i c t o r } ' t o fire his soul, Maesrro-
ianni's perpetual associare. C a r d i n a l Silvio A u r e a r i n i , was the firsr to ar-
rive. Bur rhe orhers piled in close o n his heels—Leo Pensabene, C a r d i n a l
Prefect o f the Congregation o f Bishops; N o a h Palombo, d i r e c t o r o f the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o u n c i l f o r C h r i s t i a n L i r u r g y ; C a r d i n a l Secretary of State
Giacomo Graziani.
T h e firsr order o f business was ro be sure all five men were clear o n the
plans and contingencies. F u l l y aware of every detail of the Slavic Pope's
itinerary f r o m the time of his deparrure the next day u n t i l his scheduled
return o n M a y 13, rhey had every reason ro expecr rhar H i s Holiness
w o u l d fall prey ro an occurrence of bad health. " O r at leasr," as Pensa-
bene added gracefully, " t o force majeure and the play of circumstance."
"Speaking of force m a j e u r e . " M a e s t r o i a n n i turned to the Secretary o f
Srate. " M a y we take i t that M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k has been t h o r o u g h l y
briefed?"
" T h o r o u g h l y , Eminence. I mer w i t h h i m and D r . Fanarore yesrerday
a f r e r n o o n . " Graziani was f u l l o f confident self-adulation as he reviewed
that conversation f o r his c o m p a n i o n s .
M i c h a l i k himself was a k n o w n q u a n t i t y t o everyone listening to the
Secrerary. A m i n o r bur egotistical Secrerariat o f Srate bureaucrat, he was a
t a l l , angular Italian of Polish e x t r a c t i o n , fluent in Polish and blessed w i t h
the eyes of a lynx f o r details. T h e M o n s i g n o r e had b u i l t his career o n an
almosr fanatic a t t e n t i o n ro d e r a i l . As expecred, he had taken ir as his due
rhar he should be assigned t o travel w i t h the Pope as a member of his
personal enrourage. O r , ro be precise, as whar a m o u n t e d to Graziani's
personal w a t c h d o g .
D r . Fanarore had been less c o m p l i a n t , o f course. Graziani recounted the
papal physician's disbelief as he was t o l d not o n l y that he was t o reporr
 580 VP I N D S W F. P T H O USF

even the slightest v a r i a t i o n o f His Holiness' physical c o n d i t i o n to M o n s i -

gnore M i c h a l i k but that a l l decisions in that area were ro be made by the
M o n s i g n o r e . Fanarote had been wise enough t o confine his objections to
professional grounds. Fie could n o t discuss a n y t h i n g t o u c h i n g o n His
Holiness' health w i t h any t h i i d parry, he said, unless the H o l y Father
himself should give permission.
U n r u f f l e d by Fanarote's i n d i g n a t i o n , Graziani had made the sedate o b -
servation that such an e x t r a o r d i n a r y man as H i s Holiness w o u l d surely
undersrand i f the good d o c t o r m i g h t n o t be up to the rigors o f this most
e x t r a o r d i n a r y o f H i s Holiness journeys. Faced w i t h Hobson's choice—to
4

obey G r a z i a n i o r abandon his Pope—Fanarote had declared himself ro be

H i s Holiness* servant. U n d e r s t a n d i n g o n every detail had been q u i c k l y
achieved after t h a t .
" W e l l done, Eminence.''' M a e s t r o i a n n i was indeed satisfied.
There f o l l o w e d an equally satisfactory review o f the reporr f r o m H i s
Excellency A l b e r t o Vaccbi-Khouras, Aposrolic N u n c i o o f Warsaw, con-
cerning rhe arrangements w i t h A b b o t K o r d e c k i at Czestochowa. A l l was
in readiness there. T h a t left o n l y t w o m a j o r if less troublesome items o f
business t o review: the management o f the Cardinals d u r i n g the Pontiff's
absence and the management o f public o p i n i o n u n t i l a resolution o f the
uncertainty over the Pontiff's welfare was achieved.
As Camerlengo, M a e s t r o i a n n i himself w o u l d p r o v i d e direction to the
Cardinals in their discussions and deliberations. W h i l e the p r i n c i p a l preoc-
c u p a t i o n of the Consistory w o u l d ostensibly center o n the t w o encyclical
letters proposed by rhe Slavic Pope, the reality o f p o w e r play w o u l d dic-
tate a d i f f e r e n t agenda devoted t o an assessment o f the C o m m o n M i n d
Vote, and the consequences to be d r a w n f o r the future o f the R o m a n
papacy. As to public o p i n i o n , C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i had arranged for a press
conference t o be held at 5 P.M. each day o f the papal pilgrimage. H e had
put A r c h b i s h o p B u t t a f u o c o i n charge o f t h a t i m p o r t a n t chore. I t w o u l d be
his j o b t o give o u t news bulletins a b o u t the Floly Father's journey and to
dispense prepared statements about the pious proceedings o f the Consis-
tory.
C a r d i n a l Camerlengo C o s i m o M a e s r r o i a n n i adjourned the meeting in
plenty o f t i m e t o n o t i f y each o f his counterparts abroad o f rhe i m p e n d i n g
disposition o f the Slavic Pope due to health. He placed a call firsr to retired
C a r d i n a l Svensen, w h o h a d returned to Belgium, then to Cyrus Benthoek,
w h o had returned t o his headquarters i n L o n d o n , and last t o D r . Ralph
C h a n n i n g in N e w Y o r k C i r y . T h a t , M a e s t r o i a n n i k n e w , was sufficient. By
the t i m e the Shoah Conceirt got under w a y this evening, the full n e t w o r k
o f friends and allies in this grave u n d e r t a k i n g w o u l d be alerted.

Once back at the A n g e l i c u m , C h r i s t i a n f o u n d a message w a i t i n g f o r h i m

f r o m D a m i e n Slattery. But: his firsr call was ro W i n d s w e p t House.
" Y o u m a r k m y w o r d s , Chris G l a d s t o n e ! " Cessi t o o k the news a b o u t
QUO VADIS? 581

Deckel in the grand manner that always irritated her enemies and made
her friends smile. " M y grandson is not destined to perish i n the bowels o f
some dank u n d e r g r o u n d c a v e r n ! "
" N o t if Regice Bernard has any say," Chrisrian agreed. " H I ler y o u
k n o w rhe m i n u t e I hear a n y r h i n g . We need a lor o f miracles righr n o w ,
M o t h e r , so keep p r a y i n g . A n d T r i c i a , r o o . She has a special pipeline ro
Heaven!"
Gladsrone was abour to r e t u r n Slattery's call w h e n his friend rang f r o m
the Casa del Clero and saved h i m rhe t r o u b l e . H e asked f o r news a b o u t
the search for Declan, bur p u t o f f Chris's questions abour developments in
R o m e . " F i r s r rhings firsr, l a d . L u c a d a m o has been h o p i n g y o u ' d ger back
in rime f o r a final briefing before rhe Russia t r i p . A n d I've got a m o u n t a i n
o f w o r k to get t h r o u g h before I leave w i r h rhe Pontiff t o m o r r o w . M a y b e
I ' l l catch u p w i t h y o u and G i u s t i n o t o n i g h t after rhe Shoah C o n c e r r . "

L i k e the crisis call f r o m his brorher and his descent i n t o the Danielle
caverns, rhe Shoah M e m o r i a l Concert developed i n t o a nightmare experi-
ence f o r C h r i s t i a n .
W h e n the Slavic Pope stepped t h r o u g h the eastern enrrance ro N e r v i
H a l l , all Gladsrone c o u l d see was the ocean of faces thar followed rhe
P o n t i f f ' s advance a l o n g rhe red-carpeted aisle that sloped gently d o w n to
rhe stage. Five thousand men and w o m e n rose to their feet in solemn,
u n s m i l i n g respect and greeting.
Ar a cerrain m o m e n t , H i s Holiness came i n t o clear v i e w , flanked by
Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff of Rome and Italian President Oscar Luigi
Scalfaro. T h a r scene—rhe s l o p i n g floor and the u n d u l a t i n g ceiling of the
H a l l t h a t s w a l l o w e d the P o n t i f f and his guests like a gigantic m a w , just as
i t had s w a l l o w e d Chrisrian a n d the thousands a r o u n d h i m as t h o u g h they
were f e w — w a s a sight C h r i s t i a n w o u l d never forger. He watched the three
leaders approach rhe far end of the aisle, where the tapers o f an oursized
M e n o r a h candelabrum had been l i t by six Holocaust survivors in living
m e m o r y o f six m i l l i o n Jews w h o had perished so h o r r i b l y in the N a z i Final
S o l u t i o n . H e watched as Pope, Rabbi and President settled i n t o a t r i o of
thrones, symbols of the equal religious dignity of the three presiders and of
the people they represented. H e listened as the Royal L o n d o n Philhar-
m o n i c Orchestra launched gently i n t o M a x Bruch's variations o n Kol
Nidre, the most significant prayer said o n rhe holiesr day of the Jewish
calendar, Y o m K i p p u r .
Perhaps it was that wordless performance. Perhaps it was Lynn H a r -
relPs t h r o a t y cello c a l l i n g o u t i n lament for rhose m i l l i o n s whose voices
had been cur o f f i n cruel d e a t h . Perhaps it was rhe t h o u g h t of Declan
trapped i n the d a r k caverns of the Danielle. Perhaps ir was o n l y fatigue.
But C h r i s t i a n f o u n d himself transfixed by Pericle Fezzini's enormous
bronze sculprure—the largest i n the w o r l d , he'd been t o l d — s p l a y e d across
rhe back of rhe N e r v i ' s srage. H e c o u l d n ' r take his eyes o f f that sculpture.
 582 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Its naked figure leaned f o r w a r d as if t o snatch everyrhing u p in irs zareba

o f branchlike arms and fingers and indiscriminate masses of bronze, irre-
sistible i n their flailing a n d rising, reaching and p o i n r i n g . Ir seemed rhe
perfect symbol o f Shoah. T h e perfect s y m b o l o f h u m a n life, always on the
edge o f chaos and d e s t r u c t i o n .
Chris forced his eyes a w a y f r o m rhe gianr bronze. A w a y f r o m rhe srage.
A w a y f r o m the Pope and the lighted M e n o r a h . But there was n o t h i n g to
see. Aside f r o m thar M e n o r a h , there was n o t h i n g t h a t was Jewish or C a t h -
olic or C h r i s r i a n or h u m a n here. Certainly rhere was n o r h i n g rhar was
t r a d i t i o n a l l y R o m a n . N o frescoes resrifying to the faith o f patrons. N o
statues o f the Angels o r the Saints. N o cornice carvings o f fleshly pittti or
cherubic ignudi. N o o i l canvases rhat spoke o f Christ or the V i r g i n
M o r h e r , o f life o r dearh, o f Heaven or H e l l or the Last Judgment. O n l y
r w o o v a l o i d srained-glass w i n d o w s , one i n each long w a l l , stared back ar
h i m like fish eyes.

Lare that Sunday evening, after the c r o w d s had dispersed and the Vati-
can's doors and gates were closed for the n i g h t , Chris made his solitary
w a y t o w a r d yet another restaurant for yet another secrer meering w i t h
Giustino Lucadamo.
The Shoah Concerr h a d n ' t been so b a d , he told himself. By and large, i n
facr, rhe evening had been filled w i r h exquisite gestures and symbols and
music. Surely it had been the righr t h i n g — t h e C h r i s t - l i k e r h i n g — f o r rhe
Pope ro embrace everyone, rhe living and the dead, in w o r d s and a spirit
that spoke o f b r o t h e r h o o d and h a r m o n y . Still, the N e r v i was such a p r o -
rean place—so t e l l u r i c , so o f this e a r t h — t h a t Chris w o u l d have preferred a
l o n g and p r a y e r f u l time in the chapel at the A n g e l i c u m instead of another
late-night briefing w i t h the Vatican security chief.
It was o n l y w h e n he reached the restaurant L u c a d a m o had chosen for
their meeting that Chris realized he had been there before, back w h e n he
and Farher A l d o had strolled rhe srreets o f Rome together. He had just
settled in at a q u i e t corner rable and ordered a beer w h e n G i u s r i n o a r r i v e d ,
accompanied by a famished D a m i e n Slarrery. " L i k e y o u , Chris me b o y , "
D a m i e n said by w a y o f greeting, " w e ' r e all learning ro do w i t h o u t much
sleep. But i t feels like a h u n d r e d years since I had a decent m e a l . "
W h i l e his t w o c o m p a n i o n s ate, Chris gave a full account o f the Danielle
s i t u a t i o n , and thanked L u c a d a m o f o r h a v i n g enlisred Regice Bernard in
the rescue a t t e m p t . But he w a n t e d to talk about Rome.
Slattery was q u i c k ro oblige w i r h rhe essentials. " O n c e he laid those t w o
encyclicals o n T h e i r Eminences," he recounred, " a n d once he rurned the
Resignation Protocol i n t o a matter o f conscience, H i s Holiness invited the
Cardinals to t w o events. Fie asked them all t o attend tonight's Shoah
Concerr, o f course. A n d t h e n he announced a farewell address to those
Venerable Brorhers and rhe general public t o m o r r o w ar St. Peter's. It's to
Q U O V A D I S ? 583

be at nine A . M . , immediately before his d e p a r t u r e — o u r d e p a r t u r e — t o the

East.
" Y o u can imagine h o w w e l l that m u c h sat w i t h the C a r d i n a l s , " Slattery
c h o r t l e d . "Especially the t w o encyclicals. But the H o l y Eather wasn't done
yet. In that c o o l , o f f h a n d m a n n e r o f his, he went o n t o m.ike a final
statement that nearly k n o c k e d me senseless. I remember every w o r d , and
you w i l l t o o , C h r i s .
" 'Upon my return to Rome on May 13/ he said, 'and before Your
Eminences leave for your home dioceses this month, we will as the College
of Cardinals, plan the interpretation of all official documents of the Sec-
ond Vatican Council in order to bring them into Hue with the traditional
teaching of the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church/
" T h e Cardinals were lireirally d u m b w i r h shock. A n d so was I . You
c o u l d have heard a p i n d r o p on a velvet c u s h i o n . "
For a m i n u t e , Gladstone, t o o , was d u m b w i t h shock. Certainly an align-
m e n t o f Vatican I I documenrs was l o n g overdue. Bur for the Slavic Pope ro
c o u n r himself as part of rhe College o f Cardinals was yer anorher self-
inflicted b l o w t o his papal independence and supremacy " I t compounds
the w h o l e p r o b l e m o f his p o n t i f i c a t e , " Christian fumed.
G i u s t i n o Lucadamo lost patience w i t h the pair of t h e m . The security
chief was w o r r i e d abour rhe Pope's independence and supremacy, r o o , he
said. But n o t for the same reasons. H e srill had rhar a w f u l certainry t h a t
somewhere along the w a y o f the papal pilgrimage, rhe Resignation Proro-
col w o u l d be i n v o k e d ; bur he srill d i d n ' r k n o w h o w ir w o u l d be done.
T h a r , in fact, was w h y he h a d w a n t e d ro see C h r i s r i a n . "Farher Damien
a n d I and rhe rest o f the p a p a l party w i l l leave for F i u m i c i n o A i r p o r r
t o m o r r o w , immediately f o l l o w i n g the H o l y Father's address i n St. Peter's.
Once we're on rhar plane ro Kiev, everyrhing w i l l be in the c a u l d r o n . A n d
rhar's exactly the m o m e n t M a e s t r o i a n n i is bound ro be feeling his oats.
" N o w , since you're such a fair-haired boy for His Flminence rhese days,
M o n s i g n o r e , he mighr take y o u i n t o his confidence, or at least d r o p some
unguarded r e m a r k . I n other w o r d s , he mighr yet t i p his hand to you in
time ro do us some g o o d . "
Gladsrone was d o u b t f u l , bur he played the logic t h r o u g h a n y w a y . "Sup-
pose i t falls o u t that w a y . O n c e you're gone, even your signals r o o m w i l l
be under Maestroianni's d i r e c t i o n . So h o w a m I ro contact y o u ? "
Lucadamo w r o r e his answer on a small piece of paper. " M e m o r i z e rhis
n u m b e r and rhen rear ir u p . Ir's a secure line at the Raffaele. Camerlengo
o r n o t , that's one trick M a e s r r o i a n n i can'r c o n r r o l . M y uncle w i l l k n o w
h o w ro contact me, and his r a d i o facilities are as g o o d as a n y t h i n g we have
at the V a t i c a n . "
Chris d i d n ' t d o u b t i t . H i s o w n memories of dinner w i t h A p p l e y a r d and
Signor G i o v a n n i fresh in his m i n d , he rhoughr that scrappy gentleman
w o u l d be u p for any emergency. " I n f a c r " — h e s m i l e d — " h e ' d p r o b a b l y be
berrer rhan I am at r i f l i n g the Secret A r c h i v e s . "
 584 W I N D S NX'EPT HOUSE

" D o n ' t w o r r y . " G i u s t i n o scowled ar Gladstone's n o t so subtle reminder.

" I haven't forgotten Farher A l d o . A n d I haven'r forgorren your search for
that envelope. M y instinct about its imporrance is rhe same as yours.
T o m o r r o w night w i l l be y o u r next Archives n i g h t . I've alerred Terragenre
already. H e ' l l meet y o u at the T o w e r o f the W i n d s a r o u n d the usual rime.
Bur there may n o t be many more nights after t h a t , M o n s i g n o r e , so y o u ' d
better find ir pretty s o o n . "
Chris raised an eyebrow i n Slattery's direcrion ar that. Piled on t o p o f
freshened memories of A l d o Carnesecca and the terrible uncertainty about
Declan, all these d o u r precautions and warnings made a fellow w o n d e r .
W o u l d rhey ever see one another again once the pilgrimage to Russia got
under way?
" Y o u should k n o w G i u s t i n o by n o w , l a d d i e . " D a m i e n clapped a srrong
hand o n Gladsrone's shoulder. " H e ' s paid ro be a pessimist! A n d a n y w a y ,
it's n o t farewell for rhe three o f us yet. We still have rhe H o l y Father's
deparrure f r o m Sr. Peter's al: nine t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g . Afrer thar, ler's all
jusr rake ir one srep ar a r i m e . "

It was w e l l before nine o'clock on M o n d a y m o r n i n g , M a y 8, w h e n G l a d -

stone slipped i n t o L u c a d a m o ' s c o n t r o l center perched high above the nave
o f Sr. Peter's Basilica.
" B e t t e r to see than be seen t o d a y . " Chris nodded ro G i u s t i n o and helped
himself to an empty chair.
By eighr o'clock rhe n u m b e r inside Sr. Perer's had already swelled ro
a b o u t 15,000. By e i g h t - t h i r t y Lucadamo calculated the c r o w d s w i t h i n the
Basilica and outside in rhe square ar about 120,000. By eight forty-five
necks began ro crane a n d fingers p o i n t e d as the general public rried ro ger
a glimpse of rhe i m p o r r a n r personages filling rhe r w o semicircles o f sears—
some hundreds o f t h e m — a r r a n g e d o n either side o f the nave, facing the
papal t h r o n e and the H i g h A l t a r behind ir.
To rhe r i g h t o f the t h r o n e , the Cardinals assembled in scarler-clad r o w s .
To the left, m o r e numerous r o w s o f bishops presenred rheir o w n specracle
in rheir ceremonial robes a n d miters. T h e sears placed almosr directly i n
f r o n r o f the Pontiff's chair were eagerly raken up by w e l l over half rhe
members o f Rome's d i p l o m a t i c corps. The c o m m e n t c i r c u l a t i n g along E m -
bassy R o w had ir rhar rhey w o u l d wirness cirher a s h o w d o w n berween rhe
Slavic Pope a n d his enemies or the unrepeatable overrure ro rhar evenr.
N o b o d y wanred ro miss ir.
Secure in his refuge, C h r i s surveyed the entire scene as Lucadamo's
various consoles panned across rhe Basilica. H e caught sight o f Gibson
A p p l e y a r d d o w n a m o n g the d i p l o m a t s . A n d he saw all the members o f rhe
parry w h o w o u l d be t r a v e l i n g o n the papal plane as rhey filed i n t o one of
the tribunes some forry feer above the nave. Slattery was c h a t t i n g w i t h rhe
papal spokesman, M i g u e l Lazaro-Falla. Farher Angelo Gurmacher, w h o
had retrieved the Icon o f O u r Lady o f Kazan f r o m Portugal and had
QUO VAD1S? 585

disappeared again u n t i l t h i s m o r n i n g , sat beside a g r i m - l o o k i n g D r .

Fanarote. The lynx-eyed M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k looked very much rhe
o d d m a n our.
A t exactly nine o'clock, the d o o r to the Sacristy opened and the Slavic
Pope entered the Basilica, accompanied by M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski. Wear-
ing his mirer as Bishop o f R o m e and h o l d i n g the slightly crooked crozier
he had carried all over rhe w o r l d , he was grecrcd ar once w i r h t u m u l t u o u s
enthusiasm. Salutes echoed f r o m every quarter and cascaded a r o u n d h i m
in a babel o f languages. H i s Holiness welcomed the c r o w d s as w a r m l y as
they w e l c o m e d h i m . He w a l k e d slowly pasr the security barriers, giving his
blessing, s m i l i n g , t o u c h i n g c h i l d r e n held up to h i m by rheir parents, paus-
ing here and rhere for a w o r d , reaching f o r hands that reached f o r his,
a c k n o w l e d g i n g greetings w i r h an i n t i m a c y that seemed somehow to em-
brace everyone.
T h a t l i v i n g image o f the Slavic Pope and the sounds that engulfed h i m
were carried everywhere. I n d i v i d u a l m o n i t o r s t h r o u g h o u t rhe Basilica
served rhose w h o c o u l d nor see rhe P o n t i f f directly. For the people massed
outside in St. Peter's Square, a huge T V screen conveyed everyrhing r a k i n g
place inside. Transmissions carried rhe evenrs o f the m o r n i n g to*some
500 m i l l i o n people a b r o a d .
In t i m e , the H o l y Father made his w a y to rhe papal t h r o n e i n f r o n t o f
the H i g h A l t a r just above that part o f the Basilica k n o w n as the Confes-
sion o f St. Peter. Once seated, he handed his crozier t o M o n s i g n o r e
Sadowski a n d beckoned to the Master o f Ceremonies to b r i n g rhe m i c r o -
phone closer ro h i m . T h e n he looked a r o u n d h i m , s m i l i n g quietly until the
cries died a w a y a n d silence reigned.
"It is not my intention here, my dear sisters and brothers, to say good-
bye to you." Because the P o n r i f f held no prepared speech i n his hands, and
because his w o r d s were so conversational—so unlabored and n a t u r a l — i t
t o o k a m o m e n t f o r the c r o w d s to realize rhey were listening ro a f o r m a l
address.
" *Goodbye and 'farewell* are not favorite words in the vocabulary
f
of
those who have a firm hope in the substance of things to come, of living
together forever in the community of God's Angels and Saints.
"At most—and really as a pious human gesture—there is a cheerful
arrivederci at the back of my mouth. But if you don't hear that word pass
my lips, you must hear it in the deep silence and tranquillity of your souls.
For we shall see each other again."
Sponraneous cries rose ar rhat f r o m rhe masses o f people inside and
ourside rhe Basilica. " D o n o t leave us, H o l y Father!" "Stay w i t h us. H o l i -
ness!" " W e are y o u r l a m b s and your sheep, H o l y Farher!" " G o i n
strength. H o l y Father, a n d r e t u r n to u s ! "
The P o n t i f f acknowledged the cries w i t h a gesture o f his h a n d , and
quieted them w i t h the c o m m a n d o f his w o r d s . "Do not fear! Be not
afraid! Either I shall return to see you and be seen by you again in this
 586 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

flesh of ours beside this Tomb of the Apostle. Or we shall see each other
on the day of the Lord and in the heavenly mansions of the Eternal Father.
Either way, we win, you and 11 For our Crucified and Risen Savior has
conquered death for us all."
Except f o r a slight s t i r r i n g a m o n g a few o f the Cardinals, there was
perfect stillness.
''As you might guess, parting is not the subject that oc cupies my inmost
heart today. Nor do I think it is your preoccupation at this moment in
human time when I am setting out on pilgrimage to the lands of the East.
"Our theme today is that victor)' of our all-powerful, all-loving Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. That victory, brothers and sisters, is the truth
Almighty God reveals to our minds. That is the feeling He now arouses in
our hearts. His victory!
"Hear me, therefore, all of you! Children of the Father! In Europe, in
Asia, in Africa, in the Asncricas* in Oceania. At all the points in our
human cosmos. Hear me now! Hear me as Peter. As the personal repre-
sentative of God among men. With the eyes of your faith, you can see this
and know this. For I speak of Christ, a stumbling block for the Jews. Of
Christ, a folly for the Gentiles. Of Christ, the Power of God for those who
belong to the Father. Christ, the Wisdom of God. This is the dawning day
of His long-expected victory. For Christ is alive! Christ has conquered!
This is His victory speech!"
If there was a s t i r r i n g a g a i n , a rustling a m o n g the c r o w d s , ir faded t o
profoundest quiet at the next w o r d s rhey heard.
"For anyone listening who finds the assertions of this Pope to be strange
and unwanted here at the Tomb of the Apostle, know that there is no
aggression in my intentions. I am not announcing dire sufferings. Nor am
I declaring war. I am announcing that the bitter warfare we have been
waging is almost at its end. Please open a window in your minds, there-
fore, and a door into your hearts. The authority of the office I occupy is
the authority of Our Lord Jesus; hut as I have walked among you all, I
have tried to imitate His humility. Up to this moment in my tenure as
Pope, I have chosen to speak with the authority vested in me; but I have
not chosen to wield that authority.
"I have treated with my bishops as with brother bishops. With my
priests, as with brother priests. With other Christians, as with sepa-
rated brothers striving to be one in Christ's Holy Church. With my Jewish
brothers and sisters, as with elders of my faith family. With my Muslim
brothers and sisters, as with my co-believers in one God. With those of
other religious persuasions, I have acted as one who sees in their religiosity
and their piety the delicate hand of the Holy Spirit disposing them for
Christ's Salvation. With those who profess godlessness, I have spoken
nonetheless as one who knows they belong to God's human life as fellow
human beings. Even with those who profess hatred for all I stand for and
for the Church itself, I have extended the Blessing of Peter in the hope that
QUO VADIS? 587

our mutually shared humanity can be a bridge for mutual acceptability

and understanding as members of the human race.
"Be my judges, then. Can anyone reproach your Pope for having re-
pulsed any advance or proposal of genuine love and fraternal friendshipt
Can anyone accuse your Pope of refusing human solidarity? In my opin-
ion, the answer must be No. Not even when the hard stones of obstinate
hate and cruel calumny have been flung at my person, not even then have I
stooped to pick up a stone and throw it back at those who first threw it at
me. My answer has always been the answer of my Lord and Savior to the
man who struck him across the face unjustly: *lf I have done wrong, state
the wrong. If I have not done wrong, why do you strike me'i*
"That, as the whole world knows, is the way your Pope has behaved at
this level where divine Providence has placed him. That, my brothers and
sisters, is the figure I have cut as I have walked among the nations and
with the peoples of this world. And yet, if / have faltered now and then on
these forlorn heights, forgive me. Remember that, like each of you, I am
flesh and blood. And remembering, forgive my sins as Christ my Savior
has forgiven you and me and all who truly repent."
His Holiness a l l o w e d so great a hush ro engulf the Basilica thar rhe
sound technician w o r k i n g rhe acoustics scanned rhe dials i n fronr o f h i m .
Bur everything was perfect. " I r ' s as i f angels were i n c h a r g e / ' he muttered
ro himself as rhe Pope rook u p again.
"/ have said that I am going on pilgrimage today." H i s Holiness ran his
eyes t h o u g h t f u l l y over rhe r o w s o f bishops t o his r i g h t . ' But I would not
have you think that my pilgrimage begins only today. The first time I
spoke to you from this Chair of St. Peter the Apostle, I announced myself
as a pilgrim from a far-off country. And, like each one of you, as a person
on his way to the far-off country of eternity. If these were ordinary times,
I could leave it at that. But we live in extraordinary times." T h e Pope-
turned his gaze t o w a r d his Cardinals as his voice rose in v o l u m e and
sharpness. "Or I should say that we are living, you and /. at the end of
extraordinary times. At the end of these Catholic times that began with
the Sign of Emperor Constantine in the long-ago night skies above Rome.
The Sign of the Cross. The Sign of Christ's victmy over sin and hate and
death.
"And so . . T h e Pope raised his eyes ro rhe general c r o w d again.
"We have come to a cardinal moment in the history of this Holy See of
Peter, and of the Church's institutional organization represented by you.
By all of you. My Venerable Brother Cardinals. My Venerable Brother
Bishops. My Reverend Brother priests. My beloved sons and daughters,
the sheep and the lambs confided to my care by our Sovereign Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. On what you do, each one of you, and on what 1 do,
hinges the near-future fate of Christ's visible Church."
W h a r happened afrer rhar was so urrerly unexpected rhar ir would,
w i r h i n rhe h o u r , evoke a f l o o d o f cablegrams, E - m a i l , Telephone calls and
 588 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

consultations between governments a n d d i p l o m a t i c representatives

a r o u n d rhe w o r l d . A n d yer, rhe universal c o m m e n t m i g h t have been: " W e
should have expected i t ; m o r e fools we f o r being s u r p r i s e d . " A r rhat pre-
cise m o m e n t , the Slavic Pope got t o his feet, t o o k his pastoral c r o / i e r f r o m
M o n s i g n o r e S a d o w s k i , w h o was insrantly by his side, and stepped for-
w a r d f r o m the A l t a r u n t i l be faced the members o f rhe d i p l o m a t i c corps.
"You have honored me and my Church today, distinguished ladies and
gentlemen/ 1
he t o l d those w o r t h i e s , "by assembling here and participating
in this ceremony. Give me your indulgence, and out of your kindness
toward this Holy See of Peter, convey to your home governments and
peoples the salutation of this Pope in Rome. His blessing—the blessing of
the living representative of Christ among men—is upon them." W i t h t h a t ,
the H o l y Father raised his righr hand i n the triple Sign o f rhe Cross. Some
a m o n g rhe d i p l o m a t s knelt; some signed themselves; some w o r e smiles of
embarrassment; some had n o idea w h a t t o d o . But u p o n each a n d a l l he
p r o n o u n c e d the ancient i n v o c a t i o n t o the T r i u n e C o d : "May the blessing
of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit descend from Heaven on
you all and remain with you forever."
T h e Pope rurned r o his left and faced the ranks o f his bishops. "My
Brothers," he t o l d those w o r r h i e s , "for more than fifteen years we have
jointly governed the visible organization of Christ's Mystical Body. You
became bishops and you remain bishops because I, the Bishop of Rome,
decided so. But we have not nourished our unity. Most of you are not
willing to implement what / have wished to implement for the betterment
of our people.
"The time has come for that state of things to end. The time has come
for each of you—each one of you who will—to ensure our unity in exer-
cising our functions as bishops."
U n s m i l i n g , H i s Floliness moved t o his r i g h t u n t i l he stood before his
C a r d i n a l s . "My Lords Cardinal, as 1 leave the city, I put you in charge of
this Holy See until, under God, I return here.
"You are called Cardinals because on you hinges the well-being of the
Church. Your Eminences are the direct participants in the bureaucracy
that aids me, the Pope of All the Catholics, to administer the Church
Universal. The time has come for Your Eminences to ask yourselves
whether your service to this Holy See has been and is now rendered ac-
cording to the dictates of the Holy Spirit; or whether it is rendered accord-
ing to the dictates of some who would subordinate this Holy See to the
will of those who wish to destroy it."
T h e P o n t i f f d r e w i n a l o n g breath. "We must, each and all of us, ex-
amine the alliances we have formed. We must ask ourselves if we will not
be ashamed of those alliances when we are called to give an ultimate
accounting of our ministry to God. We must remind ourselves that we are
not in rehearsal for another and greater day. For this is the day. This is all
the chance we have to make good, or suffer terrible shipwreck. I ask you,
Q U O V A D 1 S ? 589

then, to wish me well on my journey. And I ask you to send me off with
your blessing."
Heads swiveled and whispers flew r h r o u g h rhe Basilica like rushing
w i n d s as rhe H o l y Farher knelr before his flustered Cardinals, b o w e d his
head and w a i r e d .
Ir was o l d C a r d i n a l Sansrefano w h o rose firsr. N o r as rhe p o w e r f u l head
of PECA n o w , b u t as the venerable Dean o f the Sacred College o f C a r d i -
nals, he rraced rhe Sign o f the Cross over rhis Pope whose anguished
confession he had so recently heard, and blessed h i m w i t h a most solemn
blessing.
" A m e n , " Sanstefano ended his benediction.
" A m e n , " came the abashed b u t c o m p l i a n t response f r o m his brothers in
scarier.
"Viva il Papa!" came the t h u n d e r o u s public cry as rhe H o l y Farher rose
ro his feer. "Viva il Papa!" " G o d s p e e d , H o l y F a t h e r ! " " C o m e back ro us.
Holiness. Come back ro us s o o n ! " "Viva! Viva!"
W i r h joyous applause a n d shouts o f farewell r i n g i n g in his ears, rhe
P o n r i f f w a l k e d d o w n rhe m i d d l e o f the nave, blessing rhe people again. As
he m o v e d slowly r o w a r d rhe grear bronze doors leading ro rhe square, a
conringenr o f six Swiss G u a r d s a n d a dozen of Lucadamo's securiry men
w e r e n ' t enough to h o l d back the thousands w h o poured o u t o f the Basilica
in his wake u n t i l the w h i t e - r o b e d figure was s w a l l o w e d f r o m view in their
midst.

G I U S T I N O L U C A D A M O stayed i n his c o n t r o l b o o r h m o n i t o r i n g rhe

sready stream o f voice reports f r o m the escort g u a r d . The instant he knew
rhe H o l y Father and rhe papal entourage had reached their limousines and
were safely o n the w a y to the helicopter pad behind rhe Aposrolic Palace,
he grabbed rhe black case rhar was his constant c o m p a n i o n o n papal trips
a n d , w i r h a hasry addio ro Gladsrone, hurried d o w n r h r o u g h a privare
passage and sped ro rhe w a i t i n g helicoprers.
W i r h i n rwenty minutes o f l i f t o f f f r o m the Vatican Gardens, rhe papal
party was b o a r d i n g the w h i t e A l i t a l i a D C - 1 0 at F i u m i c i n o . W i r h the Vati-
can security chief by his side, rhe p i l o r — n o srranger ro rhis traveling
Pope—greeted H i s Holiness, kissed his r i n g and escorred h i m to his seat in
the f o r w a r d c a b i n . As f a i t h f u l keeper o f rhe gate and all the secrets, M o n -
signore Daniel Sadowski f o l l o w e d a little distance behind and t o o k a seat
nearby. D i r e c r l y across f r o m h i m , rhe charry and elegantly dressed papal
press officer, M i g u e l Lazaro-Falla, settled i n beside an unusually taciturn
 590 WINDSWEPT MOUSE

D r . G i o r g i o Fanarote. D a m i e n Slattery, m e a n w h i l e , paired o f f w i t h G l a d -

stone's o l d m e n t o r and the P o n t i f f s confidential i n t e r n a t i o n a l emissary,
Father A n g e l o Gutmacher.
As at St. Peter's, t h a t left the Secrerariat's " l i a i s o n o f f i c e r " as o d d m a n
our. M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k t o o k a seat t o w a r d rhe rear o f the papal
cabin.
A l s o aboard rhe plane, separated f r o m rhe f o r w a r d section by a b u l k -
head, some seventy passengers were already i n their sears. M o s t l y l a y f o l k ,
but w i t h a few bishops a m o n g rheir number, they had all been invited
personally by the Slavic Pope. They had stood by h i m t h r o u g h thick and
thin in the losing battle he had been w a g i n g w i r h his enemies for over a
dozen years. !r was o n l y fitting that they should be associated w i t h h i m i n
this lasr phase o f his papal endgame.
Before he rook his o w n seat beside Sadowski, Lucadamo accompanied
rhe caprain ro rhe c o c k p i r , where they and the rest of rhe crew ran r h r o u g h
a checklist. T w o other planes w a i t i n g nearby o n the tarmac, already filled
w i r h journalisrs assigned ro cover rhe Russia t r i p , w o u l d depart i m m e d i -
ately after rhe papal plane, and w o u l d sray w i t h i t t h r o u g h rhe entire
journey u n t i l the Pope's projected r e t u r n six days f r o m n o w , on M a y 13.
The flight plans o f the p a p a l journey had been privately communicated to
all governments whose airspace they w o u l d enter, as w e l l as t o the govern-
ment o f the U n i t e d States a n d N A T O authorities. The papal plane w o u l d
be escorted by jet fighters t h r o u g h o u t the entire t r i p . N o n a t i o n wanted an
accidenr ro befall rhe Pope o f Rome in irs airspace.
By eleven-rhirry rhe D C - 1 0 was i n rhe air. By early a f t e r n o o n , the Slavic
Pope's welcome in K i e v — a t u m u l t u o u s scene o f near d e l i r i u m — w a s under
w a y . F o l l o w i n g a short resr a n d a meal ar rhe Monasrery that w o u l d serve
as his U k r a i n e headquarters, H i s Holiness launched i n t o a schedule that
w o u l d , f r o m rhar m o m e n t f o r w a r d , rax h i m heavily borh physically and
emotionally.
In Kiev irself, a city o f hills and churches, the H o l y Father insisted o n
seeing e v e r y t h i n g and greeting everybody. For their parr, rhe U k r a i n i a n
C a r h o l i c s — l o n g suppressed, i m p r i s o n e d , persecuted and deprived o f any
public v o i c e — w e l c o m e d the Pontiff as a c h a m p i o n and world-class leader
w h o d w a r f e d every Russian O r t h o d o x prelate w i t h i n all the srares o f the
former Sovier U n i o n . Everywhere he wenr, ecstatic c r o w d s pressed for-
w a r d ro see h i m , ro t o u c h his h a n d , to o v e r w h e l m h i m w i r h rheir acco-
lades and to receive his blessing. H e held services ar the C h u r c h o f St.
Sophia and St. V l a d i m i r ' s C a t h e d r a l . H e prayed at the b u i l d i n g that had
housed the eight-hundred-year-old C h u r c h o f St. M i c h a e l u n t i l rhe Soviers
had converted i t i n t o a p o l i t i c a l commissariat. He marveled ar rhe walls of
rhe Kiev s u b w a y , decorared w i t h mosaic porrraits o f biblical saints. A t all
those places, the P o n t i f f spo ke to the people, touched rheir hands, benr t o
their c h i l d r e n , entered their hearts. A t all those places, he blessed t h e m .
T o w a r d evening, a n d as the c u l m i n a t i o n o f his visit to Kiev, the H o l y
QUO V ADIS? 591

Father visired the ancient Pecherskaya L a v r a , w h e r e , as still more crowds

garnered ourside, he prayed alone and undisrurbed for r w o hours. A can-
dlelighr descent i n t o the famous deep caves t o pray at the tombs o f earlier
and long-dead m o n k s was followed by a farewell gathering where the
papal parry was enrerrained by the Kozatski Sabovi Folk G r o u p . T h e n ir
was o n by h y d r o f o i l to K a n i v , some w a y up the Dnieper River, to be w i t h
the eager c r o w d s w h o awaired h i m ar rhe r o m b o f Taras Shevchenko, rheir
beloved poet, essayisr, p l a y w r i g h r , r h i n k e r and r e v o l u t i o n a r y , w h o m they
still revered as n o t h i n g less t h a n the founder of m o d e r n U k r a i n i a n litera-
ture and resrorer o f rhe U k r a i n i a n religious spirit.
W h e n rhe papal parry rerurned at last to o v e r n i g h t in Kiev, everyone,
i n c l u d i n g rhe t w o planeloads o f journalisrs, seemed done in already by the
pace o f this pilgrimage. F>en M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k headed srraighr
for bed. O n l y His Holiness, G i u s t i n o Lucadamo and rhar inveterate trav-
eler Farher A n g e l o Gurmacher relaxed rogerher for a rime in rhe P o n t i f f s
suite.
L u c a d a m o rhoughr rhis m i g h t be the m o m e n t to review securiry for rhe
nexr day's events. But rhe Pope's thoughts were elsewhere. H e was disap-
p o i n t e d , he said, that "as yet the V i r g i n has senr no sign o f her intentions.
O r even of her sarisfacrion w i t h our pilgrimage so f a r . " But no news was
good news for L u c a d a m o . " H o l i n e s s , " he spoke up in reply, " i s n ' t i t suffi-
cient sign o f her a p p r o v a l rhar her Son and she have broughr us rhis far in
safety?"
"Perhaps, G i u s t i n o . " The Pontiff l o o k e d at this loyal man whose j o b it
was ro guard his life. " I n a n y case, ir w i l l have ro d o us for n o w . "
But ir was nor enough. In his consranr resisrance ro his enemies' pressure
t h a t he resign, rhe Slavic Pope had r u n our o f alternatives. In his estima-
tion, everyrhing depended n o w o n rhe w i l l o f Heaven, and on the p o w e r f u l
intercession o f rhe M o r h e r o f G o d .

"Stasera, Monsigtiore
y pazienzal" G i a n c a r l o Terragente w o r e such a
m o c k - m e l o d r a m a t i c expression on his face that Chris Gladstone nearly
burst i n t o laughter as he p o k e d his head above the steep stairway to the
R o o m o f the M e r i d i a n . "Patience ronighr, M o n s i g n o r e ! Consistory or n o ,
His Eminence is w o r k i n g in rhe B i b l i o t e c a . " W i r h rhat, the genius picklock
disappeared d o w n the stairs to keep a close eye o n the situation in the
Archives, and Chrisrian settled d o w n ro w a i r for rhe all clear.
T h o u g h frusrrared ar rhis furrher delay in his search for the mysterious
double-sealed envelope, C h r i s was prepared for rhe w a i r . A n d , rrurh t o
t e l l , after rhe madness o f rhe lasr couple o f days, he welcomed the chance
to go over things quietly in his m i n d ; b u t most of w h a t he had to t h i n k
about w a s n ' t pleasant.
C h r i s had called Deurle f o r news o f rhe search f o r Declan, bur rhere
h a d n ' t been m u c h t o reporr. Regice Bernard and a ream o f A r m y sappers
and speleologues had entered the c o m p l e x . FLveryone figured conracr w i r h
 592 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Declan's parry should be made somerime late t o n i g h t . Chris glanced ar his

w a t c h . Eleven o'clock. " S o o n , " he whispered to the w i n d s soughing
a r o u n d the T o w e r . " S o o n w e ' l l k n o w if o u r Deckel is alive or d e a d . "
U n w i l l i n g ro a l l o w himself to fall inro a srare o f useless h a n d - w r i n g i n g ,
Gladstone t u r n e d his m i n d ro the siruation in R o m e . W i t h the Pope gone
n o w , and all the stalwarts like Slartery and Lucadamo and Sadowski and
Gurmacher gone as w e l l , he felt he had been m a r o o n e d here ar exacrly rhe
m o m e n t w h e n M a e s t r o i a n n i was ready ro b r i n g rhings t o a c l i m a x . If there
was no m i r a c l e — i f G o d ' s morher d i d n ' t somehow intervene—if L u -
cadamo was righr and rhe P o n r i f f d i d n ' r r e t u r n , M a e s t r o i a n n i as Camer-
lengo w o u l d t u r n the Consistory i n t o an i l l i c i t Conclave and force the
i n v a l i d election o f a new Pope. W h a t Gladstone was c o n t e m p l a t i n g , there-
fore, was n o t h i n g less rhan the possible destruction o f his entire w o r l d .
I'he w i n d s keening a r o u n d the T o w e r and rhe lonely emptiness of rhe
R o o m o f rhe M e r i d i a n senr such a sudden chill r h r o u g h Gladstone that he
began pacing back a n d f o r t h to get the b l o o d f l o w i n g and restore w a r m t h
ro his bones. H e rhoughr again o f happy times l o n g past w h e n he and Paul
and Tricia had h u d d l e d in the study at W i n d s w e p t House reading descrip-
tions o f this place in O l d Glad's journals. Back w h e n he was a boy, rhose
journals had seemed so heroic. A Gladstone had traveled h a l f w a y a r o u n d
rhe w o r l d w i t h a m i l l i o n dollars in his pocket to come to the aid o f the
then-reigning Pope, Pius I X . A n d then he had founded a new dynasty of
his o w n in Galveston, and had b u i l t his o w n Tower o f rhe W i n d s as a
visible pledge o f e n d u r i n g f a i t h .
T h a t m e m o r y was a small b u t significant happening in the life of Chris-
tian Gladstone. A reminder ithar, in rhe delicate pattern o f God's all-seeing
providence, his earliesr beginnings at W i n d s w e p t House were connected
w i t h his present life. A r e m i n d e r t h a t the Rome o f O l d Glad's time had
been taken over by the I t a l i a n N a t i o n a l i s t s ; Pius I X had remained a v i r t u a l
prisoner in rhe Vatican; and so had all rhe Popes afrer h i m unril the Lat-
eran Treaty had been signed in 1929. A reminder rhat the papacy had
remained.

" L e t ' s get t o w o r k , M o n s i g n o r e ! "

Startled ar first by Terragenre's srage w h i s p e r , Chris q u i c k l y packed up
his thoughts a n d , flashlight in h a n d , f o l l o w e d his c o m p a n i o n in crime
d o w n rhe creaky o l d staircase, t h r o u g h silent passageways and inro the
Secrer Archives.
" I f o u r luck h o l d s , " Terraigente whispered as he sprang rhe lock on rhe
firsr gare, "rhere w i l l be n o i n t e r r u p t i o n s . Bur w i r h Comandanre Lu-
cadamo our o f Rome n o w , and w i t h M a e s r r o i a n n i in charge. C a r d i n a l
A u r e a t i n i has special derails all over rhe place. I don'r k n o w w h a r rhar
man is a f r a i d of, M o n s i g n o r e Gladstone, bur w o r d is rhat he's as nervous
as a c a t . "
QUO VA DIS? 593

" I f o u r luck h o l d s , " C h r i s t i a n whispered back, " w e ' l l strike g o l d to-

night. There's really o n l y one place left t o l o o k . "
W i t h C h r i s leading the w a y , the pair carried on a careful, methodical
d r i l l . Terragente sprang rhe locks o n one large damask-covered storage
b o x after another. T h e n , w h i l e Gladstone picked t h r o u g h the contents o f
each, the I t a l i a n scouted the t e r r a i n a r o u n d t h e m , his ear attuned t o catch
the slightest s o u n d .
Chris was e x a m i n i n g the contents o f w h a t must have been the t w e n t i e t h
b o x , and was just a b o u t to a d m i t defeat, w h e n he lifted a pile o f o l d
ledgers, and rhere ir was! T h o u g h he was t o o stunned at first t o reach for
ir, Gladsrone k n e w rhere was no mistake. Except f o r a series o f lerters and
numbers p r i n r e d in one c o r n e r — D N 4 1 3 F 1 0 ; rhe A r c h i v a l Destination
N u m b e r , as Chris k n e w — e v e r y derail was just as Carnesecca had de-
scribed it i n his d i a r y . He c o u l d see by the light o f his t o r c h rhar the
envelope had been opened arid then resealed w i t h heavy filament tape.
A n d he c o u l d see the t w o papal inscriptions.
" F o r O u r Successor o n rhe T h r o n e o f Perer."
"Concerning rhe c o n d i t i o n o f H o l y M o r h e r C h u r c h afrer June 29,
1 9 6 3 , " he read rhe second i n s c r i p t i o n .
"L*ha trovata, Monsignore?" Terragcnre came u p behind h i m w i r h such
srealth that Gladstone nearly j u m p e d o u t o f his shoes. The Italian eyed the
treasure in Chris's h a n d , bur he asked his question again a n y w a y . "Flave
you f o u n d i t ? "
Christian's o n l y reply was a t h u m b s - u p . H e stowed the envelope care-
fully in his jacker pocket. Together, priest and picklock placed everyrhing
else back in the box and locked i t , and secured the Archives d o o r again.
T h e n i t was u p the stairs, t h r o u g h the g r o u n d - f l o o r c o r r i d o r ro rhe posrern
d o o r and our i n t o rhe open air o f rhe c o u r r y a r d as fasr as rheir legs w o u l d
carry rhem.

O n rhe m o r n i n g o f Tuesday, M a y 9, rhe papal parry ser o f f wesrward f r o m

Kiev by rrain for a t w e l v e - h o u r journey to L v o v . His I Ioliness insisted o n
s t o p p i n g at every r o w n and village; and ar each stop a l o n g rhe w a y , w i r h
M o n s i g n o r e M i c h a l i k forever h o v e r i n g in rhe b a c k g r o u n d , he spoke o f
victory ro rhe excired c r o w d s o f believers w h o rhronged ro greer h i m and
to receive his blessing.

O n t h a t same m o r n i n g , i n the quiet o f his rooms at the A n g e l i c u m , Chris-

tian recovered f r o m the i n i t i a l shock that had assailed h i m in the Archives.
H i s nerves as cool as ice n o w , he sat d o w n at his desk, fingered the double-
sealed envelope for a m i n u t e and then, w i t h o u t any n o d or say-so f r o m
Pope, bishop or priesr, he slir rhe filamenr rape.
The firsr norice yielded by rhe envelope was a single sheer of paper.
N a r r o w l y cut ro fir w i r h rhe orher documenrs, ir bore a terse w a r n i n g i n
A l d o Carnesecca's h a n d : " W h o e v e r opens and reads here, k n o w you are
 .S94 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

dealing w i r h rhe fare o f C h r i s t ' s C h u r c h . Desist, unless y o u are aurhorized

by the Apostle.'"
Chris c o u l d nor have been more disrurbed had he heard rhe voice of his
dead friend a m o n g rhe m o r n i n g shadows. As ir had been for Carnesecca,
so ir was for Gladstone. To violate the papal office, scpararc and exalred as
ir was above any orher office in h u m a n society, was ro c o u r t lethal danger.
A n y r h i n g ro d o direcrly a n d i n t i m a t e l y w i t h the Apostle was sacrosanct.
For Romans and papists such as Carnesecca and Gladstone, rhere was a
deep r r u t h encased in an o l d and crude R o m a n p r o v e r b . "Chi mangia
Papa . . . , " ran rhat w a r n i n g : " W h o e v e r ears Pope, dies o f i r . "
Nevertheless, there was n o t h i n g for i t but to enter the privileged reserve
of rhe specially chosen; o f those destined by G o d f r o m before rhe f o u n d a -
t i o n o f the w o r l d ro be rhe direct instruments of H i s divine w i l l in rhe
salvation o f m a n k i n d . T h e rest o f the contents o f the envelope consisted o f
a second sheet o f paper bearing a papal seal and coat o f arms, and a series
o f fiches rhar were, by rheir nature, illegible w i t h o u r rhe aid o f a m i c r o -
copy reader. O f necessiry, r h e n , Gladstone focused on the sheer o f paper, a
letter penned in L a t i n and sealed by a d y i n g Pope nearly twenry years
before. H e read the texr r h r o u g h once, and rhen a second rime. Finally, his
body gone stone c o l d and motionless, he read rhe pathetic, courageous
message yer again.
"Enclosed herewith," the old Pope had w r i r t e n , "We have placed a list
of those among Our Lords: Cardinal and Our other personnel who have
freely joined the Masonic Craft, together with a detailed Riruale enacted
on June 29, 1963, in the Cappella Paolina, during which the Fallen Arch-
angel was enthroned specifically as 'the Prince Ascending to Power/ and
according to the plans and prophecies of 'the Enlightened Ones/
"It has not been given to Us to undo this enthronement. We have nei-
ther the bodily health nor the spiritual strength. Nor are We worthy to be
chosen for such a task; for Our sins in this august office have been too
great. We have been forgiven. We believe, and will be purified by God's
hand in the passage of Our death. But We are no longer trusted as respon-
sible. We therefore commit, the enclosed to Our lawful successor in this
holy Roman office of the Apostle. We do this believing firmly in the Resur-
rection of the body, in the Last Judgment and in Life tJernal. Amen."
Ir wasn'r for lack of u n d e r s t a n d i n g that Chris read rhe o l d Pope's letter
so m a n y rimes over. F r o m his o w n r r a i n i n g , and above ali f r o m his conver-
sations w i r h Slattery, he k n e w somerhing abour the enthronement aspect
o f Saranisr r i t u a l . E n o u g h r o k n o w rhar rhose w h o engaged in it lived w i t h
a view to reigning w i r h rhe Archangel in his k i n g d o m in rhis life, whatever
a b o u t the afterlife. Enough t o k n o w t h a t they dedicated themselves, and
the buildings and homes they occupied, to the service o l rhe Archangel on
this earrh. Indeed, enough t o k n o w rhar Saranisr devotees expected a time
to come—a t i m e they called the Ascent o f the Prince—when nations
QUO VADIS ? 595

w o u l d hail rhe Fallen A r c h a n g e l ; w o u l d p u b l i c l y acknowledge h i m as

Prince Lucifer, and rhe Son o f rhe D a w n , as rheir leader and d i v i n i r y .
W h a r Gladsrone c o u l d not understand was h o w such a ceremony—a
gruesome r i t u a l , so far as he c o u l d remember, that required its o w n elabo-
rate serup and i n v o l v e d a h u m a n sacrifice—could have been carried out
anywhere near the Vatican, m u c h less i n St. Paul's Chapel. N o r could he
undersrand w h a t A l d o Carnesecca had t o d o w i t h i t .
Still, if such a ceremony had been enacred o n June 2 9 , 1963, rhe day
had been significantly chosen. I t was the feast day o f the H o l y Apostles,
Peter and Paul; rhe quintessential R o m a n holy dav. To carry our rhe so-
called Ascenr of the Prince o n rhat d a y — a n d to do so n o t o n l y in the
Varican as rhe household o f rhe Aposrles bur in rhe chapel dedicared t o St.
P a u l — w o u l d he a piece o f Satanic insolence o n l y the Fallen Angel and his
devotees w o u l d t h i n k o f perpetrating. W h a t was m o r e , if such a ceremony
had taken place, i t w o u l d e x p l a i n a l o t . For one t h i n g , and at the very
leasr, it w o u l d e x p l a i n that enigmatic entry i n Carnesecca's diary telling o f
his meeting w i t h the September Pope. "Long conversation with Pp . .
Chris k n e w the w o r d s by hearr. "Agrees no Pope will he able to govern
Church through Vatican until enthronement undone."
M o r e significantly, i t w o u l d account f o r rhe astonishing speed o f the
deterioration o f the R o m a n C a t h o l i c C h u r c h strucrure. Chris had always
f o u n d it t o be inexplicable t h a t w i r h i n the shorr span o f fifreen years—a
fairly definable rime rhar had srretched f r o m rhe close o f the Second V a t i -
can C o u n c i l in 1965 t o rhe end o f the seventies—a solid, vibranr C h u r c h
srructure had been l i q u i d a r e d . Ir had been as if, say, rhe Panama Canal
had suddenly been empried o f water. Tor in that brief p e r i o d , rhe Roman
srructure—a vast o r g a n i z a t i o n built over rhe centuries at huge cosrs in
b l o o d and sacrifice—had suddenly been emptied o f the spiritual and m o r a l
energy rhat had animated it a n d made ir inro the w o m b o f a w h o l e civiliza-
t i o n and a f o r m i d a b l e force a m o n g the nations.
N o matter h o w impossible or o u t l a n d i s h it m i g h t be, the more G l a d -
srone t h o u g h t a b o u t ir, rhe m o r e he realized that a genuine enthronement
o f the Fallen Archangel in such a sanctified place w o u l d explain a great
deal rhat had been so b a f f l i n g and discouraging for h i m . V i o l a t i o n o f the
Vatican i n the name o f s u m m a r y , incarnare evil w o u l d account for grace
expelled, and for the b u f f e t i n g of physical buildings and people alike by
the influence o f rhat dedicated Adversary o f G o d and m a n . A n d ir w o u l d
account for whar had happened to papal Rome, w h a t had happened t o
four Popes and w h a r had happened ro rhe f a r - f l u n g C h u r c h Universal.
Ir w o u l d e x p l a i n rhe m y s t i f y i n g behavior o f rhe o l d Pope whose reign,
u n b e k n o w n s t t o h i m , had begun w i t h t h a t enthronement, and w h o had
allowed a n d in certain ways even p r o m o r e d rhe l i q u i d a t i o n o f rhe Church
strucrure. It w o u l d e x p l a i n the s m i l i n g resignation and the death o f the
September Pope, w h o had been Tragically prcscienr w h e n he had spoken t o
Carnesecca o f " i n s u r a n c e . " Ir w o u l d e x p l a i n the manifest impotence o f rhe
 596 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

Slavic Pope—his p r u d e n t i a l errors, his idiosyncratic ideas, his failure to

align C o u n c i l documents w i t h C h u r c h docrrine and t r a d i t i o n , his toler¬
ance of heretical teaching i n seminaries and universities. I t w o u l d explain
the putrescence and c o r r u p t i o n Chris and Slarrery had detailed in their
reports ro H i s Holiness. . . .
In facr, C h r i s t i a n realized w i t h a shudder, rhe microfiche material lying
before h i m m i g h t even e x p l a i n w h a t was g o i n g o n a m o n g the men w h o
were, at this very m o m e n t , c l a w i n g after Peter's T h r o n e ar rhe General
Consistory in R o m e . Perhaps the data those fiches contained was the key
ro rhe inexplicable and corrosive harred o f a papal prerender like Cardinal
P a l o m b o , ro rhe watered-clown Chrisrianiry o f a papahile like C a r d i n a l
K a r m e l , ro the banality o f an a m b i t i o u s C a r d i n a l A u r e a t i n i , ro rhe secular-
ism o f a Pope-maker like C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i , ro rhe darksome behav-
ior o f Cenrurycity's C a r d i n a l , to the fecklessness o f so many men like
Cardinal O'Cleary.
Chrisrian rook one lasr l o o k ar the o l d Pope's letter before he folded it
a w a y . "Enclosed herewith We have placed a list of those among Our
Lords Cardinal and Our other personnel . . . " H i s quiet time o f reflec-
tion was over. The most urgent and pressing t h i n g in his life n o w was ro
k n o w w h a r Carnesecca h a d discovered. He needed ro k n o w rhe names on
rhat list. H e needed t o read: everyrhing t h a t had been reserved tor so long
in rhe double-sealed envelope. For, i f he was r i g h r , rhe solution ro rhe
Slavic Pope's difficulties d i d nor lie in Russia. I f he was r i g h t , the Slavic
Pope had ro ger back ro R o m e as fasr as his A l i t a l i a D C - 1 0 c o u l d b r i n g
him.

In the city o f Lvov as in K i e v , the Slavic Pope w a n t e d ro see everyrhing;

a n d , again, he was all bur o v e r w h e l m e d by enrhusiasric c r o w d s every srep
o f the w a y . He visited the ornare and beautiful churches a d o r n i n g rhar
m a j o r ecclesiastical center where once there had been a srrong movement
f o r rhe reunification o f O r t h o d o x and R o m a n Catholics. But the capstone
o f his visit came w i t h the VIass he celebrated ar Sr. George's Carhedral for
w h a r seemed t o Slattery a n d the others like half the p o p u l a t i o n o f U k r a i n e .
As the day progressed a n d the energy o f some i n the papal party again
began t o flag, M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k began to w o r r y ; for, like the
Pope, he, r o o , was w a i t i n g f o r a sign. There was no d o u b t that the physical
strain o n rhe P o n t i f f was magnified a thousand times by the e m o t i o n a l
tension he was u n d e r g o i n g . H o w was ir, rhen, t h a t he never seemed to
tire? "Just give it t i m e , M i c h a l i k , " he t o l d himself in an efforr to c a l m his
o w n m o u n t i n g nerves. " T o m o r r o w ir's o n to H r u s h i v . Then Sr. Petersburg
and M o s c o w . The c r o w d s and rhe excitement and the tension are b o u n d
t o take their r o l l . N o man can stand such punishment. H e ' l l break. It's just
a matter o f t i m e . "
-i J -i J
QUO VA DI5 ? 597

Gladstone made t w o telephone calls before he left rhe A n g e l i c u m . The firsr

was r o his brorher's home in Deurle.
"Praise be, M o n s i g n o r C h r i s ! " H a n n a h D o w d was so aflutter w i t h ex-
cirement w h e n she answered rhar it t o o k some d o i n g f o r Chris t o get
things straighr. Regice Bernard's rescue p a r t y , i t seemed, h a d reached
Declan's g r o u p i n rhe small hours o f the m o r n i n g . There had been one
dearh i n rhe Danielle cave-in, and rhe orhers had been i n j u r e d , some o f
rhem seriously.
" D e c l a n , " Chris pressed her. " W h a r a b o u t D e c l a n ? "
" H e had t o be carried our o n a srrercher, Farher. They've all gone ro rhe
hospiral. T h a t ' s where M r . Paul and Miss Yusai are righr n o w . We're
w a i r i n g f o r news. Bur he's alive! O u r lirrle Deckel is a l i v e ! "
Chris t o o k i n a deep b r e a t h , left messages o f love and blessing for his
f a m i l y , said a fervent prayer o f rhanks and rhen dialed r h r o u g h ro C a r d i -
nal Maesrroianni's office, where A r c h b i s h o p B u t t a f u o c o was d o i n g double
duty f o r an absenr Taco M a n u g u e r r a .
" I ' l l be sorry ro miss y o u r press conference this a f t e r n o o n , " Gladstone
lied. " B u r I feel a virus c o m i n g o n , and I ' d like t o n i p i t in the b u d . "
" N o r ro w o r r y , M o n s i g n o r e . " Buttafuoco was all sympathy. " H i s E m i -
nence w i l l be tied up a l l day w i t h the Consistory. A n d rhe press conference
w i l l be more o f the same o l d pap for rhe media. N o r r o w o r r y . "
T w e n r y minutes later, ar a call box some disrance f r o m rhe A n g e l i c u m ,
Chris dialed rhe secure n u m b e r G i u s r i n o L u c a d a m o had given h i m for rhe
Raffaele. " O f course I can h e l p , M o n s i g n o r e , " Signor G i o v a n n i said i n
answer t o Gladstone's predicamenr. " I k n o w jusr rhe place where you can
srudy rhose microfiches w i t h o u t fear o f i n t e r r u p t i o n . "
I t was as simple as rhar. W i r h i n an h o u r , C h r i s r i a n was safely lodged in
a quiet, well-staffed villa some ten miles south o f R o m e — a n ideal place, as
it t u r n e d our, f o r rhe baleful j o b of w o r k rhar faced h i m . He had complete
silence and a beautiful view o f the R o m a n Campagna f r o m rhe r o o m
where he insralled himself. A n d because rhar villa belonged r o rhe elder
L u c a d a m o , ir was firred o u r w i r h every imaginable device, i n c l u d i n g a
secure Telephone and a very e f f i c i e n r - l o o k i n g m i c r o c o p y reader.
For rhe resr o f rhar day a n d f a r i n t o the n i g h t . C h r i s t i a n immersed
himself i n facrs and evenrs rhar were worse, more unimaginable, rhan
mere i m p i o u s fanrasy. T a k i n g care nor t o d i s t u r b rhe order in w h i c h rhe
material had been arranged i n the double-sealed envelope, he inserted the
first microfiche i n t o the reader and began a descent i n t o a w o r l d so dark
and askew that he had t o force his m i n d t o reason, lest he d r o w n i n the
mental and e m o t i o n a l reactions that washed over h i m .
The first fiche contained a single d o c u m e n t — a testament wrirren by
Farher A l d o ar rhe requesr o f rhe o l d Pope, and in his presence, summariz-
ing rhe curious circumsrances by w h i c h rhe h o r r i d affair o f rhe enrhrone-
menr h a d come r o lighr. F o r rhe second rime rhar day, ir was as i f
Carnesecca was speaking f r o m beyond rhe grave; rhis rime ro rell h o w , on
 598 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

June 2 9 , 1977, he had been called ro a private hospital i n Rome ro arrend

ar the bedside o f d y i n g A r c h b i s h o p D - G — a Frenchman Carnesecca had
k n o w n i n the Secretariat o f State. Faced w i t h i m m i n e n t death and in grav-
est need of A b s o l u t i o n , the A r c h b i s h o p had confessed to Father A l d o that
he had been a member o f a Satanist coven i n Rome for many years, and
had participated in a Satanist Rite in the Cappella Paolina o n June 2 9 ,
1963.
Farher A l d o had refused absolution unless three c o n d i t i o n s were mer.
First, rhe A r c h b i s h o p w o u l d have ro indicate as much as possible abour
rhe Satanist Rite that had been used. Second, he w o u l d have to reveal as
many names as he c o u l d remember; especially rhe names o f Vatican o f f i -
cials and members o f the hierarchy w h o had participated in t h a t Rite. A n d
t h i r d , he musr a l l o w Carnesecca t o i n f o r m rhe o l d Pope o f everyrhing in
this parr of rhe A r c h b i s h o p ' s confession.
A r c h b i s h o p D - G gave his consenr ro all three c o n d i t i o n s . M o r e , he gave
Farher A l d o permission ro retrieve r w o ledgers f r o m his safe. One con-
rained rhe f u l l roster o f names o f all w h o had participated in rhe Rire. The
second conrained a derailed description o f rhe Rire irself. A r c h b i s h o p D - G
died o n June 30, 1977. O n the night o f July 3, Carnesecca was received in
private audience by rhe o l d Pope, related everyrhing rhe d y i n g A r c h b i s h o p
had r o l d h i m and w a t c h e d w h i l e Flis Floliness examined b o t h ledgers.
Already afflicted w i r h exitremely bad h e a l t h — a c c o r d i n g t o his doctors,
he had only a few m o n t h s left in this w o r l d — a n d beset by a host of
w o r s e n i n g domestic and foreign problems i n the C h u r c h Universal, the
Ponriff had decided rhar, w h i l e he c o u l d n o t u n d o w h a r had been done, he
w o u l d make sure his successor o n the T h r o n e o f Perer w o u l d be fully
i n f o r m e d . The o l d Pope's p l a n , w h i c h Carnesecca had included in his
shorr bur comprehensive e x p l a n a r i o n , had been simple enough. M i c r o c o p -
ies of rhe A r c h b i s h o p ' s ledgers and Farher A l d o ' s tesrament were made.
T h e Ponriff prepared a bnief letter o f explanarion and placed ir i n an
envelope along w i r h rhe m i c r o p h o r o s and Carnesecca's trenchant hands-
o f f w a r n i n g . He inscribed the envelope: " F o r O u r Successor on rhe T h r o n e
o f Peter," dated it and sealed i t w i t h his papal seal. The ledgers themselves
were sealed and consigned safely t o rhe Secret Archives.
T h a r was as m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n as rhe firsr microfiche conrained. Chris-
rian removed ir f r o m rhe reader and switched the machine off. T h o u g h his
reaction was surprisingly u n e m o t i o n a l , he needed some rime ro digesr
whar he had learned so far. He c o u l d only surmise w h a t had happened
afrer July 3. H e knew f r o m Carnesecca's d i a r y rhar Secrerary o f Srare Jean-
Claude de Vincennes and A r c h b i s h o p Silvio A u r e a r i n i had conducted a
d o u b l e triage o f papal effecrs. As papal C h a m b e r l a i n , Vincennes had
doubtless pur o f f the triage o f the o l d Pope's papers u n t i l the brouhaha
s u r r o u n d i n g rhe election a n d installation o f rhe new Pope should die
d o w n . Doubtless, t o o , Carnesecca had feared that Vincennes m i g h t not
h a n d the envelope on t o the new Pope. I f Christian could assume that
QUO VADIS? 599

m u c h was t r u e , rhen i t f o l l o w e d that Carnesecca w o u l d have f o u n d an

o p p o r t u n i t y t o get that specially inscribed envelope i n t o the hands o f the
September Pope.
In any case, Chris k n e w f r o m the d i a r y that o n September 28, 1978,
Father A l d o had indeed had a " l o n g conversation w i t h Pp a b o u t envelope
left by immediate predecessor." H e k n e w f u r t h e r that His Holiness had
opened the envelope, had read irs conrenrs and had resealed it w i t h that
second i n s c r i p t i o n — " C o n c e r n i n g rhe c o n d i t i o n o f H o l y M o t h e r C h u r c h
after June 2 9 , 1 9 6 3 " — t e l l i n g Carnesecca rhat ir was " i n s u r a n c e . "
Finally, Gladstone knew t h a t , f o l l o w i n g the s t u n n i n g death o f the new
Pope a mere t h i r t y - t h r e e days after his election, the experienced
Carnesecca h a d been called i n by Vincennes to assist at the triage o f per-
sonal documents left by t w o dead Popes. H e k n e w t h a t A u r e a r i n i had also
been present. H e k n e w that the double-sealed envelope had figured i n that
triage; that Vincennes a n d A u r e a r i n i had borh been shocked to see i t ; that
Vincennes had taken charge of i t ; a n d t h a t Carnesecca had been w o r r i e d
rhar the "insurance m i g h t b a c k f i r e . "
A slight frisson ran t h r o u g h Chris as he leaned f o r w a r d i n his chair and
swirched rhe reader o n again.. There was no longer any d o u b t i n his m i n d
rhat an enthronement ceremony had taken place. H e had the testimony o f
t w o dead Popes; and he had the testimony o f his beloved friend, A l d o
Carnesecca, ro a deathbed confession o f an eyewitness. It remained only t o
learn h o w i t had been done, and by w h o m .
His m i n d t o t a l l y concentrated o n his w o r k , C h r i s t i a n fitted the first o f
the r e m a i n i n g microcopies i n t o the reader, focused the page and started
reading. O n e after another he read them a l l . H e paused n o w and then to
check o n this w o r d or that phrase. But over the next several hours, he
became privy ro every h o r r i d detail o f the rituale that had enthroned the
Prince as Ascendant i n the Cappella Paolina o n the significant date o f June
2 9 , 1963.
H e learned o f the stratagem o f die double ceremony—a "Parallel En-
t h r o n e m e n t , " i t was called i n the ledger—that had been devised t o get
a r o u n d rhe i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f a f u l l - b l o o d e d enthronemenr in the sacred and
well-guarded "Target C h a p e l " w i t h i n the precincrs o f rhe Vatican. H e
learned o f rhe arrangements made w i t h the " A u t h o r i z e d Sponsoring
C h a p e l " i n South C a r o l i n a , a n d the names o f the central clerical partici-
pants i n the ceremony there. The once r e n o w n e d Bishop James Russeton
had been p r i n c i p a l Celebrant:; and n o less a figure t h a n the present C a r d i -
nal of C e n t u r y c i t y had served as his A r c h p r i e s t and co-Celebrant.
Gladstone had t o force himself to read rhe account o f the ceremony i n
rhe Sponsoring Chapel irself. A n accounr w h i c h A r c h b i s h o p D - G had done
his best t o set d o w n f a i t h f u l l y as it had been reported f r o m one " C e r e m o -
nial Messenger" ro rhe orher o n an open telephone connection between
the Sponsoring Chapel i n America a n d the Target Chapel in Rome. A n
account o f p r o f a n i t y and hate that was the more heinous f o r the laconic
 600 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

manner in w h i c h rhe A r c h b i s h o p had recorded ir. A n accounr o f the

merhodical p r o f a n a t i o n o f e v e r y t h i n g rhar was sacred and rhe defilement
of e v e r y t h i n g that was i n n o c e n t .
Page after page was filled w i t h the indescribably f o u l " I n v o c a t i o n s " that
had been chanted in borh Chapels; the indescribably sadtsric series o f
animal sacrifices that had been p e r f o r m e d in A m e r i c a ; the indescribably
degenerare inversion o f H o l y C o m m u n i o n , coupled w i t h the indescribably
sadistic and repeared v i o l a t i o n o f the " R i t u a l V i c t i m " on the A l t a r — a
c h i l d whose name was given as Agnes—that had been perpetrated by
priesrs and Parricipants a l i k e i n the Sponsoring Chapel.
T h o u g h enraged and sickened, rhere were still more h o r r o r s for G l a d -
stone t o face i n t o before he had done w i t h this blasphemous insanity. For,
w i t h the physical brutalities completed, the p r i m a r y action o f the Parallel
F,nrhronement had swirched t o rhe Target Chapel i n Rome. There, as
C h r i s t i a n read, an " I n t e r n a t i o n a l Delegare"—a layman by rhe name o f
O t t o Sekuler—had carried o u t the sacrilegious role o f "Plenipotentiary
E x t r a o r d i n a r y . " By rhe reading of a " B i l l o f A u r h o r i z a r i o n , " rhe rexr of
w h i c h A r c h b i s h o p D - G had recorded, the Chapel o f St. Paul had been co-
opted as the " I n n e r Chapel o f rhe Prince w i r h i n the C i t a d e l o f the E n e m y . "
T h e n , by an act o f his i n d i v i d u a l w i l l , each o f the Vatican P a r t i c i p a n t s —
" t h e R o m a n P h a l a n x , " as rhey were called c o l l e c t i v e l y — h a d completed
the final r w o r i t u a l requirernenrs o f rhe enthronement.
As a b o d y , they had s w o r n "rhe Sacred O a r h o f C o m m i r m e n r " adminis-
tered by rhe Delegare. T h e n each m a n had approached rhe A l r a r ro give
" E v i d e n c e " o f his personal d e d i c a t i o n . W i r h b l o o d d r a w n by rhe prick of a
golden p i n , each had pressed his fingerprinr beside his name on rhe Bill of
A u t h o r i z a t i o n . H e n c e f o r t h , rhe life and w o r k o f every member o f rhe Pha-
lanx i n rhe R o m a n Ciradel was to be focused o n the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the
papacy itself. N o longer was the Petrine Office ro be an instrument o f the
"Nameless W e a k l i n g . " I t was ro be fashioned inro a w i l l i n g insrrumenr o f
rhe Prince, and a l i v i n g m o d e l for " r h e N e w Age o f M a n . "
Senseless o f rhe hours rhar passed, or o f rhe c a r i n g sraff rhar kepr an eye
for his w e l l - b e i n g , o r o f rhe concerned b u t discreet calls G i o v a n n i L u -
cadamo made f r o m the Raffaele, Gladstone t u r n e d ar lasr ro the final
microcopies w a i r i n g ro be read—rhe rosrer o f R o m a n and A m e r i c a n Par-
ticipant in rhe enthronemenr ceremonies.
Gladsrone was no longer surprised o r shocked by rhe names he saw.
N o r w o u l d he ever be puzzled again by rhe presence o f so many unsuitable
and u n w o r r h y clerics w i r h their u n h o l y ambirions and their neglect of
Christ's f a i t h f u l . E v e r y t h i n g was n o w explicable. O f course such men
f o u n d no d i f f i c u l t y in f o r m i n g alliances w i t h nonbelievers; w i r h s w o r n
enemies o f Chrisr and o f a l l religion. O f course they had no use f o r the
revelations made by rhe Blessed M o t h e r o f C h r i s t ar Fatima. O f course
they c o u l d nor w a i r ro r i d the C h u r c h o f the Slavic Pope.
If a n y t h i n g surprised C h r i s , in fact, ir was rhe names that were nor
QUO VADIS? 601

inscribed o n the A r c h b i s h o p ' s lists. Chief a m o n g rhe missing o n rhe Ro-

m a n rosrer was C a r d i n a l C o s i m o M a e s r r o i a n n i . A n d yer he, t o o , was i n i t
up t o his eyes. For, w i t h rhe exception o f Secrerary of State G i a c o m o
G r a z i a n i , rhe lirrle Cardinal's closesr associares i n rhe Vatican turned up in
rhe ledger. Maestroianni's u n s w e r v i n g obeisance ro the f o r w a r d steps of
hisrory and Graziani's d e d i c a t i o n t o self-aggrandizement had laid borh
m e n open as apr rargers for such " a d v i s o r s " and " c o l l a b o r a r o r s " as C a r d i -
nal N o a h Palombo and C a r d i n a l Leo Pensabene, a m o n g orhers, w h o had
s w o r n rhar b l o o d oarh againsr Peter ar rhe enthronement.
T h o u g h the h o u r was lare and C h r i s t i a n was very near exhaustion, he
stared at the lists a w h i l e longer. O r rather, he stared at t w o names: Jean-
Claude de Vincennes a n d Silvio A u r e a r i n i . He had speculated for so long
abour the contents of the envelope; about w h y men w o u l d k i l l other men
in connection w i t h i t ; a b o u t w h y Carnesecca had been murdered and by
w h o m . N o w he had his answers. G i u s t i n o Lucadamo had been r i g h t .
W h a t Farher A l d o had seen was so i m p o r t a n t rhar ir hadn't been enough
to k i l l h i m . Some maniac had w a n t e d to b u r n his eyes our for h a v i n g seen
it; had w a n t e d t o sear the very memory of it f r o m his b r a i n .
" I r ' s the o n l y possible a n s w e r , " Chris reasoned w i r h himself as he f i -
nally swirched rhe reader o f f . Aside f r o m rhe o l d Pope, the Seprember
Pope and Carnesecca himself, o n l y r w o m e n had k n o w n o f rhe existence of
the envelope. Bur C a r d i n a l Vincennes was dead and buried when A l d o
was m u r d e r e d . T h a r lefr o n l y one. Silvio A u r e a t i n i was rhe maniac.

Early on rhe m o r n i n g o f Wednesday, M a y 10, his lasr day in Ukraine, rhe

Slavic Pope set o u t by car w i t h his entourage for his visir ro rhe village of
H r u s h i v . Irs significance for t h e H o l y Father was no secrer. The focus of
rhis leg o f his pilgrimage was the little w o o d e n C h u r c h of the H o l y T r i n i r y ,
w h e r e , as reliable reporrs testified, rhe Blessed V i r g i n had appeared re-
cently, and more than once, l:o reinforce rhe Fatima message.
Inside the c h u r c h , H i s Ploliness conducted rhe O r t h o d o x liturgy o f Ben-
e d i c t i o n , M o l e b e n and Parastas. They proceeded o u t d o o r s ro a temporary
A l t a r that had been crecred f o r rhis momenrous occasion. There his arms fc

crossed u p o n his breasr and his lips m o v i n g o n l y n o w and again, he

prayed silently and at length. Standing stock-still, he gazed so inrenrly
u p w a r d r o w a r d rhe dome of the church where rhe V i r g i n had been seen,
a n d seemed so o b l i v i o u s o f rhe press and rhe vasr public alike, that Farher
Slattery and Farher Gurmacher w o n d e r e d rogerher i f rhe V i r g i n m i g h t have
chosen this m o m e n t to granr bis desire for some vision; some g u i d i n g sign.
A p p a r e n r l y she d i d n o t . Bur if disappoinrment deepened the fatigue he
must surely be feeling by n o w , rhe Ponriff gave no sign o f ir. O n rhe
c o n t r a r y , he suggested a departure f r o m his i t i n e r a r y — a visir ro rhe Car-
parhian M o u n r a i n s i n rhe H u t s u l region. D r . Fanarore dissuaded h i m ,
however. Deeply concerned f o r rhe pace H i s Ploliness was keeping, and
w i r h an eye on the ever v i g i l a n t M o n s i g n o r e M i c h a l i k , rhe papal physician
 602 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

insisted that the Tope r e t u r n to home base i n Kiev for a rest before g o i n g
on t o Sr. Petersburg.

" I s rhar a smile o f t r i u m p h , M o n s i g n o r e ? " G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o welcomed

C h r i s Gladstone t o his study at the Raffaele after s u n d o w n on Wednesday.
"A smile o f resolve, Signor G i o v a n n i . " C h r i s t i a n felt surprisingly fit
after his ordeal at the v i l l a . A few hours o f sleep a n d many hours o f
t h o u g h t had done w o n d e r s to clear his head. " T h a n k s to the service you
rendered me so gracefully, I k n o w w h a r I musr d o . Bur I need ro impose
another urgent requesr o n y o u . "
" Y o n o w e me n o r h i n g , M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s r i a n . A n d I w i l l be happy to
help f u r t h e r i f I c a n . " H e had sized rhis y o u n g prelate up as a faithful
servant o f the H o l y Father, as a man n o t entirely c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h R o m a n
ways; as one w h o still relied o n others f o r d i r e c t i o n . Somehow, t h o u g h ,
the last element o f that description no longer seemed t o fit, and he was
interested t o k n o w w h a t h a d caused such a radical change in h i m .
Before Chris gor d o w n t o his urgent business, he asked for news o f the
papal p a r t y . T o his relief, the older man d i d n ' t waste time by pretending
ignorance. H e had spoken to his nephew by r a d i o early rhis m o r n i n g , he
said, and n o r h i n g u n r o w a r d had occurred. " T h e H o l y Farher is s h o w i n g
signs o f f a t i g u e " — L u c a d a m o w o u n d up his s u m m a r y — " b u t there can he
n o w o n d e r abour t h a t . G i u s t i n o is still o n the l o o k o u t f o r rrouble. Bur so
far, so g o o d . "
" W h e n w i l l y o u speak r o h i m again, Signor G i o v a n n i ? " W i t h the Vati-
can under Maesrroianni's c o n t r o l n o w , Chris assumed G i u s r i n o had ser up
a c o m m u n i c a t i o n s schedule w i t h his uncle.
" Y o u have a message f o r h i m ? "
" I have a message f o r rhe Floly Farher. He musr ger back ro Rome
wirhout delay."
" W e l l . " The older man stood u p . " A requesr like thar is likely ro be
refused. But at least y o u r r i m i n g is g o o d . C o m e w i r h m e . "
Gladstone was still g a w k i n g at the amazing array o f electronic gear
installed i n Lucadamo's private office w h e n the security chief's recognition
signal came over the airwaves f r o m K i e v , f o l l o w e d by the f a m i l i a r sound
o f his voice.
" G i u s t i n o . " It was Gladstone w h o spoke u p first. " W e f o u n d the enve-
lope. T h e i n f o r m a t i o n is as bad as it can be. I f H i s Holiness doesn't re-
t u r n — i f y o u ' r e righr; i f rhere is a trap and he is induced to give u p n o w —
Lucifer w i n s and occupies the center. We can'r a l l o w rhar t o h a p p e n . "
M o r e acutely aware r h a n Chris rhar r a d i o signals are easily intercepted,
G i u s r i n o k n e w berrer t h a n t o ask f o r details. But he also k n e w the presenr
m i n d o f rhe Slavic Pope. " H e ' s determined ro go r h r o u g h w i r h this to the
bitter end. There's no w a y to get h i m t o t u r n back n o w . We leave for Sr.
Petersburg i n a few h o u r s . T h e n it's o n t o M o s c o w and the ceremonial
Ql'O VADIS? 603

r e t u r n o f the Kazan I c o n . He's convinced that between n o w and then, he'll

have the sign he's been p r a y i n g f o r . H e w o n ' t t u r n b a c k . "
There were a couple o f b r i e f exchanges after t h a t . N o , Chris replied t o
the most urgent question o n the security chief's m i n d ; he had learned
n o t h i n g new f r o m M a e s t r o i a n n i ; had barely seen h i m , in fact. Yes,
G i u s t i n o said, rhe H o l y Father was standing up to the rigors o f the journey
w e l l ; b u t their projected r e t u r n t o Rome o n Saturday, the t h i r t e e n t h , was
still three g r u e l i n g days o f f .
Very q u i c k l y t h e n , i t was " o v e r and o u r . "
Gladstone's t r o u b l e d silence was a clear enough sign rhat he had been
left w i t h a p r o b l e m he c o u l d n ' t solve.
" T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g like a l i t t l e brandy to clear a man's m i n d . " G i o v a n n i
Lucadamo's i n v i t a t i o n as he led the w a y back t o his study was his civilized
way o f o f f e r i n g t o help if he c o u l d .
W i t h vintage b r a n d y w a r m i n g in their hands, the t w o men sat by an
open w i n d o w l o o k i n g o u t at the night traffic w h i l e C h r i s t i a n w o r k e d o u t
i n his m i n d h o w m u c h he c o u l d share w i t h this patient man o f experience.
T he matter in hand was b o t h A p o s t o l i c and confessional. But, he decided,
the m o r a l circumstances w e r e such that practical j u d g m e n t must prevail.
" A t o u r first m e e t i n g , " Gladstone began at last, " y o u and Gibson A p -
pleyard spoke o f h a v i n g enrrusted y o u r lives ro one another more than
once. I t is in such t r u s t rhat I w o u l d like t o speak to y o u n o w . "
" W h o s e life do w e speak o f , M o n s i g n o r e ? "
" L i k e y o u r n e p h e w , " Chris responded evenly, " I believe the Pope is at
serious risk. But, more t h a n t h a r , rhe life o f rhe C h u r c h is ar srake as w e l l . "
In g r i m , staccaro phrases, C h r i s wenr o n to tell o f A l d o Carnesecca's dis-
covery, o f his a t t e m p t t o get t w o Popes t o deal w i t h i t and o f the martyr's
price he had paid f o r his concern. He t o l d o f the rituale t h a t had been
carried o u t simultaneously in Rome and South C a r o l i n a . H e explained the
universal significance o f the enrhronemenr, and rhe imporrance o f rhe c o n -
nection between the R o m a n Phalanx and such secular counterparts as
O t t o Sekuler. A n d he adduced the fact rhat some o f the clerical Partici-
pants in that ceremony were n o w engaged as papabili in the General C o n -
sistory under w a y in R o m e .
Signor G i o v a n n i u n d e r s t o o d the f u l l nature o f Gladstone's crisis. " I
assume the first order o f business is to get y o u t o the Pope before a n y t h i n g
u n t o w a r d happens t o h i m in Russia."
" E x a c t l y r i g h t . We c a n n o t acquiesce i n the arrangements chosen by rhe
enemies o f the R o m a n papacy. I must make sure H i s Holiness returns t o
cleanse his A p o s t o l i c House. Fie may n o t be the greatest Pope we could
hope f o r . b u t he is Pope. A n d , w i t h o u t meaning to be blasphemous, better
w e have a live ass rhan a dead l i o n . So, Signor G i o v a n n i , the t r i c k is f o r me
t o get t o h i m w i t h o u t tipping my hand in R o m e . "
" P l l leave rhe quesrion o f governance ro y o u , M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s r i a n . "
G i o v a n n i p o u r e d anorher generous d o l l o p o f b r a n d y inro Gladstone's
 604 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

glass and his o w n , and l i t up a cigar. " F r o m my p o i n t o f v i e w — a n d

speaking o f live asses a n d dead l i o n s — w e ' r e r a l k i n g abour clandestine
f l i g h t over inrernarional borders, and abour logistics."
For the next couple o f h o u r s , L u c a d a m o pur his experience ro g o o d use.
T h e i n i t i a l p r o b l e m he t a c k l e d was clandestine flight. Firsr, he said, and
even w i r h a Vatican passport, Chris w o u l d need visas; bur rhat was some-
r h i n g G i o v a n n i c o u l d arrange q u i c k l y and w i t h o u t d i f f i c u l t y . Second, he
advised t h a t c o m m e r c i a l travel w o u l d be unwise in the circumstances; b u t
here again, i t w o u l d be n o p r o b l e m ro arrange f o r a private jet to take the
M o n s i g n o r e f r o m one o f the smaller a i r p o r t s t o his destination. T h e desti-
n a t i o n itself, however, was somerhing ro consider. Because no one k n e w
w h a r sorr o f t r a p M a e s t r o i a n n i and his cabal had arranged for rhe Pope,
o r w h e n ir w o u l d be s p r u n g , Chris's insrincr was to head straight f o r St.
Petersburg. Bur L u c a d a m o felr such close r i m i n g w o u l d be the greater risk.
Better t o gamble thar the Pope w o u l d make i t t o M o s c o w . Chris c o u l d be
there ahead o f h i m , and lay the w h o l e p r o b l e m our ro h i m before he
started his day.
W h a t clinched the a r g u m e n t i n favor o f M o s c o w was the next element
that had to be taken care of. Gladstone agreed that his sudden and unex-
plained disappearance f r o m Rome w o u l d be a red flag o f w a r n i n g for
M a e s r r o i a n n i and A u r e a r i n i . Some plausible cover had ro be devised for
his absence f r o m the Secrerariar, rherefore; and less suspicion w o u l d be
aroused i f he attended t o that task in person. T h a t meant Chris w o u l d
have to spend p a r t o f T h u r s d a y m o r n i n g ar the Vatican. A n d that in t u r n
meanr he w o u l d n ' r even get o u t o f Rome u n t i l the H o l y Father's hectic St.
Petersburg schedule was w e l l under w a y .
W i t h the basic elements o f flight and logistics prerty well settled, rhere
remained one terrible possibility Gladstone h a d n ' t addressed in his expla-
n a t i o n o f the enthronemenr. A possibility L u c a d a m o decided ro broach
srraight o n .
' l undersrand the o l d Pope's weakness at the end o f his life, M o n s i -
v

gnore. A n d clearly the Seprember Pope was cut o f f before he c o u l d counter

rhe rituale w i t h the f u l l force of an exorcism. Bur isn'r ir possible rhar rhe
Slavic Pope has also been rold o f rhe enthronement? T h a t he k n o w s , and
has done n o t h i n g ? "
T h a t question was one a m o n g the many Chris had wresrled w i r h at the
v i l l a ; one a m o n g the few to w h i c h he had no answer. For all he k n e w ,
maybe Carnesecca had gone ro the Slavic Pope w i t h the i n f o r m a t i o n he
had given ro his r w o predecessors. For a l l he k n e w , rhe Ponriff had even
made an attempr ro find rhe envelope. O r maybe he had been so benr on
his o w n strange p o n t i f i c a l agenda t h a t he had simply shoved Carnesecca's
revelation i n t o the b a c k g r o u n d , exactly as he had done w i r h those reporrs.
A n d yet, all the maybes i n the w o r l d d i d n ' t change the one t h i n g G l a d -
stone k n e w f o r certain. H e had to get to the H o l y Father.
" I d o n ' t k n o w the answer ro y o u r question, Signor G i o v a n n i , " Chrisrian
QUO VADIS? 605

replied at last. " I may never k n o w . But w i t h y o u r help, I intend to show

h i m the evidence once and f o r a l l . N a m e the names. C o n f r o n t h i m . Shock
h i m . A n g e r h i m i f need be. Use every force at m y c o m m a n d to get h i m t o
do w h a t s h o u l d have been d o n e l o n g before n o w . W h a t happens after that
w i l l be up t o h i m . In the e n d , as i n so m a n y other things, the final decision
w i l l be h i s . "
" N o , M o n s i g n o r e , " L u c a d a m o reminded the priesr. " I n rhe e n d , rhe
decision w i l l be C h r i s t ' s . "

" A R E Y O U M A D , M o n s i g n o r e Chrisrian? You can'r leave R o m e ! " T h a t

was the only e x p l a n a t i o n M o n s i g n o r e Taco M a n u g u e r r a c o u l d see for
Gladsrone's behavior o n rhis otherwise splendid T h u r s d a y m o r n i n g . M a d -
ness.
O n second t h o u g h t , he decided t o be fair abour ir. As C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o -
ianni's secretary, M a n u g u e r r a was p r i v y to a l l o f H i s Eminence's plans.
Sometimes he f o r g o t t h a t others—even men as i n t i m a t e l y connected w i t h
developments as G l a d s t o n e — w e r e n ' t f u l l y i n the i n f o r m a t i o n l o o p .
" L o o k , Reverendo." Taco leaned f o r w a r d and lowered his voice. The h o u r
was early and no one was near; b u t his years of experience at Maestro-
ianni's side had taught h i m t h a t a man c o u l d n ' t be t o o careful. "Between
you and me, H i s Eminence has i m p o r r a n r plans f o r y o u . Y o u ' l l be m a k i n g
a b i g mistake i f y o u leave R o m e n o w . "
C h r i s r i a n scrutinized M a n u g u e r r a s face. H i s inrenrion had been t o
;

m a k e an e a r l y - m o r n i n g appearance, esrablish an acceprable cover srory ro

account f o r his absence f r o m the Secretariat and then be o n his w a y to
M o s c o w . Like all g o o d cover stories, Chris's was simple and n o t entirely
u n t r u t h f u l . A n unfinished assignment he had t o complete f o r the H o l y
Father, he had t o l d Taco, w o u l d take h i m away f r o m the Vatican for a few
days. N o w , t h o u g h , the Momsignore's explosive reaction suggesred some-
r h i n g more m i g h r be achieved in rhis conversation. I f he played d u m b ,
w h o c o u l d rell whar he m i g h t learn?
" I can't tell y o u h o w g r a t e f u l 1 am f o r y o u r advice, M o n s i g n o r e T a c o . "
C h r i s leaned f o r w a r d and whispered in his t u r n . " B u t I ' l l o n l y be gone for
a c o u p l e o f days. I f a l l goes w e l l , Ell be back by the time the P o n t i f f returns
on Saturday. W h a t w i t h the Consistory and a l l , His Eminence w o n ' t have
time for a minittante like m e . "
T h a t was one of the things M a n u g u e r r a had always liked a b o u t this
A m e r i c a n . U n l i k e some o f the other p u f f e d - u p staffers a r o u n d here, he
k n e w his place. " O f course, d o w h a t y o u choose, M o n s i g n o r e . " Taco g o t
 606 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

up t o close the outer d o o r ro his office. " B u r my advice is ro sray here.

These are s r i r r i n g t i m e s ! " The secretary returned ro his chair and looked
fixedly at some papers o n his desk. H e was o b v i o u s l y wresrling w i t h a big
decision. Finally, he raised! his eyes and smiled.
" I k n o w H i s Eminence has already t o l d you a b o u t this being a time o f
t r a n s i t i o n f r o m one pontificate to a n o t h e r . " The Cardinal's secretary sat
back, his eyes glistening. " O f course, I w o u l d n ' t breathe a w o r d of this
n o r m a l l y . But there's no p o i n t i n y o u r r u n n i n g o f f t o p e r f o r m some task
for a Pope w h o w i l l n o t be r e t u r n i n g . N o t w h e n y o u can stay and be
present w i t h the rest o f us at the creation, i f I m i g h t say so."
" N o r r e r u r n i n g ? " Chris feigned disbelief. " B u r rhe H o l y Father's sched-
ule is ser. T h e w h o l e w o r l d k n o w s . . . "
W h a t a g r a t i f y i n g response! M a n u g u e r r a was so rarely the first to i m -
p a r t significant news, i t h a r d l y mattered rhat his audience was such a
l o w l y Vatican creature. A n d besides, he had reason to expect Gladstone's
status to take an u p w a r d t u r n very soon. It never h u r t to l o o k to the
f u t u r e . " F o r g e r w h a t the w h o l e w o r l d k n o w s , m y dear Reverendo, Let me
give y o u the unpublished t i m e lines. T h e n y o u ' l l see where w i s d o m lies."
M a n u g u e r r a had been schooled well in his service t o C a r d i n a l Maesrro-
ianni. In d o u b l e - t a l k that made u n t h i n k a b l e treachery sound like holy
scripture, he dealt firsr w i r h rhe unpublished t i m e line of the Floly Father's
pilgrimage. T h e Ponriff, he confided pieristically, was "destined for a quiet
t i m e o f repose and c o n t e m p l a t i o n " w i t h the H e r m i t s o f St. Paul w h o lived
in seclusion at Poland's Jasna G o r a M o n a s t e r y i n Czestochowa. " F o r rhe
enrichmenr o f the C h u r c h , ' " he confided f u r t h e r , " l i k e M a r y i n rhe Gospel
accounr, rhe H o l y Farher has chosen the berrer p a r t . "
" H e w i l l sign the Resignation Protocol i n Russia, t h e n ? " Chris was sure
his arrempted smile was s i c k l y .
" O h , n o . " T h e t r u t h o f rhe matrer, as M a n u g u e r r a k n e w , was rhar
neither Sr. Perersburg n o r M o s c o w was secure f r o m Rome's poinr of view;
rhat n o one w a n t e d ro entrusr such e x r r a o r d i n a r y p o w e r ro a mere warch-
dog a n d enforcer like M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k ; and thar in any case
R o m a n usage and d e c o r u m must h o l d sway, even i n situations like this.
Speaking o f usage and d e c o r u m , however, i t w o u l d n ' t do t o come righr
out and say such rhings. Far better to keep up the charade of holy intent.
" N o , n o , " M a n u g u e r r a repeated himself. " H i s Holiness has initialed the
Protocol as an i n d i c a t i o n o f his m i n d . But he w i l l sign i t i n t o l a w , so to
speak, under the benediction o f the H o l y Icon of the M a d o n n a at Czesto-
c h o w a . A n d he w i l l do so, fittingly, in the presence of his o w n faithful
servanr M o n s i g n o r e Vacchi-Khouras, the H o l y See's represenrative in
Warsaw."
Chris d i d n ' t w a n t t o seem overeager for derails, bur neither c o u l d he ler
this m o m e n t pass. ' T i m i n g w i l l be everyrhing in such an enterprise."
" W h a t a q u i c k m i n d y o u have, Reverendo!" N o w o n d e r Maestroianni
put such stock in this f e l l o w , the secretary t h o u g h t . " H i s Eminence's ar-
QUO VADIS ? 607

rangement o f t h e R o m a n t i m e line has been made d i f f i c u l t by t h a t very

question. H e had t o make allowance f o r uncertainties in the papal sched-
ule."
D i f f i c u l t or n o t , arrangements had been w o r k e d our as neatly as a train
schedule. The Papal N u n c i o w o u l d set o u t f r o m W a r s a w , Protocol in hand
and ready f o r signature, rhe m o m e n t he got w o r d f r o m Jasna Gora
M o n a s t e r y in Czestochowa t h a t the H o l y Father had a r r i v e d . The actual
t i m i n g w o u l d depend on a signal f r o m M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k - Bur
because ir w o u l d all have ro be accomplished by early Sarurday m o r n i n g ar
the outside, M a n u g u e r r a said,, the R o m e schedule had been keyed to t h a t
date.
" A t his news conference o n rhis very day, in f a c t " — M o n s i g n o r e Taco
practically w i n k e d at G l a d s r o n e — " o u r g o o d friend M o n s i g n o r e But-
tafuoco w i l l announce a s y n o d to be convened at eight o'clock o n Satur-
day m o r n i n g . The e x r r a o r d i n a r y number o f bishops in R o m e just n o w
have all been s u m m o n e d to a t t e n d , and the press w i l l be i n v i t e d . At that
s y n o d , C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i himself w i l l make rhe C o m m o n M i n d Vore
a marter o f public record.
"Now, M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s r i a n " — T a c o r h u m p e d his desk w i r h a finger—
" C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i does n o t m i n i m i z e rhe importance o f your w o r k
in b r i n g i n g rhe C M V ro f r u i t i o n . H e wanrs y o u ro be presenr when he
i n f o r m s the People o f G o d aind the w i d e w o r l d rhar an o v e r w h e l m i n g
m a j o r i r y o f the C h u r c h ' s bishops has concluded it t o be right and just that
His Holiness has v o l u n t a r i l y resigned in order rhat the H o l y Spirit choose
a new Aposrle to lead the C h u r c h i n t o the t h i r d m i l l e n n i u m . "
M a n u g u e r r a paused ro let Gladstone savor rhe news o f such signal pre-
fermenr in his regard. So stony was rhe expression o n the y o u n g A m e r i -
can's face, however, t h a t he restated the p o i n t in bolder terms. " I f y o u r
w o r k o n the C o m m o n M i n d Vote doesn't k n i t y o u a Cardinal's hat, M o n -
signore, then I d o n ' t k n o w R o m e . " W i t h a smile, t h e n , and w i t h an eye t o
his o w n preferment d o w n the line, he dipped i n t o the Gospels again for
suitable i n s p i r a t i o n . " R e m e m b e r me w h e n y o u come i n r o y o u r k i n g d o m ,
Reverendo/'
" T h a t w i l l be a day o f fireworks, M o n s i g n o r e T a c o . " Chris d i d his besr
to enter i n t o rhe spirit o f t h i n g s . M o r e rhan a n y t h i n g else at this m o m e n t ,
he w a n t e d to keep M a n u g u e r r a t a l k i n g .
" A h , m y f r i e n d , the synod a n d the p u b l i c a t i o n o f the C M V w i l l just be
the prelude t o the real fireworks. The most i m p o r t a n t event o f Saturday
w i l l take place w h e n the Cardinals meet i n a plenary session o f the Gen-
eral Consistory at n o o n . By t h e n , Vacchi-Khouras w i l l have delivered the
fully signed and d u l y sealed Resignation Protocol to C a r d i n a l Secretary o f
State G r a z i a n i . I n view o f that P r o t o c o l , and under H i s Eminence
M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s guidance as Camerlengo, the Cardinals w i l l realize h o w
closely the papal resignation coheres w i t h the m o v e m e n t o f the H o l y Spirit
 608 w1 N ns r. p T H o r sr
a m o n g the f a i t h f u l and the bishops. T h e Consistory w i l l t r a n s f o r m irself
inro a Conclave.
" I n f a c r " — M a n u g u e r r a sat back in his c h a i r — " 1 happen to k n o w that
C a r d i n a l M a e s t r o i a n n i is r h i n k i n g o f i n v i t i n g y o u t o act as his personal
secrerary in t h a t historic m e e r i n g . "
C h r i s t i a n felt as i f he h a d suddenly been weighted d o w n by stones. A l l
o f his and G i u s t i n o Lucadamo's w o r r i e s had been c o n f i r m e d . Bur
M a n u g u e r r a had said t h a t events in R o m e had been geared t o Saturday
because o f uncertainties in the papal schedule. Clearly, then, whatever
move w o u l d be made t o w a y l a y the P o n t i f f t o Czestochowa could take
place at any m o m e n t . Perhaps rhis very day in Sr. Petersburg, Still, the
Prorocol itself w o u l d n ' t be presenred t o H i s Holiness for signature before
he reached Czestochowa. N o t before M o n s i g n o r e Vacchi-Khouras reached
Czestochowa, in fact. W h a r it came d o w n r o , rhen, was a race between
himself and Vacchi-Khouras. A contest to see w h o c o u l d get to the H o l y
Father firsr, and a c o m p e t i t i o n t o see w h o w o u l d be more persuasive.
"So, M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n " — T a c o M a n u g u e r r a spoke as rhe very soul
o f practical r e a s o n — " w i t h all these facts at y o u r disposal, is ir nor clear
n o w where w i s d o m lies? Is ir n o t clear that y o u must stay in R o m e ? "
Taco's question came as a t i m e l y reminder. Chris had gorren w a y ahead
o f himself. H e was still a t square one. For rhe briefest m o m e n t , he was
tempted by the idea o f t r y i n g to buy t i m e . He was tempted t o leave a note
for M a e s t r o i a n n i that w o u l d upset the s m o o t h timetable he and his col-
leagues had w o r k e d o u t . But i t was a s w i f t l y passing t h o u g h t . N o t h i n g ,
Chris realized, w o u l d t u r n M a e s t r o i a n n i back n o w . N o t even knowledge
o f the enthronement ceremony. N o r even the facr that his closest col-
leagues had hitched a ride o n his agenda for unspeakable reasons. O n the
c o n t r a r y , A u r e a r i n i a n d the others were b o u n d to deny any such accusa-
tions and to make counteraccusations o f rheir o w n against h i m . To make
any such move, then, w o u l d be worse than fruitless. In all l i k e l i h o o d , i t
w o u l d set C h r i s r i a n himiself up as a m u c h more urgent rarget than
Carnesecca had been.
N o . W h a r Gladsrone needed was w h a t he had come f o r in the firsr
place. H e had ro ger our o f Rome w i r h the blessing o f C a r d i n a l Maestro-
i a n n i in the person o f his self-satisfied secundo. " B r i l l i a n t ! " Christian be-
stowed a look o f such a d m i r a t i o n o n M a n u g u e r r a as t o make the angels
blush. " T h e plan is positively b r i l l i a n t , Reverendo. A n d y o u r explanarion,
even more b r i l l i a n t . Bur, m y dear f e l l o w " — G l a d s r o n e leaned f o r w a r d
again in i m i t a t i o n o f Taco's best c o n s p i r a t o r i a l s t y l e — " e v e r y t h i n g y o u
have confided t o me this m o r n i n g makes m y o w n business outside o f
Rome even more u r g e n t . "
T h e Italian's m o u t h d r o p p e d open in surprise.
" I k n e w y o u ' d u n d e r s t a n d . " C h r i s t i a n f o l l o w e d u p his advantage w i t h a
glad h a n d . " I t ' s all very hush-hush. But I can say that it's i n t i m a t e l y con-
nected w i t h the plans f o r the Pope's resignation. You can take i t f o r
QUO VADIS? 609

granted that I w i l l d o everyrhing in my p o w e r ro be back here in time for

rhe grear events on Saturday. A n d be assured of rhis, M o n s i g n o r e : I w i l l
never forger w h a t y o u have done for me this m o r n i n g . Thanks t o y o u ,
everything is so m u c h clearer in m y m i n d . N o w , let me have your blessing
and I ' l l be on m y w a y . "
" O f course, Reverendo. Bur . . . "

" C l e v e r devils, y o u r colleagues i n the Vatican, M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n . "

G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o c o u l d n ' t help but admire the scenario Christian laid
o u t for h i m ar rhe Raffaele o<n that same T h u r s d a y m o r n i n g . " S o m e h o w
rhey ger the H o l y Father t o Czestochowa. The A p o s t o l i c N u n c i o somehow
gets h i m to sign the Resignation Protocol t o justify the legality of Rome's
moves. T h e c r o w d i n rhe Vatican holds a Conclave to elect a successor.
A n d ir's all done w i r h o u r a d r o p o f papal b l o o d being spilled, and w i t h o u t
a shred of C a r d i n a l i r i a l d i g n i t y being t o r n . M a r v e l o u s ! "
Gladstone b r i d l e d at Lucadamo's professional a d m i r a t i o n . There was
w o r k to be done and he w a n t e d t o get at i t . 1 le m i g h t have saved himself
the anguish, however. G i o v a n n i had his little w a y s , but he was already
t u r n i n g possible countermoves over i n his m i n d .
4
i r c a n ' t be t h a t d i f f i c u l t , Signor G i o v a n n i , " Chris urged. " T h e same
plane t h a t was t o take me to M o s c o w can simply take me to Czestochowa
instead."
" I f it were as simple as g e t t i n g y o u i n t o Poland f o r a chat w i t h H i s
Holiness, y o u m i g h t be righr. Bur there are other considerations n o w . "
"Like what?"
" W e l l , let's start w i t h the p r o b l e m of getting the H o l y Father back to
R o m e — a s s u m i n g that's w h a t he agrees ro d o . In M o s c o w , i t w o u l d simply
have been a matter o f using his n o r m a l A l i t a l i a transport. But y o u r friend
M a n u g u e r r a p u t his finger o n rhe key to their success. T h e Pope w i l l be
isolared i n Czesrochowa. T h e r e ' l l be no whire D C - 1 0 w a i r i n g for h i m
rhere. We'll have t o have some alternative w a y o f gerting h i m back ro
R o m e o n a fast track. A n d even to get to that p o i n t , we have t o get you
directly i n t o Czestochowa i n a h u r r y , and w i t h o u t alerting anyone of y o u r
movements. T h a t in itself w i l l take some d o i n g . F r o m w h a r y o u rell me,
Maesrroianni's m a n — w h a t ' s his name a g a i n ? "
" M i c h a l i k , Signor G i o v a n n i . M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k . "
" R i g h t . M i c h a l i k must trigger the p l a n , whatever i t m a y be, well before
rhe P o n t i f f s scheduled deparrure f o r R o m e on Sarurday. T i m e is rhe big
gamble. Speed and secrecy are rhe b i g hurdles. We're g o i n g to need h e l p . "
" Y o u have a p l a n in m i n d ? "
" 1 have people i n m i n d . " L u c a d a m o sat d o w n at his desk and reached
for his scrambler phone. "People I can rely on in situations like this. But
y o u ' d better pray that w h a t e v e r ploy they have in m i n d to waylay the
Pope t o Czestochowa w o n ' t : come i n t o play today in St. Petersburg.
There's no w a y to get e v e r y t h i n g in place that fast. I n fact, M o n s i g n o r e " —
 610 WINDSWEPT HOUSl

G i o v a n n i dialed t h r o u g h t o a private n u m b e r at the A m e r i c a n Embassy i n

Brussels—"we'll have our hands full even t o revise o u r plans and get
rhings under w a y at o u r e n d by the t i m e the pilgrimage makes M o s c o w
tomorrow. . . .
" A h ! " L u c a d a m o spoke i n t o the phone n o w . " I s that y o u , A p p l e y a r d ? "

Ehe papal party touched d o w n ar Sheremeryevo-2, M o s c o w ' s interna-

t i o n a l a i r p o r t , early o n rhe m o r n i n g o f Friday, M a y 12. The r w o planes
c a r r y i n g the accredited press corps landed soon after. N o matter h o w
t u m u l t u o u s the success o f H i s Holiness' visit ro Ukraine had been, and no
matter h o w h e a r t w a r m i n g a n d w e l c o m i n g his d a y l o n g stay i n St. Peters-
b u r g , everyone, i n c l u d i n g M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k , k n e w that the ten-
sion o n this final stop of the pilgrimage w o u l d o u t s t r i p everything that had
come before.
For one t h i n g , the g o v e r n m e n t i n M o s c o w wished t o have as little as
possible t o do w i t h this Pope w h o had frustrated and angered the A m e r i -
can Presidenr and his a d m i n i s t r a t i o n at the p o p u l a t i o n conference i n
C a i r o . For another, there h a d never been a n y r h i n g but bad b l o o d between
Rome a n d M u s c o v y . A n d t o t o p i t all o f f , after the Russians had d o m i -
nated the Slavic nations o f Eastern Europe f o r so l o n g , there were those
w h o considered it an i n d i g n i t y that the very Slav w h o had done so much
t o end t h a t d o m i n a t i o n was c o m i n g to M o s c o w bearing their H o l y Icon o f
Kazan as a g i f t .
The H o l y Father was w e l c o m e d there i n a purely private capacity as a
p i l g r i m , b u t cerrainly nor as a head of state, by a second-level member o f
the M o s c o w M i n i s t r y of Foreign A f f a i r s . T h a t gentleman conveyed his
government's c o r d i a l g o o d wishes, then handed H i s Holiness o f f like hot
goods t o the R o m a n C a t h o l i c A r c h b i s h o p o f M o s c o w and the Italian arch-
bishop w h o served as the H o l y See's Ambassador to M o s c o w .
W i t h i n an h o u r , the members o f the papal p a r t y had been transported
forry-rhree miles norrheast o f M o s c o w ro rhe r o w n o f Sergiyev Posad,
where they w o u l d be quartered at the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra founded by
St. Sergius i n the fourteenth century. T h e r e , the Slavic Pope was installed
in special apartments once imainrained f o r i m p e r i a l visirors and more re-
cently f o r i m p o r t a n t ecclesiastics o f rhe Russian O r t h o d o x C h u r c h .
The f o r m a l w e l c o m i n g f o r the H o l y Father went o f f w i t h o u t incident.
The reception was a quasi-official affair; w h i c h was t o say that no high-
level members o f the M o s c o w a d m i n i s t r a t i o n p a r t i c i p a t e d . The same hap-
less second-string d i p l o m a t w h o had d r a w n d u t y at the a i r p o r t turned up
to convey his government's good wishes once again, and this t i m e added
his hope that the P o n t i f f w o u l d have a safe return journey t o Rome.
"Safe, as i n speedy," D a m i e n Slattery said i n a stage whisper t o Giusrino
Lucadamo.
Quasi-official t h o u g h i t was, the receprion was a signal success. The
papal ambassador and the R o m a n C a t h o l i c archbishop were in attendance
QUO VADIS? 611

again, this time w i t h members o f their senior staffs. Practically all rhe
R o m a n Catholics o f M o s c o w were there, as were a n u m b e r o f archbishops
f r o m Poland and orher nations o f Eastern Europe. T h e a r r i v a l o f the p r i n -
cipal prelates o f the Russian O r t h o d o x C h u r c h stole the show f o r a time.
T h e M e t r o p o l i t a n of Sr. Petersburg and Ladoga, the second-highest-rank-
ing Russian prelate, had f o l l o w e d the Pontiff f r o m Sr. Petersburg to under-
score his reverence f o r rhe R o m a n Pope. A n d w h i l e the m o o d of Patriarch
K i r i l of M o s c o w had less to d o w i t h reverence than a desire t o keep his eye
on everything, his presence added a certain spice to the affair.
" I w o n d e r , A n g e l o " — S l a t t e r y srrolled u p ro Farher Gutmacher as he
watched the Russian prelates kiss the r i n g o f the Slavic P o p e — " h o w many
have already switched allegiance ro R o m e secretly in their hearts."
Gutmacher's reply was m i l d , b u t i t came f r o m the f u n d o f firsthand
knowledge acquired i n his travels for the H o l y Father. " I have no d o u b t
that many o f them merely a w a i r the w o r d f r o m o n high telling them to go
to Rome."
T h e a r r i v a l of the Pope's l o n g t i m e correspondent, M i k h a i l Gorbachev,
caused a grear stir a m o n g guests and journalists alike. C l a d n o w in his
new d i g n i t y as head o f rhe internarional Gorbachev F o u n d a t i o n and chief
mover a n d shaker i n the increasingly p o w e r f u l CSCE, he spent a consider-
able time in sotto voce conversation w i t h rhe H o l y Father. Raisa
Gorbachev, m e a n w h i l e , charted w i t h a n u m b e r of distinguished guests,
w h o r e m a r k e d , a m o n g orher rhings, o n the impressive c r u c i f i x she had
donned f o r the occasion.
M a n y w h o surrounded H i : ; Holiness that m o r n i n g commented o n h o w
he had aged since last rhey h a d seen h i m , and noticed a certain subdued
q u a l i t y to his m o o d . Except f o r intimates like Slattery and Gutmacher and
L u c a d a m o , however, n o one guessed that the d o m i n a n t e m o t i o n he was
undergoing was a deep and p o i g n a n t sadness. For he had come to the last
hours o f his p i l g r i m a g e , and nowhere had the Queen o f Heaven sent her
sign t o h i m .
" I w o n d e r , t h e n , " the P o n t i f f had said ro Slattery p r i o r t o the reception.
" W h a t was the p o i n t o f m y Journey?"
It h a d been less a question t h a n a c o m m e n t . But H i s Holiness had
seemed so frerful a n d rense, as i f he half expecred some dire b l o w o f
m i s f o r t u n e , that in his compassion for the H o l y Father's obvious pain and
d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , D a m i e n felt he had to answer. " D o not w o r r y . H o l y
Father; O u r Lady has e v e r y t h i n g i n h a n d . For me, the greatest sign—a sign
f r o m her h a n d , I have no d o u b t about t h a t — i s that Your Holiness is
preserved in g o o d health. A n d besides, this journey in her h o n o r has been
so signally successful! W h e n Y o u r Holiness presents the H o l y Icon of O u r
Lady o f K a z a n to H i s A l l - H o l i n e s s the Patriarch o f M o s c o w this after-
n o o n , t h a t w i l l c r o w n rhis pilgrimage and h o n o r the Queen of H e a v e n . "
The P o n t i f f had n o t replied in w o r d s ; b u t the sadness enveloping his
heart a n d soul h a d been p l a i n t o see.
 612 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

j a J a
I t w a s n ' t u n t i l the m o r n i n g of Friday, M a y 12, that Gladstone f o u n d
himself speeding away f r o m Rome Toward the O l d A p p i a n Way in one o f
G i o v a n n i Lucadamo's limousines. Sirring beside rhe rroubleshoorer w h o
d o u b l e d as d r i v e r , he c o u l d n ' t help b u t t h i n k o f the leisurely w a l k s he and
A l d o Carnesecca had taken along t h a t classical R o m a n r o a d . T h e Regina
Viarum, A l d o had called it:, the Queen o f H i g h w a y s .
As his car whizzed pasr the relics o f a dead R o m a n past—rhe tombs o f
the Scipios, o f Cecilia Meitella, rhe A r c h o f Drusus, rhe ruined Gorhic
chapel o f the Caetanis—Chris fell prey to feelings o f regret and loss. For
he c o u l d n o t shake the feeling rhat he was saying goodbye. T h e Scipios
and the Caetanis and the others seemed t o be t e l l i n g h i m that they, t o o ,
had come to Rome; that t h e y , t o o , had finally said goodbye t o the c i t y . A n
u n w i l l i n g goodbye.
Some distance beyond the c h u r c h called Domine Quo Vadis where, as
t r a d i t i o n tells, C h r i s t t u r n e d Peter back in his flight f r o m a fierce imperial
persecution t o face his m a r t y r d o m in R o m e — C h r i s t i a n ' s d r i v e r s l o w e d ,
rook a r i g h t r u m o n r o a c o u n t r y r o a d a n d , after a b u m p y three-quarters o f
a mile or so, pulled up ar am American-style ranch house.
" T h i s is i t , M o n s i g n o r e . " The chauffeur w a l k e d Chris t o the d o o r of the
safe house. " Y o u ' r e clear o n the arrangements?"
Yes, C h r i s r i a n said. H e v/as clear.
"Addio % then, M o n s i g n o r e G l a d s t o n e . " The fellow's handshake was
w a r m a n d sincere. " G o w i t h G o d . "
Chris w a t c h e d the car recede; watched it disappear; watched u n t i l the
clouds o f dust it k i c k e d u p had faded; watched even then in the p r o f o u n d
silence t h a t serried a r o u n d h i m as his sole c o m p a n i o n . He had never ex-
pecred ro be h i d i n g o u t , not: even f o r a few h o u r s , in rhis land t h a t was so
famous for arr, f o r h e r o i s m , for sancriry, for w i n e , f o r love, for beauty.
Still, he reflected as he let himself i n t o the lonely house, this land was
famous f o r a few other things as w e l l . For an invincible cruelty, f o r a
mercilessness t h a t l u r k e d a m o n g its olive groves a n d sycamores and olean-
ders, for rhe smell o f b l o o d rhar had so often mingled w i t h the scent o f
l e m o n blossoms and roses. The perennial violence o f Italy was an ancient
evil t h a t had sealed the destinies o f m a n y , and t h a t c o n t i n u e d t o strike
d o w n rhe good and the e v i l , the jusr a n d the g u i l t y , the innocent and the
damned.
H a d he a l l o w e d i t , Chris m i g h t have felt more ar sea than he had ever
been in his entire life. H e cerrainly was more alone. H e glanced at the
telephone in rhe c o m f o r t a b l y furnished house. H e assumed ir was secure;
b u t rhere was no reason t o call Signor G i o v a n n i . As he had said ro his
d r i v e r , he was clear o n the arrangemenrs. A couple o f hours f r o m n o w , a
helicoprer w o u l d arrive t o t r a n s p o r t h i m ro T r i f o r o , a small secondary
m i l i t a r y a i r p o r t o n the coasral plain a b o u t r w o h u n d r e d and fifty miles
n o r r h o f R o m e . A private jet w o u l d pick h i m up ar T r i f o r o a r o u n d m i d -
QUO VADIS? 613

day. H e should be in Brussels well before n i g h t f a l l . H i s brother Paul

w o u l d pick h i m u p there. A f t e r t h a t , his race t o reach the Slavic Pope
before Vacchi-Khouras reached H i s Holiness a n d g o t h i m t o sign the Pro-
rocol w o u l d depend o n G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d .

The presentation o f the H o l y Icon o f O u r Lady o f Kazan t o o k place at the

monastery o f Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra at r w o o'clock on Friday a f t e r n o o n .
In a ceremony that lasted a quarter o f an h o u r , the Slavic Pope presenred
the treasure to Patriarch K i r i l of M o s c o w . " W h a t m a t t e r s " — t h e H o l y
Father concluded his brief remarks ro the A r c h b i s h o p in fluent Russian—
" i s t h a t this H o l y Icon o f the M o t h e r o f G o d is hack a m o n g her people in
this l a n d . "
For a t i m e , as P o n t i f f a n d Patriarch sang the Magnificat, M a r y ' s great
h y m n o f praise a n d t h a n k s g i v i n g t o G o d , all w h o had come to share this
significant m o m e n t tasted the remote a n d yet perceptible joy o f fraternal
u n i t y . T h e n , w i t h press cameras flashing a n d videocams w h i r r i n g , the Icon
was installed in the M o n a s t e r y Chapel. There i t w o u l d remain until its
o r i g i n a l l o c a t i o n — a cathedral in Red Square t h a t had been leveled by
Bolshevik cannons in 1 9 1 7 — c o u l d be rebuilt.
W h i l e the guests remained behind t o admire the I c o n , H i s Holiness
f o l l o w e d Patriarch K i r i l o u t o f the Chapel t o w a r d a small salon where
refreshments had been set o u t for the papal p a r t y . I t was at that m o m e n t
that exhaustion a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t caught u p w i t h h i m at last. Dizziness
and a slight nausea were the first signs.
A l w a y s alert, M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski a n d G i u s t i n o Lucadamo were at
the P o n t i f f s side immediately., f o l l o w e d almost at once by D a m i e n Slattery
and D r . Fanarote. Sure e n o u g h , M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k was right be-
h i n d t h e m , h o m i n g i n o n his target like a heat-seeking missile. W i t h t h a t
m u c h help and a s t o u t heart, i t t o o k o n l y a few minutes f o r the Pontiff t o
reach his a p a r t m e n t .
T h e Floly Father's nausea became severe before i t subsided. Neverthe-
less, D r . Fanarote's lengthy a n d careful e x a m i n a t i o n revealed n o t h i n g
more serious than deep fatigue. A f t e r f o u r days o f c o n t i n u o u s preaching
a n d dialogue, rejoicing and f r u s t r a t i o n , t o o little sleep a n d constant per-
formance i n the p u b l i c eye, it was a w o n d e r , the d o c t o r said, that His
Holiness h a d n ' t felt the effects o f this p u n i s h i n g journey before n o w . Cer-
tainly everyone else h a d !
" B u t , D o c t o r . " M i c h a l i k w a s n ' t a b o u t t o accept such a benign diagno-
sis. W i t h t i m e r u n n i n g o u t , he c o u l d n ' t a f f o r d t o . " I s n ' t i t possible that H i s
Holiness has suffered a slight stroke? A n ischemic a t t a c k ? "
Fanarote t u r n e d f r o m the P o n t i f f s bedside, a thunderous scowl o n his
face. " A n y t h i n g is possible, M o n s i g n o r e . But in m y professional o p i n -
ion . . . "
M i c h a l i k was n o t interested i n Fanarote's o p i n i o n , professional or o t h -
erwise. T h e possibility was enough for h i m . W i t h i n moments he was in the
 614 W 1N D SW E N H O L S fc

A b b o t ' s office purring a rellephone call r h r o u g h to rhe Secrerariat of Stare.

A m o m e n t m o r e , and he was parched t h r o u g h t o the Camerlengo.
" H e can t r a v e l , 1 presume?" M a e s t r o i a n n i asked the mosr salient ques-
t i o n at once.
"Yes, Eminence. A n d I presume o u r people have made rhe necessary
arrangemenrs f o r r r a n s p o r r ? "
W h a t an insolent piece o f baggage M i c h a l i k was. M a e s t r o i a n n i t h o u g h t .
" W e have been ready at every step o f the w a y , " he answered testily. " Y o u
have a l l o w e d the time to g r o w verv shorr, M o n s i g n o r e . "
" B u t , Eminence . . . "
"Proceed, M i c h a l i k . Let's make an end o f i t ! "
W h e n the line w e n t dead w i r h a click that sounded in his ears like
d o o m , M i c h a l i k made tracks back t o the papal quarters. H e ordered ev-
eryone, i n c l u d i n g D r . Fanarote, to leave h i m alone w i t h the H o l y Father.
Slattery and L u c a d a m o b o t h stepped f o r w a r d as i f t o make short w o r k o f
Graziani's stooge. A t a n o d f r o m Flis Holiness, however, they were left
w i t h no choice but to c o m p l y . For w h a t seemed to rhem like an erernity,
Slattery, Fanarore, Sadowski and Lucadamo paced in helpless fury outside
the d o o r to the Pope's quarters. T h e y c o u l d hear the rise a n d fall of
voices—mostly M i c h a l i k ' s — b u t it was impossible t o catch w h a t was being
said.
**ls he all r i g h t ? " Father Angelo Gutmacher's w o r r y was obvious as he
h u r r i e d d o w n the c o r r i d o r t o w a r d the papal a p a r t m e n t .
" I ' v e managed to quiet t h i n g s . " T h e papal spokesman Lazaro-Falla
came up behind G u t m a c h e r . " B u t there's a l o t o f buzzing g o i n g on d o w n -
stairs t h a t something has happened t o Flis Holiness. W h a t ' s g o i n g o n ? "
As i f t h a t question had been a signal, M i c h a l i k opened the d o o r and
m o t i o n e d the six men inside. " W e have new travel plans, m y friends . . . "
Terrible t h o u g h the H o l y Father's first w o r d s were as his supporters gath-
ered a r o u n d h i m , he somehow conveyed the impression o f serene c o n t r o l
over his s i t u a t i o n and his emotions. H e seemed so t r a n q u i l , in fact—so
u p l i f t e d in a strange sort o f w a y — t h a t the oldest hands were reminded o f
the enterprise and quiet eagerness that had m a r k e d his first papal journeys
years before. " T h e M o n s i g n o r e has been in t o u c h w i t h the Secretariat o f
State." T h e P o n t i f f t u r n e d a brief glance o n M i c h a l i k . " W e are ro leave
here in an h o u r for Czestochowa. The M o n s i g n o r e has arranged special
rransporr f o r us . . . "
H i s Holiness caughr the flash in Slattery's eyes a n d b r o k e o f f for jusr a
second ro smile reassuringly ar rhe g i a n t I r i s h m a n , and rhen at the other
five. " T h e w o r l d at large v / i l l be i n f o r m e d o f m y c o n d i t i o n at five o'clock
Rome t i m e . M y C a r d i n a l s in c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h my bishops have made
special arrangements t o cope w i t h the s i t u a t i o n . For the sake o f u n i t y , I
wish to c o m p l y w i t h the firsr srep in those arrangements. You have been
my f a i t h f u l associates. Together n o w , we w i l l pay a visir to O u r Lady o f
Czestochowa. M a y the Queen o f Poland protect me a n d the C h u r c h . "
QUO V A [) I S f 615

L u c a d a m o exchanged a glance w i t h Slattery. H a d this been medieval

times, those t w o w o u l d l o n g since have t o r n M i c h a l i k l i m b f r o m l i m b ; and
they were m i g h t i l y tempted t o d o so n o w . B u t , as so often over the past
dozen years and m o r e , the t r o u b l e was that the Pope himself had acqui-
esced. Once again—perhaps f o r the final a n d fatal t i m e — t h e Slavic Pope
had acquiesced.

A t a b o u t the time his friend Damien Slattery was c o n t e m p l a t i n g m u r d e r ,

Chris Gladstone's small jet began its a p p r o a c h i n t o the Brussels a i r p o r r
where his brother was w a i t i n g f o r h i m . M i n u t e s later, as he and Paul sped
a l o n g the autostrade t o w a r d the c i t y , the first t h i n g C h r i s t i a n wanted was
the latest news a b o u t Declan.
" H e ' s come t h r o u g h w i t h flying colors, thanks t o you and your
f r i e n d s ! " Paul Gladstone flashed a grateful smile at his older brother.
" H e ' s still in the hospital. B u t I ' m happy t o say t h a t he's n o t so sure about
this s p e l u n k i n g business a n y m o r e . He and Regice Bernard have become
great friends, a n d Deckel has decided to go i n t o heavy c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h a t
w a y , he says, he'll be able to fly his o w n helicopter, just like Regice does."
"Some i m p r o v e m e n t . " Clhris laughed. " H a v e y o u t o l d M o t h e r rhe
news?"
" A l l o f i r . " Paul nodded as he turned o f f the h i g h w a y and made for the
A m e r i c a n Embassy. " A l m o s t all o f ir, a n y w a y . I've kept her up ro date
a b o u t Deckel. A n d I've t o l d her a b o u t my confession the night Regice
came t o o u r rescue. But I haven't told her a b o u t this m a d dash of yours.
A n d n o w t h a t we're on the subject, tell me. H o w can it happen that a
p o w e r f u l central leader like the H o l y Eather can be taken over like this by
his inferiors? M u s t n ' t he s o m e h o w or other have connived at it? 1 d o n ' t
mean connived i n the bad sense, b u t . . . "
Christian was surprised t h a t an experienced Eurocrat like his brother
should be so puzzled. " I t ' s t o o complicated t o e x p l a i n m u c h more than I
t o l d y o u o n the phone f r o m the Raffaele. As complicated as w h a t went o n
a r o u n d C h a i r m a n M a o in his declining years, I suppose."
" N o t as b l o o d y , I h o p e . " Paul pulled up near the Embassy. " B u t you're
right. It's t o o complicated l:o go i n t o in the time we have. A p p l e y a r d
should be w a i t i n g f o r us by n o w . "

A t 3:30 P . M . o n Friday, a chartered Trans-Europa jet lifted o f f f r o m a

private g o v e r n m e n t a i r p o r t s o u t h o f Sergiyev Posad. Once in the air, and
before he j o i n e d the P o n t i f f a n d the other six in the c a b i n , M i c h a l i k used
the c o c k p i t r a d i o t o c o n f i r m the flight plan to the Vicars-Cardinal in
Rome. A m e r i c a n m o n i t o r i n g satellites picked up the message. A transcript
q u i c k l y reached the desk o f a U.S. Srate Departmenr liaison officer at the
U.S. Embassy in Brussels. H e in t u r n alerted Gibson A p p l e y a r d .
Ar 4 P . M . local t i m e , the Slavic Pope's personal invitees, together w i t h
the journalists w a i t i n g in M o s c o w for news of the P o n t i f f , were apprised
 616 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

o f his sudden departure. T h e i r R o m e - b o u n d planes, they were t o l d , w o u l d

depart f r o m Sheremeryevo-2 i n t e r n a t i o n a l a i r p o r r ar 7 P . M . By rhe time
some o f the reporters managed t o call their home offices, i t was past five,
and w h a t they had to say w a s o l d news. A l l o f the H o l y See's eighty-five
d i p l o m a t i c representatives a r o u n d the w o r l d had already received faxed
copies o f the Resignation P r o t o c o l , together w i t h instructions f r o m the
Vatican Secretariat o f State t o alert local governments at once and to
release the news to the n a t i o n a l media as o f 5 P . M . Rome time.
By the t i m e the Vatican press officer. A r c h b i s h o p C a n i z i o Burtafuoco,
faced the Vatican press conference that had been called f o r five o'clock
Rome rime, the grapevine h a d done its w o r k . Well over six h u n d r e d media
represenrarives were there f r o m all over Europe and rhe Americas and
even a few f r o m Asia. T h e usual Rome-resident correspondents had to
fight for their customary f r o n t - r o w sears, and m a n y were beat o u t by a
large conringent o f clerics a n d nuns, media representatives by trade, w h o
had got there firsr.
B u t t a f u o c o was somewhere between stony-faced a n d goggle-eyed as he
tried t o keep things in h a n d . As of this h o u r , he said as he handed o u t a
prinred c o m m u n i q u e , the Slavic Pope was v o l u n t a r i l y resigning f r o m the
papacy. N o reason was given. He had already deparred Russia for a loca-
t i o n t o be disclosed later. . . .
T h a t was as far as Buttaf uoco managed t o get before the rows o f jour-
nalists were o n their feet t r y i n g to shout each other d o w n , h u r l i n g ques-
tions at h i m like hailstones,.

Uncertainty a b o u t the Slavic Pope eclipsed all other news. Banner-headline

stories in a l l m a j o r newspapers, and a stream o f special reports that inter-
rupted n o r m a l r a d i o and television p r o g r a m m i n g , carried a few facts and
a great deal o f speculation a r o u n d rhe w o r l d w i t h l i g h t n i n g speed. T h e
facts, w h i c h were less than sparse, revolved a r o u n d rhe Venerable College
o f C a r d i n a l s . A c t i n g n o w as the t e m p o r a r y government o f the C h u r c h
Universal, T h e i r Eminences w o u l d meet at m i d d a y o n Saturday. Under the
leadership o f H i s Eminence C o s i m o M a e s t r o i a n n i as Camerlengo, they
w o u l d take a p p r o p r i a t e a c t i o n in accordance w i t h C a n o n L a w and w i t h
the legislation enacted recently by H i s Holiness. Prior to t h a t meeting, a
special synod o f the C h u r c h ' s bishops w o u l d assemble f o r an open and
democratic discussion o f this unprecedented s i t u a t i o n .
The speculation, m e a n w h i l e , revolved entirely a r o u n d r u m o r s that His
Holiness had suffered a severe setback in his health. A flood tide o f t r e m -
ors ran across w h o l e continents at all levels—governmental, financial and
p o p u l a r . I n m a j o r countries,, special cabinet meetings were called; in major
economic capitals, heavyweight b o a r d meetings were s w i f t l y convened.
Waves o f e m o t i o n s — s u r p r i s e and fear, e x a l t a t i o n and regret, puzzlement
and s a t i s f a c t i o n — w r a c k e d irhe w o r l d ' s almost one b i l l i o n Roman C a t h o -
lics a n d their sympathizers.
QUO VADIS? 617

Such g l o b a l reaction was inevitable. For over a d e c a d e and a h a l f this

one i n d i v i d u a l , the w h i t e - r o b e d Slavic Pope, had been seen and heard by
over three and a half b i l l i o n h u m a n beings. I t was impossible to believe he
had suddenly q u i t the public ken o f his contemporaries. N o r was it possi-
ble t o gauge the v o i d left by Irhe r e m o v a l o f such a universally recognized
icon f r o m his w e l l - k n o w n niche i n the globalist public square.

T h e m a j o r elements o f the situation are clear, M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n . "

G i b s o n A p p l e y a r d wasted n o time o n preliminaries as he and the t w o
Gladstone brothers serried d o w n in the Embassy office he used in Btussels.
"So far, the i n f o r m a t i o n G i o v a n n i passed a l o n g to me o n the phone tracks
to a tee."
" T h e y ' v e taken h i m , then?'* Chris's knuckles showed w h i t e o n the arms
of his chair.
A p p l e y a r d handed over the transcript o f M i c h a l i k ' s in-flight r a d i o trans-
mission t o rhe V i c a r s - C a r d i n a l in Rome. " T h e trajectory of the flight is
southwest f r o m M o s c o w . T h e H o l y Father is well o n his w a y to the Pau-
line M o n a s t e r y at Czestochowa. I n the meantime, the unofficial w o r d is
that there's been a m a j o r b r e a k d o w n i n the Pope's health, and that those
left in charge o f the Vatican d u r i n g his absence have i n v o k e d and imple-
mented a legislative d o c u m e n t abour papal resignation seen a n d recog-
nized by the H o l y Father before he left o n his Russian pilgrimage. N o w , i f
that's the case, M o n s i g n o r e — i f he signed such a d o c u m e n t . . . "
" N o ! " Chris cut G i b s o n s h o r t . " I d o n ' t k n o w a b o u t his health, but I d o
k n o w about the d o c u m e n t . H e initialed i t , b u t he refused t o sign i t . That's
w h y Vacchi-Khouras has t o get t o h i m . H i s j o b is t o make the w h o l e t h i n g
legal. A n d that's w h y I have t o get t o h i m before V a c c h i - K h o u r a s . "
" U n d e r s t o o d . " A p p l e y a r d accepted Gladstone's c o n f i r m a t i o n as supe-
r i o r t o a n y t h i n g o n the d i p l o m a t i c c i r c u i t . " B u t let me ask y o u another
question. Suppose we're successful in getting y o u to Czestochowa before
the Papal N u n c i o can tie rhinos u p . A n d suppose f u r t h e r that o u r plans are
clever enough t o get H i s Holiness o u t of his present e n t r a p m e n t Given the
tremendous pressures rhat have been m o u n t i n g against h i m recently, I
have to ask i f y o u t h i n k he'd agree t o be rescued."
C h r i s t i a n stared at A p p l e y a r d steadily w h i l e he t u r n e d the question over
in his m i n d . In essence, i t was the same issue Paul had raised on the w a y
f r o m the a i r p o r t . L i k e his b r o r h e r , G i b s o n was asking i f the Pontiff hadn't
somehow c o n n i v e d at his o w n removal t o Jasna Gora M o n a s t e r y ; b u t he
was t a k i n g t h a t question one step further. Was there any p o i n t , Gibson
wanted t o k n o w , in t r y i n g ro move Heaven and Earth to p u l l o f f a c o m -
plex and p o t e n t i a l l y u n w e l c o m e rescue operation?
" W i t h o u t some c o u n t e r s t i m u l u s , " Gladstone answered, " I t h i n k he
m i g h t accept w h a t amounts t o a c o u p d ' e t a t as t h e w i l l of Heaven. W i t h -
o u t a c o u n t e r s t i m u l u s , he m i g h t sign t h a t Resignation P r o t o c o l . "
" A n d y o u have a c o u n t e r s t i m u l u s ? " G i b w a s n ' t being c o n f r o n t a t i o n a l .
 618 W I N D S W F . P T H O U S E

Pie was w i l l i n g to risk a great deal in this venture, but he wanted to reckon
rhe odds.
" I n m y breast p o c k e t . " Gladstone t o o k the double-sealed papal enve-
lope f r o m his jacket, b u t d i d n ' t hand i t over.
"You R o m a n s ! " Paul spoke for the first t i m e . H e was up to his hips in
this a f f a i r , t o o , and he hoped to goad his b r o t h e r i n t o some further expla-
n a t i o n . " Y o u always have y o u r secrets!"
" G r u b b y secrets, at that:," Chris acknowledged as he tucked the enve-
lope a w a y . " A p o s t o l i c secirets t h a t should speak for themselves w h e n the
H o l y Father k n o w s t h e m . ' 1

" L e t ' s get at i t , t h e n . " A p p l e y a r d t u r n e d a questioning eye at the PC's

Secretary-General.
"Let's ger ar i t , " Paul agreed.
G i b shoved his chair back and crossed his l o n g legs. "Since G i o v a n n i
called f r o m the Raffaele a b o u t this crisis yesterday m o r n i n g , M o n s i g n o r e
C h r i s t i a n , I've been in c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h some o f m y colleagues. I've been
able to persuade them t h a t the best interesrs o f the U n i t e d States are served
by maintenance o f the status q u o . The p r i n c i p l e is this: Palace c o u p s —
even coups in the A p o s t o l i c Palace—make for unhealthy geopolitics. A t
this p a r t i c u l a r j u n c t u r e , U.S. foreign policy is best served by stability in
w o r l d events. Hence, certain facilities are at m y disposal. I have been able
to sign o f f o n the expenditure o f time and the use o f equipment needed to
m o n i t o r rhis s i t u a t i o n , a n d t o guide it a c c o r d i n g to o u r best interests."
"Excuse me, G i b s o n . " Gladstone wasn't up to d i p l o m a t i c double-talk.
" W i l l you r u n rhat by me again in plain language?"
" I n plain language." A p p l e y a r d laughed. " P m sure we can get you f r o m
here ro Czesrochowa. We've got a place for you on a m i l i t a r y milk run set
to leave Brussels f o r the Czech Republic in about an h o u r . It should get
you i n t o Prague ar half past m i d n i g h t . It's all been arranged. A colleague
o f mine w i l l meet y o u in Prague. Y o u ' l l be m a k i n g the r u n ro Czesrochowa
in a Czech A r m y helicoprer o f the H P - C class. It's a g o o d craft. Russian
design. A t an a l t i t u d e o f a b o u t a m i l e , it makes a standard speed of one
h u n d r e d sixty miles per h o u r . W i t h a u x i l i a r y ranks i t may be a little
slower, but i t s h o u l d see y o u t h r o u g h . I f all goes w e l l , y o u should touch
d o w n at the M o n a s t e r y o n Jasna Gora H i l l sometime a r o u n d three t o m o r -
row m o r n i n g . "
A p p l e y a r d picked up a small card a n d passed it t o C h r i s . " T h i s may
come i n h a n d y . It has the m i l i t a r y t r a n s p o r t flight number and the cap-
tain's name. O n the back is the name of y o u r contact in Prague. In case
Flis Holiness chooses t o leave w i t h y o u a n d return to R o m e , we've ar-
ranged f o r the Czech helicopter to make the r u n to R a d o m s k o aerodrome
to refuel and w a i t there at y o u r d i s p o s a l . "
C h r i s t i a n a c k n o w l e d g e d the plans t o t h a t p o i n t w i t h a n o d . But there
was still the p r o b l e m o f t r a n s p o r t to R o m e . As G i o v a n n i L u c a d a m o had
QUO VADIS? 619

said, rhere w o u l d n ' t be any A l i t a l i a jet w a i t i n g f o r the H o l y Father in

Poland.
" I ' v e taken care o f t h a t p a r t o f things, C h r i s . " T h e younger Gladsrone
flashed a g r i n . " I c a n ' t let a b u n c h o f ecclesiastical hijackers take over my
C h u r c h just w h e n I've decided t o come back a b o a r d . So Pve made a little
personal investment, y o u m i g h t say. I've chartered a Belgian passenger jet.
It's n o t as g r a n d as an A l i t a l i a D C - 1 0 , b u t i t has other advantages. It's
privately o w n e d , and that avoids a l o t o f c o m p l i c a t i o n s . We have settled
on an appropriare flight name, t h o u g h . Fisherman O n e . T h e Polish gov-
ernment is f u l l y cooperarive. N o t fully i n f o r m e d , m i n d y o u , bur coopera-
tive. They've assumed it's official FC business, and I haven't said other-
wise. A n y w a y , we have clearance t o fly i n t o R a d o m s k o at about sunrise.
It's a m i l i t a r y i n s t a l l a t i o n , o f course, so they were a b i t t o u c h y . But we can
remain f o r t w o hours. G o d w i l l i n g , t h a t should be l o n g e n o u g h . "
"God willing."
" T h a t ' s the upside in the s i t u a t i o n . " A p p l e y a r d t o o k up n o w . ' T h e
downside is t h a t there w o n ' t be a fighter escort. So y o u ' l l be on y o u r o w n
u n t i l you enter Italian airspace."
" Y o u expect us to be p i c k e d up by escorts in I t a l y ? " Chris shot an
apprehensive l o o k at b o t h m e n .
" W e realize t h a t w i l l alert the H o l y Father's enemies in R o m e . " A p -
pleyard a c k n o w l e d g e d the p r o b l e m . " W e ' l l delay as l o n g as we can, but
since y o u r destination is R o m e , w e ' l l have to alert the Defense M i n i s t r y ,
A n d w h e n we d o , we t h i n k t h e y ' l l p r o v i d e escort. We t h i n k they'll insist,
in fact. But i f e v e r y t h i n g goes o u r w a y — i f t h a t counterstimulus you have
in y o u r pocket is p o w e r f u l e n o u g h , and if we can delay Vacchi-Khouras
long e n o u g h — b y the time M a e s t r o i a n n i and the others get w o r d o f the
P o n t i f f s r e t u r n , there w o n ' t be m u c h they can d o a b o u t i t . "
C h r i s t i a n w a s n ' t sure he h a d heard r i g h t . " D e l a y M o n s i g n o r e Vacchi-
Khouras? Is t h a t w h a t y o u said, G i b s o n ? "
" H a m r a d i o s . " G i b s m i l e d . " P o l a n d is f u l l o f t h e m . "

A l l t h a t F r i d a y , M a y 12, heavy squalls enshrouded a w i d e area ot southern

Poland. Like a veil o f tears shed by Heaven at the c l i m a x o f the coup de
theatre being carried o u t by the Slavic Pope's m o r t a l enemies, rain fell
f r o m W r o c l a w in the west t o L u b l i n in the east, and f r o m as far n o r t h as
Lodz all the w a y d o w n t o K a t o w i c e near the Czechoslovak border.
I t was o n l y when the chartered Trans-Europa jet c a r r y i n g the papal
party nosed its w a y d o w n th rough the bank o f dark clouds rhar the r u n -
w a y lights were switched o n and the p i l o t had a clear v i e w o f Radomsko
m i l i t a r y aerodrome six h u n d r e d feet b e l o w . T h e plane touched d o w n and
taxied t o w i t h i n fifty yards o f an A r m y helicoprer parked a lirtle distance
o f f one side o f the r u n w a y . H a r d by the other side ot the r u n w a y , t w o
jeeps w a i t e d , each manned by a d r i v e r a n d a single u n i f o r m e d officer.
W h e n the jet came to a s t o p , its body streaked w i r h glistening moisture, its
 620 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

engines were kept i d l i n g . A t a q u i c k exchange o f staccato voice signals, the

roror blades o f the helicopter clattered s l o w l y i n t o m o v e m e n t The r w o
jeeps pulled r a p i d l y t o the rear o f the plane. T h e officer in charge climbed
d o w n f r o m his seat, checklist i n h a n d . T h e second officer came up behind
and opened his u m b r e l l a . Borh waited w h i l e the rear exit d o o r opened and
the access r a m p was l o w e r e d t o the g r o u n d .
T h e first passenger d o w n the r a m p was a moderarely call and curiously
angular cleric i n black cassock and w i d e - b r i m m e d R o m a n hat. Jan
M i c h a l i k returned the officers' salute w i t h a brief greeting in Polish,
showed his I D c a r d a n d t o o k up his post beside the m a n w h o held the
checklist. T h e n he beckoned to the other passengers. As each one de-
scended, M i c h a l i k n o d d e d t o the officer, w h o d u t i f u l l y checked o f f the
c o r r e s p o n d i n g n u m b e r , f o r his lisr contained no names. O n l y numbers.
T h e rhree laymen were the first t o be accounted f o r . The M o n s i g n o r e
nodded to the officer as each man stepped d o w n , a n d then w a v e d each,
one by one, ro the w a i t i n g jeeps. G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o , his black leather
case in h a n d . The always elegant papal press officer, M i g u e l Lazaro-Falla.
A very unhappy D r . Fanarote.
Three clerics emerged t h e n . T h e scars o n Father A n g e l o Gutmacher's
d r a w n and miserable face stood o u t like the c r i m s o n flames that had
etched t h e m . D a m i e n D u n c a n Slartery, his b r o w set in a black scowl, had
t o bend head and shoulders t o get t h r o u g h the s k i m p y exit. M o n s i g n o r e
Daniel Sadowski b r o u g h t u p the rear, t r y i n g t o l o o k impassive as he
f o u g h t back silent tears. T h a t made six. T h e officer turned his eyes u p
t o w a r d the exit d o o r , l o o k i n g f o r n u m b e r seven. Yes. There he was. O u t -
lined against the cabin l i g h t s . A n o t h e r cleric, to judge by his Roman hat.
Bur this one was a l l m u f f l e d u p in a topcoat, scarf and gloves.
N u m b e r seven came d o w n the r a m p s l o w l y , as if to savor some sweet,
w a r m sense o f r e t u r n . F i n a l l y , as he set f o o t o n the rain-washed tarmac,
the figures of M i c h a l i k a n d the t w o officers seemed t o shrivel to p y g m y
silhouettes for this p i l g r i m . The w i d e spaces seemed t o open a r o u n d h i m
o n every side all the w a y t o the gray-black h o r i z o n . The l o w ceiling of r a m
clouds h i d no part o f this beloved land f r o m the i n w a r d m a n . H e could see
it all as a t r a n q u i l vision bathed in the sun of a special blessing. T h e streets
o f W a d o w i c e , where he h a d been b o r n . T h e spires o f K r a k o w where he
had been bishop and C a r d i n a l . T h e fields a n d rivers and rhe grandiose
C a r p a t h i a n M o u n t a i n s t o the s o u t h . A n d , yes, the graceful towers o f Cze-
stochowa's M o n a s t e r y o n Jasna G o r a H i l l , where the sacred Icon of the
Queen o f Poland shed the r a d i a n t promise o f her divine Son d o w n across
this land a n d people.
T h e officer bestowed the same cursory glance on this seventh anony-
mous passenger as he had o n the other six. H e was a b o u t t o tick o f f the
final n u m b e r o n his checklist w h e n , at a sudden onrush o f memories, his
eyes opened w i d e and the c o l o r d r a i n e d f r o m his cheeks. H e was frozen
m o m e n t a r i l y by those m e m o r i e s — a sunny day some years before; the
QUO VADIS? 621

Slavic Pope standing in an open a u t o m o b i l e ; the smile; blessings given to

the cheering c r o w d s surging a r o u n d h i m on Warsaw's N o w y Swiat; his
slow progress along t h a t r o y a l w a y o f the kings o f Poland f r o m W i l a n o w
Palace past the Presidential Palace and on i n t o the new part of m e t r o p o l i -
tan Warsaw. N o one w h o saw that w h i t e - r o b e d figure ever f o r g o t his
unmistakable profile, or failed t o discover in himself his o w n yearning for
the blessing of the Father.
"Maryjo! Krdloivo PolskH" T h e w o r d s — t h e t r a d i t i o n a l invocation o f
Poles when faced w i t h d a n g e r — w e r e our o f the officer's m o u r h before he
c o u l d r h i n k . M a r y ! Queen o f P o l a n d ! "
l 4

M i c h a l i k stiffened at this breach in rhe web of security w o v e n a r o u n d

the transfer of the Slavic Pope i n t o obscurity. Peremptorily, he waved the
P o n t i f f o n t o w a r d the w a i t i n g jeeps. " T o Panski obwazak!" He hissed the
order i n t o the officer's ear,. " D o y o u r d u t y , sir! Check n u m b e r seven!
Immediately!"
W i t h an extreme e f f o r t , the officer c o m p l i e d . But not even the baleful
stare of M o n s i g n o r e M i c h a l i k c o u l d prevent the H o l y Father f r o m answer-
ing that p o w e r f u l i n v o c a t i o n w i t h the t r a d i t i o n a l triple response as he set
o f f across the tarmac. Jestem przy Tobie! Pamietam! Qzitwam!"
%t
" W e are
w i t h y o u ! We remember! W e are on the a l e r t ! "
By the time the P o n t i f f reached the jeep, the triple refrain had been
picked up by the officers a n d b o t h drivers. M i c h a l i k , beside himself w i t h
f u r y , t o o k the first officer firmly by the a r m and w a l k e d h i m up and d o w n
in the pelting r a i n . Flis face set in granite, his eyes hooded, his voice a rasp,
he explained the harsh penalties for any breach in the security of this
mission. W h e n he had finished, he t o o k a sharp salute f r o m the shaken
m a n , strode t o the lead jeep, clambered u p behind h i m and barked an
order t o the d r i v e r . In the w a k e o f the jet, already r o a r i n g d o w n the
r u n w a y for rakeoff, borh vehicles sped ro rhe w a i t i n g helicopter.
As the p i l g r i m parry was lifted f r o m the g r o u n d in a terrible clatter of
m o t o r s a n d w h i r l i n g blades, the first officer shouted that i n v o c a t i o n again
at the t o p of his lungs. "Maryjo! Krolowo Polski!"
"jestem przy Tobie!" H i s three comrades shouted the triple response
i n t o the w i n d and the rain a n d the noise. " W e are w i t h y o u ! We remem-
ber! We are o n the a l e r t ! "

11
T H O U G H T H E F I N A L E t o the drama of the Slavic Pope's meteoric ca-
reer was even more s u r p r i s i n g t h a n his unexpected election over a decade
and a half before, those engineering i t intended i t to be far less t u m u l t u -
 622 W I N D S W K I' T HOUSE

ous. Despite his e x t r a o r d i n a r y recognition profile in the wide w o r l d , his

transition f r o m public v i e w and papal status inro private life was ro be
executed, so t o say, in t o t a l seclusion some ten miles to the southwest o f
Radomsko military aerodrome.
The r o l l i n g hills that rise in rhar region f o r m a narural basin occupied by
Czestochowa, an ancient t o w n o f some 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 souls. O n one o f those
hills, Jasna C o r a by name., stands the mosr revered monastery i n all o f
Poland; a m i g h t y block o f rectangular buildings enclosed by high walls
and c r o w n e d by a tall bell t o w e r .
Since its f o u n d a t i o n in 1382 by the m o n k s o f St. Paul the H e r m i t , the
M o n a s t e r y o f Jasna G o r a has been the s p i r i t u a l center o f the Polish n a t i o n ,
and the m i l i t a r y target o f t h a t nation's enemies. I t has acquired the ap-
pearance and strength o f a fortress, and rhe very names of its structures
echo Poland's centuries-long battle for s u r v i v a l . A t each corner o f its sur-
r o u n d i n g walls stands a s o l i d , square bastion, each named after a glorious
m o m e n r in Polish h i s t o r y — P o t o c k i ; Szaniawski; M o r s z s t u n ; L u b o m i r s k i .
Access t o the M o n a s t e r y g r o u n d s is d o u b l y guarded by t w o m o n u m e n t a l
gates, the L u b o m i r s k i and the Jagellonian. The approach t o those gates is
formed by a huge circular mosaic, t w o lions r a m p a n t a r o u n d the Tree o f
L i f e , embedded in rhe g r o u n d . T w o wings o f the M o n a s t e r y are occupied
by the m o n k s ' cells. But the central p o r t i o n reflects the c o m p l e x i t y o f its
history: side by side w i t h the Abbots Houses, the Sacrisry and a series o f
magnificenr chapels—the J a b l o n o w s k i , the D e n h o f f , the Last Supper—
there is the Knights H a l l , the Arsenal and rhe Royal A p a r t m e n t s .
But the a b i d i n g i m p o r t a n c e o f Jasna Gora M o n a s t e r y has centered on
the Icon that hangs above the H i g h A l t a r in its G o t h i c Chapel o f O u r
Lady. For over six centuries, the Black M a d o n n a of Czestochowa has been
and remains today the true Queen o f Poland. Jasna Gora is her home. A n d
her home is the true capital o f the Polish n a t i o n .
Shortly after dark on Friday evening, M a y 12, the Polish A r m y helicop-
ter t r a n s p o r t i n g the papal p a r t y approached the walls o f Jasna Gora
M o n a s t e r y and set d o w n o n the giant circular mosaic ourside L u b o m i r s k i
Gate. The rain had stopped, b u t the place appeared deserred. O n l y when
the passengers had passed t h r o u g h the t w i n gates i n t o the Monastery
grounds d i d A b b o t K o r d e c k i and his assistant, Father K o s i n s k i , emerge t o
welcome their guests. T h o u g h M o n s i g n o r e Jan M i c h a l i k strode f o r w a r d t o
take firm charge o f rhe s i t u a t i o n , the m o n k s seemed n o t to notice h i m .
They k n e w their Pope w h e n they :>aw h i m — h a d k n o w n h i m since his
y o u t h f u l , ebullient days as C a r d i n a l A r c h b i s h o p o f K r a k o w — a n d rhey
wenr t o h i m n o w . Both k n e l t t o kiss his Fisherman's ring as a sign o f
loyalty to Peter the A p o s t l e ; and both kissed the instep of his right foot in
the ancient sign o f obeisance t o Peter's l a w f u l successor.
M i c h a l i k had no choice bur ro wair f o r rhe A b b o r and Kosinski ro rise
to their feet. N o choice b u t t o w a i t w h i l e the Slavic Pope, his face cruelly
ravaged by s t r a i n , smiled a n d spoke a few w o r d s to these t w o o l d c o m -
QUO VADIS? 623

rades. I t pushed his patience to the l i m i t , however, to see the m o n k s t u r n

to the Pope's c o m p a n i o n s as, one by one, the H o l y Father presented them
by name. O n l y Father A n g e l o Gutmacher needed no i n t r o d u c t i o n . A fre-
quent visitor here o n his m a n y missions for the papacy, he was welcomed
by A b b o t K o r d e c k i and Father Kosinski as a devout and courageous man
o f G o d . Indeed, such was the understanding a m o n g these battle-scarred
veterans o f Eastern Europe t h a t i t t o o k b u t a gesture f o r K o r d e c k i to see
that G u t m a c h e r w a n t e d a m o m e n t apart w i t h h i m .
Father Angelo's s u m m a r y of the events that had b r o u g h t the H o l y Fa-
ther to Jasna G o r a was brief bur accurate. Clearly the Floly Father had n o t
come here merely to rest after his pilgrimage.
"Father A b b o t ! " A m o m e n t was t o o m u c h for M i c h a l i k . H e was i m p a -
rienr ro call rhe Papal N u n c i o i n W a r s a w , and he made his annoyance
plain.
K o r d e c k i t u r n e d a b l a n d face ro the M o n s i g n o r e . T h i s Monasrery and
its m o n k s had survived centuries o f siege, w a r , massacre, hunger and per-
secution. N o m a n here w o u l d q u a i l before such a c o n t e m p t i b l e excuse for
a priest as this.
" R e v e r e n d S i r . " A b b o t K o r d e c k i came to the Pontiff's side again, but
his w o r d s were addressed to M i c h a l i k . " W i t h i n these w a l l s , the disposi-
t i o n o f all people and all a c c o m m o d a t i o n s is under my j u r i s d i c t i o n . I have
arranged suitable quarters f o r H i s Floliness and his household in the A b -
bots H o u s e s . " Fie gestured t o w a r d the n o r t h w i n g of the c o m p l e x . " H o w -
e v e r " — h e gestured n o w t o w a r d the extreme south w i n g — " Y o u r Rever-
ence w i l l surely find the seclusion of the Musicians Houses more agreeable
u n t i l the Papal N u n c i o a r r i v e s . "
Seclusion? M i c h a l i k had ro ler rhe w o r d sink in for a second. Surely rhe
A b b o r wasn'r r a l k i n g abour monastic seclusion! N o t n o w ! N o t at the very
m o m e n t he had to make his crucial call to Vacchi-Khouras!
K o r d e c k i mer M i c h a l i k ' s objecrions w i r h resrrainr. "Please undersrand,
Reverendo. It is at M o n s i g n o r e Vacchi-Khouras' personal insrruction rhar
my m o n k s are o n solemn s p i r i t u a l retreat. Magnum Silentium is in effect;
the Great Silence. T h a t means all meals w i l l be served in y o u r apartment,
and there w i l l be no c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i r h the outside w o r l d . D o n o t be
t r o u b l e d , however. I w i l l m a k e the call t o W a r s a w . "
M i c h a l i k ' s m o u t h opened a n d closed more rhan once as he saw Father
K o s i n s k i move r o w a r d h i m rhe way a b a i l i f f m i g h r srep r o w a r d a prisoner.
H i s precious schedule w a s n ' t merely g o i n g a w r y ; i t was being taken o u t of
his hands. H e had been checkmated.

" Y o u r Holiness w i l l r e m e m b e r . " The A b b o t spoke q u i e t l y as he led the

Slavic Pope and his c o m p a n i o n s to the A b b o t s Houses, where they w o u l d
all be q u a r t e r e d . " W e have evening prayer at nine o'clock. We ask Your
Holiness ro come and lead us in o u r d e v o r i o n s . "
" O f course I remember, Farher. A n d o f course I w i l l come. We w i l l all
 624 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

c o m e . " H e turned t o l o o k at Sadowski and Slartery; at Lucadamo and

Gutmacher and Lazaro-Falla; at poor D r . Fanarote—each o f them silent
as they strode a l o n g b e h i n d . " W e have come so far together and have been
t h r o u g h so m u c h . Let us have this last evening o f prayer before . . The
P o n t i f f s t h o u g h t was so transparent t h a t K o r d e c k i rushed to counter i t .
"Please p a r d o n me f o r saying this, H o l y Father. But these I t a l i a n s —
i n c l u d i n g Polish-Italians l i k e M o n s i g n o r e M i c h a l i k , w h o should k n o w ber-
rer—have failed ro learn rhat we cannot be herded like carrle in our o w n
l a n d . The Ausrrians, rhe Germans, rhe Swedes and rhe Russians have all
rried. They're all gone. A n d we're still here, aren'r w e ? "
The quier flare o f h u m o r i n rhe P o n t i f f s eyes was sufficient answer.
M i c h a l i k wasn'r gone, alas. Bur thanks to Father A b b o r , ar leasr he w o u l d
be our o f commission for rhe r e m a i n i n g hours o f the n i g h t .

D a m i e n Slattery r o o k his t i m e about e m p t y i n g his hastily packed over-

nighr case. Flis desperare concern was ro come u p w i r h some means to
open the jaws o f the t r a p thar had been sprung o n rhe Slavic Pope. The
d i f f i c u l t y he faced, however, was that the trap c o u l d n ' t have been sprung
at all had the P o n t i f f d u g i n his heels; and i t c o u l d n ' t be opened w i t h o u t
his consent. " T h e r e ' s such a c h i l d l i k e calm and trust i n the H o l y Father's
attitude t o w a r d a l l that's h a p p e n i n g , " Slattery t o l d himself. " B u t behind
that calm is a m o o d , a mode o f his s p i r i t , t h a t puts h i m almost beyond
reach.
" H o w do y o u get to a m a n , Pope or nor, w h o understands all the
argumenrs we pur ro h i m , bur w h o seems ro place everyrhing i n a differenr
conrexr? N o d o u b r abour i r , he's always had a mysrical side ro his nature.
Bur he seems ro respond ro everything n o w as if he c o u l d see a brighter
dimension to all o u r w o r d s . O r as i f there were some supernal grandeur to
all the d i a l o g u e . "
Slattery was m i r e d in f r u s t r a t i o n and getring n o w h e r e , when Farher
Kosinski rapped genrly o n his d o o r and asked h i m to join A b b o t K o r d e c k i
i n his r o o m s . " M a e s r r o L u c a d a m o and Farher Gurmacher are already w i r h
Farher A b b o t . " K o s i n s k i spoke sofrly as rhe r w o clerics made rheir w a y up
to rhe t h i r d f l o o r .
" A n d rhe o t h e r s ? " Slattery took the stairs t w o at a t i m e .
" M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski remains w i r h rhe H o l y Farher. A n d Father A b -
bor rhinks ir best that D r . Fanarore and Signor Lazaro-Falla be allowed ro
resr before c h a p e l . "
A p p a r e n r l y Magnum Sihmtium d i d n ' r apply inside Kordecki's rooms.
H e , L u c a d a m o and Gurmacher were all glued ro the A b b o t ' s shorrwave
radio like limpets ro a r o i : k . Damien rook his place i n rhe g r o u p and
lisrened uneasily ro rhe reporrs c o m i n g r h r o u g h . As rhe A b b o r rurned al-
ternately t o rhe BBC, the Voice o f America and Polish home broadcasts, it
was plain t h a t the papal resignation was p r i m e news everywhere. A c c o r d -
ing ro rhe commenrarors in Europe and rhe Americas, the Slavic Pope had
Q UO VADIS? 625

resigned f r o m the papacy because o f i l l health. There were quotations

f r o m m a j o r governmenr spokesmen and rhe secreraries o f m a n y i m p o r t a n t
Bishops Conferences. A l r e a d y , t o o , speculation was abroad a b o u t the
near-future Conclave and the identity o f the next Pope.
By and large, rhe tone o f rhe commentaries was l a u d a r o r y . Some com-
mended the H o l y Farher for his w i s d o m i n resigning. Still, the overall
conclusion was rhat the Slavic Pope n o w belonged to h i s t o r y . " H e n c e f o r -
w a r d , " as C a r d i n a l Maesrronanni was q u o t e d as saying, " t h e former Floly
Father w i l l susrain rhe C h u r c h by his prayers and experienced a d v i c e . "
There were elements o f c o n f u s i o n evident i n some o f the newscasts,
however; p a r t i c u l a r l y in rhe Polish h o m e broadcasrs. A c c o r d i n g t o reports,
a few m a j o r cities abroad were c o p i n g w i r h some ugly srreet demonstra-
tions and the inevitable counterdemonsrrarions. N e w Y o r k , Paris. M i l a n
and M a d r i d were all m e n t i o n e d , and Rome as w e l l . U l t r a t r a d i t i o n a l Ro-
man C a r h o l i c groups, m e a n w h i l e , had issued statements o f v a r y i n g kinds.
Some declared rhar the Slavic Pope had never been a valid Pope; orhers,
rhar he had fallen inro heresy d u r i n g his reign and rherefore had ceased ro
be Pope. N e o - C a t h o l i c g r o u p s , w i r h bishops as rheir spokesmen, rhanked
God i n public rhar such a misfir Pope had finally decided t o get o u t o f the
way o f C h u r c h developmenr. M o d e r a t e Carholic g r o u p s , w h i c h repre-
sented by far the vast m a j o r i r y o f R o m a n Carholics, declared rhemsclvcs
obedienr sons and daughters o f rhe C h u r c h w h o w o u l d accepr whatever
decisions were made by R o m e . O f f i c i a l Bishops Conferences issued state-
ments c a l l i n g o n everyone ro> sray calm and pray f o r rhe papal succession.
Ir was rhe Polish broadcasts, t o o , t h a t gave the greatest play to r u m o r s
still rife abour rhe Slavic Pope. R u m o r s thar he was dead. R u m o r s that he
was l y i n g comatose i n a M o s c o w h o s p i t a l . T h a t he had retired as a m o n k
ro Sergiyev Posad ourside M o s c o w . T h a t he was back i n rhe Vatican. T h a t
he was in Castel G a n d o l f o . T h a t he was being treated for cancer i n Ger-
m a n y , or f o r severe depression i n a Swiss clinic. A b o u t all such reports
Vatican o f f i c i a l d o m was r i g h t - l i p p e d , r e f e r r i n g inquiries to the press con-
ference rhat w o u l d take place after the m i d d a y meeting o f Cardinals on
Sarurday, M a y 13.
" I f we d i d n ' r k n o w rhe t r u t h " — G i u s t i n o L u c a d a m o was the first to
ungluc himself f r o m the s e t — " w e ' d t h i n k i t was all o v e r . "
"Unless y o u k n o w s o m e t h i n g I d o n ' t , " Slattery g r u m b l e d , " I ' d say it's
all over, bar the s h o u t i n ' . O n c e Farher A b b o t here makes thar call to
M o n s i g n o r e Vacchi-Khouras . . ."
"Unless we w a n t t o p a n i c the N u n c i o i n t o hasty a c t i o n , " A b b o r
K o r d e c k i a c k n o w l e d g e d , " r h a r call w i l l have to be made. But I needn'r
h u r r y abour i r . H i s Holiness isn't tied to a precise schedule, and delays are
easily e x p l a i n e d . Besides, M a e s r r o L u c a d a m o felt that a call t o Rome
w o u l d be more useful f r o m o u r p o i n t o f v i e w . "
" A call to the V a t i c a n ? " W h a t w i t h M a e s t r o i a n n i and A u r e a t i n i and the
 626 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

others in charge ar rhe A p o s t o l i c Palace n o w , Damien's cynical surprise

was undersrandable.
" A call ro another center o f i n f o r m a t i o n , " G i u s t i n o counrered. " A call
ro my uncle at rhe Raffaele. We're n o r m a l l y discreer a b o u t sharing i n f o r -
m a r i o n , bur o u r siruarion has been a n y r h i n g bur n o r m a l for some rime.
A n d in case y o u rhink rhe Vatican has a n y r h i n g o n rhe Raffaele as a nerve
center, Father D a m i e n , let me b r i n g you up to date o n a few items. Includ-
ing news o f o u r friend M o n s i g n o r e Chrisrian Gladsrone. A c c o r d i n g to my
uncle, he's done quite a j o b o f w o r k in o u r absence."
The firsr irems L u c a d a m o set our for Slarrery had to d o w i t h the agenda
being f o l l o w e d in Rome. A c c o r d i n g t o Gladstone, a call f r o m M i c h a l i k to
the Secretariar was ro be rhe signal ro rhe Vicars-Cardinal ro accept the
P o n t i f f s v i r r u a l resignarion as an accomplished facr and to authorize his
r e m o v a l ro Jasna G o r a . N e w s of the Pope's resignation had been an-
nounced to the w o r l d d u r i n g a Vatican news conference at five in the
a f t e r n o o n Rome rime. A n o r h e r call f r o m M i c h a l i k — t h e one he had been
so a n x i o u s ro make o n his arrival here—was ro be the signal to M o n s i -
gnore Vacchi-Khouras o f the H o l y Father's a r r i v a l at Czestochowa. The
N u n c i o w o u l d make the d r i v e f r o m W a r s a w t o presenr the Resignation
Prorocol for rhe P o n t i f f s signature. O n c e f o r m a l l y signed, that document
w o u l d have the force o f an Apostolic C o n s t i t u t i o n . T h e Vicars-Cardinal
w o u l d be free to proceed w i r h the next Conclave.
" A n d w h a t i f H i s Holiness doesn't sign?" Slattery was grasping ar
straws and he knew i t .
By n o w , all g o v e r n m e n t w o u l d have received copies o f rhe initialed
d o c u m e n t ; the w o r l d ar large w o u l d be impressed at the sight o f a peace-
f u l , h a r m o n i o u s , democratic t r a n s i t i o n f r o m one pontificate to another.
Given their l o n g experience w i r h the Slavic Pope, M a e s t r o i a n n i and the
others were obviously convinced rhar H i s Holiness c o u l d be persuaded ro
sign rhe Resignarion d o c u m e n t for rhe sake o f C h u r c h u n i t y and for rhe
sake o f the papacy's s t a n d i n g as an i n s t i t u t i o n .
A p p a r e n r l y Slattery w a s n ' t the o n l y one grasping at straws, however.
Lucadamo replied t o his question w i r h news t h a t left the Irishman speech-
less. As o f rhis m o m e n t , C h r i s Gladsrone was o n his w a y ro Jasna Gora
w i t h data i n his possession that he hoped w o u l d persuade Flis Holiness
n o t to sign the P r o t o c o l . " I n f a c t , " G i u s t i n o added, " y o u w o u l d n ' t believe
the array o f machinery that's been activated to t r a n s p o r t the P o n t i f f back
to Rome."
" D o e s the H o l y Father k n o w all t h i s ? " D a m i e n f o u n d his voice again.
"Pve i n f o r m e d h i m . " I t was Angelo Gutmacher w h o answered. " B u t
Pm n o t sure Chris o r anyone else can keep the P o n t i f f f r o m resigning.
We've all k n o w n a b o u t the intrigue and clerical double-dealing o f
M a e s r r o i a n n i and his cabal. A n d we've all k n o w n the a i m o f their policies.
I k n o w y o u w o n ' t undersrand rhis easily, Father D a m i e n . But H i s Holiness
feels this move by his C a r d i n a l s c o u l d be raken as the sign he's spoken
Q LI O VADIS? 627

a b o u t . He concedes that it's n o t the sign he foresaw o r expected when he

left R o m e o n his pilgrimage. But he thinks G o d may w a n t h i m in retire-
ment. That, in one sense, he m i g h t do more f o r the C h u r c h i f he were no
longer a bone of c o n t e n t i o n . '
1

" D o more g o o d f o r rhe C h u r c h ! " Slattery's frusrrarion erupred like an

explosion in the quiet M o n a s r e r y . " R o m e is n o w n e r w o r k e d by rhe
Church's enemies, and he t h i n k s the s o l u t i o n is t o rerire ro w o r k in peace
and solirude?"
" H e admits his mistakes have been g r e a t . " Father Angelo rook up rhe
p o i n t . "Fie said as m u c h . In fact, i t may be o n that very account that he
t h i n k s G o d and the V i r g i n have done w i t h h i m as Pope; that perhaps they
w a n t h i m i n another capacity. But the t r u t h is he doesn't k n o w . He says
that events must be his guide n o w . H e wants to hear w h a t Christian has to
say."
" P d like to hear r h a t m y s e l f ! "
Ar thar m o m e n t . A b b o t K o r d e c k i held u p his hand f o r silence. He had
kepr half an ear tuned t o the shortwave as i f he was expecting some
particular b i t o f news, and he turned up rhe v o l u m e n o w ro catch a bulle-
tin c o m i n g across on rhe h o m e broadcasr.
Ir seemed rhar police in various regions o f Poland were r e p o r t i n g masses
o f people o n rhe move. Roads everywhere were becoming clogged w i r h
men, w o m e n and children Traveling o n foor, i n cars and carrs. on bicycles
and horses and donkeys. Special M i l i t i a unirs and some A r m y barralions
were being readied i n case p u b l i c safery mighr be endangered. Bur every-
rhing seemed o r d e r l y . E v e r y t h i n g seemed organized, i n fact, as if some
massive signal had called rhe n a t i o n o u t . Indeed, everyone inrerviewed
seemed ro have a single destination in m i n d : Jasna Gora H i l l o v e r l o o k i n g
rhe r o w n o f Czestochowa. A l l eyes except Father Kosinski's turned t o the
A b b o t . W h a t d i d he make o f such news?
" W e Poles are a b o u t to teach an o l d lesson to y o u r Italian friends in the
V a t i c a n . " A b b o t K o r d e c k i smiled first at K o s i n s k i and then at his guests.
" B u t there. T h e bell is s o u n d i n g for chapel. H i s Holiness w i l l be w a i t i n g
for m e . " The A b b o t switched the radio o f f and rose f r o m his chair.
" F a r h e r K o s i n s k i w i l l escort you t o rhe Chapel o f O u r L a d y . " H e
paused f o r a second before h u r r y i n g o f f t o w a r d rhe papal aparrmenr.
" O n c e prayers are over, 1 t h i n k we can safely make that call to the N u n c i o
in W a r s a w . "

As rhe pealing o f the bells faded in the evening o f M a y 12, the pews o f
O u r Lady's Chapel at Jasna G o r a were already filled w i t h white-robed
Pauline m o n k s kneeling in silent prayer, heads b o w e d before the Taberna-
cle and before the Icon o f the M o t h e r keeping vigil above her divine Son's
Presence. A t the sound o f a quiet pattern o f footsteps along rhe center
aisle, an o v e r w h e l m i n g sense o f privilege a n d hope swept t h r o u g h rhe
c o m m u n i r y . Once again r o b e d in w h i r e , rhe Pope w a l k e d confidenrly to
 628 W I N D S W tP 1 HU US K

the prie-dieu in f r o n t o f the H i g h A l t a r . There he stood for one golden

m o m e n t o f silence, his arms crossed o n his chest, his face l i f t e d , his eyes
fixed o n the face o f the M o t h e r .
Finally the H o l y Father k n e l t d o w n . H i s voice resonant, he began the
ancient i n v o c a t i o n s . "Maryjo! Krolowo Polski!"
" M a r y ! Queen o f P o l a n d ! " W i t h one voice and one heart, the kneeling
m o n k s repeated rhe o p e n i n g w o r d s o f prayer. N o r d i d rhey d o u b t that
their chanr was echoed a m o n g G o d ' s Sainrs in Heaven, a m o n g rhe Souls i n
P u r g a t o r y , in the voices and hearts o f Poland's f a i t h f u l sons and daughters
everywhere o n e a r t h .

" H a i l M a r y ! Full o f grace . . . " A s the sounds f r o m the Chapel wafted

i n t o the isolation o f his r o o m s i n the Musicians Houses, M o n s i g n o r e
M i c h a l i k rried the telephone f o r the h u n d r e d t h rime. N o use. He tried rhe
d o o r again. N o use. "jestem przy Tobie!" There was that a w f u l chant
again, come back t o deepen the M o n s i g n o r e ' s misery in this place. *We ;

are w i r h y o u ! We remember! We are o n rhe a l e r t ! "

" W e ' l l remember all r i g h r , A b b o r K o r d e c k i ! " M i c h a l i k devised his o w n
i m p i o u s response t o the r e f r a i n .
" O L a d y o f Czestochowa , , . " T h e M o n s i g n o r e covered his ears, but
that was n o use either. " O M a r y , we ask y o u . bless all y o u r c h i l -
dren . . . "
M i c h a l i k sank i n t o a chaiir a n d r o c k e d back a n d f o r t h in his anguish.
" W e ' l l remember, K o r d e c k i . . . . " Over and again he hissed his acrid v o w
and yearned f o r silence. " W e ' l l remember. . . . W e ' l l remember. . . . "

" Y o u r FLminence, I ' m sure I d o n ' r k n o w w h y ir t o o k so l o n g f o r the call t o

come t h r o u g h . I t was the A b b o t himself w h o telephoned, and w e all k n o w
h o w careless o f time these cloistered m o n k s can b e . " After K o r d e c k i had
finally c o n f i r m e d rhe Slavic Pope's safe a r r i v a l ar Jasna G o r a , H i s Excel-
lency A l b e r r o V a c c h i - K h o u r a s t h o u g h t it best t o check in w i t h C a r d i n a l
M a e s t r o i a n n i one last t i m e before setting o u t f r o m the A p o s t o l i c N u n c i a -
ture o n Warsaw's M i o d o w a Street. T h i s was a unique mission, after a l l ,
one t h a t H i s Eminence h a d said w o u l d l o n g be recorded in the history
books, one that w o u l d , therefore, guaranree H i s Excellency's o w n future
career w i r h i n rhe C u r i a o f t he new R o m a n Pontiff.
"Yes, E m i n e n c e . " T h e N u n c i o fiddled w i r h rhe red folder on his desk. " I
have all the documents r i g h t here, and I k n o w the a p p r o p r i a t e remarks t o
be made t o — e r — H i s Holiness. . . . Yes, Eminence. T h e beginning o f a
new era f o r the C h u r c h , I q u i t e agree. . . . N o , Eminence. T h e A b b o r ' s
delay should cause n o d i f f i c u l t y i n o u r schedule. T h e r o a d f r o m the capital
to Czestochowa is the best h i g h w a y i n P o l a n d . It w i l l take an h o u r and a
half m a x i m u m t o reach the M o n a s t e r y . Once I have rhe Pope's signature
on the P r o t o c o l , it w i l l be a q u i c k r u n back t o Warsaw's Okecie A i r p o r t to
catch the special charter flight to R o m e . There's plenty o f t i m e . "
QUO VADIS? 629

_J • • 'J

C a r d i n a l M a e s r r o i a n n i f r o w n e d as he h u n g up rhe phone i n his study. Ir

was all very well for Vacchi-Khouras to he so confident. But as Camer-
lengo, H i s Eminence was the o n l y one w h o could appreciate the awesome-
ness of his p o s i t i o n . O n l y he had charge of all matters concerning the
papacy as high office, and the management of the due transference of
papal p o w e r . In his need to w o r k o f f a sudden case of nerves, the little
C a r d i n a l began ro pace a b o u t a m o n g the stacks of hooks and monographs
piled o n the tables. There c o u l d be no question o f g o i n g t o bed t o n i g h t .
N o t w i t h such great burdens resring on his shoulders.
To proceed w i r h plans o n a straight line, M a e s t r o i a n n i k n e w , he and his
colleagues w o u l d have to hew closely to ecclesiastical t r a d i t i o n and
C h u r c h legislation, Exactitude was rhe essential characteristic of sacro-
sancr t r a d i t i o n and derailed legislation. The sole a i m of t r a d i t i o n and law
alike was to ensure rhar rhe m a n chosen ro succeed a f o r m e r Pope w o u l d
be u n m i s t a k a b l y and manifestly God's choice, the chosen one o f the H o l y
Spirir. Every action was laid o u t to that end. Each step had to c o n f o r m to
law a n d t r a d i t i o n . O t h e r w i s e , rhe canonical legaliry of the w h o l e process
c o u l d be challenged.
N o r m a l l y , of course, a new Pope was chosen o n l y w h e n an o l d Pope
had d i e d . The c o m p l i c a t i n g factor rhis rime was rhar the C h u r c h had a
Pope w h o was very much alive. Canonically speaking, therefore, the posi-
t i o n taken by the C o u n c i l of State—the p o s i t i o n , that is, of Maesrroianni
himself, rogerher w i r h C a r d i n a l s Palombo, A u r e a r i n i , Pensabene, Graziani
and a few orhers—that the l i v i n g Pope had v i r t u a l l y resigned was of para-
m o u n r importance.
M a e s t r o i a n n i assured himself that the action under w a y not o n l y was
logical but enjoyed some canonical basis. A n y Pope c o u l d resign w i r h o u t
any o b l i g a t i o n t o e x p l a i n w h y he resigned. Furrher, the phrasing of the
Resignation Protocol created the impression rhar H i s Holiness had lefr ir
ro rhe C o u n c i l of Srate ro judge wherher he was so incapacitated as ro be
gently " r e s i g n e d . "
L o g i c a l l y , Maestroianni was o n the firmesr possible g r o u n d . For one
r h i n g , rhe Slavic Pope had actually and openly discussed rhe possibility of
resigning w i r h several a m o n g his household; w i r h C a r d i n a l Secrerary o f
Srate G r a z i a n i , for one. M o r e , he had acquiesced in the need to seek the
c o m m o n w i l l of his in-house Cardinals before he underrook his Russia
p i l g r i m a g e . A n d n o w he had even a l l o w e d himself and his papal parry t o
be hustled o f f t o the isolated., backwater t o w n Czestochowa. He had not
protested. He had nor refused t o go along. He had not insisted on re-
t u r n i n g to Rome.
I f i t was fair to say that success in this entire matter was measured by
the acquiescence o f the Slavic Pope i n the arrangemenrs made by rhe
C o u n c i l o f State, w h a t was the w o r r y ? F r o m rhe beginning o f his p o n t i f i -
cate, it had been the same s t o r y . Excepr for a b o r t i o n and contraception,
 630 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

the lesson was clear and consistent. The Slavic Pope had always acqui-
esced. " A n d besides . . . " M a e s t r o i a n n i began to m u t t e r a l o u d ro himself
as he w a n d e r e d and pondered a m o n g his books o n rhis sleepless night.
" W h e n all is said a n d done in rhis matter o f u t m o s t g r a v i t y , we have
historical precedent o n o u r side. T h i s case o f papal succession is n o t much
different f r o m the case o f Pope Celestine V . "
W i t h a l l his reverence f o r history's footsteps, the little C a r d i n a l had
boned u p on the d a r k lessons to be learned f r o m rhe record in Celestine's
regard. U n t i l n o w , his had been the o n l y other authentic case o f papal
resignarion in the annals of the C h u r c h . A n d w h i l e it had taken place as
long ago as 1294, there was more than enough evidence to show t h a t
Celestine, t o o , had been the v i c t i m o f deliberate deception and entrapment
by his eventual successor. C a r d i n a l Benedetto Caetani. C u r i o u s l y , t h a t
Pope's enemies also had sought to confine h i m physically. H e , t o o , had
become a v i r t u a l prisoner. In fact, he had died o f " a n i n f e c t i o n " in the
T o w e r o f Casrel Fumone easr o f Ferenrino o n l y a few months i n t o his
confinement.
" B e h ! " M a e s t r o i a n n i scolded himself as he bustled back to his cluttered
w r i t i n g rable. N o r t h a t he wavered ar rhe t h o u g h t o f Celestine's fare. But
he had wasted enough rime on rhe Slavic Pope. Ir w o u l d be far more
f r u i t f u l to review plans for the events rhar were n o w just hours away and
rhar he w o u l d have ro manage w i r h as m u c h sanity and dignity as possible.
The most serious item f o r H i s Eminence had ro do w i r h rhe Synod o f
bishops ser t o convene ar eighr in rhe m o r n i n g . A t t h a t meering, w i r h
members o f rhe press a t t e n d i n g , M a e s t r o i a n n i aimed t o accomplish a
three-point agenda. First, he w o u l d call for a final vote to c l a r i f y — t o
" g l o b a l i z e " as Pensabene had said—the results of the C o m m o n Mind
Vote. To t h a t e n d . C a r d i n a l Aurearini had prepared a splendid array o f
visuals and graphics ro demonstrate that the single most i m p o r t a n t item o f
concern for a m a j o r i t y o f the Church's bishops was a fear f o r their internal
cohesion and u n i t y a r o u n d rhe venerable See o f Perer in Rome. There
should be no d i f f i c u l t y a b o u t this p o i n t , M a e s t r o i a n n i t o l d himself, except
perhaps to a v o i d a raucous stampede o f assent and acclaim f o r f o r m a l
r e c o g n i t i o n o f such a widespread feeling.
N e x r M a e s r r o i a n n i w o u l d call f o r a vore o f gratitude and blessing f o r
the signal services o f rhe Slavic Pope. He had no d o u b t that a number o l
bishops w o u l d c o m p l a i n r h a t their a l l - i m p o r t a n t uniry had been rendered
fragile d u r i n g rhe pasr papacy. Still, any spontaneous speeches to that
effect w o u l d o n l y play i n t o M a e s t r o i a n n i ' s h a n d . H e inrended ro p o i n t o u t
rhat rhe d i f f i c u l t y had been the fault of no p a r t i c u l a r i n d i v i d u a l ; rhar ir had
merely been rhe resulr o f unfavorable c o n d i t i o n s arising i n rhe Roman
a d m i n i s r r a t i o n and in rhe various dioceses o f rhe C h u r c h . Indeed, it was
this very srate o f a f f a i r s — t h e bishops' w o r r y over f a i l i n g unity and the
i n a b i l i t y o f rhe past papacy ro remedy rhe p r o b l e m — t h a t had led the H o l y
QUO VADIS? 631

Father and the C o u n c i l o f State t o agree o n a f o r m a l papal resignation, t o

be f o l l o w e d f o r t h w i t h by a n e w papal Conclave.
"Optime, C o s i m o ! " Maest r o i a n n i congratulated himself as he reviewed
his plans t o that p o i n t . "OpUme!"
To cover the t h i r d elemeni: o f the agenda, the C a r d i n a l w o u l d have t o
gamble. To b r i n g the C h u r c h i n t o line w i t h the f o r w a r d footsteps of his-
t o r y , the F l o l y See's b a c k w a r d and often obstructionist influence on rhe
bishops a r o u n d the w o r l d w o u l d have t o be b l u n t e d . A d i l u t i o n of the
central a u r h o r i t y o f the papacy was essential. I t was not enough simply to
remove rhe presenr Pontiff. T h e m o m e n t had come to prepare the w o r l d
for a n o t distant future w h e n Popes w o u l d be t r u l y and democratically
elected by all rhe pasrors o f the C h u r c h . The trick for M a e s t r o i a n n i was to
inaugurate rhar decentralizing process and srill keep firm c o n t r o l . H e i n -
tended to t h r o w the floor o f the Synod open to let all the bishops have
their say. To increase their already increasing appetite for a broad democ-
ratization of C h u r c h structure, even to the p o i n t of urging them t o ask
direct questions o f the p r i n c i p a l papal candidates. "Share w i t h u s , " he
intended t o say to his Reverend Brothers in a grandiose i n v i t a t i o n . " T e l l us
y o u r hopes, y o u r aspirations, y o u r ideas. Let a thousand flowers blos-
som!"
T h a n k s ro rhe heroic labors of M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n Gladstone, of
course, a n d thanks t o the t i m e the Camerlengo himself had spent w i t h the
bishops over the past w e e k , the gamble w a s n ' t as terrible as ir m i g h t
otherwise have been. Those questionnaires Gladsrone had w o r k e d so hard
ro complete were n o t h i n g less than pastoral and dogmatic position papers
for v i r t u a l l y every bishop presenrly in Rome. A n d because he himself had
spoken w i t h every one of those bishops, M a e s r r o i a n n i felt he knew w h a t
t o expect.
As he rehearsed the roster o f issues he expected t o blossom like flowers
on rhe floor of Saturday m o r n i n g ' s Synod, Maestroianni's fit of nerves
ebbed and f l o w e d by t u r n s . Cerrainly some of rhe bishops in the Synod
w o u l d be hard ro handle. T h e i r m o o d was festive, upbear and t r i u m p h a l i s -
tic. T h e i r gatherings over t h e past five days had been filled w i r h u n r u l y
speeches and w i r h an infectious current o f self-congrarularory happiness.
Ar times, it had almost seemed they were something more t h a n an assem-
bly o f i n d i v i d u a l bishops. Something o n the order of a h i g h l y organized
array o f parries and factions w h o had been t a l k i n g and n e r w o r k i n g among
themselves ro a degree even M a e s t r o i a n n i had neither planned n o r ex-
pected. The little C a r d i n a l h a d a remotely queasy feeling that he himself
m i g h t be o u t o f step- T h a t he m i g h t n o t be able t o c o n t r o l the bishops.
T h a t he was no longer t r u l y in charge.
" W h a t i d i o c y ! " Flis Eminence beat back all such demons o f d o u b t w i t h
a vengeance. A n o t h e r rehearsal o f his p r o g r a m for Saturday morning's
Synod, and f o r the Consisrory ro f o l l o w at n o o n , buoyed his g u m p t i o n
again. Instead o f queasy misgivings, he began to feel the first stirrings of
 632 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

w h a t he had labored so l o n g ro creare. H e began ar lasr ro undersrand h o w

ir felt to be counted a m o n g history's chosen few. To be one o f rhe w o r l d ' s
masrer engineers!
Srill, somewhere deep inside h i m rhere remained a remore sense o f
unease. Ir t r o u b l e d the C a r d i n a l , for example, that M o n s i g n o r e Christian
Gladstone had chosen t o leave Rome at such a capital m o m e n t . I t was a
m i n o r t h i n g , o f course, surely no more rhan a t e m p o r a r y lapse o f j u d g -
menr. A n d rhere was every l i k e l i h o o d rhar he w o u l d return i n rime ro rake
part i n the m o n u m e n t a l events o f Saturday, just as Taco M a n u g u e r r a had
said. W h y , t h e n , this d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e sense o f dissatisfaction concerning
M o n s i g n o r e Christian?
P r o b a b l y , M a e s r r o i a n n i reasoned, ir had less to do w i t h Gladstone than
w i t h the venom o f C a r d i n a l Aurearini's reaction ro the news o f the A m e r i -
can's a b r u p t departure. It was unaccountable that A u r e a t i n i should have
kept repeating his charge rhar a man like Gladsrone c o u l d endanger all
rheir plans f o r H o l y M o r h e r C h u r c h . Was he t o p u t Aurearini's attack
d o w n ro j u m p y nerves, n o w rhar rhe grear o p e r a t i o n o f changing Popes
had actually begun? Was i t Aurearini's dislike o f Americans? Was ir a
p l o y — a n o l d o n e — t o w r e c k Gladsrone's chances o f advancement? Slan-
der, c a l u m n y and lies were the ever ready a r r o w s in rhe quiver o f every
bureaucrat to dispose o f rivals, and M a e s t r o i a n n i had made it plain that
he had m a r k e d M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n o u t f o r preferential trearmenr.
As he examined rhe puzzle, M a e s r r o i a n n i began ro realize rhar rhe
deeper quesrion here was w h y he should care ar all w h a t A u r e a t i n i
t h o u g h t o f C h r i s t i a n Gladsrone. H e began to realize that he t r u l y liked rhis
A m e r i c a n . T h a r he had always preferred the Gladsrones o f rhis life t o the
Aurearinis. T h a r all rhe p r i n c i p a l actors a n d agents in this entire project
often palled o n h i m , in fact. T h a t he disliked such an untouchable ecclesi-
astical cactus as C a r d i n a l Palombo, for instance, whose w o r d s always
seemed ro carry a w o u n d a n d a sting.
M a e s t r o i a n n i had jusr begun ro rouse himself f r o m such dangerously
honest musings w h e n one o f those actors a n d agents—the p r i c k l y N o a h
Palombo h i m s e l f — r a n g t h r o u g h o n H i s Eminence's private line t o ask if
there had been any news yer f r o m M o n s i g n o r e Vacchi-Khouras.
" D o n o t rrouble yoursellf, Eminence," rhe Camerlengo cooed ro rhe
cactus. " W e l l before o u r historic Consistory opens at n o o n , we w i l l be in
possession o f the fully signed and d u l y sealed Resignation Protocol. H i s
Excellency has everything i n h a n d . "

O n c e his Mercedes-Benz reached Warsaw's suburbs and picked up speed

on the h i g h w a y , H i s Excellency A l b e r t o Vacchi-Khouras rested his head
on the back of the seat a n d closed his eyes. I n his m i n d ' s eye, he reviewed
rhe documents in the red folder resting safely o n the f r o n t seat beside his
personal secretary. He went over rhe a p p r o p r i a t e remarks he w o u l d make
in his i n t e r v i e w w i r h rhe Slavic Pope. H e imagined the m o m e n t w h e n , his
Q I* O VADIS? 633

mission f u l f i l l e d , he w o u l d reach Rome bearing a copy o f rhe legal i n s t r u -

ment, De Successione PapaLt, signed and sealed by H i s Holiness i n the
presence o f H i s Excellency a n d one more witness.
As one of the few Palestinian Christians ever t o carve o u t a h i g h - r a n k i n g
career i n rhe Vatican d i p l o m a t i c corps, Vacchi-Khouras had never doubted
he had a special destiny. N o w his every expectation was about t o be
fulfilled. O f all h u m a n beings alive, he had been selected t o witness and
accept the resignarion o f a reigning Pope. Imagine! O n l y once before in
t w o Thousand years had such an cvenr raken place.
Ho w a s jusr beginning ro imagine the u p w a r d pathways that were open-
ing t o h i m w h e n he became aware o f rhe raucous sounds o f traffic. O d d ,
he t h o u g h t , rhar rhere should be so m u c h movement at such an hour. But a
lazy glance t h r o u g h the t i n t e d w i n d o w s explained everyrhing. Just a lot o f
carts a n d trucks and such; p r o b a b l y the first early convoys o f fresh vegeta-
bles heading f o r rhe city markets.
The N u n c i o roused himself. It never h u r t t o see that everyrhing was in
perfect order. He flicked a b u t t o n t o open the p a r t i t i o n and asked his
secretary f o r the red folder. T h a t was w h e n he realized that the car had
slowed considerably.
" W e ' r e t r a v e l i n g at a snail's pace, m a n ! " Vacchi-Khouras tapped the
chauffeur o n rhe shoulder.
"Yes, Excellency. It's the t r a f f i c . Ir's gerting thicker as we progress."
"Thicker? O u t b o u n d t r a f f i c shouldn'r be gerting thicker; not at this
hour."
"Please, Excellency. L o o k again carefully. T h i s rraffic is definitely going
o u r w a y . A n d it's definitely getting t h i c k e r . " T h e N u n c i o zipped the tinted
w i n d o w s d o w n o n b o t h sides o f his car. Immediately a medley o f sounds
poured in a l o n g w i t h a wash o f rain f r o m a sudden squall. Radios blared
w i t h music and news. K l a x o n s sounded. T h e y were surrounded by an
amazing array o f conveyances.
" D o something u s e f u l ! " Vaicchi-Khouras snapped rhe order t o his secre-
tary as he closed the w i n d o w s . " C a l l someone. Find o u t i f we can escape
this mess. We're losing valuable t i m e . "
1 have roused rhe substitute on d u t y at the N u n c i a t u r e , Excellency."
The secretary held up the cellular phone i n a helpless bit o f s h o w - a n d - t e l l .
" H e says heavy squalls arc piredicted to c o n t i n u e , and t h a t the h i g h w a y is
crowded."
" I can see that m u c h f o r m y s e l f ! " His Excellency t u r n e d to the driver
again. " T h e r e ! " Take t h a t e x i t . Let's make time o n the side roads and get
back to the h i g h w a y u p a h e a d . "
T h e maneuver w o r k e d . T h e Mercedes picked up speed over a r o u g h
c o u n t r y r o a d . But Flis Excellency had h a r d l y finished g r u m b l i n g t h a t he
had t o d o rhe t h i n k i n g for everyone w h e n they f o u n d themselves engulfed
again by a j u m b l e o f t r a f f i c — a u t o m o b i l e s , bicycles, m o t o r b i k e s , men and
 634 WINDSWEPT HOl'SF

w o m e n and y o u n g boys a n d girls w a l k i n g , families r i d i n g o n drays. I t was

as i f all o f Poland were headed f o r a m i d n i g h t picnic in the p o u r i n g r a i n .
As his limousine inched back t o w a r d the h i g h w a y , and w i t h not even a
signpost i n view t o tell h i n i where he was, Vacchi-Khouras gave way by
turns to a series o f fits and ro moderately consoling thoughts. T h i s situa-
t i o n was demonstrably n o t his f a u l t , he t o l d himself on the one hand. It
was a t e m p o r a r y setback. I le c o u l d w a i t it o u t . Yet ir was u n t h i n k a b l e , he
raged o n the other h a n d , t h a t his mission—his entire career—should be at
the mercy o f a classic g r i d l o c k .
" G e t me the M i n i s t r y o f the Interior o n the t e l e p h o n e ! " Unable t o re-
strain himself, Vacchi-Khouras fairly screamed ar his secrerary.
A f t e r an e x c r u c i a t i n g delay, H i s Excellency f o u n d himself dealing w i t h a
sleepy n i g h t w a t c h m a n at the M i n i s t r y o f rhe I n t e r i o r i n Warsaw. N o , the
f e l l o w said; he c o u l d n o t reach the M i n i s t e r . The M i n i s t e r was o u t o f the
c o u n t r y . N o , he said, he d i d n ' t k n o w w h o the D e p u t y M i n i s t e r was. Yes,
he c o u l d telephone the A i r M i n i s t r y for H i s Excellency and ask for an
a i r l i f t . But where exacrly was H i s Excellency? Where? Somewhere be-
tween Warsaw and Czesrochowa? Perhaps His Excellency w o u l d care to
call again w h e n H i s Excellency knew where H i s Excellency was. A f t e r
10 A.M. w o u l d be best. M o n d a y to Eriday. . . .

"Yes, Your Eminence." Ar rhe sound o f C a r d i n a l Maesrroianni's voice, rhe

harried y o u n g man on E r i d a y - n i g h t duty at the N u n c i a t u r e in Poland
t h o u g h t the phone m i g h t t u r n ro ice i n his h a n d . " H i s Excellency Vacchi-
K h o u r a s asked me ro relay the message to no one b u t Your Eminence.
. . . Yes, Eminence. He's been in touch w i t h us by cellular phone several
times d u r i n g the evening. C o n s t a n t l y , you m i g h t say. . . . N o , Y o u r E m i -
nence. His Excellency advises that he is u n l i k e l y t o make Rome before
n o o n . I n fact, he doubts he w i l l get to Czestochowa before m i d m o r n i n g ,
. . . Yes, Eminence. We have checked the s i t u a t i o n . There is an e x r r a o r d i -
nary f l o w o f rraffic j a m m i n g the entire one h u n d r e d rwenry-five miles of
the h i g h w a y between W a r s a w and Czesrochowa. There is no possibiliry o f
his r u r n i n g back. Pm a f r a i d reports have gorten a r o u n d rhar the H o l y
Farher may be o v e r n i g h t i n g ar Czesrochowa M o n a s r e r y , but we haven't
c o n f i r m e d a definire c o n n e c t i o n between one t h i n g and the other, . . .
"Yes, FLminence, Pll relay the instructions. Yes, I have i t w o r d f o r w o r d .
H i s Excellency is to keep g o i n g , no matter h o w slow his progress. I le is ro
secure rhe signature o f H i s Holiness before m i d d a y . He is to undersrand
that the document's i m m e d i a t e presence i n Rome is nor essential. T h e
signing i s . "

T h e Camerlengo had more than a fit o f nerves as he disconnected the call

f r o m Warsaw. G r i d l o c k o n the m a i n h i g h w a y ro Czestochowa i n the wee
hours o f an o r d i n a r y Saturday morning? Was this a n o r m a l t h i n g in Po-
land? O r was ir rather rhe shadow o f rhings t o come? Was he going to
QUO VADIS? 635

have t o contend w i t h huge p o p u l a r rallies in favor o f the Slavic Pope? A n d

not o n l y in Poland? M a e s t r o i a n n i shuddered at the n i g h t m a r i s h image o f a
couple o f h u n d r e d thousand fervent supporters o f the Slavic Pope jam-
m i n g rhe space berween rhe doors o f Sr. Peter's and rhe river Tiber. H e
c o u l d practically see all those dreadful charismarics j u m p i n g about, shat-
tering rhe privacy o f every r o o m in the Vatican w i t h their screams to the
H o l y Spirir. O r , worse srill, a l l rhose dreadful television cameras h o m i n g
in o n rhe spectacle, recording rhe rriple beat o f the thunderous cry: Papa!
Papa! Papa!
Such was his m o m e n t a r y panic rhat the C a r d i n a l actually reached for
his Telephone. But w a i t . T h i n k a b o u t i t . W h a t w o u l d be the p o i n t o f dis-
t u r b i n g the other members o f the C o u n c i l o f Stare? N o d o u b t Their E m i -
nences were all tucked away i n their beds by n o w . A n d a n y w a y , there was
n o t h i n g they c o u l d do except natter at h i m .
" H a n g on to y o u r nerves, C o s i m o . " H i s Eminence straightened his
m i n d w i t h a quick reality check. "Plans have been w e l l laid. C r o w d s o r
no, Vacchi-Khouras w i l l ger t h r o u g h , C r o w d s or n o , the Pope isn't going
anywhere. He's boxed i n . H e w i l l sign. M e a n w h i l e , his initials o n the
Protocol and his unproresting retirement to Jasna C o r a can lead t o only
one conclusion. He has clearly acquiesced in the Council's decision that
his latest physical weakness was an i n d i c a t i o n of papal i n c a p a c i t y . "
The Camerlengo removed his hand f r o m the telephone. "Just hang o n
to y o u r nerves," he said again. " A n d remember w h o ' s in charge here."

FOR L O N G Y E A R S after rhese d i s t u r b i n g times were over, men a n d

w o m e n t h r o u g h o u t Poland w o u l d tell h o w , suddenly and as i f f r o m n o -
w h e r e , a message had spread to t o w n , to hamlet, to c i t y : " T h e Slavic Pope
is i n Czestochowa! O u r H o l y Father is at Jasna G o r a ! " T h e y w o u l d tell
h o w they had gone t o greet h i m , protect h i m , s u p p o r t h i m , show solidarity
w i t h h i m . T h e y w o u l d tell h o w all the lights in all the streets and all the
houses in the t o w n o f Czestochowa had been t u r n e d o n to welcome t h e m .
They w o u l d rell h o w they h a d gathered in their thousands and tens o f
thousands under carpets o f clouds that s t o r m y n i g h t o n Jasna Gora H i l l ;
h o w the lights o n the M o n a s t e r y walls had shone d o w n o n t h e m ; h o w
rhey had sung and prayed a n d talked and cheered. A n d they w o u l d tell
h o w , t h r o u g h o u t it a l l , there had seemed t o be a wordless dialogue be-
tween them and the w h i t e - r o b e d figure framed in rhe lighr o f the covered
balcony far above t h e m — h o w he and they had seemed content ro be in
 636 WIND SWEPT HOUSE

each other's presence; t o rely o n one another; to share a c o m m u n i o n in

faith.
" T h e r e must be a m i l l i o n people d o w n t h e r e ! " D a m i e n Slattery kept his
voice l o w . L o o k i n g o u t o n the scene f r o m one o f the east-facing w i n d o w s
o f the P o n t i f f s a p a r t m e n t , he a n d Gutmacher and L u c a d a m o and rhe
other members o f the p a p a l party felt like intruders. I t was as i f rhe currenr
o f feeling they sensed between the c r o w d s below and the H o l y Father
standing alone on the nearby balcony was privileged, sacred, private.
" A n d thousands more w i l l come, m y f r i e n d . " A b b o t K o r d e c k i came up
beside D a m i e n . "Eve seen rhis happen before, o n one o f his earliesr visirs
here as Pope. I t was the height of his clash w i t h the Stalinist governmenr of
Poland, and he was o v e r n i g h t i n g here. T h e n , t o o , the people began ro
assemble spontaneously a r o u n d Jasna Gora H i l l . Standing on that same
balcony. H i s Holiness never made a f o r m a l speech. Every so often he gave
his blessing or made some gesture w i t h his hands, m u c h as he's d o i n g
n o w . But he never once lost c o n t r o l o f those c r o w d s , That's the way it is
with him.
" T h e Stalinists had never seen a n y t h i n g like i t . Few people have. They
t h r e w a sreel r i n g a r o u n d this place. Called in an cnrirc a r m o r e d d i v i s i o n .
Bur still the people came. A m i l l i o n and a half flocked in f r o m all over
Poland. T h e y flooded the tanks w i t h their sheer numbers. They lay d o w n
in f r o n t o f t h e m ; squatted on t o p o f t h e m ; blocked their caterpillar treads;
draped flowers o n t h e m ; poured H o l y Water d o w n their gun muzzles;
recited the Rosary o n theiir turrets. T h e y nullified t h e m . Rendered them
pointless. I t was s o m e t h i n g to see, Father Slattery. The w a y those b u l -
lyboys w i t h d r e w , w i t h the c r o w d s jeering and cheering and chanting
hymns at r h e m . "
As Father A b b o r r o l d rhe story o f thar n o w distant day, Damien and his
c o m p a n i o n s began ro feel the enormous mulrirude as a l i v i n g , breathing
o r g a n i s m . T h e sounds o f t a l k i n g and p r a y i n g , s h o u t i n g and singing, chant-
ing a n d cheering a l l o w e d them ro hope that this w o u l d be the t u r n i n g
p o i n t . T h a t the Ponriff w o u l d see this manifestation o f the f a i t h f u l as the
sign he had been seeking f r o m Heaven. T h a t he w o u l d n o t accept resigna-
t i o n and retirement f r o m the papacy. T h a t he w o u l d rerurn ro the H o l y
See and resume its governance, w h i c h , a n y w a y , he had n o t yet f o r m a l l y
renounced.
A n d yet, even as they gazed d o w n o n the c r o w d e d slopes o f Jasna Gora
H i l l and the vast basin o f l a n d farther o n . Father Gutmacher and G i u s t i n o
L u c a d a m o exchanged a glance o f perfect understanding. It was far f r o m
certain that a n y t h i n g — e v e n a d e m o n s t r a t i o n like this by his f a i t h f u l C a t h -
o l i c s — w o u l d shake the Slavic Pope f r o m his curious, almost mystical
mind-set o f c a l m acceptance.

The Czech A r m y helicopter bearing Chrisrian Gladstone w o u n d i n and

out a l o n g the d a r k c o n t o u r s o f gently r o l l i n g hills, u n t i l the lights o f the
QUO VADIS? 637

t o w n and the M o n a s t e r y above it came i n t o view. A few minutes m o r e ,

and the craft d r o p p e d d o w n t o a l a n d i n g outside L u b o m i r s k i Gate.
" W e saw y o u r a p p r o a c h , Father, and we've been expecting y o u . " A b b o t
K o r d e c k i i n t r o d u c e d himself the m o m e n t Gladstone cleared the r o t o r
blades. T h e helicopter revved up and t o o k o f f f o r R a d o m s k o aerodrome;
but as soon as K o r d e c k i c o u l d be heard again, he made his disappoinrment
clear. F l a d n ' t M o n s i g n o r e Gladsrone come t o take Flis Holiness out?
S h o u l d n ' t the helicopter w a i t , then?
" N o , Father A b b o t . " C h r i s f o l l o w e d K o r d e c k i t h r o u g h rhe double
gates. There was no smile o r trace o f pleasantness in his person. " T h a r ' s
not the plan. They w i l l come back f o r I lis Holiness if he chooses. But he
musr choose."

" H o l i n e s s . " In the c o r r i d o r w h e r e the Ponriff w a i t e d to receive h i m , G l a d -

stone d r o p p e d t o one knee a nd kissed the Fisherman's r i n g . Slartery was
the firsr one t o come f o r w a r d t h e n , f o l l o w e d by L u c a d a m o and Sadowski
and Gutmacher and the others. A l l were eager f o r Gladstone's news. But
D a m i e n cut the greetings short w i t h a little gesture to his companions as a
sign that they s h o u l d all f o l l o w the A b b o t ' s p o i n t e d example and w i t h -
d r a w . Ir w o u l d be best t o leave Pope and priest alone.
" N o , D a m i e n . " T h o u g h he sought permission f r o m the Pontiff w i t h his
eyes, Chris spoke m o r e i n c o m m a n d than request. " W e have little t i m e
left. H o l y Father. A n d I d o have t o speak w i t h Your Holiness. But we are
all o f us together o n the edge o f this abyss. W h a r happens n o w happens to
us a l l . Either w e all w i n . O r w e all lose."
By w a y o f answer, rhe P o n r i f f rurned his back ro rhe c o r r i d o r . W i t h o u t a
w o r d , he crossed rhe l i v i n g r o o m t o the balcony where he c o u l d l o o k o u t
r o w a r d the lights o f Czestochowa and take strength f r o m rhe still gather-
ing c r o w d s .
" D i d y o u k n o w , M o n s i g n o r e . . . " T h e Pope acknowledged G l a d -
srone's presence behind h i m w i t h o u t t u r n i n g his head. " D i d y o u k n o w
rhar i t was here, in 1966, r h a t over a m i l l i o n people assembled f o r rhe
consecration o f Poland t o M a r y as the nation's Q u e e n ? "
C h r i s t i a n glanced d o w n at the thousands o f lights o n Jasna Gora H i l l , at
the thousands o f lights i n Czestochowa, at the d a r k basin beyond. H e
stepped back and glanced at the men w a i t i n g i n the l i v i n g r o o m : ar Father
Gurmacher and M o n s i g n o r e Sadowski settling d o w n to recite the Rosary
together, ar G i u s r i n o L u c a d a m o perched o n the edge o f a large w r i t i n g
rable, at Lazaro-Falla a n d D r . Fanarote t a l k i n g quietly, at D a m i e n Slattery
standing at the balcony d o o r , his eyebrows k n i t , his n o r m a l l y ruddy c o m -
p l e x i o n gone ashen-gray w i r h inner pain and apprehension, his eyes fixed
on Gladsrone. But the one t h i n g Chris d i d nor do was answer the Slavic
Pope.
Like Slattery and all rhe others, he, t o o , felt the b o n d between the c r o w d
and their supreme pastor. Yet he entertained no illusions. He knew better
 638 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

t h a n any in that little g r o u p of loyalists w h a t bitter discouragement had

afflicted the m i n d and soul o f the Pontiff. He had frequented the Slavic
Pope's enemies. H e had experienced firsrhand the hate and disrespect
those enemies nourished f o r the Pontiff; had tasted the unpleasant reality
o f their desire ro end his pontificate. H e k n e w w h a t a relief it w o u l d be for
rhe H o l y Father t o escape that hate, t o be free once and for all f r o m the
bitterness rhar had filled the days and nights o f his reign. Resignation and
retirement promised a release, such a w i s h f o r easemenr.
For all o f those reasons a n d because he k n e w the news he carried w o u l d
add a rerrible dimension r o the bitterness so often spewed at this m a n ,
Gladstone w a n t e d Christ's embattled Vicar to take the measure of w h a t
was happening. H e w a n t e d his Pope to t h i n k all the thoughts p r o v o k e d by
this unexpected o u t p o u r i n g of supporr by a n a t i o n o f Catholics assem-
b l i n g spontaneously i n f r o n t o f his eyes. This m a n w h o was about to
renounce the papacy—this man w h o had been assured he c o u l d no longer
h o l d rhe people o f G o d rogerher as their supreme p a s t o r — h a d to see that
there was an ecclesial as w e l l as a spiritual dimension t o this event.
" S h a l l I be pleased y o u came, M o n s i g n o r e ? " A t last he t u r n e d to G l a d -
stone. H i s Holiness' question made i t seem as t h o u g h he had read the
y o u n g man's m i n d .
" O n l y a quasi-miracle o f g o o d w i l l for Your Holiness has made my jour-
ney possible, H o l y Father. G o o d w i l l o n rhe parr o f strangers and faithful
alike has made everyrhing possible."
" T o make everything possible w o u l d be more than a quasi-miracle,
M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n . " T h e Pope was being contentious, b u t he had given
C h r i s the o p e n i n g he w a n t e d .
" T h e a i m has been to m a k e one t h i n g possible, H o l y F a t h e r . " Gladstone
w i t h d r e w the double-sealed envelope f r o m his inner pocker and laid it face
up on the balcony ledge. " L u c i f e r has been enthroned w i t h i n the precincts
o f the H o l y See o n Vatican H i l l . The d o c u m e n t a t i o n is all there. Names.
T h e rites used. A l l the factual data. M o s t o f it is in m i c r o c o p y , except for
rhe Testimony of Y o u r Holiness' recent predecessor and a brief inscription
prepared by Father A l d o Carnesecca."
"Carnesecca!" The P o n t i f f repeated the name as an exclamation o f p o i -
gnancy and deepest regrer. He t o o k the envelope in both hands. Examined
the t w o papal inscriptions o n its face. Saw the dates. Read Father A l d o ' s
trenchant hands-off w a r n i n g . Read the o l d Pope's letter. "So . . . " H t
wasn't t a l k i n g to Gladstone; wasn't l o o k i n g at h i m even. " I knew . . .
N o w o n d e r we c o u l d n ' t . . . "
T h e Pope's w o r d s were so indistinct against the rising m u r m u r o f the
c r o w d s that C h r i s d i d n ' t catch t h e m , b u t he f o l l o w e d every move w i t h his
eyes. Watched the Pontiff finger the r e m a i n i n g contents o f the envelope;
w a t c h e d his face take on a f r i g h r f u l aspect; watched h i m retreat a step
b a c k w a r d r o w a r d the l i v i n g r o o m .
" Y o u ' v e read a l l rhe d o c u m e n t a t i o n , M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n ? "
QUO VADIS? 639

" A l l of i t . H o l y Father. Every w o r d w a r r a n t s and guarantees w h a t I

have s a i d . " Gladstone battled a wave of desperation and discouragemenr
that swept over h i m . The voice of his faith reminded h i m that this was his
Pope, the Pope C h r i s t had w i l l e d the C h u r c h t o have at this p o i n t i n time;
that he had to be f a i t h f u l to h i m u n t o death. But the voice of his logic
w a r n e d h i m that rhis man was on the b r i n k o f accepting his fate as a Pope
w h o resigned; that he was w i t h i n a m i l l i m e t e r o f roral acquiescence i n
Satan's fait a c c o m p l i .
" A t this m o m e n t in h i s t o r y , H o l y F a t h e r " — C h r i s r i a n pur his case
srraighr o u r — " o n l y one man stands between us and the summary evil of
o u r ancient Adversary. As Pope, y o u are rhe buffer G o d has placed be-
tween us and Lucifer. I k n o w ir musr make you q u a i l ro be rold this. But
my w o r d s are no more rhan a; reminder of the Blessed V i r g i n ' s description
of y o u r papacy. A n echo of her description of you as *the last Pope of
these Catholic times.' " Gladstone k n e w the Pontiff undersrood his cryptic
reference ro a personal revelation made by rhe V i r g i n M o r h e r w i t h i n the
context o f her famed appearance at Fatima. T h e Floly Father was a f i r m
believer in the authenticity of that revelation. A n d yet, at this m o m e n t , he
seemed u n w i l l i n g to make this connection between the enthronement and
the prophecy.
k
' Y o u r Ploliness is not an o r d i n a r y m a n . " Christian drilled that connec-
t i o n home. " Y o u r Holiness is the only official h u m a n representative on
earrh o f rhe K i n g of the Universe. W h y else call y o u , a mere m o r t a l m a n ,
o u r H o l y Father, i f not because of rhat sacrosancr and h o l y office? You
personally are supposed to c o m b a t the p r i n c i p a l Adversary of y o u r K i n g .
But n o w that Adversary, the Prince, has been surreptitiously enthroned in
w h a t should be the H o l y o f Holies on this earrh. He has actually been
installed i n the house in w h i c h you reside.
"So I say again, H o l y Father. A t this m o m e n t , y o u are the one h u m a n
being on the face of this e a r t h w h o is guaranteed the personal power of
enchaining Lucifer. O f b i n d i n g h i m in shackles. O f casting h i m back i n t o
the pit o f H e l l . A n d I say this: faced w i t h the b r u t a l effects o f the enthrone-
ment i n the H o l y o f Holies, it is unacceptable that y o u should wish to
retire. To resign. To make the ultimate act of acquiescence."
" H a v e I a viable alternative, M o n s i g n o r e ? " T h e Pontiff d r o p p e d his
arms t o his side.
Gladstone shook his head. " I f Your Ploliness chooses to remain cooped
up here, the answer is no. T h e Aposrolic N u n c i o w i l l arrive. W h e n he
does, given the forces gathered against Your Holiness—and given rhe de-
gree to w h i c h Y o u r Holiness has already agreed to be c o - o p t e d — I do not
believe you w i l l be able to refuse y o u r signarure o n the Resignation Proto-
col. If Your Holiness remains here at this M o n a s t e r y , that is surely w h a t
will happen."
" I repeat, M o n s i g n o r e . " Still trapped behind the barricade of his m i n d -
 640 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

set, the Pope merely broadened the scope o f his question. " H a v e I a viable
alternative?"
" I s Your Holiness asking if y o u have a physical means o f getting out of
here w i t h i m p u n i t y ? "
" T h a t ' s o n l y part of it . . . "
" A g r e e d , Holiness. But a n i m p o r t a n t part. A n d the answer this time is
yes. The hehcoprer that b r o u g h t me here is w a i t i n g at R a d o m s k o aero-
d r o m e . In less rhan an h o u r , a charrered jetliner w i l l come in f r o m
Belgium. As rhe l a w f u l successor to the Grear Fisherman, Your Holiness
has been granted a new p a p a l plane. Fisherman One. T h e pilot has permis-
sion to remain on the g r o u n d for t w o hours. If you choose, H o l y Father,
you can be o n that plane before sunrise. Well before the Apostolic N u n c i o
arrives. Your Holiness can be i n Rome before the final blasphemous de-
ception is perpetrared o n the C h u r c h and rhe w i d e w o r l d at n o o n t o d a y . "
" W a i t , M o n s i g n o r e ! W a i t , please!" The Pontiff's i n t e r r u p t i o n was not a
summary o b j e c t i o n . S i m p l y , Gladstone's proposal was t o o a b r u p t , roo
m u c h ro assimilare suddenly and o n rhe spot; it called f o r roo violent a
departure f r o m that mind-set o f his. " Y o u k n o w me, M o n s i g n o r e . Y o u
k n o w h o w I have proceeded. The most c o m p e l l i n g t h i n g f o r me has al-
ways been the u n i t y o f the C h u r c h . For rhat reason, I have agreed w i t h my
Venerable Brothers, the Cardinals. I have preferred ro see in their j u d g -
ment a sure sign o f w h a t the L o r d wanrs o f me. I have always sought a
sign of G o d ' s blessing in rhe reactions o f those nearesr me i n our service o f
rhe L o r d . I must ask y o u , t h e n , M o n s i g n o r e . D o y o u rake ir that y o u r o w n
arrival here and rhe sudden gathering o f Poles a r o u n d Jasna Gora are
supernarural signs o f G o d ' s w i l l ? "
" N o , Ploliness!" U n t i l n o w , Gladstone had spoken firmly, but w i t h o u t
passion, as if he had come merely to presenr travel o p t i o n s . O n l y his eyes
had berrayed the c a u l d r o n o f feeling steaming inside h i m . But i t was t o o
m u c h to hear a question like that in circumstances like this.
"These are n o t supernatural signs. H o l y Father! I and the others w h o
have acted w i t h me have done w h a t w e have by our o w n choice. T h a r we
have so far succeeded is a strong i n d i c a t i o n f o r us rhar G o d has accepted
o u r offer o f service and has blessed o u r plans. But it was o u r d o i n g by our
free choice. A n d so, t o o , f o r rhe people w h o have gathered here on this
h i l l . The Poles have been m o v e d by the spirit that possesses them as the
people o f G o d . But i t is t h e i r free choice ro gather here a r o u n d Your
Holiness."
By this t i m e , every one o f rhose six men standing in the r o o m behind
them was aware that Gladstone was f o r c i n g the Slavic Pope away f r o m
simple acquiescence. T h a t , one w a y or the other, the P o n t i f f w o u l d have to
make a choice; that he w o u l d decide the future o f his pontificate; their
o w n f u t u r e ; the future o f the C h u r c h .
The Pope stepped s l o w l y back t o w a r d the balcony r a i l , where he c o u l d ,
when he chose, glance ar rhe c r o w d s . "These days, M o n s i g n o r e C h r i s t i a n ,
QUO VADIS? 641

I have medirared l o n g on those w o r d s Jesus said t o Peter about h o w , w h e n

he became o l d , others w o u l d b i n d h i m and lead h i m where he w o u l d nor
choose ro go. . . . "
" H o l y F a t h e r ! " If this was to be a farewell speech all gussied u p in more
talk o f signs f r o m Fleaven, Gladstone refused t o hear i t . H e held n o t h i n g
back n o w . H i s entire b e i n g — m i n d , nerves, hearr and soul—was strung out
along the thinnest edge of s u r v i v a l . "Please d o n o t t h i n k o f yourself as
even remotely included i n w h a t the L o r d said ro Peter on that occasion!
N o b o d y has b o u n d y o u r arms. N o b o d y has forced y o u t o go where you
d i d n ' t w a n t t o go. You have s i m p l y acquiesced in the results o f a greater
c u n n i n g rhan y o u can musrer. Ir is true that y o u are the l a w f u l successor t o
Peter. T h a r y o u are Peter in t h a t sense. It's true that Peter once rook i t i n t o
his head t o leave R o m e . N o d o u b t he t h o u g h t that best for the good o f the
C h u r c h . I f he c o u l d escape being k i l l e d , the C h u r c h w o u l d benefit. A n d w e
all k n o w the story o f h o w C h r i s t H i m s e l f met Peter in his headlong flight
f r o m Rome along rhe V i a A p p i a A n t i c a . M e t h i m . Reproached h i m . Senr
h i m back to his post. A n d to his death.
" B u t please, Holiness. T h e r e is no w a y o n the face of God's earth that
Y o u r Holiness can compare w h e r e y o u are n o w to where Peter was that
day. T h i s is n o t the Via A p p i a A n t i c a , and the men ready t o take y o u r
place i n Peter's chair are not i n the line o f men like Linus or Clement or
Cletus w h o t o o k Peter's place. This is an obscure little corner o f rhe w o r l d
chosen by the enemies o f Christ's C h u r c h . This is the hole i n w h i c h men
like M a e s t r o i a n n i and Palombo a n d A u r e a t i n i i n t e n d t o b u r y y o u a n d ,
w i t h y o u , the papacy itself as an i n s t i t u t i o n .
" N o , H o l y Father! You have a l l o w e d yourself to be persuaded that, for
the g o o d of the C h u r c h , y o u should accept the renegade j u d g m e n t o f the
C o u n c i l o f State. By y o u r o w n choice, you have a l l o w e d yourself t o be
taken i n t o seclusion. But if y o u consent any f u r t h e r — i f y o u w a i t for the
N u n c i o — y o u w i l l complete the a b a n d o n m e n t of y o u r post. A n abandon-
ment o f fifteen years' d u r a t i o n . "
" A b a n d o n m e n t , M o n s i g n o r e ? " T h e P o n t i f f recoiled. H e k n e w G l a d -
stone was a m a n o f temper; bur no one had ever spoken such harsh w o r d s
ro his face. " A b a n d o n m e n t ? A n d fifteen years o f it? Surely n o t ! "
"Yes, Floly Father. 1 must insist y o u listen t o me about t h i s ! "
" I a m listening, M o n s i g n o r e ! H o w have I abandoned m y f a i t h f u l ? "
" B e t t e r than anyone w i t h i n o r outside the C h u r c h , you k n o w that every
statistic shows that the C a t h o l i c C h u r c h is g o i n g d o w n . C o r r u p t e d f r o m
w i t h i n , i t is being m a r g i n a l i z e d , displaced and corroded as a public institu-
t i o n a n d as a personal r e l i g i o n . Y o u r Ploliness k n o w s t h a t . We have made
sure y o u k n o w . We have filled y o u r ears w i t h a u d i o reports and y o u r eyes
w i r h video documents. We have piled your desk high w i t h detailed studies.
Bur even w i t h o u t those reports, y o u k n e w . As the best-informed m a n i n
C h r i s t e n d o m , y o u k n e w t h a t the vast m a j o r i t y of y o u r Catholics were
being led hy the nose away f r o m o u r sacred Catholic t r a d i t i o n s . You knew
 642 WINDSWEPT HOUSE

they were being led i n t o a new f o r m or ersatz C h r i s t i a n i t y that none of

y o u r predecessors c o u l d recognize as Carholicism. N o t Pope Pius X I I . N o t
Pius X I . N o t Pius X . N o t Pius I X . N o n e o f t h e m .
" Y e t , w h a t have y o u d o n e to arresr that d e t e r i o r a t i o n , Holiness? You
speak of y o u r search f o r u n i t y . But you have abandoned y o u r seminarians
to heretical teachers. Y o u have abandoned y o u r parish f a i t h f u l to dissi-
dent, yes, to i m m o r a l bishops and Cardinals. You have abandoned your
schoolchildren to a n o n - C a t h o l i c system and y o u r nuns t o a destroying
wave o f secularizing feminists. You protected none of t h e m . N o t even our
sacred buildings themselves. You have a l l o w e d o u r very churches and
chapels t o be denuded o f A l t a r and Tabernacle, o f Confessional and
Statue. In a l l o f t h a t , y o u have acquiesced c o n t i n u a l l y . A n d n o w y o u are
on the b r i n k of acquiescing i n the l i q u i d a t i o n of y o u r o w n p o n t i f i c a t e . "
Gladstone stopped as a b r u p r l y as he had begun. W h a r was rhe use? He
c o u l d feel rhe Ponriff recediing i n r o rhe inner sanctum of his o w n m i n d . H i s
w o r d s were like dead stones f a l l i n g o n t i n ; so m u c h sound, and no more.
In the silence rhat fell between t h e m , the Pontiff's face flushed w i t h
c o l o r . Ir wasn'r anger he felt, b u t a deeper e m o t i o n o n l y he had k n o w n . A
terrible consciousness. A sense o f standing completely alone. Behind h i m
was the w h o l e people o f G o d for w h o m he, as Pope, was the A l m i g h t y ' s
sole earrhly representative. In f r o n t of h i m , the abyss of God's immeasur-
able being and infinite p o w e r .
"Just a simple sign o f God's i n t e n t i o n . " T h e w o r d s came haltingly,
gently f r o m the P o n t i f f s lips, " A l l along I have w a i t e d f o r a sign of God's
holy w i l l . "
T h e effect o n Gladstone was devastating. H e was staring at failure; and
the reality of the situation struck h i m so cruelly rhat his face went w h i t e .
I n those t w o sentences, the Pope had given a summary o f his attitude. He
had spelled o u t the rule by w h i c h he was j u d g i n g his presenr s i t u a t i o n .
Christian's w o r d s , his o w n next moves.
Chris felt a desperare need ro call o u t for divine help; a desire ro pray
rhat was p a i n f u l in its intensity. The pressure thar had been m o u n t i n g for
days threatened t o go oveir the edge of his c o n t r o l i n t o helpless despair.
Was this t o be the sum t o t a l of his achievement? To hear his Pope, rhe
most d i v i n e l y e m p o w e r e d h u m a n i n d i v i d u a l alive, h o l d back timorously?
In a concrere situation in w h i c h the safety and integrity of Chrisr's C h u r c h
was at stake, c o u l d he elicit no m o r e than a querulous, insistent plea for a
sign? H a d he come this far o n l y t o be witness to a Pope—the m a n w h o
should be the very p i l l a r o f R o m a n Catholicism's willingness to take o n
the entire w o r l d — r e d u c e d ro the c o n d i t i o n o f a hesitant septuagenarian
l o o k i n g for a bargain w i t h the A l m i g h r y ?
H i s o w n resolve almosr b r o k e n , Chris fought againsr his emotions. H e
searched the P o n t i f f s face w i t h his eyes. H e noted all the devastations of
time's o n r u s h , the u n r e l e n t i n g depredations of age. Once u p o n a recent
t i m e , he t h o u g h t , this m a n had been a r a m p a n t l i o n let loose by p r o v i -
QUO VADIS? 643

dence o n rhe U.S.S.R.; a n d he had ravaged t h a t colossus inro disintegra-

tion.
A n d t h e n , as suddenly as t h u n d e r , C h r i s u n d e r s t o o d . Compassion, the
firstborn of genuine love, p o u r e d fresh insighr i n t o his soul for this most
w i d e l y k n o w n o f t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y Popes. Insight i n t o much more than
his u n d o u b t e d m o r a l virtue and his uncanny geopolirical foresight. Insight
i n t o his peculiar destiny. Insight, above a l l , i n t o his fatal weaknesses.
T h i s P o n t i f f had w o n his great v i c t o r y over Soviet M a r x i s m . A n d he had
enabled m i l l i o n s already b o r n and m i l l i o n s more yet u n b o r n to escape the
c r u d e s t t y r a n n y so far realized by evil hearts. But he had achieved that
v i c t o r y in the name of h u m a n s o l i d a r i t y . A n d once he had done t h a t —
once this Pope had acted successfully in the name of h u m a n solidarity as
the indestructible cement o f h u m a n f r a t e r n i t y ; o f h u m a n identity as a
f a m i l y — h e a n d his papacy had been co-opted i n t o the b u i l d i n g o f that
s o l i d a r i t y . T h u s , the essential mission of the Catholic C h u r c h had been
mongrelized. For, in sacred p r i n c i p l e , Pope a n d papacy are n o t supposed
t o act as surrogates f o r h u m a n s o l i d a r i t y , but for the k i n g d o m and the
regime of Jesus o f Nazareth as L o r d o f h u m a n history. Nevertheless, he as
Pope, and his a d m i n i s t r a t i o n as the papacy, were aligned w i r h a purely
h u m a n goal.
In rhe empathy of his h u m a n i t a r i a n feeling, he never e x p l i c i t l y spoke of
rhar Jesus o f Nazareth as the K i n g of nations, b u t of the solidarity he
hoped w o u l d be fostered r h r o u g h transnational organizations. H e d i d n ' t
consistently present himself i n globalisr meetings o f the nations as the a l l -
i m p o r t a n t Vicar o f t h a t Jesus. H i s favorite description o f himself was
something as disarming—as anodyne—as " I , a son o f h u m a n i t y and
Bishop of R o m e . " N o r d i d he inculcate the t r u t h o f R o m a n C a t h o l i c i s m as
the e x p l i c i t w i l l o f Jesus, h u t rather as ethical rules; as conditions deduced
by h u m a n reason f o r safeguarding the s o l i d a r i t y o f the h u m a n f a m i l y ,
Srill, t o say t h a t the Slavic Pope had been co-opted by circumstances
was not to say t h a t he d i d n o t act o n his o w n choice. O n the c o n t r a r y .
N o b o d y c o u l d deny this man's belief i n the divine person a n d role of Jesus
of Nazareth and C a l v a r y . N o one c o u l d cast suspicion o n his personal
integrity or d o u b t his innate piety. But it was by choice that he spoke in
the language of his contemporaries, not in the w e l l - k n o w n accents o f Ro-
man Pontiffs, stating that w h i c h is true a b o u t G o d . I t was by choice that
he removed Catholicism's icons f r o m its sacred b u i l d i n g s — r e m o v e d even
the Body and Blood o f C h r i s t — i n an efforr ro accommodate alien religious
minds and rhe pagan rites of nonbelievers. Ir was by choice that he had
relegated the p a n o p l y o f his C a t h o l i c i s m to the b a c k g r o u n d . By choice, he
had frequenred roo m u c h the c o m p a n y o f n o n - C a t h o l i c prelares w h o never
shared his C a t h o l i c f a i t h , a n d of u n - C a t h o l i c theologians w h o were devoid
of C a t h o l i c piety.
N o w , in the evening o f his papacy, i t was no longer easy for h i m t o
reach beyond rhe l i m i t s o f h u m a n s o l i d a r i t y to p r o c l a i m the ancient mes-
 644 W IN DSW E V I HOUSE

sage o f the t r a d i t i o n a l papacy. I t no longer seemed t o occur to h i m to

w i e l d his papacy as a w e a p o n . Hence, the facility w i t h w h i c h he could
consider resignation a n d retirement in the face o f c u n n i n g he could n o t
measure.
T h a t w h o l e tide o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g rushed in o n Gladsrone i n a matter o f
seconds. H e k n e w n o w where this enigmatic Pope stood. A n d he knew
there were o n l y r w o possible means o f t u r n i n g h i m a r o u n d . To persuade
h i m ro go back ro R o m e , i f o n l y f o r the time it w o u l d take to u n d o the
e n t h r o n e m e n t , i t w o u l d have to be urged on h i m as a basic d u t y t o that
h u m a n solidarity he had so signally vindicated, and o f w h i c h he was n o w
a prisoner. A n d ir w o u l d have to be urged o n h i m as a direct consequence
o f his p a r t i c u l a r l y fervent d e v o t i o n t o M a r y , the M o t h e r o f Jesus, t o
w h o m he had dedicated his pontificate.
" H o l i n e s s . " Gladstone gathered his courage again. " H o l i n e s s , we have
n o need t o request a m i r a c u l o u s s i g n — C h r i s t appearing i n all H i s g l o r y t o
you or the sun d a n c i n g again i n the skies. I n a certain true sense, Your
Holiness doesn't deserve r h a t . But, more t o the p o i n t righr n o w , Your
Holiness doesn't need that. We are nor dealing w i t h the A p o c a l y p t i c . N o t
yet! A m i n u t e ago, I mentioned the V i r g i n ' s description o f you as 'the last
Pope o f these Catholic times.' I f you accept that as authentically M a r y ' s
statement—and especially i f y o u see i t in the context o f the men i n Rome
w h o w o u l d be Pope—are y o u n o t the last one capable o f cleansing the
H o l y Basilica and the Vatican o f any trace o f Lucifer's enthronement?
" Y o u have insisted t h a t , f r o m the beginning o f o u r salvation by O u r
L o r d Jesus, G o d has decided to deal w i t h the w o r l d t h r o u g h H i s Blessed
M o t h e r . A g a i n and again y o u have said that y o u yourself were chosen by
G o d as Pope ro be rhe special servanr o f H i s M o t h e r . I f you srill claim
roral d e v o t i o n t o her, is ir n o t y o u r duty t o t r a m p l e on that most ancienr
enemy o f rhe h u m a n race? It cannot be, then, H o l y Father, rhat y o u w i l l
t u r n y o u r back. T h a t y o u w i l l refuse to exercise the unique p o w e r Chrisr
gave y o u . T h a t you w i l l shilly-shally away f r o m y o u r destiny as the last
Pope o f these Catholic times. T h a t you w i l l leave Lucifer and his in-house
C u r i a l agents free to w r e a k their blasphemous filth o n A l t a r and Taberna-
cle a n d priesthood and papacy.
" R e s i g n i f y o u w i l l , Holiness. But n o t yet! For the fate or y o u r o w n soul,
you cannot leave us naked a n d unprotected to face t h a t Fallen Archangel
w h o , in Peter's very w o r d s , seeks t o devour us all like a ravenous l i o n . You
cannot t h i n k that y o u can leave us in this l u r c h o f evil. You cannot w a l k
away f r o m this papacy k n o w i n g you have left that supreme enemy in
charge."

C h r i s t i a n h a d n o m o r e t o say; no more t o give. H e was w i t h o u t further

resources o f energy. As he s t o o d i m m o b i l e beside the Pope w a i r i n g for his
decision, his m i n d began t o conjure up freeze-frame images o f his earliest
conversations w i t h A l d o Carnesecca, O f t h a t simple, greathearted priest
QUO VADIS? 645

w h o had understood the tactics in the global w a r f a r e o f spirit that had

nearly s w a l l o w e d C h r i s t i a n w h o l e .
Chris t u r n e d a w a y f r o m the? Pope, a w a y from the c r o w d . Turned to look
at A n g e l o Gurmacher, his scarred face b o w e d in urgent prayer. He
t h o u g h t o f that last week he and Father Angelo had spent together a
liferime ago ar W i n d s w e p t House. H e saw again all the men and w o m e n
w h o had come i n such numbe rs l o o k i n g for counsel, f o r c o m f o r t , f o r v a l i d
Sacraments they c o u l d no longer find elsewhere. H e remembered h o w
Gurmacher had come before d a w n to the T o w e r Chapel at W i n d s w e p t ;
h o w he had chided C h r i s — s h a m e d h i m , even—for his hesitation i n ac-
cepting the call t o priestly service in Rome. H e recalled Gutmacher's
w o r d s a b o u t the dangers in R o m e and a b o u t w h a t the grace o f G o d can
achieve. Fie remembered h o w Cessi had embraced h i m t h a t m o r n i n g in
O l d Glad's T o w e r a n d , as the true Gladsrone she was, had t o l d h i m that
Rome needed a g o o d s h a k i n g - u p .
He recalled h o w his o w n Stateside mission for this Pope had begun w i t h
such v i b r a n t hope: h o w he h a d believed that the H o l y Father really d i d
w a n t to take the measure o f abuse i n his C h u r c h ; rhat he really w o u l d take
a stand. He remembered h o w incensed he had been rhat rhe fiery-rem-
pered, quick-fisred M i c h a e l O ' R e i l l y had been fed ro the wolves by weak-
w i l l e d prelares, w h i l e a sysremaric ecclesiasrical cover-up was a l l o w e d ro
f l o u r i s h . " W h e n the H o l y Father does his d u t y in this diocese," O ' R e i l l y
had c o m p l a i n e d , " t h e n he can p u t my affairs in o r d e r . " T h a t hadn't been a
lot to ask. L i k e all the people gathered here on Jasna G o r a H i l l , O ' R e i l l y
w a n t e d w h a t had been p r o m i s e d , A leader. A shepherd w h o w o u l d be
w i t h his flock f o r all days.
Gladstone shifted his glance to D a m i e n Slattery still keeping vigil in rhe
d o o r w a y , and Thought h o w he, t o o , had f o u n d his w a y t o W i n d s w e p t
House after his priestly service had been t r a m p l e d in Rome and then
shredded by the apostate C a r d i n a l o f C e n t u r y c i t y . H o w he had rallied his
courage nonetheless, a n d had insisted o n d o i n g a g o o d job o f w o r k i n
America f o r this Slavic Pope. But that big Irishman's face n o w was so
conrorred w i r h pain and puzzlement that Chris t o o k the few steps needed
t o b r i n g h i m ro Slattery's side.
" C h r i s , w h a r d o y o u t h i n k ? " D a m i e n spoke in a hoarse whisper. " I s he
or is he nor g o i n g ro come? A n d w h a t do we d o i f he decides to stay p u t ? "
Gladstone felt a sudden c h i l l i n his hearr. He had no consoling w o r d f o r
Slattery i n his misery. " W e go back by ourselves, D a m i e n , and we get
crucified. But have we ever really k n o w n w h a t drives this man? You k n o w
h i m as w e l l as 1 d o . Flas he ever really eased o u r pain? Hasn't he left us i n
d o u b t perperually? Left us so w e can't be sure o u r priestly ordinations are
v a l i d ; can't be sure you must be R o m a n C a t h o l i c t o be saved? He's left us
in severe d o u b t a b o u t so m a n y vital issues; a l l o w e d us t o be spiked on so
many grave d o u b t s .
" P l l keep at h i m . " Chris was speaking r h r o u g h his rears n o w . " M a y b e I
 646 W I N D S W E P T H O U S E

can ger him to budge. Bur I don't know, Damien. There are so many or us
now, all heading for lifelong disaster. I k n o w only that he has abandoned
us piece by piece, in minor rhings and in major issues. Will rhis be any
differenr? 1 don't k n o w . . . . "

Chris moved forward onto the balcony again. He raised his eyes to the
silent Pope while searing questions coursed rhrough his mind. C a n this be
your answer, Holy Farher? To Carnesecca? To Slattery and Gutmacher?
To all of us? Silence?
C a n rhis be whar it all comes down to, Ploliness? All your years as
Pontiff? All the millions of miles in papal pilgrimages? All the billions of
men and women and children w h o have seen your face and heard your
living voice? All the vast rivers of words you've poured out in so many
languages; all the cities you've seen; all the world leaders you've visired
and who have visited you?
Is it all reduced ro rhis. H o l y Farher? T o your seclusion on a lonely hill
in southern Poland at the bidding of Chrisr's clever enemies? C a n this
really be rhe will of Chrisr for you, His spokesman, His personal Vicar on
rhis earrh? C a n you think that rhe G o d W h o came ro be crucified for us
would give you a sign ro justify acquiescence in the petty plots of pygmy
men? O r in rhe darksome will of the nether forces those men serve?
Surely those questions must occur to Your Holiness before you allow
rhe final page of rhese terrible events to be turned, and Your Holiness'
chapter of history ro be closed forever. . . .

"Precisely now, Floly Farher, is rhe momenr of truth."

Gladstone took another step forward on the balcony of Jasna Gora
Monasrery. O n e srep closer ro rhe Slavic Pope. " I t ' s not yet dawn, but it's
a matter of minures. Holy Farher . . . "
Christian's voice was drowned in a bursr of extra-loud cheering from
rhe crowds. A couple of television crews had made it to Czestochowa and
had just turned on rheir searchlights to illuminate the scene.
Still silent, the Slavic Pope lifted his eyes to the morning. T h e sready
drizzle of rain had ceased. T h e banks of clouds had begun to shift, chased
by a bright carpet of stars unrolling behind them.
But Gladsrone had said iir. There was no trace of dawn yet in the eastern
sky.