The Octopus at the Vatican

# 23 - the insiders

Saturday 16 - the Vatican

The next day, the pope invited two people. He saw them separately in his private office. He explained the situation. If he remained at the helm of the Church, his life was hanging by a thread. Stepping down was no solution. He didn't want to sacrifice himself as Jesus and the early Christians had done. He wasn't that brave.

Sister Vincenza, the first of the people he spoke to, had so much love, so much respect for Albino Luciani, was so devoted to him that she accepted all his instructions. And agreed to keep silent forever.

Dr. Renato Buzzonetti was an old friend. He held the official position that would make him called to his bedside. Albino Luciani had to work hard. It was difficult for Dr. Buzzonetti to agree to produce a false death certificate when the day came. It was against professional ethics. But the equation was simple, argued Luciani.

"To save the life of a friend and a pope is worth a fake piece of paper, no?"

Dr. Buzzonetti was at the end of his career, at the height of his reputation. He wasn't risking much. If he were caught out, he would say he had been negligent, tricked by low light or had a hangover. Or better still, the truth, to save the Holy Father from assassination. It was morally right. He agreed. He would get a colleague who would not even see the corpse to sign the second certificate.

"What will you do afterwards?"

"I'd like to tell you my plans but it's best if I don't. For your safety and your family's, don't tell anyone."

The third person to include in the secret was the Secretary of State Jean-Marie Villot. Without his support, the trick could not work. He was essential to its success. Jean-Paul I decided to put off this crucial meeting till the day after next. He didn't want to call him out again on a Sunday. The cardinal hated it. So he asked him for dinner on the Monday evening. They could talk before the meal.

Sunday 17 - the Vatican

 At 12 noon, the pope said the Angelus from his window for the faithful on St. Peter's square.

Monday 18 - the Vatican

On Monday evening, the pope received his State Secretary, Cardinal Jean-Marie Villot in his official office.

"Thank you for coming, Your Eminence. Two weeks ago, I warned you of the attack that was being prepared against me on Wednesday 6. Thank you again for your actions to cover up my escape."

"Holy Father, may I ask you a question that has been bothering me for the last two weeks?"

"Go ahead."

"Nothing happened on 6. Were you really in danger? Were you correctly informed?"

"I have an ugly answer. Are you ready to hear me out?"

"Yes."

Luciani told him what had happened at Cortina d'Ampezzo, and that he would be poisoned shortly.

Villot was shocked. Under his cold administrator's appearances, he had feelings.

"I cannot continue with this threat", said John Paul I, "and I don't want dirty money to be laundered again."

Cardinal Villot said nothing. He knew quite a bit about the goings-on at the IOR, with the approval of the former pope. He was not proud of it.

Luciani then spoke of his zugzwang that whatever he did or didn't do, he would lose. Then he concluded with his decision: on the day of his poisoning, he would leave his post discreetly. To step down would resolve nothing. He would play dead, to pull the rug from under the mafia's feet. He acknowledged he was beaten. Perhaps the next pope would manage things better than himself.

"Will you help me to do this? Without you, nothing can happen. I'm asking you, not as your boss, but as a humble sinner asks of a Christian. It would be your last task for me. Then I will disappear forever. I will only be a man among men."

Cardinal Villot was old, he was 74 and knew he was very ill. According to his doctor, he had only 6 months to live; he thought for a long while, then asked to withdraw to a corner of the room to pray. After his prayer, his mind was made up. If he helped to save a pure heart, he could stand before his God. Otherwise, his passive complicity with the actions of the Bank of the Vatican would weigh heavily at the moment of the last Judgment. He agreed without reserve. He was even freed from a great weight of guilt. He had obeyed his superior, pope Paul VI, because he had vowed him obedience. But he wasn't at ease with himself. This new idealistic pope, with a youth's temperament, was giving him the opportunity to redeem himself. He felt light and happy. During the meal, both men, who had, in the previous three weeks, not trusted each other, were now serene and even jolly at times.