The Second Messiah

Cassini pointed the blade at Ryan. “A brave step indeed, Sean. Not to mention the fact that he has taken the name Celestine the Sixth. Celestine, from the Latin, meaning ‘supremely good,’ or ‘angel.’”

Ryan said, “Am I right in saying that the last Celestine was the only pope in history ever to have resigned? He was certainly a strange character—a thirteenth-century dreamer, prophet, a healer.”

“And a reluctant pontiff if ever there was one, at least if we’re to accept church history. It’s said that he believed there was no meeting place between the pursuit of power and riches and the worship of God.” Cassini raised an eyebrow. “Indeed. I have heard whispers that already some are calling our new pope the ‘second messiah,’ because he promises to return the church to the true ways of Christ. And because he appears to have intimated a belief in some kind of broad religious unity by opening our secret archives to all Christian religions. At least it sounded that way to me. It’s certainly a noble belief, but if history is anything to go by, I fear its fruition is highly unlikely.”

Ryan nodded. “I must admit I’ve heard the rumors. Including a few outspoken ones that even dared to call him an Antichrist.”

“Not all in high office will agree with the Holy Father’s plans but he is one of the few absolute monarchs remaining and his word is law. He refuses to change his mind despite the strong advice of some of the Curia.”

“So when exactly will the archives be made public?” Ryan inquired.

“The Holy Father intends to make an announcement from St. Peter’s Square. He hasn’t yet said when, but I have a feeling it could be soon, certainly within a week or less.”

“And may I ask what all this has got to do with me?”

Cassini sighed, and threw down his letter opener. “Quite simply, I fear the intentions of His Holiness may put his life in danger.”

Ryan said, “How exactly?”

“No doubt you can imagine that some of these secret files contain information on historical and supernatural matters so highly sensitive that they have been deliberately kept from public knowledge. Without meaning to put too fine a point on it, some of the material will be quite shocking. And to be blunt, there will be those who wish certain of our more sensitive Vatican files were not revealed.”

Ryan said, “Who might that be, Your Eminence?”

Cassini raised his hand. “We’ll come to it later. As you well know, I number myself among those of authority within the Vatican who are privy to certain of its secrets. And few organizations keep secrets better. Our archives are perhaps the most securely guarded in the world. But now we must prepare to obey our Holy Father’s wishes.”

“But why exactly should his life be in danger?”

Cassini looked uneasy as he picked up the leather briefcase and the chain lock rattled. He opened it with a key from his cassock, then slid out a thick, red leather folder with a wax Vatican seal that had already been broken. The bundle was tied with wax cord.

Cassini tapped the folder. “You’ll understand once you read the pages inside this file. It’s a list of some of the material from the Vatican Archives that will be released. I am invoking my protocol to have the list available for you to examine, which is within my power to do. The keeper of the archives—who knows nothing of this—believes I am simply studying the documents on the Holy Father’s behalf.”

Ryan licked his lips. “What sort of material is in there?”

“Highly confidential, the sort I spoke about. Considering that you’re in charge of the Holy Father’s security, you ought be aware of the stakes in this matter. And I think you’ll agree that once you’ve read what’s inside, they are very high stakes indeed.”

Cassini smiled bleakly, then continued. “Normally, what’s inside this folder would never—and I mean never—be made known to the outside world. The reasons will become obvious. Some of the matters dealt with go back a long time, even to the time of Christ, while others are more recent. And now you, Sean, are about to have the unpleasant privilege of knowing some of those secrets.”

Cassini moved the leather folder to the center of the desk. He lifted the glinting steel letter opener by the bone handle and with an expert flick of his wrist, slit the wax cord.

Ryan said, “Now there’s a man who knows how to use a blade.”

Cassini smiled tightly as he slid the folder across. “It must be my Sicilian blood, Sean.”

Ryan looked uncomfortable as he hefted up the bundle with a beefy hand. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

Cassini nodded to the papers. “For now just read, Sean. Then we’ll talk.”

23

Ryan closed the folder in Cardinal Umberto Cassini’s office. His hands were trembling as he looked up, ashen-faced. The Irishman looked stunned, overcome by a deep sense of turmoil. Over fifteen minutes had passed but he had not felt the time go by. “My God,” he breathed. “Everything I’ve read is really true?”