by Glenn Kleier
“Good morning, Rabbi,” Cissy opened as the grave, wise countenance of the Lubavitcher leader flickered up on the screen. The rabbi was a large, alert man of seventy-seven, with full white beard and hair, bushy white eyebrows, and deep-set eyes that sparkled despite the serious gaze.
“Good morning,” Hirschberg answered.
“I appreciate your willingness to come by our studio in New York to conference with us so early in the morning,” Cissy said, recognizing that the sun was not yet up in New York.
“It is not early for me, Miss McFarland,” Hirschberg replied matter-of-factly. “I've been up for hours, as is my custom.”
“I'm glad to hear that, Rabbi,” Cissy replied. “I'd like to introduce you to my friend and colleague, Jon Feldman.”
“Yes.” Hirschberg nodded politely to Feldman. “Mr. Feldman is a well-known figure to us here, and everywhere, I'm certain.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Feldman returned, not able to get a read on the rabbi's disposition yet. “Do we find you in good health and spirits this morning?”
“Yes, Mr. Feldman, you do,” the rabbi continued in a noncommittal manner. “At the very least, I'm always in good spirits. But I suspect you're not investing eighty dollars per minute of your company's money to make small talk with me. You wished to discuss the arrangements for my attending Monday night's telecast?”
Both Feldman and Cissy were caught off-guard.
“You mean you accept our invitation?” Cissy could not mask her surprise and delight.
“Of course,” he responded as if there were never any question. “I simply had to consult my doctor first. I have a slight medical condition. Nothing to be concerned about.”
“Wonderful,” Feldman quickly responded. “We welcome your participation. May I ask you, Rabbi, what, in your opinion, will be the Vatican's strategy here?”
“There's no question in my mind that the thrust of this speech will be to discredit the Messiah and command the world Catholic community to reject Her as an impostor and false prophet. The decree ex cathedra will no doubt require the Catholic faithful to disclaim Jeza under penalty of mortal sin and excommunication.”
“How are you intending to respond to that proclamation, Rabbi Hirschberg?” Cissy asked.
“With prophecy, of course,” he replied. “With the Word of God! You must fight fire with fire!”
“Begging your pardon, Rabbi,” Feldman interrupted with a personal observation he couched in hypothesis. “May I play devil's advocate for a moment?”
“Of course.”
“Couldn't it be said that the source of this entire Jeza controversy lies in an undue reliance on scripture? And on the completely inconsistent ways in which all these obscure prophecies are interpreted? Isn't the real obstacle for many people that the prophecies you rely on are simply too ancient and ambiguous to relate to?”
The rabbi nodded his head, impatiently tapping his fingertips together as if he'd anticipated this question all along. Then, compressing his lips tightly, he turned to a sheath of papers beside him, sorted through them, and held up a selected document. “Can you make this out, Mr. Feldman?” he asked.
“I can see what looks like a handwritten letter, Rabbi.” Feldman squinted at the screen. “But I'm unable to read what it says.”
“This,” Hirschberg explained, “is no ancient prophecy. This is a prediction made in 1937 by the great Hasidic holy man, Rabbi Haim Shvuli. It prophesies about a war in the Middle East to be waged in the year 1990 by an Arab nation. According to Rabbi Shvuli, this war would involve the use of chemical and biological weapons, and involve attempts to bomb Jerusalem from the air. However, it predicts that the city would be protected by the Almighty. And note this most important aspect, Mr. Feldman—Rabbi Shvuli proclaims that this war would signal the beginning of the messianic era!
“As you no doubt recognize, my young friend,” Hirschberg continued, “Rabbi Shvuli was accurately describing the war with Iraq known as Desert Storm, anticipating it to the very year, more than fifty years prior.
“Bear in mind, Mr. Feldman, that this prediction was made eleven years before the Jewish State of Israel even existed. Back when the Holy Land was under the complete control of the Palestinians. Before the true implications of this prophecy held any significance for the Jews.
“You see, even the creation of the Jewish State in 1948 foretold of the coming of the Messiah Jeza. The Old Testament predicted the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, and the Great Exile of the Jews. Yet the scriptures also promised there would one day be a great ‘ingathering of the Jewish exiles.’ And that this ingathering would mark the long-foretold beginning of the messianic era.
“After two thousand years, that prophecy was fulfilled with the formation of the modern Jewish state, which brought about the ensuing mass immigration of Jews to Israel from their scattered, displaced existences all across the globe.
“But let me provide you with yet another current prophecy, Mr. Feldman, as you require. In August 1990, two years before his death, in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait that same month, my esteemed rabbi, Menachem Schneerson, delivered a special sermon here at our temple in Brooklyn. Regarding the Iraqi threat against Israel at that time, he predicted this.” Hirschberg selected another paper from his collection and held it up for Feldman to observe. “Let me document this to you in a published copy of Rabbi Schneerson's very words:
“‘These events do not have to disturb the spiritual and physical peace of a single Jew because they are a preparation and preface for the actual coming of the Messiah.’”
Hirschberg returned the paper to its place. “The Rabbi Schneerson went on to say that there would be no need for Israelis to acquire gas masks or stockpile food or gird themselves for attack. That Israel would never be truly threatened by this war at her doorstep. And that the advent of the Messiah was imminent!”
Cissy looked over at Feldman with raised eyebrows, denoting her approval. Feldman nodded his head in concurrence. This refreshingly contemporary, non-Christian perspective sounded like just the sort of solid rebuttal WNN had been looking for. Cissy had done well.
“Excellent, Rabbi,” Feldman commended him. “If you will, I'd like to ask you to fax copies of these materials to us so we can make some visual excerpts for the telecast. We're going to need persuasive material like this if we hope to counter the Vatican's position.”
The rabbi smiled for the first time. “Somehow, Mr. Feldman, I feel as if you've chosen sides.”
This took Feldman aback for a moment, his eyes flitted with internal conflict. He then leveled his gaze at Hirschberg and his brow creased. “I'm not pursuing any personal religious convictions here, Rabbi. And I certainly have no desire to endorse one theological view over another. Quite frankly, I believe that the resolution to all this current unrest lies somewhere in the temporal world, not the spiritual. But I don't want to see any harm come to Jeza, either. And I support whatever can be done to balance the threat of a backlash against her.”
93
Cairo Airport, Egypt11:30 A.M., Monday, April 3, 2000
Late Monday morning, Erin and Feldman were shuttled to the airport and deposited aboard a small charter jet for the hop across the Mediterranean.
This was the first time Feldman had truly been alone in Erin's company, and it was not something he'd looked forward to with any degree of comfort. Nevertheless, aside from infrequent exchanges of pleasantries and a few requests of Feldman for his opinion, Erin remained completely absorbed in the project. For the duration of the three-hour flight, she kept her professional distance.
The two newspeople were met at the airport by WNN Europe staff and transported first to their downtown hotel to freshen up, then directly to the Vatican and the cathedral for prepping before the telecast. As he crossed familiar St Peter's Square, Feldman's sensations of queasiness increased.
Inside the ancient basilica, Feldman and a fascinated Erin Cross were escorted t
o the staging area, which, as promised, was ideal. Positioned directly in front of the High Altar, Feldman noted that the massive altar stone had been repaired or replaced. WNN's set was comprised of a huge Persian rug, four comfortable overstuffed chairs and a coffee table.
About six-thirty P.M., Feldman was informed that Rabbi Hirschberg had arrived. For the duration of the pope's speech, Hirschberg would be secreted in a separate, reserved media section. He wouldn't be brought onto WNN's set until the interview with di Concerci was actually underway. Not knowing how the cardinal would react to WNN's ploy was yet another worry for the newsman's nervous stomach.
Feldman passed on a catered dinner, choosing to move to his chair on the set with his notes for a little quiet time. Instead, he found himself the object of a growing assembly of Vatican personnel, nuns and clerics who approached him with a passel of questions about the Messiah.
An annoyed WNN director was about to clear the set when, quite abruptly, Feldman's little audience went strangely quiet, came to wary attention, and collectively stared over the back of Feldman's chair toward some imposing presence behind. Turning around, Feldman was startled to find himself peering up into the implacable face of the tall, august Antonio Cardinal Prefect di Concerci himself. The cardinal had made an imperious, lone entrance in brilliant white cassock with crimson cape and matching skullcap.
Di Concerci said nothing, standing serenely, his hands folded behind him, his head erect, his unblinking eyes first scanning the gathering, then directed down at Feldman. Dumbfounded for a moment, Feldman remembered himself and quickly rose to his feet, extending his hand.
Without changing his demeanor, the cardinal slowly clasped Feldman's palm as the bystanders dissipated meekly into the background. Feldman was surprised at the strength of the grip and at the degree of control and power projected by the unnerving, analytical eyes. Eyes as expressionless, passionless as those of the marble statuary residing in the dark alcoves and musty labyrinths of the Vatican Palace.
“It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” Feldman managed.
“Yes,” the cardinal said simply. “I am early, I realize. However, I thought if I were to join you now, rather than in the middle of the announcement as was planned, it would prove less disruptive and I might be able to witness the pontiff's address in its entirety.” He hastily added, “If that's not an imposition, of course,” spoken with the presumption that it would not be.
“Not at all,” the reporter agreed, although uncomfortable with the idea of having to bear the prefect's critical scrutiny through the earlier parts of the program. Feldman doubted the cardinal would appreciate certain aspects of WNN's background report.
“There are seating accommodations for you.” Feldman gestured toward several arm chairs in a wing to the side of the set. “And I'll have one of our staff explain procedures to you and assist you with your microphone. After the pope has concluded his address, we'll break for station identification and commercials, during which we'll seat you next to me here for the interview, if that's acceptable.”
The prefect nodded. “I trust you've found our arrangements for you comfortable?”
Overly so, Feldman was thinking, but responded, “Yes, Your Eminence, everyone has been most considerate.”
The cardinal's eyes hardened. “Good. Then perhaps your network will choose to be a little more compassionate in its treatment of the Church tonight?” Holding his gaze long enough to impress his point, the cardinal bowed slightly and excused himself to take a seat in the shadows.
As airtime approached, Erin Cross returned in the company of several solicitous Italian WNN brass who had been only too happy to serve as her Vatican tour guides. Charmingly, she disengaged herself and took her chair next to Feldman with a bright and cheery “Hello!” It failed to raise his spirits.
A few minutes later, the couple were given their cue as an “on air” light flashed red and the familiar WNN logo swirled onto countless TV screens all across the globe, immediately followed by the images of Feldman and Erin. An off-camera voice announced, “Live from St. Peter's Cathedral in Vatican City, here are World News Network correspondents Jon Feldman and Erin Cross.”
The camera cut to a close-up of a pensive-looking Feldman. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” he opened, without his customary shy half smile. “We welcome you to WNN's special coverage of the first-ever live broadcast of a papal edict.
“Before tonight's address, WNN has prepared for you an informative documentary on this rare pronouncement of the Catholic Church, known as a ‘decree ex cathedra.’ Following the pope's message, we ask you to stay tuned to WNN for an exclusive interview with the Vatican Curia's prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, His Eminence Antonio Cardinal di Concerci.
“Now with some historical background on tonight's papal address, here's WNN's expert on religious affairs, news correspondent Erin Cross.”
The camera widened to include Erin's arresting, smiling face.
“Thank you, Jon,” she said, tossing back her stylish hair.
“Erin, can you begin by telling us a bit about the principle of infallibility behind this ex cathedra decree? I presume this is a power originally bestowed by Christ upon Saint Peter, the first pope, and handed down to successive popes through the millennia?”
“No, Jon,” Erin answered. “Actually the doctrine of infallibility only goes back a little over a century, to the year 1870, during the time when the Italian government was threatening to take the papal states away from Pope Pius IX.”
“The pope owned states?” Feldman feigned ignorance, following their strategy of eventually leading into further Secret Archive information WNN had yet to reveal.
“Yes. For more than one thousand years, the popes ruled huge kingdoms,” she explained. Slowly, the camera zoomed in on Erin to the exclusion of Feldman, turning the program over to her. “Until the late 1800s, the Catholic Church owned more than five thousand square miles of valuable landholdings in central Italy, protected by large papal armies and navies.” The camera cut away periodically to punctuate Erin's story with beautiful old cartographies of the papal states, interesting photographs, lithographs and illustrations of the papal armed forces. “Land that the Catholic Church had long claimed was given to it by the Emperor Constantine back in the fourth century A.D.
“The Church had at one time even produced an ancient contract, allegedly signed by Constantine himself, to prove this claim.” And a photograph of an ancient, yellowed scroll was displayed on camera. “Only, as you can see from this 1998 memo recently recovered from the Vatican Secret Archives, the contract was a forgery.” The camera next revealed an internal Vatican memo, typed in Italian on official Curia stationery, with a section translated in English on the screen. Erin read: “ ‘… recent advancements in scientific dating techniques make it advisable to exclude the scroll (Constantine contract) from outside study. Modern analysis of the document could readily expose the parchment as having been generated five centuries after the royal seal it bears….’ ”
An oil painting of an imperious, bearded man appeared on the screen. “In the spring of 1869, King Victor Emmanuel of Italy acted on long-standing suspicions about the legitimacy of the contract In an attempt to finally unite his divided nation, he made a claim on the Vatican states.
“The reigning pope at the time, Pius IX, denied the claim and pronounced the Constantine contract ‘genuine by divine revelation.’ ” Next to the painting of Emmanuel appeared the portrait of a severe-looking man in white and crimson, wearing the papal mitre. “Pius declared that all popes possessed a God-given power of infallibility when rendering important Church decisions.
“In a desperate attempt to solidify his position, the pope summoned the entire world College of Cardinals to Rome for an official synod to endorse his controversial new powers. In open balloting, in the midst of a raging lightning storm and under the equally intimidating glare of the pope's scrutinizing eye, all but two of five hu
ndred thirty-five cardinals voted to grant Pius his wish.” The camera zoomed in on the piercing eyes of the pope, then dissolved away to the contrastingly fresh face of Erin Cross.
“So,” Feldman inquired, as the camera zoomed wide to reinclude him, “did all this effort help save the pope his states?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Erin finished. “Italy invaded anyway and the pope's army was no match for Emmanuel's superior forces. After three weeks of bloody fighting, the stubborn Pius finally surrendered. Italy reclaimed the states and annexed them permanently, leaving the pope the Vatican and a considerable number of other valuable landholdings within Rome, which the Church still owns to this day.”
“And a magnificent kingdom it is,” Feldman acknowledged, gesturing to the glorious artistry of the grand cathedral. In demonstration, the camera dissolved to shots of selected points of interest within St. Peter's, and from many of the museums and halls of the Vatican. This was filler time to consume the brief interval before the pope, who had now entered the basilica, could be installed on his throne.
The camera then dissolved back to Feldman, who announced, “And I believe we're now ready to go to the throne of Saint Peter for the first-ever live ex cathedra address to the world. Ladies and gentlemen, His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Nicholas VI.”
Off the air now, Feldman could feel di Concerci's eyes boring into the back of his head. He consciously avoided looking in the cardinal's direction, quite certain of the prefect's reaction to the exposure of yet another unpleasant archival secret.
94
The Basilica of St. Peter, Vatican City, Rome, Italy 9:00 P.M., Monday, April 3, 2000
The camera began a slow zoom into the face of Nicholas VI. The pontiff sat relaxed on his throne, clad entirely in a white, caped cassock and white skullcap, a golden pectoral cross around his neck, a bright red fascia sash across his chest. On his nose were perched his gold-rimmed spectacles. Upon his lap he held a Bible and a series of typed papers that he was organizing.