Feeling lightheaded, his lips and tongue began to swell and he now struggled to breathe. He grabbed his throat, gasping for air. McKenna looked on, confused by the seizure, as Cavallari doubled over, screaming in pain.
“Go get help!” yelled McKenna to the guard. He ran over to where Cardinal Cavallari was sitting but just as he got there the cardinal slumped forward, held in place by his legs, which were still strapped to the chair.
CHAPTER 97
Anthony could see the plane up ahead. Pushing down on the accelerator, he sped towards it, braking just before reaching the steps to the open cabin door of a Challenger 300, where a young priest from the Vatican stood waiting.
After they were on board and in their seats, the priest secured the door and immediately prepared the cabin for departure. Within minutes the plane began taxiing down the runway for takeoff. Once in the air Nelli and Anthony were handed a phone.
“Someone would like to speak with you,” said the priest.
Putting the phone on speaker, they heard someone on the other end say, “Go ahead, the line is secure.”
They were stunned when the next voice was Pope Benedict’s. They talked for quite a while. During the conversation he told them about a vision he had the first month he became Pope. He relayed to them how one of God’s heavenly messengers came to him and revealed that a Chosen One would deliver the words of Our Lord written down in a book.
At the time, he didn’t know what it meant. Then a month ago the Holy Father had another vision. The angel told him he must see through the façade and recognize Satan’s servants for what they are, rather than what they appear to be. These bearers of false promises will cause people to give their allegiance to and worship a false prophet. Even the elect will not be totally immune from the wolf in sheep’s clothing. This time the Pope was shown the book and told to preach the words to every ear that would listen.
When the call ended, Nelli and Anthony looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Thankfully, the plot against the Pope had been discovered in time and the commander of the Swiss Guard had the assassin in custody.
The young priest came and retrieved the phone and then handed headsets to them so they could listen to the Pope who was about to speak to the world on Vatican Radio.
Nelli and Anthony put on the headphones and plugged the cable into the outlet in their armrest and waited for a second time that day to hear the voice of Pope Benedict.
This time he told the entire world about a false prophet who was now among them. Many faithful, including religious leaders, had turned their backs on God and joined the army of Satan. If this was the end-time, then every person created in the image of God needed to examine his or her conscience and repent.
At the close of the broadcast, he asked the world to pray, that he would be given the wisdom and strength to rebuild the Church, as God once asked of Peter. He closed with a verse from Matthew 16: 18: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
A few minutes later, the pilot’s voice came on over the intercom, “We have started our descent and should be on the ground in approximately fifteen minutes. The Vatican has sent a car and will be waiting to take you directly to see the Pope.”
Nelli and Anthony stared out the window, each lost in their own thoughts. Up here everything seemed so calm and peaceful. Looking out at a clear blue sky, they found it hard to believe that the world could be on the verge of an apocalypse. Would they be awakening to find out that this had been nothing more than a dream? Then someone touched Nelli’s arm.
“Signorina, you must fasten your seat belt, per favore.”
Forced now to realize it wasn’t a dream, she turned and looked at Anthony. She could see the toll all of this had taken on him. Mary Ellen, not to mention others, was dead. As she held onto the box, tears began to run down her cheeks.
Sensing someone staring at her, she looked over to see a man standing in the aisle. Leaning over, he gently pushed back the hair from her cheek. “I’m proud of you Antonella and also of Anthony,” said her father.
“I didn’t know if I would see you again. I am so glad you’re here Dad,” she said. “I’m afraid it might be too late. So much has happened.”
“Do not be sad. Many souls that were lost are already repenting and once the words of God are revealed, the world will begin to see the wrong of its ways. You must now live your life. You will not see me again, Antonella, but know I am watching over you. Always remember, I love you.”
Nelli felt the wheels of the plane touch down. Glancing out the window, she spotted a black limousine. On each side of the front of the vehicle were two small flags carrying the papal emblem flapping in the wind. She turned to speak more with her father, but there was no one there. She saw Anthony looking at her.
“Father is very proud of you, Nelli,” he said, smiling warmly at his sister. “So am I.”
“Did you get to speak to him this time, Anthony?”
“Yes, Nelli, this time I was able to talk to Father.”
They arrived at the hangar where the emissary from the Vatican was already starting to unlock the door so the steps could be pushed up to the plane.
“I would never have made it without you by my side, Anthony.”
Nelli looked down at the box resting on her lap and in a quiet voice she said, “It’s going to be hard getting over losing Mary Ellen, Father Cossa, and the others that gave up their lives to help us.”
“Yes I agree, Nelli, but I cannot allow myself to dwell on what has transpired. As your Guardian, I must continue to do my job as protector of the Chosen One until the book has been delivered to Pope Benedict, and I see it placed in his hands.”
Two more members of the Swiss Guard now joined the two that had accompanied Nelli and Anthony on the plane.
“Signorina and signore, if you please Pope Benedict is waiting.”
The door of the armored limousine opened, and Nelli and Anthony got inside. The Guardians and the four Swiss Guards were divided up between four patrol cars sent to escort the Chosen One to the Vatican.
As soon as Anthony slid in the backseat next to Nelli, the door closed and the car sped off. The lead car’s siren blared, clearing the road in front of them while the other three vehicles followed close behind.
They couldn’t have driven for more than ten minutes before reaching Arco delle Campane, the southeast entrance into Vatican City. Barricades had been set up as they watched through tinted windows; they were waved through the heavy security that was everywhere. The car came to a stop, and the door on Nelli’s side was opened.
Nelli got out, and came face to face with Commander Crevelli and Cardinal McKenna.
“We finally meet. I wish it could have been under better circumstances. Let me introduce myself. I’m Cardinal Donovan McKenna and this is Commander Valentino Crevelli, the head of the Vatican Swiss Guard.” Nelli smiled and nodded her head, acknowledging both men.
Cardinal McKenna glanced down at the article Nelli cradled in her arms seeing for the first time the box that held the book of Holy Scripture.
Then Cardinal McKenna said, “You must be Anthony; I see that your father chose well in picking you to protect the Chosen One. The Church will never be able to show its gratitude for keeping her safe. Please, if you will both come with me now, the Holy Father is very anxious to meet with you.”
CHAPTER 98
Cardinal McKenna began filling Nelli and Anthony in on some of the things uncovered so far. He understood it would take time to discover the full extent of the conspiracy.
For most of the conversation, McKenna looked straight ahead as he talked. Pausing before making his next statement, he turned to look at Nelli and Anthony.
“Remarkably enough, a small insignificant detail that Devlin O’Farrell noticed is what allowed us to uncover a group of cardinals within the Vatican who were part of the conspiracy to replace the Pope.”
Nelli
and Anthony glanced at each other at his mention of Mary Ellen’s brother.
The cardinal continued, “Luckily, through that information, we were also able to discover and apprehend the individual who was to carry out the assassination. Unfortunately, before we were able to find out what he knew, he took his own life.
“This is not the first time evil has invaded these sacred walls. Some thirty years ago, this same organization attempted to take control of the Church. Of course you can see that they did not succeed. Many believe they were behind the death of our beloved Pope John Paul I. If they had succeeded a second time in killing Pope Benedict ….
“It is not an exaggeration to say the Church is facing some serious issues,” he continued. “The Antichrist is among us and, I believe, behind this cancer that has spread throughout the Church. We will have much to atone for within our own walls before we ask others to do the same,” his face expressing the gravity of the situation.
“Commander Crevelli, as we speak, is putting together a secret team of select individuals who will fly under the radar, to locate this false prophet and anyone associated with him.”
Anthony hesitated at first, but then said, “You could enlist the woman Christine that helped us back at the monastery.” Anthony wanted to see if she was connected to the Vatican in some way.
“I do not know this woman Christine that you speak of,” said Cardinal McKenna.
“But you knew we were headed for the plane back at the monastery.”
“Yes, we were lucky that Abbot Giuseppe sent word ahead to let us know you had found the book and were on your way to the airstrip.”
Anthony was baffled by what group Christine could be a member of. After all this was over he planned to find out, but for now decided not to say anymore.
McKenna continued, “If our dear Mary Ellen had not been so stubborn about her quest to clear her brother’s name, we would have probably never found out, or found out too late, to save the Pope from being assassinated.”
Anthony wasn’t sure if he should bring this up right now but decided to anyway. Since the cardinal had brought up Mary Ellen. “If I may inquire Cardinal McKenna, it would be comforting to know that Mary Ellen’s belief in her brother’s innocence had been rewarded.”
McKenna knew, but he would let the Holy Father address that question.
“Might I suggest you ask Pope Benedict about that when you meet with him. I was asked to tell you that he regrets your time with him must be short, but he would like to visit with you again at a later date.
“As you know the last few hours have been unprecedented here at the Vatican. Pope Benedict has declared his intention to convene an Ecumenical Council, only the third time in the history of the Church.
“His Holiness has already begun to gather the College of Bishops. The council will be the first to witness the secret text. But, before that can happen, there will need to be the expulsion of all individuals who chose to go against the Church doctrine. So you see the Holy Father has a heavy burden before him.”
Nelli and Anthony could only listen, not knowing what to say.
“Well, we’re here,” said Cardinal McKenna.
Up ahead were two massive wooden doors, flanked on either side by Swiss Guards in full dress uniform. Through the partial opening could be seen Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment, covering the entire back wall of the Sistine Chapel.
The doors opened slowly and a priest dressed in a black cassock with the distinctive red watered-silk sash wrapped around his waist stood in silence, looking at Nelli. It was the camerlengo to the Vatican. Behind him was a sea of red; clergy from around the world were gathering on this austere occasion, divided into small groups and involved in serious discussions.
Anthony turned to face Nelli. “It is time, my dear sister. The prophecy said that the words of Our Lord should be given to the one who is known by the symbol of the olive branch. He’s waiting for you in the next room.”
Cardinal McKenna waited until Anthony finished talking, and then made the introductions.
“Camerlengo, may I present Antonella Andruccioli and her brother Anthony. As you can see, they have brought something for the Holy Father.”
“Si, Pope Benedict has been anxiously waiting for you. Per favore, un momento.”
Before going to announce the Chosen One’s arrival, the camerlengo bowed, knowing he was in the presence of Holy Scripture. Then he turned silently, disappearing into the crowd.
After several minutes, a few of the priests near the doors of the chapel turned to look at the two strangers who were standing outside in the hallway. As the priests moved aside there stood Pope Benedict, holding the ferula that was often associated with him. Although he used others, this pastoral cross seemed to be his favorite. The camerlengo was standing next to the Pope and motioned for Nelli to come forward.
Nelli turned towards Anthony. “Are you coming?” she asked.
“No, Nelli, you must do this alone. Go, the Holy Father is waiting.”
Holding the box tightly, she began to walk toward the entrance to the chapel. Anthony and Cardinal McKenna watched in silence as Nelli and the Pope spoke privately. They continued to watch as she opened the box so the Holy Father could see the book for the first time. One by one, the voices in the room grew silent.
Genuflecting with assistance from the camerlengo, and then making the sign of the cross, Pope Benedict lovingly removed the sacred book. Nelli lowered the lid and handed the box to the camerlengo.
CHAPTER 99
Pope Benedict looked at Nelli with admiration. “You have served Our Holy Father well, Antonella. I hope I will be able to do the same. I’ve been informed that you and your brother have something you wanted to ask me?”
Nelli was taken aback by the question. With all the Pope was facing, she felt it would be inappropriate to inquire about Devlin O’Farrell.
“You have much more urgent matters to attend to, Your Holiness,” she said.
“If my information is correct, my child, perhaps I can give you the answer to your question.”
In the antechamber Anthony and Cardinal McKenna watched as the camerlengo that stood next to the Pope, turned and disappeared from view. When he returned, there was another priest with him. Anthony immediately recognized the face. You couldn’t mistake the resemblance. It was Mary Ellen’s brother, wearing the vestments of an ordained priest.
Without looking at Anthony, Cardinal McKenna whispered, “Mary Ellen can rejoice, knowing her brother’s name has been cleared, and he is again a priest in good standing.”
Back inside Nelli couldn’t believe her eyes.
“I believe this answers your question,” said Pope Benedict.
Devlin bowed with respect to the Holy Father, and then turned to Nelli. “It’s good to see you, Nelli,” he said, smiling at her. Turning back to Pope Benedict, he said, “I have brought what you asked, Holy Father.”
He handed a small box to the Pope. It was covered in fabric made of red silk. On top was the insignia of the Vatican in gold. He stepped to the side, looked at Nelli and said, “Pope Benedict has something he would like to give to you.”
Nelli turned to look at Pope Benedict.
“Come closer, Antonella. You have fulfilled the destiny of the Keeper of the Key as was prophesized by Saint Anthony. The key that your father passed on to you must now remain with the box. Since you can no longer wear the cross to remind you of him, perhaps this will keep his memory alive for you.”
Accepting the box, Nelli removed the lid. Inside was a pendant attached to a gold chain. It was in the shape of a rose, a pink rose. It was the flower her father always brought home to their mother. Nelli couldn’t take her eyes off it.
Pope Benedict went on, “The symbol of Pesaro is the pink rose where your father was born. Perhaps this will help keep him close to your heart. Please bow your head now so I may give a blessing before you must depart.”
Nelli bowed her head and felt the hand of the Pope gently plac
ed on her head. Then he said a prayer.
Nelli watched Pope Benedict walk away. She was now alone with Devlin. Her eyes began to fill with tears.
“Mary Ellen would be so happy to know you are a priest again.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” said Devlin. “Let’s join Anthony. There is someone else who would like to talk with both of you before you leave.”
As the two of them exited the Sistine Chapel, the Swiss Guards at each door with coordinated robotic movements, began closing out the world to all who remained inside.
One of its main objections of the council would be the execution of a thorough reform of the inner workings of the Church.
Nelli turned her head to see if she could catch one last glimpse of the Holy Father. Just before the massive doors closed, she did get one last look. He was standing as if waiting for her to look back. He smiled at her. Then the doors closed, locking out the rest of the world.
At that moment she knew Satan had lost. The Church would be rebuilt.
EPILOGUE
Nelli and Anthony walked behind Father O’Farrell and Cardinal McKenna as the two men talked quietly so not to be overheard.
Outside again they walked a short distance to another building that had no markings on it. Upon entering, they found a nun sitting behind a desk who nodded when she recognized Cardinal McKenna.
They walked past the front desk and through a set of French doors. Straight ahead was a sitting room that looked out onto a lovely garden with a central fountain surrounded by trees and flowers. Turning right, they headed down a short hallway.
Stopping in front of one of the doors, Cardinal McKenna knocked lightly. Opening it, he turned to Nelli and Anthony. “Please,” he said motioning for them to enter. “Someone has been patiently waiting to see you.”
Stepping aside he watched with Father O’Farrell as the two entered the room, anxious to see their reaction.
Stunned, Nelli and Anthony stared at the person in front of them. There, sitting up
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