The Templar Concordat

by Terrence O'Brien

  He heard about it in fifteen minutes when Agretti’s secretary called and said he had an immediate appointment with the Pope. “Immediate, you say, like right now? In my undercover jeans and sweatshirt?” he asked.

  “Yes. The Pope wants you this instant. I hear we’re in lock-down again. So does Cardinal Agretti, and that means the Pope knows.” He chuckled. “Good luck, Mancini.”

  He had never met a Pope, and really wasn’t sure about the proper protocol. Well, the Pope had never met him, either, so they were even.

  Carlos Perez, the Pope’s personal assistant, met him on the second floor of the papal residence. “Thanks for coming. The boss wants to talk about this lock-down.” The boss? Maybe these guys didn’t know who they had elected. “Don’t worry. He’s just an ordinary guy.”

  The Pope nodded and shook his hand. “Sorry I haven’t talked with you yet, Mancini.” He let both hands fly out. “But it’s all going to hell around here.” He pointed at a Formica table and orange chair in the middle of the room. “Have a seat.”

  This was the Pope, thought Mancini. God’s representative? The guy who’s supposed to walk around with folded hands and a tight smile blessing the multitudes? He looked more like a bouncer in a Pope costume.

  “Yes, Sir… uh… Holiness.”

  The Pope sat opposite him. “You ex-military, Mancini?”

  “Yes, Sir…Holiness, Italian anti-terrorist forces.”

  “Good. I was with the US Marines in Viet Nam. Forget the ‘Holiness’ stuff. To you, I’m just plain old ‘Sir.’ Got it?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “You’re one of the guys who got hit running into the Basilica on Easter?”

  “No, Sir. The guy who got blown back out was Callahan. I was behind him, but down a flight of stairs, so the blast missed me.”

  “How’s this Callahan?”

  “He’s Ok. Looks like… uh… he has a lot of bruises on his face, but he’ll be Ok. He was a US Marine, too.”

  “Figures,” said the Pope.

  The Pope pointed out the window. “What happened? Today. Outside?”

  Mancini told him as simply as he could, and the Pope put a foot up on the chair next to him. “You see the news today? The riots? This Treaty of Tuscany business?”

  “Yes, Sir. That treaty plus this out here today? That’s why we’re in lock-down now.”

  “I want this place open, Mancini, but I also want everyone who comes in to leave in one piece.”

  This was his opportunity, thought Mancini. “I think we both know we can’t do that with a one hundred percent guarantee, Sir. But we can sure do it a lot better than we are today.”

  “Why haven’t we?”

  “The last Pope wouldn’t allow it, Sir, and Cardinal Agretti won’t approve any changes.”

  “Well the new Pope allows it. Put together a plan, what you need, what it will cost.” He exchanged a look with Carlos that Mancini didn’t understand. Carlos nodded

  “You two figure this out.” He waved them out. “Get to work. And Mancini, lock it down when you think there is a danger. I don’t care what Agretti says.”

  Vatican - Wednesday, April 22

  Agretti saw only two choices before him. He could admit the treaty was genuine and watch the foundations of the Church crumble before his eyes as the secularists, atheists, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, and dissident Catholics attacked mankind’s only hope. Or he could stand firm and deny the treaty with the strength of the Holy Spirit. What choice did he have? Was there really a choice? Was there a choice for a man of God? One path led to ruin. The other promised a very painful fight, but it was a fight for God.

  And if that Mexican Pope found out the treaty was real, what would he do? If he saw it, and saw the tests, and listened to the scientists, would he have the faith to stand firm and deny it? Agretti doubted his faith was strong enough. He didn’t understand that God sent these crises to test them, to challenge their faith, plant doubt, and allow them to triumph over evil. Almost any crisis would pass with time as long as they remained firm.

  Could the Holy Spirit have passed over him for Pope so he would be in exactly this position when he was needed?

  But how was he going to convince this Jesuit spokesman? He had a long string of university degrees, but did he have the strength of faith to be a warrior of God? He should have selected someone loyal and strong in the Spirit instead of someone smart.

  “I can’t go out there and say the treaty doesn’t exist,” Gerard protested.

  “Of course you can. Just stand up with the inner strength the Holy Spirit will provide and tell the world this is a hoax.”

  “Hoax? But, Cardinal, how do we know it is a hoax?”

  “Look. It’s simple. If we accept the doctrine of infallibility, then we must accept that those Popes in 1189 were infallible. If they called for eliminating the Muslims, and said it was the will of God, that would be wrong. They couldn’t have said that. It’s impossible. Can’t happen. The Holy Spirit wouldn’t have allowed it to happen.”

  Gerard squinted at the Cardinal. “Are you seriously proposing that as an argument? You expect me to tell that to the world?”

  “Yes. That’s exactly what I expect. Whose side are you on?”

  This guy was born five hundred years too late, Gerard realized. Blanket denial worked just fine with an illiterate population that accepted every word from the priest’s mouth without question. The Earth isn’t flat anymore, and the sun doesn’t move around the Earth. But that’s not what he faced out there.

  “Cardinal, the bottom line is I can’t go out there and deny the treaty exists. You need someone else for that. What I can do is reiterate that there is no record of it, we have never even seen this hypothetical treaty, and the requirements for an infallible statement are quite complex.” He paused to gauge the Cardinal’s reaction. “Remember, this guy Al Dossary holds all the cards. We don’t know what he has. Suppose it exists, and he has it. Even if we wanted to lie and deny it exists, we would need to know what it said, and we don’t.”

  “I’m not asking anyone to lie, I’m asking you to have faith in the Church and faith that the Holy Spirit would never allow two Popes to say what they are accused of saying.”

  The Jesuit sighed. “Cardinal, history does not present a gentle view of some of our Popes.”

  * * *

  In the wake of the death toll following Hammid Al Dossary’s revelations about the alleged Treaty of Tuscany, there have been calls from around the world for the Vatican to be more forthcoming about the treaty. We go now to CNN correspondent Laura Kent at Vatican City.

  Yes, Peter, we are here with Father Jacques Girard, spokesman for the Vatican.

  CNN: Father Girard, is the Vatican prepared to deny the existence of the Treaty of Tuscany?

  Girard: The Vatican has extensively researched existing records from the time, and has enlisted the aid of scholars from around the world. All this shows no trace of the alleged treaty.

  CNN: Is that a denial?

  Girard: It is a statement that there is no record of the treaty.

  CNN: Is the treaty a hoax?

  Girard: I can only tell you what I know. We have no trace of the treaty in any existing historical record. None. Given that, there is no basis to believe it existed.

  CNN: But Hammid Al Dossary claims to have the treaty in his possession.

  Girard: Yes.

  CNN: Is he lying?

  Girard: That is an issue you should take up with Mr. Al Dossary.

  CNN: And millions of Muslims around the world believe the treaty exists.

  Girard: Yes. We have seen the unfortunate consequences of that belief in the Karachi body count.

  CNN: Have you spoken to Pope Dominic about the treaty?

  Girard: No, not a personal conversation. But, I assure you, he has no more information about it than the thousands of scholars who have tried to find just one single mention of the treaty in the extensive historical record.

  CNN: Does
the Church take any responsibility for the deaths in Karachi?

  Girard: No.

  * * *

  “I wonder what their end-game is.” Templar Master looked around the table. “Because it looks like they are walking into a trap of some sort. If Al Dossary produces the treaty, this house of cards…” he pointed at the TV screen, “all falls apart.”

  “Maybe they found something in their archives that shows the whole thing is a hoax,” said the Templar Archivist. “But if they did, I’d love to know what it is.”

  “Well, they know Al Dossary has the treaty, they know what it says, and now Al Dossary has lit the fuse. Each day he lets out a little more about it.” He looked at the Archivist. “It’s all accurate, isn’t it? The stuff he’s leaking about the treaty?”

  “Ah, it’s chapter and verse what the treaty says.”

  The Marshall cracked his broken knuckles. “Do we need to do anything?”

  “We are doing something. We have Jean Randolph and a cast of thousands at that chalet,” the Archivist replied. “What do you want? Shoot the guy and make him a Treaty Martyr? We’d have a billion Jihadis then.”

  The Marshall laughed. “A great man once said any problem can be solved by the proper application of high explosives.”

  “And it was a short fuse that ended his days.”

  The Master rose. “Ok. This is the Vatican’s call, and they might end up looking foolish, but no matter what they do we can’t let this unite all those nut cases against the West. I don’t know what they’re up to. Maybe I’ll give Sanchez a call. If he has some grand plan, maybe we can work with him.”

  The Master looked over at the Archivist. ”Keep your operation at the Swiss chalet going. I don’t want to get caught flat footed here. We can’t let any opportunity go by because we aren’t prepared.”

  * * *

  Dickenson: Good evening. This is the Ken Dickenson show, where we bring you the facts behind the headlines. Tonight’s guest is Father Jerome Becker, chairman of the theology department at Georgetown University here in Washington.

  Dickenson: Thanks for coming in tonight, Father.

  Becker: It’s a pleasure to be here.

  Dickenson: Let’s start off with this Treaty of Tuscany. From what has been released by Hammid Al Dossary, there are two major issues. The first is that it calls for the elimination of Islam, and the second is that it is an edict issued under the Pope’s infallible teaching authority. Is that a fair summary, Father?

  Becker: That is a fair summary of what Mr. Al Dossary has told the world. But I can’t say it is contained in a treaty, nor do I have reason to believe such a treaty exists.

  Dickenson: Ok. That’s fair, Father. But let’s talk about the meaning of the doctrine of papal infallibility. What exactly is papal infallibility?

  Becker: Well, volumes have been written, but simply stated, it says the Pope cannot err in matters pertaining to faith or morals…

  Dickenson: Can’t sin? Can’t murder? Can’t steal?

  Becker: Let me finish. He can’t err when promulgating teachings on faith and morals to the people. It’s the teaching authority rather than the personal conduct of the man that is the issue.

  Dickenson: So, every time a Pope says something about faith or morals, it is infallible?

  Becker: No. Infallibility has certain conditions. First, it must be what we call “ex cathedra.” That’s Latin for “from the chair.” That means it is from the teaching chair, the chair of St. Peter, and it’s meant as a teaching. It must be a teaching, definition, or doctrine. It must relate to faith or morals, and it is a teaching that is binding on the entire Church membership. As such, it must be sent out and made public. It can’t be something done in secret.

  Dickenson: Well, suppose he says Unicorns exist?

  Becker: He can say that if he wants, but since that has nothing to do with faith or morals, it wouldn’t qualify.

  Dickenson: How about if he said it is a matter of faith that Jesus had three eyes?

  Becker: Under the doctrine of infallibility, he would be prevented by the Holy Spirit from saying something like that.

  Dickenson: The Holy Spirit would stop him from saying that? How?

  Becker: I can’t give you the Holy Spirit’s detailed playbook, but the doctrine says it is not possible for the Pope to err in this matter.

  Dickenson: Suppose he said Islam must be eliminated?

  Becker: I think you’re asking me to comment on a treaty that doesn’t exist. I won’t do that.

  Dickenson: You don’t believe the treaty exists?

  Becker: No.

  Dickenson: Why not?

  Becker: I don’t have a reason to believe that.

  Dickenson: But Mr. Al Dossary says it does exist, and he has it.

  Becker: That is not sufficient reason for me to believe it. Suppose I told you I had the original United States Declaration of Independence folded up in my pocket. Would you believe it?

  Dickenson: No. But I’d ask to see what you have in your pocket.

  Becker: But you wouldn’t believe it on my say-so alone?

  Dickenson: No.

  Becker: No, you wouldn’t because you would have no reason to believe it. It’s the same with this treaty claim.

  * * *

  The Pope clicked from one recorded news show to another. America, Britain, Italy, Spain, Mexico, they all followed the same pattern. Historians talked about the Crusades, theologians explained infallibility, histories of the Popes emphasized the scoundrels, and Muslim scholars explained the peaceful essence of Islam.

  “It’s like this everywhere, Carlos?” the Pope asked.

  “Yeah. I put together about twenty of those in your languages. No need to look at them all, it’s the same stuff over and over. ‘The Pope says exterminate the Muslims because God says so and the Pope’s infallible.’ Blah, blah, blah.”

  “What I don’t get is how much longer they can continue without showing their hand. Nobody has seen the treaty. Everyone’s taking it on faith. Uh, that was a poor choice of words.”

  He watched Carlos. “Well, out with it. What’s on your mind?”

  “Is it time to call them out? Put up or shut up?”

  “That’s what I thought, and that’s just what I was wondering. Al Dossary has been calling all the shots. Maybe it’s our turn at bat.” He whacked his hand down on the desk. “I’m tired of getting my ass kicked. Set up a meeting tomorrow morning. Agretti, head of the Congregation, the head librarian. Round up all the usual suspects.”

  Zurich - Wednesday, April 22

  The Templar Master held a picture of the original treaty in one hand, and one of Jean’s practice forgeries in the other, looking from one to the other. “You say the coloring of the paper will be the same?” he asked the Archivist.

  The Archivist said nothing, just slid a test page from the Bible onto the desk. The Master looked at the brown page. “Burn up that whole Bible getting it right?”

  “Just through the Book of Amos.”

  The Master took his glasses off and threw them on the desk. “Patrick, you know as well as I that my Latin isn’t up to reading this.”

  “Oh, it’s not? What a pity. Let me see if I have your native language in here somewhere.” The Archivist dug in his briefcase. “Here’s a French. Better?” He slid another page across the desk. “And here’s the English, since most of the civilized world has abandoned French for English.”

  The Master read the original and forgery in each language and grinned. “This is really good. I hate to inflate your ego, but it’s really good.”

  “Yes, I’d have to agree. It is good.” The Archivist frowned. “But the critical step is copying it to our single piece of Twelfth Century parchment. It’s already been gilded at the top and the scroll dye applied to the margins. It’s all faded and chipped, and looks like it’s eight hundred years old. It better. It is eight hundred years old. And the ink and dyes have all been hand made up there at the chalet. We put them through all t
he tests and they all test just like real Twelfth Century stuff.”

  “So,” the Master said, “what you’re telling me is it’s all up to Jean Randolph’s skill. One shot at it, right?”

  “Right.” The Archivist bobbed his head. “Always has been. Screw it up once and we can forget about it. No second chances.”

  “How’s she acting?”

  The Archivist sat back and nodded slowly. “Doing anything and everything we ask, and contributing things we didn’t think about. She’s onboard here. And what a talent! She doesn’t know who I am, and I’ve only dealt with her on our private network, but Marie has sent me her work.”

  The Master gazed at the pages in front of him. One chance. He didn’t like it, but he didn’t have to like it. “After this is all over, can you use her? Do we bring her in?”

  “Oh,” the Archivist sighed. “I can sure use her. The woman’s a genius. Be a pity to lose her. Give her a new face and the Kruger can use her right away in acquisitions, going around adding to our collection. She doesn’t need a public resume to do that.”

  “Can we bring her into the Order? Maybe not right away, but a year? Two?”

  The Archivist tugged at an earlobe. “That I’m not sure about. You’d have to talk to Marie Curtis. She’s closest to her. But I’ll tell you one thing, I doubt we could keep her in the dark about the Templars even if she worked in the public sections of the Kruger. She’s just too sharp, and too good a historian. Doesn’t miss a thing. And with this treaty, she’d be on the lookout. And if the plan works, she’ll obviously know what happened.”

  The Master nodded. “Well, we take her in as a Kruger employee or as a Templar, or we get rid of her. There’s no alternative now.”

  “I know. I know. Pity.”

  “Ok.” The Master gathered up the pages on his desk and handed them to the Archivist. “You keep all this. I don’t want anything hanging around here. And you make the call here. When you’re ready, when it’s done to your satisfaction, then let the rest of us know and we’ll start the operation.”