CHAPTER 12
RUMORS ABOUND OF VARIOUS ATTEMPS ON POPE JOHN XXIV’S LIFE
Various individuals have been questioned by legal authorities on suspicions of plots on the life of the Pope. It has been rumored that some of his food and liquids have been found tainted with poisons, and that “various accidents” have threatened His life. Apparently his vehicle has been sabotaged, and objects have mysteriously fallen just missing the Pontiff. Thankfully his papal security forces have been very successful in protecting him.
Pope John asks some of the Cardinals to dinner one evening. As the custom for such a meal, a number of wine bottles were brought by a number of guests. During the meal, Peter, the Pope’s new dog laid by his feet. Next to the Pope was Cardinal Pompeii, who asked if he could pour the Pontiff wine. “Why yes, that would be great, thank you Cardinal.” All of a sudden Peter gets up and puts his head and presses on the Pope’s arm, just as he was about to take his first sip of wine. “Oh Peter, would you like some wine too?’ “You’ll have to excuse me your Excellencies while I go to the kitchen and get a saucer for Peter.” “But no, no, your Holiness, that is very expensive wine, retorted Cardinal Pompeii, it would be such a waste.” “Oh I’m sure Cardinal Pompeii, Peter will greatly appreciate that he’s becoming a great Connoisseur.” As the Pope, nears the sink in the kitchen, he exclaims, “Oh how gauche of me, I just spilled my wine into this plant, and oh it seems to be wilting, and I was going to give some to Peter.” As soon as the cook hears this, he rushes to the Pope, and brings a new bottle of wine for him. Upon his return, with a saucer, he puts it on the floor for Peter, and pours a spoonful of wine for him. Cardinal Pompeii keeps looking at Peter as he licks the saucer, and starts to sweat profusely. After a few minutes he asks the Pontiff if he can be excused since all of a sudden he feels ill.
Cardinal Pompeii quickly scribbles a note of what happened at dinner and leaves it under Cardinal Rossini’s room door as he goes by in the hallway. The next day they are both walking in the corridor, and see Peter strutting by. They both gasp, putting the hands to their mouth, and whispering, “But he should be dead.” Quickly they look about to see if anyone else saw them, and then briskly walk away to their rooms.
On the eve of the College of Cardinals meeting with the newly installed Cardinals, Cardinal Rossini is secretly meeting with his co-conspirators. The other Cardinals appear to be very frustrated and are gripping with Cardinal Rossini, in that the new Pope is very much alive and that their grip on power will now be diluted with the new group of Cardinals. Cardinal Rossini is trying desperately to calm them down and telling that he too is very disappointed. Finally in trying to dispel their fears, he tells them that he has arranged for the Sicilian mob to take the necessary arrangements to have the Pope killed. Events have shown that numerous attempts have been made, yet unsuccessful, they are still trying. Some Cardinals express fear that they could then become targets also of the Sicilians.
Cardinal Rossini continues to attempt to calm their fears, but admonishes them to make sure they continue to vote in unison, in order to control any outcome of the proceedings and to follow his lead within deliberations of the College of Cardinals.
The First American Pope Page 12