The Omega scroll

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Roma

‘ G iovanni. Avanti, Avanti.’

Cardinal Salvatore Bruno, Head of the Secretariat for non-Christians, got up from behind his desk, grabbed Giovanni by the shoulders and kissed him on each cheek. For good measure, he took Giovanni’s hand in both of his.

‘ Benvenuto a Roma! ’

Salvatore was a big man. Well into his sixties, his dark face was lined and his old hazel eyes were kindly and wise. When he reached eighty he would no longer be eligible to vote in any conclave and his wisdom would be sorely missed by a Church that desperately needed those who were not driven by power. Salvatore Bruno had come to Roma reluctantly, persuaded by those outside of the Vatican, Bishop O’Hara among them, that the Holy Church needed to reach out to the other faiths. Faiths that were held with equal conviction by equally decent folk. Bishop O’Hara and Salvatore had also had several conversations about the role the brilliant young Giovanni might play. Both of the older men could sense his destiny.

‘I can’t tell you how glad I am to have you here. S’accomodi. S’accomodi.’

‘Thank you, Eminence. Come stai? You are well, I hope?’

‘I can’t complain,’ he said, his old eyes twinkling as he patted his ample stomach. ‘Now, have you given any thought as to how you might tackle this issue of the other faiths?’

‘Yes, Eminence, but I will probably need some guidance. I’ve been out of the mainstream for a long time, and to tell you the truth, I am a little surprised at the project. I thought the Church’s attitude was, well…’

‘More rigid?’ Cardinal Bruno chuckled as he finished Giovanni’s sentence for him. ‘I shouldn’t worry too much about that. The Holy Father has always recognised the importance of the other faiths, although there’s been a fierce rearguard action from the usual suspects…’ Salvatore paused as his housekeeper of thirty-five years brought in the tea. ‘Thank you, Sister Maria, I’ll pour. I need to keep my hand in,’ he said with another chuckle and he waited until she withdrew.

‘Watch the Secretary of State. Unlike those who know you well he was not too impressed with your promotion or this project, but you have worked for him before, and I daresay you know his views on these things. He called me,’ Salvatore said, smiling wryly, ‘and asked me to pass on his congratulations suggesting that I have you travel widely. On the congratulations, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. On the travel, that is my intention, although not for the reasons that drive the Secretary of State.’

‘I’m not sure I follow, Eminence?’

‘He wants you to spend as much time out of Rome as possible. Insecure people like the Cardinal Petronis of this world see anyone as competent as you only in terms of a possible threat to their own position.’

It was the first time Giovanni had ever heard anyone describe Lorenzo Petroni as insecure. Perhaps the old lion knew a thing or two about the human psyche.

‘While you are here in Rome there is a danger that you will come to the notice of the other Curial Cardinals and, by extension, become a potential candidate for the Keys to Peter.’

Giovanni laughed. ‘I don’t think Cardinal Petroni has anything to worry about on that score.’

‘I hope he does, Giovanni.’ Salvatore’s eyes were no longer mischievous. ‘The very best Popes in the whole history of this wonderful Church have been those who have never seen themselves as a candidate. John XXIII was one of those. The Curial Cardinals thought they were electing an old man they could control, and look what happened.’

‘Vatican II.’

‘The winds of change,’ Cardinal Bruno agreed. ‘Some of the older men in red have been fighting to put the genie back in the bottle ever since. I remember him with great affection. He drove the Curia to distraction, often turning up in their departments without their knowledge, just to have a chat with the staff, and il Capo di Polizia in Rome gave up,’ Salvatore said, relishing the memory of the great man. ‘In the time of Popes like Pius XII they used to rehearse for days for a Papal departure from the Vatican; flags, bands, bugles, honour guards, crashing cymbals. John XXIII used to just drive out.’

‘You were here for the conclave in 1958?’

‘I was a very ordinary priest working in the Congregation for the Clergy. Would that I was a simple priest again,’ Salvatore said wistfully. ‘I was here when he was elected. Roncalli – John XXIII – was their compromise candidate. They didn’t know it but their Eminences had a very large tiger by the tail. Un Terremoto! An earthquake! I want you to promise me something, Giovanni. If they do offer you the Keys to Peter, accept.’

‘Eminence I-’

‘I know, I know. It’s not something you would even think about, but if you are offered them, it will be for a reason.’

Giovanni left Cardinal Bruno’s office, totally inspired by his new project. The Keys to Peter were the furthest thing from his mind. Fleetingly his thoughts turned to Allegra and he wondered if he should meet her in Milano, but just as quickly he decided against it. He didn’t want Allegra to feel that she was being forced into telling him why she had left the Church. Giovanni decided he would wait.

It would be a long time before their paths would cross. By then the international academic community would be noticing they had a very talented Dr Bassetti in their midst, and the cardinals outside of Rome would be aware that the Holy Church had a brilliant priest within her fold. A priest that if Cardinal Bruno had his way would be elevated again, this time to archbishop. Two rising stars, on very different paths that would spectacularly intersect at the Alpha and the Omega of Jerusalem.