The Omega scroll

CHAPTER FIFTY

Roma

‘ A vanti! ’

‘The media release, Eminence.’ Monsignor Servini, the Head of the Vatican Press Office, handed the momentous release to Cardinal Petroni. The world waited while Petroni checked every word: The Holy Father died at 9.37 this evening in his private apartment… A 8 p.m. the celebration of Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday began in the Holy Father’s room, presided by… The Holy Father’s final hours were marked by the uninterrupted prayer of all those who were assisting him in his pious death…

Lorenzo Petroni checked the release for accuracy and effect before he handed it back to the visibly distraught Monsignor Servini.

‘Release it,’ was all Petroni said, and he leaned back in his chair, contemplating the future with a degree of anticipation. Even after several meetings, some of the Curial Cardinals led by the elderly but immoveable Cardinal Castiglione were yet to be convinced of the need for the Pope to resign. Petroni had appealed to them on several grounds, including the obligation to put the good of the Holy Church above all else and the need to allow the Holy Father some peace in his declining health, but it had been to no avail. Even Petroni’s none-too-subtle reminder of the immense harm that could be done to a rudderless Church if a Pontiff were to slip into a coma had not been enough to shift Castiglione. Petroni sniffed the air with satisfaction. The votes of Castiglione and the rest of his knitting group would not be necessary. The stubborn old Pope was dead at last.

Petroni buzzed Father Thomas as soon as Monsignor Servini had left.

‘You may start the calls in the order of the list I gave you.’

‘Certainly, Eminence.’

A short while later the red telephone on Petroni’s desk buzzed quietly.

‘Cardinal Fritsch in Berlin, Eminence.’

‘Hans! Wie gehts? ’ Petroni asked, using the Cardinal Archbishop of Berlin’s native tongue more out of flattery than courtesy. ‘ Zehr gut. Zehr gut! The news here is not so good, Hans. Although not unexpected, this will still come as a shock, as it has to all of us here, but I wanted to call you personally before the news is released. The Holy Father passed away less than an hour ago at 9.37 our time…’

One by one Cardinal Petroni ticked off the names of the Church’s 194 cardinals from the list on his desk. One by one they were personally informed of the Secretary of State’s great sadness at the Pope’s passing. The last call was to Daniel Kirkpatrick.

‘Kirkpatrick.’

‘Lorenzo.’

‘It’s a very sad day here, Daniel. Your coverage has had just the right touch and I wanted to thank you personally. As has your coverage of the bombing in Jerusalem,’ Pentroni added, underlining the real reason for his call.

‘Thank you, Lorenzo, you’re very kind to call at such a sad time. Il Papa will be greatly missed, which is more than I can say for some of those Arabs in Jerusalem. Never trust an Arab, especially a Muslim.’

‘I agree entirely, Daniel, they run with the devil.’

‘Although Cardinal Donelli seemed fully supportive,’ Daniel Kirkpatrick responded, puzzled as to why such a senior member of the one true faith would side with the religion of terrorists.

‘Another reason for my call, Daniel.’

A few minutes later Cardinal Petroni replaced the receiver. As he had been for the story on the peace ceremony, Petroni was confident the damaging story on Donelli would also get a run. Given Donelli’s statements from Jerusalem, the story would seem quite plausible, even if it were subsequently found not to be true. Timing was everything and the information would be released just before all the cardinals were locked in the conclave to ensure any of those loyal to Donelli would not have time to offer anything by way of rebuttal. Petroni smiled. He could almost feel the Keys to Peter in his pocket.

Jerusalem

Geraldine headed back towards the news room and dialled the new mobile number she’d been given for Tom.

‘New number, Tom?’

‘The old one’s playing up,’ he said, not mentioning that the technician who had examined his mobile had found it loaded with Semtex.

‘We’re going to kick off with the usual backgrounder,’ she said, ‘then we’ll cross to you.’ The pair ran through the standard bulletin preamble and five minutes later Geraldine was on air with Tom keeping ten million viewers up to date on the bomb blast.

‘Welcome back to our live coverage of the latest bombing in Jerusalem,’ Geraldine began. ‘Shortly we’ll be crossing to our correspondent Tom Schweiker for what we understand will be a major announcement.’

The four most senior members of the new Liberal Justice Party, including the Party’s elder statesman and Deputy Prime Minister, Gideon Wiesel, filed in to the medical superintendent’s office in a sombre mood and one by one they offered their condolences. Gideon looked first at his colleagues and then at David.

‘I hope you don’t mind, David, but we have had an informal meeting and we have a proposal to put to you.’ His old eyes reflected a mixture of sadness at what had happened and hope for the future.

David nodded.

‘It falls to me, for the moment, to take over the prime minister-ship. The opposition parties are prepared to support that and will not insist that the government resign, and for the time being that will provide some stability. I agreed with everything your father stood for, but I am an old man and more accustomed to working behind the scenes than in front of the lights and cameras. We have scheduled a meeting one month from now which will allow an appropriate period for memorials and reflection, but it is our intention to put one name forward for election to replace your father as Prime Minister of Israel. Judging from the responses from those we have had a chance to talk to, it will be unanimous.’

After the delegation had left them alone in the medical superintendent’s office Allegra put her arms around David and held him for what seemed like a very long time. David quietly wept on her shoulder.

‘I’m going to miss them so much,’ he whispered.

Allegra wiped his eyes, and David smiled grimly. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘You do realise that your life is never going to be the same again.’

‘I’m with you all the way, David. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,’ she said, her own eyes misty with tears.

‘Well, the media awaits. Something that I’m afraid we’ll both have to get used to.’

Dr David Kaufmann and Dr Allegra Bassetti took their place beside Gideon Wiesel in front of the huge media contingent outside the hospital’s main entrance. It was David who spoke first, a significant moment not lost on the Israeli nation.

‘It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my father, the Prime Minister of Israel, Professor Yossi Kaufmann, and my mother, Marian, his wife of many, many years,’ David said, pausing to regain his composure.

‘I have lost a great father and a wonderful mother,’ he said, ‘and Israel has lost two of her most distinguished citizens. After an appropriate period the members of the Liberal Justice Party will meet to elect a new leader of this great nation. This is not the time for political statements, but it will be known soon enough, so I would rather you hear it from me. I have been asked to stand and I have indicated that I will. I am humbled and honoured by the faith, trust and sympathy that has been shown to me tonight and I hope that, in time, I can earn the trust of the greater Israeli people. In the meantime, a man of great integrity and wisdom, the Deputy Prime Minister Gideon Wiesel, will assume the day-to-day running of the government. He has our total loyalty and support. Finally,’ David said, ‘I would urge calm and cool deliberation before we reach any conclusions about tonight’s atrocity. I am aware, as I’m sure many of you are, that the Palestinian President’s brother has been implicated in this attack. An investigation will hopefully shed more light on that, but as far as the Palestinian President is concerned, I want you to know that I have met Ahmed Sartawi and I share my father’s regard for him as both a leader and as a man of peace. My hope is that we can put this behind us and move forward to achieve my father’s vision of peace and prosperity for two great peoples.’

David Kaufmann had more justification than any other Israeli in calling for a massive retaliatory response, yet he was urging peace. David was going to lead by example.

Allegra and David knocked on Giovanni’s room on the seventh floor of the massive hospital.

‘ Avanti! Avanti! ’ Giovanni was propped up with pillows. His tired smile of welcome quickly faded. ‘David, I am so sorry. Knowing your parents was a pleasure and a privilege.’

‘Thank you, Giovanni.’ David smiled grimly.

‘Your father never ceased to amaze me. After all he went through in the Holocaust he was still able to apply that experience in a way that would reverse the treatment of the Palestinians. He was a real hope for peace here.’

‘I hope I will be able to do the same,’ David replied. ‘He was a wonderful role model.’

‘How are you?’ Allegra asked gently, her eyes full of concern.

‘I’m fine,’ Giovanni replied sadly. ‘Clearly my time has not yet come.’

‘When they release you, you must come and stay with us,’ David insisted. ‘I promise the secret service will not be too visible. Allegra and I have something very important to show you.’

Before Giovanni could answer, the Vatican’s spokesman appeared on the television that had been playing quietly in the background.

‘The Holy Father died at 9.37 this evening in his private apartment…’

Giovanni, Allegra and David, together with millions around the world, watched with sadness as the Vatican confirmed the Pope’s passing.

‘The first General Congregation of Cardinals will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, 4 April, in the Bologna Hall of the Apostolic Palace,’ the spokesman concluded.