Part One

What remains when Rome perishes?

When Rome falls the world.
Virgil Byron.
Its claims were monstrous. They passed beyond human reckoning. or it claimed to be the one di!ine and
authoritati!e !oice on earth" and it taught# ga!e $udgment# and asserted# always in the same !alid tone#
confident that its message would outli!e the transitory phenomena of doubt# change# and contradiction. It
stood secure# an edifice of truth behind the ramparts of truth which defied the many and !arious attacks
launched by its enemies. or it claimed a strength that was not of itself# a life%force and !igour imparted by
a power that could not be found elsewhere" and because it could not be likened to any earthly thing it
pro!oked fear# bewilderment# mockery# e!en hate.
But through the centuries it ne!er wa!ered" ne!er abandoned one item of its stupendous inheritance" ne!er
allowed the smallest rent to appear in its much derided mantle of intolerance. It inspired de!otion and
admiration e!en in those who scorned its mental discipline. It rose abo!e con$ecture# likelihood# probability"
for the Word by which it had been founded was also its guarantee of permanence. It pro!ided the one
answer to the immemorial &uestion what is truth?
'ne of our essayists told(# as many of our schoolboys used to know# of its place in history" how it saw the
beginning# as it was likely to see the end# of our worldly systems" and how# in time to come# a broken arch
of )ondon Bridge might furnish a foothold from which a tra!eller *could sketch the ruins of +t. ,aul-s.-
But it would still stand monumental# uni&ue# presenting as it did the symbols of endurance in this life and
admission to an eternity beyond a Rock and a .ey.
It was the /atholic /hurch.
But now# as e!en those of irreligious mind ha!e come to reali0e# all that has changed. The /hurch has
dropped its guard# surrendered its prerogati!es# abandoned its fortifications" and it will be the purpose of
these pages to e1amine how and why the transformation# hitherto regarded by its adherents and e!en by
some of its unfriendly critics as impossible# could ha!e happened.
2.
What follows is written# of set purpose# from the !iewpoint of a traditional and still practicing /atholic. The
sentiments e1pressed figure here in order to emphasi0e the heresies# no!elties# and profanities that# in the
name of reformed or *updated- religion# ha!e left the /hurch in tatters throughout the world.
There is a feeling abroad that our ci!ili0ation is in deadly peril. It is a recent awareness# wholly distinct from
the old e!angelical fears that the world# in keeping with some Biblical prophecy# is coming to an end" fears
that ha!e lost much of their former simplicity# and ha!e become more real# since the threat of nuclear war.
But the end of our ci!ili0ation has more sinister implications than has the actual destruction of a planet#
whether that be brought about by an *act of God- or by a fren0y of total madness on the part of man.
or ci!ili0ation declines when reason is turned upside down# when the mean and the base# the ugly and
corrupt# are made to appear the norms of social and cultural e1pressions" or# to bring it nearer to the terms
of our argument# when e!il# under a !ariety of masks# takes the place of good.
We of this generation# according to our age and temperament# ha!e become the willing# unconscious# or
resentful !ictims of such a con!ulsion. 2ence the air of futility that clings about us# a feeling that man has
lost faith in himself and in e1istence as a whole.
It is true# of course# that e!ery age has suffered the setbacks of war# re!olution# and natural disasters. But
ne!er before has
man been left without guide or compass# without the assurance con!eyed by the pressure of a hand in
which he trusted. 2e is# in all too many instances# a separate being# di!orced from reality# without the
consolation of worthwhile art or background of tradition" and# most fatal of all as the orthodo1 would say#
without religion.
3ow it used to be an accepted part of the /atholic outlook that the /hurch created our ci!ili0ation# with the
ethical standards# and the great body of re!elation# on which man-s attitude and destiny depend.
It follows therefore# once that proposition has been accepted# that any falling off on the part of the /hurch
must be reflected by a similar decline in the ci!ili0ation it fostered" and such a decline# as e!idenced by the
moral and cultural e1pressions of our time# is e!erywhere !isible.
+o it is that the mere mention of religion calls forth an automatic re$ection on the part of men who ha!e
ne!er gi!en a thought to the /hurch-s teaching or practice# but who feel that it should somehow remedy or
control the widespread erosion. They feel contempt 4and contempt is a more deadly !irus than skepticism5
for the /hurch-s failure to cope with conditions that call for !ital action" for its readiness to go with the
stream by not speaking out against# or for e!en gi!ing encouragement to# sub!ersion" for its preachment of
a watered%down !ersion of 2umanism in the name of /hristian charity" for the way in which# from ha!ing
been the infle1ible enemy of /ommunism# clerical leaders at the highest le!el ha!e taken part in what is
called *dialogue- with those who seek# not only the /hurch-s downfall# but the ruin of society as a whole" for
the way in which it has surrendered its once proudly defined credo by admitting that there are more Gods in
hea!en and earth than were dreamt of in its ounder-s philosophy.
This summary of misgi!ings brings us back to the &uestion posed at the start of our in&uiry what has
caused the changes in the /hurch?
3.
6ny re!olution# such as the rench and the Russian# must come into headlong collision with two institutions
the monarchy and the /hurch. The former# howe!er deeply it may be rooted in lineage and sacramental
rite# can be totally disposed of by a single blow. But a people-s religion# howe!er defecti!e it may ha!e
become# cannot be so easily suppressed by any force e1erted from without.
7onarchy li!es by acceptance# custom# and a process of recognition that can be brought to an end by the
fall of a knife or the discharge of a rifle. But religion# and especially the /hristian# although it may ha!e
become discredited and sub$ect to scorn# has so far carried within itself the seeds of resurrection. Time and
again. a sentence of death has gone out against it" time and again it has outli!ed the e1ecutioner. That it
will continue to do so may be taken for granted# though whether it will sur!i!e in its old untrammeled form#
with its stature# infallible !oice# and stamp of authority# is another matter.
+ome will re$ect that suggestion as unthinkable. 'thers# while agreeing that the /hurch has sanctioned a
change of emphasis# here and there# will see it as part of the di!ine plan" and only a few# since it has
become a characteristic of our people to re$ect the mere mention of a conspiracy# will see in it the working
out of an age%long and deliberate scheme to destroy the /hurch from within. 8et there is more proof of
e!ery kind for the e1istence of such a conspiracy than there is for some of the commonly accepted facts of
history.
Because of what follows it needs to be repeated that the a!erage British mind does not take kindly to the
idea of a *plot.- The !ery word sa!ours of a theatrical setting# with hea!ily cloaked men meeting in a
darkened room to plan the destruction of their enemies. But secret scheming# hidden for the most part from
the academic as from the public mind# has been the background or dri!ing force of much world history.
The world of politics is bede!iled by cli&ues working one against another# as becomes e!ident when we
take note of the flaws that occur in official !ersions of the Gunpowder Plot# the murder of 6braham )incoln
in (9:;# that of the 6rchduke rancis erdinand of 6ustria at +ara$e!o in (<(=# the drowning of .itchener in
(<(:# the shooting of ,resident .ennedy in (<:># and e!en nearer to our own time# the mysterious end of
,ope ?ohn ,aul I# to be dealt with later in this !olume.
4.
The /hurch has always been the target of anti%religious men who see in its e1istence a threat to their
progress and designs. 6nd I use the word *always- ad!isedly# for plotting against the /hurch occurs as early
as the year 6.@. ;9. in words spoken by +t. ,aul to the people of Aphesus 4and ,aul# a trained ,harisee#
when it came to warning against sub!ersion knew what he was saying5B
*6fter my departure# grie!ous wol!es shall come in among you# not sparing the flock" and from among your
own sel!es shall issue men speaking per!erse things in order to draw away the disciples after them.-
The urge for world domination whether by force of arms# culture# or religion# is as old as history. The
earliest records# without considering myth or e!en legend# gi!e proof of it. Agypt# which first dominated the
thought and outlook of the Aast# was ne!er a purely military +tate. But a warlike era emerged 4we may date
it from about <(C B./.5 with *6ssyria the Terrible.- The rise of Babylon# short%li!ed# was followed by that of
,ersia# under /yrus the Dreat. Then came a name that has ne!er ceased to be synonymous with that of a
!ast empire and lordship of the known world# Rome. But all such powers# apart from being concerned with
territorial gain# aimed also at imposing some political or social creed# the o!erthrowing of one standard
belief and the ele!ation of another# a process that the ancients used to associate with the influence of the
Gods.
The spread of the 6rian heresy# that split /hristendom throughout the fourth century# becomes a landmark.
It in!ol!ed all the symptoms of re!olution# anarchy# treachery# and intrigue. But the underlying cause was
not political. Its mainspring was religious# e!en theological# since it turned upon a phrase coined by Arius#
the 6le1andrian priest whose name was gi!en to the mo!ementB *There must ha!e been a time when /hrist
was not.-
That denigration of the di!ine being and nature of /hrist# if carried to its logical conclusion# would ha!e
rendered the
world that was centered on Rome to a negati!e state in which Aurope# as we know it# would ha!e had no
future. But Rome
sur!i!ed# as a place of re!erence for some# as a target for others" and what we now look back upon as the
medie!al world was filled with repercussions of the same struggle.
With the consolidation of Rome as a ,apal power the ob$ecti!e became a more definite reality# with its
purpose ne!er in doubt and always the same# whate!er temporal or domestic interpretation was placed
upon it.
or the eyes of men# whether in rance# Italy or +pain# Angland or Dermany# were on ,eter-s /hair# an
ob$ect of contro!ersy that has pro!ed more potent than gold in bearing on the mind.
That was the situation in Rome during the first &uarter of the twelfth century# when two ri!al families# the
,ierleoni and the rangipani# were angling for power. Both were rich# the ,ierleoni immensely so" neither
was o!er%scrupulous" and when the ,ope# /allistus II# died in ((E=# both families put up a candidate for the
,apal throne. The ,ierleoni-s man# 6nacletus# was *not thought well of# e!en by his friends.- But he
managed to out!ote his ri!al who was backed by the rangipani.
6nacletus-s reign was short and unpopular# but he clung perilously to power until his death in ((>9# when
he was declared anti%pope in fa!our of Innocent II. +o it came about that an organi0ed cli&ue# if only briefly#
took o!er the Vatican where they installed *their man-# a looked%for consummation that figured in the minds
of international plotters until# in our own time# it came to be reali0ed.
It is a curious fact that man will suffer more readily for ideas# howe!er crude# than he will for positi!e causes
that affect his way of life" and when the perennial heresy of Dnosticism raised its head at the little town of
6lbi# in southern rance# at the start of the thirteenth century# men flocked to it as once they had to $oin a
crusade. But this time its principles were more e1treme than those of any /hristian warrior. 7atter was
declared to be e!il" so death# which meant the ending of matter# became more desirable than life. +uicide#
often brought about by men star!ing themsel!es# and their families# was a pri!ilege and a blessing" and the
!ery foundations of the /hurch# with the ,apal throne# were shaken as hundreds of clergy# with as many
nuns# came out on the side that had more political and philosophic undertones than appear in many stories
of the period.
It was a life and death struggle in which the /hurch# under ,ope Innocent III# reacted !iolently by setting up
the In&uisition. Its purpose was to e1amine 6lbigensians who# purporting to be orthodo1# had entered the
/hurch# and occupied some of its most e1alted places in order to undermine authority and set up# in e!ery
sphere# a system of common ownership. The capture of the ,apacy was# of course# their main ob$ecti!e#
although most histories of the time are more concerned with the fate of those who failed to recite the *'ur
ather- correctly before their &uestioners.
The !iolence and cruelty of the war that set in has left a permanent mark on history. The terms 6lbigensian
and In&uisition are often employed as useful steps to an argument. ew reali0e the true significance of the
struggle which left the ,apal throne still secure# so far in!ulnerable# but always# under se!eral guises and
from any part of Aurope# the ob$ect of attack.
rom this time on that attack was more concentrated. It gathered strength. In (=9E# at +trasbourg# it gained
a new intensity as the enemies of the ,ope declared their intention of waging war against him.

6 document dated (;>;# and known as the Charter of Cologne# is e!idence of the same hostility# and
e&ually !iolent. Achoes of the 6lbigensian campaign# still insisting that non%e1istence was preferable to
what its followers called the +atanic ordering of earthly life# lingered on in a traditionally orthodo1 and ne!er
thickly populated country like ,ortugal# where the continued acti!ity of the In&uisition was such that# among
the do0ens of those sentenced to death between the years (:(< and (:EF# were fifty%nine priests and nuns.
@uring the latter years of the eighteenth century a young man was pacing the streets of Ingolstadt# Ba!aria#
with hatred in his heart and a fi1ed determination in his mind. 2is hatred was directed against the ?esuits#
the religious +ociety which had trained him and made him a ,rofessor of /anon )aw at the local uni!ersity#
a +ociety which has# incidentally# always been a successful breeding ground for nearly e!ery type of saint
and assassin.
2is determination# shared at one time or another by many serious%minded young men# but all too often
without dedication# was to work for the o!erthrow of /hurch and +tate. But his determination had roots# and
Adam Weishaupt 4for that was his name5# was now reaping the benefit of the +ociety he had come to
despise.
or the spirit of the first Jesuit# Ignatius )oyola# had come down to e!en the apostates among his followers.
Ignatius had been# as was then not uncommon in his nati!e +pain# a gentleman soldier. 2e had stood fire#
and known the shock of enemy metal. 6nd 6dam Weishaupt could !iew the prospect before him with a
military mind. 2e had thrust# and !ision. 2e knew the !alue of surprise# which is grounded in secrecy. 6nd
he was single%minded. 6ll around him was strife of some sort# and contradiction. 2e would blend mankind
into one whole# eliminate tradition# which differs from people to people# and suppress dogma# which in!ites
more untruths than the one it sets out to establish.
3ot for the first time# and certainly not for the last# a man set himself apart from his fellows in the name of
uni!ersal brotherhood. The ideal state that Weishaupt had in mind was# of course# founded on the
impossible dream of human perfection" hence his first followers went by the arrogantly priggish name of
Perfectibilists.
But it soon became clear that moral impeccability was less conduci!e to his ends than mental
enlightenment" and on the (st day of 7ay# (FF:# the secret society that was to profoundly affect much
subse&uent history came into e1istence as the Illuminati. The date and certain of its implications are
noteworthy. or on 7ay the (st the great /eltic pagan festi!al of Beltane was celebrated on hills that#
where!er possible# were pyramidal in shape.
The Illuminati had by then# according to a plan they had made known in 7unich in the pre!ious year#
decided on a most ambitious line of conduct. It would form and control public opinion. It would amalgamate
religions by dissol!ing all the differences of belief and ritual that had kept them apart" and it would take o!er
the ,apacy and place an agent of its own in the /hair of ,eter.
6 further pro$ect was to bring down the rench monarchy# which had long been a powerful influence#
second only to the ,apacy# in maintaining the e1isting Auropean order. To that end a most efficient go%
between was found in the person of one ?oseph Balsamo# better known as Cagliostro# one of the world-s
most agile performers on the make%belie!e stage.
2e was backed financially# as are most if not all anarchistic leaders# by a group of bankers under the 2ouse
of Rothschild. It was under their direction that the long range and world%wide plans of the Illuminati were
drawn up.
/agliostro-s e1cursions in the realm of the occult ha!e earned him a !ariety of epithets. 2e was charlatan#
astrologer# the possessor of the secret of eternal youth and of the great uni!ersal medicine. But his claim to
be possessed of an other%world influence may not ha!e been wholly false. or after ha!ing sur!i!ed the
tests that made him a full blooded Illuminatus 4the ceremony took place at night# in an underground !ault
near rankfurt5# he $ourneyed from country to country# in a black !arnished coach that was decorated with
magic symbols# imposing his arts upon the most influential circles# yet always with an eye on the rench
/ourt where he soon picked on 7arie 6ntoinette as its most !aluable and susceptible member.
2ow he finally o!er%reached himself# in perpetrating the swindle of the diamond necklaceE# is part of the
preparatory process that led to the outbreak of the rench Re!olution. 2e died most miserably in Rome# but
not without lea!ing a reputation that still poses &uestions# and which is typical of the formidable effects
deri!ed from contact with the Illuminati.
6s part of the secrecy that masked its strength# and also perhaps from a $u!enile wish to claim classical
connections#
the leaders of the +ociety adopted classical names# mostly from Dreek or Roman myth and history. 6dam
Weishaupt
became +partacus# the name of the Thracian sla!e who led a re!olt against Rome. 2is second%in%
command# Baron .nigge#
chose ,hilo# after the neo%,latonic philosopher. The uncouth sounding ran0 Gwackh elected to be /ato#
the Roman
statesman. The 7ar&uis /ostan0o 4for the Illuminati made free with titles5 became @iomedes# one of the
Dreek leaders in the Tro$an War" while a certain rancis 7ary 6rouet# undersi0ed# warped# and wi0ened#
coined a name for himself that was destined to sound through the popular consciousness like a miniature
thunder%clap Voltaire.
It is a common enough procedure for the casual reader to glance at# or e!en study# the names of those who
directed the anti%Bourbon fury that swept o!er ,aris# and most of rance# without realising that much of it
stemmed from the Illuminati# whose members were prominent in the short%li!ed committees and assemblies
spawned by the Re!olution.
7irabeau and @anton were two of its nearly gigantic figures. @apper little Robespierre supplied the
consistency# and the tortuous ouche the self%preser!ing cunning# of ice%cold brains. Talleyrand limped his
way o!er obstacles that pro!ed fatal to more acti!e men. /amille @esmoulins e1hibited an adolescent faith
in his fellows. 7arshals 7urat# 7assHna# Bernadotte# and +oult followed the direction of 3apoleon-s bicorne
hat and dro!e his enemies from field after field. .ellermann# as hea!y as his name# remained firmly booted
and spurred# unlike )afayette# who could change his royal uniform for the garb of a republican or a
diplomat. 6ll these were Illuminati. +ome worked with open eyes# actual accomplices. 'thers# like
@esmoulins# were enthusiasts or dupes.
Their influence did not die with them. It was passed on# long after the guillotine had gone out of common
use# and could be recognised as the power behind the @irectory. It lessened throughout the /onsulate# but
came back reinforced when )ouis IVIII was hoisted on to the throne after Waterloo# and it sparked off the
Re!olution of (9>C# which signalled the end of the Bourbons whom the Illuminati had long before marked
down for ruin.
5.
The sinister designs of Weishaupt and his +ociety had been made known to the Ba!arian Do!ernment# as
the result of a thunderstorm# in (F9;.
6 former priest and henchman of Weishaupt# named ?oseph )an0# had been out in the storm to deli!er a
message# when he was struck by lightning and killed. 2is body was taken to the chapel of a Benedictine
con!ent where a nun# who prepared him for burial# found documents sewn into his clothing. Their
importance# it soon became clear# reached far beyond the con!ent# and they were passed to the authorities
who rubbed their eyes on seeing they outlined a plot for o!erthrowing /hurch and +tate. Weishaupt was
banished from Ba!aria# but he promptly fell on his feet again by being protected and pensioned by the
,rince of +a1e%Dotha.
By the time of Weishaupt-s death in (9>C the hand of his +ociety could be detected in countries other than
rance# though its workings were sometimes indistinguishable from those of the more politically minded
Italian mo!ement# the /arbonari 4charcoal burners5. That +ociety had been founded by 7aghella in 3aples
at the time of the former 7arshal 7urat# who had been created .ing of 3aples by 3apoleon. Its declared
ob$ect was to dri!e out foreigners and to set up a republican constitution.
The peculiar strength of such bodies has always been their secrecy# and this was in no way impugned by
the signs and symbols they adopted. +ometimes they had an affected occult significance that was meant to
be impressi!e# and this often led them to introduce merely puerile# absurd# or e!en unpleasant rites of
initiation. There was# for instance# one Illuminati circle that persuaded candidates to enter a bath of water
persuaded# that is# by pulling them towards the bath by means of a piece of string that was tied to their
genitals. 6nd it was this per!erted se1ual obsession that made some of Weishaupt-s disciples undergo self%
castration.
But some rites and symbols deri!ed an undeniable significance from what is generally called Black 7agic#
or from the in!ocation of a +atanic power whose potency runs like a sinister streak through pages of
Biblical# legendary# and historically !erified writing.
*By symbols-# said Thomas /arlyle in Sartor Resartus# *is man guided and commanded# made happy# made
wretched. 2e e!erywhere finds himself surrounded with symbols# recognised as such or not recognised.-
The Illuminati made use of a shape that was probably old when Agypt reached its peak# that of a pyramid#
or triangle# which has long been known to initiates as a sign of mystic or solar faith. 6t the top of that
pyramid# or sometimes at its base# was# and in fact still is# the image of a separate human Aye# which has
been !ariously referred to as the open eye of )ucifer# the morning star# or the eternal watcher of the world
and the human scene.
The pyramid was one of the symbols that represented the unknown and nameless deity in pre%/hristian
cults. /enturies later it was resurrected as a symbol of the destruction of the /atholic /hurch" and when the
first phase of that destruction had been brought about# as we shall see# by those who had infiltrated and
since occupied some of the highest places in the /hurch# they reproduced it as a sign of their success.
It o!erlooked the crowds who gathered for the ,hiladelphia Aucharistic /ongress in (<F:. It was taken up
by the ?esuits who edited the +ociety-s year book" and it appeared on a series of Vatican stamps issued in
(<F9.
The Aye# which can be traced back to the Babylonian moon%worshippers# or astrologers# came to represent
the Agyptian trinity of 'siris# the sun" Isis# the moon Goddess" and their child# 2orus. Isis also appeared in
6thens# Rome# +icily# and other centres of anti&uity under a !ariety of names including Venus# 7iner!a#
@iana# /ybele# /eres# ,roserpine# and Bellona. The Aye came to figure among the mystic solar symbols of
?o!e# Baal# and 6pollo.
There was nothing empty or childish in the +ociety-s claim that its members# as e!idenced by the Aye# were
under constant sur!eillance. *It is understood-# so ran a dictum of the +ociety# *that anyone who re!eals our
secrets# either !oluntarily or in!oluntarily# signs his own death warrant.-
6nd those words ha!e been borne out# time and again. 'ne of the first to gi!e an instance of this was a
renchman# named
Lescure# whose son had played a briefly prominent part in the Re!olution. )escure senior was admitted to
the cult of the Aye and the pyramid. But he soon repented# refused to attend their gatherings# was looked
upon as a possible danger to his
erstwhile brethren# and died suddenly of poison. In his last lucid moments he blamed *that impious horde of
the Illuminati- for his death.
.
7ention has already been made of the /arbonari# the +upreme @irectory of which# known as the 6lta
Vendita># became a kind of nucleus for all the secret societies spread through Italy. In organi0ation and
intention it was much the same as the Illuminati. Its leaders adopted a similar brand of whimsical
appellations 4such as )ittle Tiger# 3ubius# Vinde1# 7inos5# and it e1hibited the same unremitting hostility
towards /hurch and +tate.
This was clearly outlined in a set of ,ermanent Instructions# or /ode of Rules# which appeared in Italy in
(9(9. It was written by 3ubius and was addressed to a fellow conspirator called Volpi# with suggested
guide lines and news of what had so far been accomplished.
!u"ius# who appears to ha!e been a man of rank in Rome# starts with a modest appraisal of the not
insignificant task that had been entrusted to him. *6s I told you before# I ha!e been appointed to demorali0e
the education of the youth of the /hurch.- But he was not unaware of the most difficult obstacle he would
ha!e to encounter. 'ne great problem remained. *The ,apacy has always e1ercised a decisi!e influence
o!er Italy. With the arm# the !oice# the pen# of its innumerable bishops# monks# nuns# and faithful of all
latitudes# the ,ope finds e!erywhere people who are prepared for sacrifice# and e!en for martyrdom#
friends who would die for him# or sacrifice all for his sake.
*It is a mighty le!er# the full power of which few ,opes ha!e understood# and which has yet been used but
partially... 'ur final aim is that of Voltaire# and that of the rench Re!olution the complete annihilation of
/atholicism# and ultimately of /hristianity. Were /hristianity to sur!i!e# e!en upon the ruins of Rome# it
would# a little later on# re!i!e and li!e.
*Take no notice of those boastful and !ainglorious renchmen# and thick%headed Dermans# and
hypochondriacal Anglishmen# who think it possible to end /atholicism by an obscene song# or by a
contemptible sarcasm. /atholicism has a !itality which sur!i!es such attacks with ease. +he has seen
ad!ersaries more implacable# and more terrible far# and sometimes has taken a malicious pleasure in
baptising with holy water the most rabid amongst them.
*Therefore the ,apacy has been for se!enteen hundred years interwo!en with the history of Italy. Italy can
neither breathe nor mo!e without the lea!e of the +upreme ,ontiff. With him# she has the hundred arms of
Briareus" without him# she is condemned to a lamentable impotency. +uch a state of things must not
continue. It is necessary to seek a remedy.
*Very well. The remedy is at hand. The ,ope# whoe!er he may be# will ne!er enter into a secret society. It
therefore becomes the duty of the secret societies to make the first ad!ance to the /hurch# and to the
,ope# with the ob$ect of con&uering both. The work for which we gird oursel!es is not the work of a day# nor
of a month# nor of a year. It may last for many years# perhaps a century. In our ranks the soldier dies# but
the work is continued.
*We do not at present intend to gain the ,ope to our cause. That which we should await# as the ?ews await
a 7essiah# is a ,ope according to our wants. We re&uire a ,ope for oursel!es# if such a ,ope were
possible. With such a one we shall march more securely to the storming of the /hurch# than with all the
little books of our rench and Anglish brothers. 6nd why?
*Because it were useless to seek with these alone to split the Rock upon which God has built the /hurch.
We should not want the !inegar of 2annibal=# nor gunpowder# nor e!en our arms# if we had but the little
finger of the successor of ,eter engaged in the plot" that little finger will a!ail us more for our crusade than
all the Jrbans and +t. Bernards for the crusade of /hristianity.
*We trust that we may yet attain this supreme ob$ect of our efforts. )ittle can be done with the old /ardinals
and with prelates of decided character. In our maga0ines# either popular or unpopular# we must find the
means to utilise# or ridicule# the power in their hands. 6 well in!ented report must be spread with tact
amongst good /hristian families.
+uch a /ardinal# for instance# is a miser" such a prelate is licentious. These things will spread rapidly in the
cafes# thence to the s&uares# and one report is sometimes enough to ruin a man.
*If a prelate arri!es in a pro!ince from Rome to officiate at some public function# it is necessary at once to
become ac&uainted with his character# his antecedents# his temperament# his defects especially his
defects. Di!e him a character that must horrify the young people and the women" describe him as cruel#
heartless# or bloodthirsty" relate some atrocious transaction which will cause a sensation amongst the
people. The foreign newspapers will learn and copy these facts# which they will know how to embellish
according to their usual style...-
#.
6part from the earlier indications# the main purpose of the plot# to gain control of the ,apacy# had been
brought to light in lorence by an opponent of the secret societies named +imonini# who carried the news of
their intention to ,ius VII. But the /hurch could do little more in the way of defense than issue warnings"
while the /arbonari# reinforced by the positi!e declarations uttered by the 6lta Vendita# pressed home its
attacks.
6 few years after that document was issued# )ittle Tiger addressed the ,iedmontese group of the society in
the following termsB */atholicism must be destroyed throughout the whole world. ,rowl about the /atholic
sheepfold and sei0e the first lamb that presents itself in the re&uired conditions. Do e!en to the depths of
con!ents. In a few years the young clergy will ha!e# by the force of e!ents# in!aded all the functions. They
will go!ern# administer# and $udge. They will be called upon to choose the ,ontiff who will reign" and the
,ontiff# like the greater part of his contemporaries# will be necessarily imbued with the principles which we
are about to put into circulation.
*It is a little grain of mustard which we will place in the earth# but the sun of $ustice will de!elop it to become
a great power# and you will see one day what a rich har!est that little seed will produce.-
The policy of infiltration had already been put into effect# and )ittle Tiger was soon claiming that a new
breed of priests# talented young men who were likely to rise high in the hierarchy# had been trained to take
o!er and destroy the /hurch. 6nd that was no empty boast# since in (9E= he was telling 3ubiusB *There are
certain members of the clergy# especially in Rome# who ha!e swallowed the bait# hook# line# and sinker.-
The persistence# the thoroughness# and the single%minded purpose of the societies which# then as now#
was not to be found outside them# was ne!er in doubt. *)et the clergy march under your banner in the belief
that they march under the banner of the 6postolic .eys. @o not fear to slip into the religious communities#
into the !ery midst of their flock. )et our agents study with care the personnel of those confraternity men#
put them under the pastoral staff of some !irtuous priest# well known but credulous and easy to be
decei!ed. Then infiltrate the poison into those chosen hearts" infiltrate it by little doses as if by chance.-
This was soon followed by a confident assessment of the inroads that the societies had already made. *In
Italy# they count among their numbers more than eight hundred priests# among whom are many professors
and prelates as well as some Bishops and /ardinalsK- It was claimed that many of the +panish clergy were
also in!ol!ed.
But# as !u"ius constantly repeated# all interim !ictories would be hollow until a ,ope who was part of their
ultimate design was occupying ,eter-s /hair. *When that is accomplished-# he wrote in (9=># *you will ha!e
established a re!olution led by the tiara and the plu!ial 4ceremonial5 cape" a re!olution brought about with
little force# but which will strike a flame in the four corners of the world.-
There was a feeling of change in the air# a change that would e1tend beyond the boundaries of the /hurch
and transform
many facets of e1istence. )ittle Tiger summed it up hopefully to 3ubius in (9=:B *6ll feel that the old world is
cracking.- 6nd
his finger must ha!e been on the pulse of e!ents# for two years later a highly select body of secret initiates
who called
themsel!es the )eague of Twel!e ?ust 7en of the Illuminati# financed .arl 7ar1 to write the /ommunist
7anifesto# and within months Aurope was rocking with re!olution.
But 3ubius did not li!e long enough to sample whate!er benefits might ha!e come about. or acti!ated by
rumours# whether true or false# that he was letting his tongue wag too freely# the all%seeing Aye was turned
in his direction and 3ubius succumbed to a dose of poison.
We of this generation ha!e li!ed through# and are still encountering# the political and religious aftermaths of
a struggle whose causes were hidden from those who witnessed its early stages# $ust as they are from us
who are blindly groping a way through its secondary phases. or its perpetrators# and their operations# are
masked by secrecy# a secrecy so continuous# and profound# that it cannot be matched elsewhere.
When the rench author# Cretineau$Jol%# brought the sinister import of the 6lta Vendita to the notice of
,ope ,ius II 4(9=:%F95# who allowed his name to be used as a guarantee of its authority# the e!ent# that
should ha!e called for a fanfare of sil!er trumpets# was drowned by the petty whistling of ,arliamentary
!erbiage and cant. 6nd when Adolphe Cremieu&# 7inister of ?ustice# as reported in )es 6rchi!es# ,aris# in
3o!ember (9:(# !oiced the precept that *3ationalities must disappear# religion must be suppressed#- the
circles that framed such statements saw that they were ne!er diffused as forecasts of a condition that
would clamour for widespread acceptance in less than a century.
6gain# a reader of The Times# in Victorian Angland# would ha!e noted# perhaps with an insular distaste for
e!erything )atin# the disorders that flared from time to time in +pain# ,ortugal# 3aples# and the ,apal
+tates. In seeking an e1planation# the word *dagos- might ha!e suggested itself. But one thing is certain. 2e
would ne!er ha!e thought that the man who master%minded the turmoil was no less a person than Lord
Palmerston# who was the Lueen-s oreign +ecretary between the years (9>C%;(# ,rime 7inister in (9;;#
and again in (9;< until his death in (9:;.
or behind those ,arliamentary titles# he was known to his fellow%conspirators as Drand ,atriarch of the
Illuminati# and therefore controller of all the sinister comple1 of secret societies. Dlance at some of their
political designs the achie!ement of a united Italy under the 2ouse of +a!oy" the anne1ation of ,apal
territory" the reconstitution of a ,olish +tate" the depri!ation of 6ustria# and the conse&uent rise of the
Derman Ampire.
Aach of those ob$ecti!es# irrespecti!e of time# was set down on the Illuminati-s agenda. Aach has been
attained" and Ben$amin @israeli# who knew the whole business of plot and counter%plot# doubtless had
,almerston-s machinations in mind when he said# in (9F:B *The Do!ernments of this country ha!e to deal#
not only with go!ernments# kings# and ministers# but also with secret societies# elements which must be
taken into account# which at the last moment can bring all plans to naught# which ha!e agents e!erywhere#
who incite assassinations and can# if necessary# lead a massacre.-
The leaders of the Italian Re!olution# 7a00ini# Daribaldi# and /a!our were the ser!ants of the Aye# while
such monarchs of the time as Victor Ammanuel II and 3apoleon III also came within its radius.
Throughout the remainder of the century the attack on orthodo1y gathered weight. In (99( the ,rime
7inister of rance# )eon Dambetta# could openly declareB */lericalism# that is the enemy.- 6 more popular
orator roaredB *I spit upon the rotting corpse of the ,apacy.- 6nd the same year pro!ided ample e!idence of
the hostility that was ready to break out in the most une1pected parts of the continent. or when the body of
,ius II was being transferred from the Vatican basilica to the church of +t. )awrence%outside%the%Walls# the
cortMge was attacked by a mob armed with cudgels. 6mid their shouted obscenities a street battle
de!eloped before the body of the dead ,ope could be sa!ed from being flung into the Tiber. The
authorities# siding with the rioters# took no action.
+o in that way# and by many de!ious routes# the contests of early /hristian times# and of the 7iddle 6ges#
were being continued. But now the /hurch-s enemies were shifting their attacks from open warfare to
peaceful penetration# which was more in keeping with the spirit of the time.
*What we ha!e undertaken-# proclaimed the 7ar&uis de ran&uerie in the middle of the last century# *is the
corruption of the people by the clergy# and that of the clergy by us# the corruption which leads the way to
our digging the /hurch-s gra!e.-
6n e!en more confident prediction# and on a new note# was made some si1ty years laterB *+atan must reign
in the Vatican. The ,ope will be his sla!e.-

/onfirmation of this# and in much the same words was to be gi!en in a re!elation recei!ed by three illiterate
children aged ten# eight# and se!en respecti!ely# at the little town of atima in ,ortugal in (<(F. It took the
shape of a warning that# at that time of day# seemed frankly ridiculousB *+atan will reign e!en in the highest
places. 2e will e!en enter the highest position in the /hurch.- NThe author is &uoting a spurious !ersion of
the Third +ecret current during the 9Cs" the authentic !ersion# not published by the Vatican until ?une ECCC#
does not contain these remarksO.
+ome indication of the prophetic# or carefully planned pro$ects of the secret societies# may be read into a
letter addressed to 'a((ini# dated 6pril the (;th# (9F(# and catalogued in the British 7useum )ibrary. 6t
that time wars were conducted on a comparati!ely small and restricted scale# but this letter# written more
than forty years before the first world conflict started# may be interpreted as a forecast of the +econd World
War# together with more possible hints of a third and still greater catastrophe that is yet to come. 2ere it is
&uotedB
*We will unleash the 3ihilists and atheists# and we will pro!oke a formidable social catastrophe which# in all
its horror# will show clearly to the nations the effect of absolute atheism# original sa!agery# and the most
bloody turmoil.
*Then e!erywhere the citi0ens# obliged to defend themsel!es against the ma$ority of world re!olutionaries#
will e1tinguish the destroyers of ci!ilisations" and the multitude# disillusioned with /hristianity# whose deistic
spirits will be from that time without compass# an1ious for an ideal# but without knowing where to render its
adoration# will recei!e the true light through the uni!ersal manifestation of the pure doctrine of )ucifer#
brought finally out to the public !iew# a manifestation which will result from the general re!olutionary
mo!ement which will follow the destruction of /hristianity and atheism# both con&uered and e1terminated at
the same time.-
In the abo!e a term is used that# in the course of these pages# may call for clarification. It needs to be
understood that the enemies of the /hurch were not atheists according to the commonly accepted
meaning. They re$ected religion as represented by the /hristian God whom they refer to as 6donay# a
being who has# they say# condemned the human race to a recurring round of suffering and darkness.
But their intelligence calls for the recognition of a God# and they found one in )ucifer# son of the morning
and bearer of light# the brightest of the archangels who led the hea!enly re!olution in a bid to make himself
the e&ual of God.
The highly de!eloped )uciferian creed# until the end of the (<>< war# was directed throughout the world
from a centre in +wit0erland. +ince that time its head&uarters ha!e been located in the 2arold ,ratt
Building# 3ew 8ork.
But although such places may be named# the !eil of secrecy surrounding the inner circle of world
go!ernment has ne!er been broken. 3othing else in the world has remained so hidden# so intact" and the
e1istence of such an inner circle was acknowledged by no less a person than 7a00ini who# although one of
the arch conspirators# was compelled to admit# in a letter written shortly before his death to a @octor
BreidenstineB
*We form an association of brothers in all points of the globe. 8et there is one unseen who can hardly be
felt# yet it weighs on us. Whence comes it? Where is it? 3o one knows# or at least# no one talks. This
association is secret e!en to us# the !eterans of secret societies.-
The Voice# the uni!ersal brotherhood maga0ine# first published in Angland in (<F># later transferred to
+omerset West# /ape ,ro!ince# +outh 6frica# has this to say about itB
*The Alder Brothers of the Race usually mo!e through the world unknown. They seek no recognition#
preferring to ser!e behind the scenes.-
In his often &uoted book (<9=# Deorge 'rwell refers to this inner party# or uni!ersal brotherhood# and how#
apart from its secrecy# the fact of its not being an organisation in the usual sense makes it in!ulnerable.
While +ir Winston /hurchill# in his study of Dreat /ontemporaries# saysB
*'nce the apparatus of power is in the hands of the Brotherhood# all opposition# all contrary opinions# must
be e1tinguished by death.-
6nd there are enough strange deaths recorded e!en in these pages to make one pause o!er that.
).
The introduction of Satan as a fresh element in the struggle met with less response in heterodo1 Angland
than it did upon the continent. or there# belief in the positi!e power of e!il# and cases of diabolical
possession# were not always regarded as moonshine. What had happened at the Jrsuline con!ent at
)ou!iers# in 3ormandy# and at another con!ent 4also Jrsuline5 at 6i1%en%,ro!ence# in the region of
7arseilles# both in the se!enteenth century# could still inspire ner!ous glances o!er the shoulder.
6t )ou!iers# young nuns and no!ices had there attended Black 7asses where the 2ost was consecrated
o!er the pri!ate parts of a woman stretched upon the altar. ,ortions of the 2ost had then been inserted into
those parts. 'ne of the ranciscan friars who ser!ed the con!ent dealt in lo!e philtres made of the
sacramental wafer dipped in menstrual blood and that of murdered babies.
6t the other con!ent# a young girl had writhed on the ground# e1posing e!ery part of her body# and
screaming obscenities relating to sodomy and cannibalism. 'ther members of the community claimed that
their minds and bodies were being tormented by Beel0ebub# the demon worshipped by the ,hilistines# the
so%called )ord of the lies because he appeared dripping sacrificial blood that attracted hordes of flying
insects. In both cases the e!il influence was traced to +atanically inspired priests# who perished at the
stake. ,art of the e!idence# at the trial of one# was a pact with +atan signed in the priest-s blood.
)ater in the same century the 6bbH Duibourg celebrated the same kind of mock religious rite sometimes
with the help of 7adame de 7ontespan# one of the fading mistresses of )ouis IIV# who took part in the
hope of re!i!ing the .ing-s passion for her. There again the blood of a murdered child# and that of a bat#
mingled with the sperm of the officiating priest to boost the sacramental wine.
It was common for the mock celebrant on such occasions to wear a cardinal-s robes. Black candles stood
on the altar. The cross was in e!idence# but re!ersed# and there were pictures showing a crucifi1 being
trampled by a goat. 6 star# a black moon# and a serpent figured in erotic paintings around the walls# and the
only name spoken in re!erence was that of )ucifer. Initiates fre&uently recei!ed /ommunion at a properly
constituted church# but it was only to carry the 2ost away in their mouths and then to feed it to animals and
mice.
6 typical Black 7agic centre# or Temple of +atan# was set up in Rome in (9<;. 6 group of interested
people# curious to sample its meaning# somehow managed to penetrate a little beyond its threshold# and
what they saw was described by one of them# @omenico 7argiotta ;B
*Its lateral walls were hung with magnificent red and black damask draperies.: 6t the further end was a
great piece of tapestry upon which was the figure of +atan at whose feet was an altar.
*2ere and there were arranged triangles# s&uares# and other symbolic signs. 6ll around stood gilt chairs.
Aach of these# in the moulding which cupped its back# had a glass eye# the interior of which was lighted by
electricity# while in the middle of the temple stood a curious throne# that of the Dreat +atanic ,ontiff.-
+omething in the silent atmosphere of the room terrified them# and they left more &uickly than they had
entered.
With the Illuminati raising its head again# and e!en as far afield as Russia# there were signs that its
influence had penetrated the top le!el of the /hurch. It had done so in the person of /ardinal 7ariano
Rampolla 4(9=>%(<(>5 one of those significant# yet shadowy and largely unknown figures whose like can be
found only in the co!ertly sinister pages of Vatican history.
6 nati!e of +icily# and a )iberal in outlook# he entered ,apal ser!ice during the pontificate of )eo IIII# and
had been +ecretary of ,ropaganda before becoming +ecretary of +tate.
6n Anglishman who claimed to ha!e known him# and to ha!e made him ac&uainted with the occult# was
6leister /rowley# who had been born in the then demulcent town of )eamington in (9F;# and who had then
passed# by way of /ambridge# to become one of the most contro!ersial figures in the world of mystery.
,eople of intelligence still shake their heads o!er trying to answer such &uestions as to whether he was a
master of the Black 6rts# a dabbler in them# or merely a pretender. +omerset 7augham# who knew him
well# ga!e his opinion that /rowley was a fake# *but not wholly a fake.-
2e was certainly# as shown by his writings# a master of corruption. or what may be most charitably called
his spiritual aspirations were tempered by a blatant sensualism. It was through the flesh that his being leapt
out to embrace mystery. The images that passed into his mind came out deformed# often with a se1ual
connotation" and# like others of his kind who wander on the border of the unknown# he found comfort in
sheltering behind a !ariety of fantastic names such as Therion# /ount Vladimir +!aroff# ,rince /hi!a .han#
the )aird of Boleskin# a title that he tried to li!e up to by wearing a kilt. To his mother he was the Dreat
Beast 4from the 6pocalypse5. /rowley responded by calling her a brainless bigot.
By filing his two canine teeth he made them into fangs# which enabled him to implant a !ampire-s kiss on
the throat or wrist of any woman who was unlucky enough to meet him. 2e married Rose .elly# a sister of
the painter +ir Derald# who later became ,resident of the Royal 6cademy.
+he was a weak sub%normal creature# who could e!idently o!erlook his pleasant little way of hanging a
mistress upside down by her heels in a wardrobe# $ust as she could agree with the names he bestowed
upon their daughter# I 3uit 6hotoor 2ecate +appho ?e0ebel )ilith.
Whether or not there was any definite connection between Rampolla and /rowley# the /ardinal-s steady
rise in the
hierarchy offered a solid contrast to /rowley-s futile preoccupation with the societies of the Dolden @awn
and the 'riental Templars# to which were affiliated such bodies as the .nights of the 2oly +pirit# the 'ccult
/hurch of the 2oly Drail# the 2ermetic Brotherhood of )ight# the 'rder of Anoch# the Rite of 7emphis# and
the Rite of 7i0raim.
When Leo *III died in (<C># and a concla!e was called to elect his successor# Rampolla was known to be
well in the running. 2is nearest ri!al was the ,atriarch of Venice# /ardinal +arto# a less impressi!e figure#
as the world $udges# but with an aura of goodness# or e!en natural saintliness about him# that Rampolla
lacked.
6t the first scrutiny# twenty%fi!e !otes were in his fa!our# while +arto polled only fi!e. 6s the !oting
proceeded the latter steadily increased his standing# but Rampolla continued to forge ahead. That seemed
to ha!e established the pattern of the !oting# and# as though to accelerate its ob!ious result# the rench
oreign 7inister took the unusual step of re&uesting his countrymen among the /ardinals to back
Rampolla.
Were hidden strings being pulled? 6lmost certainly they were. But if so the +icilian-s opponents# who may
ha!e been aware of his being a suspected Illuminatus# came forward with a last minute ob$ection that
dashed his claim. The Amperors of 6ustria# who were still recogni0ed as legatees of the non%e1istent 2oly
Roman Ampire# had been in!ested with the hereditary right to e1ercise a !eto on candidates for the ,apal
throne whom they found unacceptable.
That !eto was now e1pressed by the /ardinal of /racow 4a city that was then in 6ustria5# in the name of the
Amperor ran0 ?osef of 6ustria. +ome said it was the !eto of the 2oly Dhost. Rampolla-s hopes foundered#
and the mind of the concla!e swung round in fa!our of his nearest challenger# +arto# who became ,ope
,ius I.
But it was not generally belie!ed that the !eto e1pressed by the *!ery /atholic- Amperor of 6ustria was
alone responsible for barring Rampolla-s way# though he ne!er# after the concla!e# played any influential
role in Rome.
6fter his death# Rampolla-s papers passed into the keeping of Pius *. 6fter reading them he put them aside
with the commentB *The unhappy manK Burn them.- The papers were put on the fire in the ,ope-s presence#
but enough of them sur!i!ed to furnish material for an article that appeared in )a )ibre ,arole# in (<E< in
Toulouse.
+ome of the papers emanated from a secret society# the 'rder of the Temple of the 'rient# and they
pro!ided proof that +ampolla had been working for the o!erthrow of /hurch and +tate. 6 notebook#
disco!ered at the same time# throws a surprising sidelight on the possible Aleister Cro,le% connection" for
se!eral of the societies affiliated to the Temple of the 'rient were those which ha!e already been named#
such as the Occult Church of the Holy Grail# and the Rite of Mizrai# in all of which /rowley e1ercised
some great or small influence.
+o it may ha!e been that in the last days of world peace the secret societies came !ery near attaining#
through Rampolla# their centuries%old goal by claiming a ,ope of their own.
-.
Drowing chaos# and the replacement of traditional !alues by those of a new order# which were the tangible
effects of the (<(= war# were sei0ed upon as offering fa!ourable opportunities to those who ne!er ceased
regarding the /hurch as their one great enemy. or early in (<>: a con!ention of secret societies was held
in ,aris" and although attendance was strictly limited to *those in the know#- Anglish and rench obser!ers
managed to be present. Their accounts of the meeting appeared in the /atholic Da0ette of ebruary# (<>:#
and a few weeks later in !e R"#eil du Peuple# a ,aris weekly.
3o one could fail to notice how closely the sentiments and topics that were there treated correspond to
those put forward by !u"ius and in the 6lta Vendita more than a century before. What follows is a slightly
shortened copy of the Anglish !ersionB
*6s long as there remains any moral conception of the social order# and until all faith# patriotism# and dignity
are uprooted#
our reign o!er the world shall not come. We ha!e already fulfilled part of our work# and yet we cannot claim
that the whole of our work is done. We still ha!e a long way to go before we can o!erthrow our main
opponent# the /atholic /hurch.
*We must always bear in mind that the /atholic /hurch is the only institution which has stood# and which
will# as long as it remains in e1istence# stand in our way. The /atholic /hurch# with its methodical work and
her edifying moral teachings will always keep her children in such a state of mind as to make them too self%
respecting to yield to our domination. That is why we ha!e been stri!ing to disco!er the best way of shaking
the /atholic /hurch to her !ery foundations. We ha!e spread the spirit of re!olt and false liberalism among
the nations so as to persuade them away from their faith and e!en to make them ashamed of professing
the precepts of their religion# and obeying the commandments of their /hurch.
*We ha!e brought many of them to boast of being atheists# and more than that# to glory in being
descendants of the apeK We ha!e gi!en them new theories# impossible of reali0ation# such as /ommunism#
anarchism# and +ocialism# which are now ser!ing our purposes. They ha!e accepted them with the
greatest enthusiasm# without reali0ing that those theories are ours# and that they constitute the most
powerful instrument against themsel!es.
*We ha!e blackened the /atholic /hurch with the most ignominious calumnies# we ha!e stained her
history# and disgraced e!en her noblest acti!ities. We ha!e imparted to her the wrongs of her enemies# and
ha!e brought these latter to stand more closely by our side. +o much so that we are now witnessing# to our
greatest satisfaction# rebellions against the /hurch in se!eral countries. We ha!e turned her clergy into
ob$ects of hatred and ridicule# we ha!e sub$ected them to the hate of the crowd. We ha!e caused the
practice of the /atholic religion to be considered out of date and a mere waste of time. We ha!e founded
many secret associations which work for our purpose# under our orders and our directions.
*+o far# we ha!e considered our strategy in our attacks upon the /hurch from the outside. But this is not all.
)et us e1plain
how we ha!e gone further in our work to hasten the ruin of the /atholic /hurch# and how we ha!e
penetrated into her most intimate circles# and ha!e brought e!en some of her clergy to be pioneers of our
causeB
*6part from the influence of our philosophy# we ha!e taken other steps to secure a breach in the /atholic
/hurch. )et me e1plain how this has been done. We ha!e induced some of our children to $oin the /atholic
body with the e1plicit intention that they should work in a still more efficient way for the disintegration of the
/atholic /hurch# by creating scandals within her.
*We are grateful to ,rotestants for their loyalty to our wishes# although most of them are# in the sincerity of
their faith# unaware of their loyalty to us. We are grateful to them for the wonderful help they are gi!ing us in
our fight against the stronghold of /hristian ci!ili0ation# and in our preparations for the ad!ent of our
supremacy o!er the whole world.
*+o far we ha!e succeeded in o!erthrowing most of the thrones of Aurope. The rest will follow in the near
future. Russia has already worshipped our rule. rance is under our thumb. Angland# in her dependence
upon our finance# is under our heel" and in her ,rotestantism is our best hope for the destruction of the
/atholic /hurch. +pain and 7e1ico are but toys in our hands. 6nd many other countries# including the
Jnited +tates of 6merica# ha!e already fallen before our scheming.
*But the /atholic /hurch is still ali!e. We must destroy her without the least delay and without the slightest
mercy. 7ost of the ,ress of the world is under our control. )et us intensify our acti!ities. )et us spread the
spirit of re!olution in the minds of the people.
*They must be made to despise patriotism and the lo!e of their family# to consider their faith as a humbug#
their obedience to the /hurch as a degrading ser!ility# so that they may become deaf to the appeal of the
/hurch and blind to her warnings against us. )et us# abo!e all# make it impossible for /hristians outside the
/atholic /hurch to be re%united with her# or for non%/hristians to $oin the /hurch" otherwise our domination
o!er them will ne!er be reali0ed.-
.. )ord 7acaulay on !on Ranke-s ,olitical 2istory of the ,opes# in (9=C.
2. 6 complicated affair in!ol!ing a /ardinal-s thwarted passion# impersonation# and forged letters. Well
treated by 2ilaire Belloc in his book on 7arie 6ntoinette# who was dragged down by the scandal.
3. )iterally the *old shop- or the *old sale.- +ecret society meetings were often disguised as auction sales to
a!ert suspicion.
4. 6ncient historians considered that the 6lpine passes were too narrow to afford passage to 2annibal-s
army# with its elephants# and that he must ha!e used hot !inegar to split the rock.
5. )a /roi1 du @auphine# (9<;.
. /olours that are fre&uently mentioned throughout this book# especially at the initiation of ,ope ?ohn
IIIII.
Part /,o
'ur moral and political world is undermined with passages# cellars# and sewers.
Doethe.
The pontificate of Pius *II 4(<><%;95 found the /hurch in a highly flourishing condition. It was e1erting its
legitimate effect upon the Western world. 7ore and more people were ac&uiring a fuller reali0ation# or at
least a glimmering# of the /atholic ideal. In Angland an a!erage of ten thousand people yearly# and in the
Jnited +tates some se!enty thousand in one year alone# were said to ha!e *gone o!er- to Rome" and these
con!erts included not a few who could be classified as prominent in !arious walks of life.
Antire houses of 6nglican religious# who had fa!oured 2igh /hurch practices# sometimes followed suit. The
record number of those training to be priests and nuns promised well for the /hurch-s future. The tide of
opposition# resulting from the Reformation was on the turn. The signs of /atholic re!i!al were spreading
throughout a most une1pected &uarter the Anglishspeaking world.
Those things# strangely enough# coincided with the rise of /ommunism# and the widespread collapse of
moral and social !alues that followed the (<>< war. @uring that war# which left /ommunism in the
ascendant# the Vatican had been one of the few completely neutral centres in the world# which caused it to
be ad!ersely critici0ed by /ommunists who interpreted that attitude as latent partisanship for the other side"
and that criticism was strengthened when the ,ope passed sentence of e1communication on /atholics who
$oined# or in any way aided# the /ommunist ,arty.
This was an e1tension of the warning con!eyed by the pre!ious ,ope# ,ius II# in his encyclical
$uadragesio %nnoB
*3o one can be at the same time a sincere /atholic and a +ocialist properly so%called.-
Those words had doubtless been written with an eye on continental rather than Anglish%speaking
e1ponents of democracy. But they nonetheless implied condemnation# not only of re!olutionary principles#
but also of the milder forms of political e1pression that# when put to the test# encourage sub!ersion.
There it was. The di!iding line between Rome and her enemies had been firmly drawn. Both sides had
issued their challenge and flourished their bla0on. 'ne was inspired by a 7essianic though non%religious
fer!our that promised better things once the e1isting form of society had been dissol!ed" the other# secure
in its reliance on a supernatural promise which meant that it would not# could not# compromise.
2.
The bishop in &uestion was Angelo 0iuseppe +oncalli. Born in (99(# and ordained in (<C=# he soon
attracted the notice of the Vatican# as a @octor of Theology and a ,rofessor of Acclesiastical history. In
(<E( he was assigned to the /ongregation of ,ropaganda# and after being consecrated Bishop# in (<>;#
he entered the diplomatic ser!ice of the /hurch.
2is first appointments were in the Balkan# a part of the world that was far from being fa!ourably disposed
towards any /atholic influence# as Roncalli disco!ered. 6s 6postolic Visitor# or Charg" d&affaires of the
Holy See at +ofia# he became in!ol!ed in diplomatic difficulties with the .ing# and these took on a more
petty# but personal aspect when in (<>;# he was transferred as 6postolic @elegate to Istanbul.
There the current fer!our for moderni0ation# under 7ustafa .emal# was in full swing. +ome of his laws
came down hea!ily on religion# Islamic as well as /hristian# and the wearing of any kind of clerical garb in
public was strictly forbidden. The use of ecclesiastical titles was also proscribed.
Roncalli was made to feel that he was in a kind of strait$acket# ne!er really free but watched and spied on#
and his mo!es reported. 6ny contacts he might ha!e de!eloped were few and far between# and his
in!ariable habit# and the end of the day# was to go home &uietly# a foreign and anonymous passer%by.
'ne e!ening he felt unusually tired# and without undressing or putting out the light# he flung himself on the
bed. 'n the walls were reminders of his earlier life# the photographs of relati!es# and of the !illage on the
)ombardy plain where they had grown up together. 2e closed his eyes and murmured his usual prayers. In
a kind of !ision he saw the faces of people# those he had heedlessly passed on the street that day# float out
of a mist before him. 6mong them was the face of an old man with white hair and an oli!e skin that ga!e
him an almost oriental look.
What followed may ha!e been a dream# or so it appeared to ha!e been# when daylight came. But in the
&uiet room Roncalli distinctly heard the old man askB *@o you recogni0e me?- 6nd without knowing what
prompted him Roncalli answeredB *I do# always.-
2is !isitor went onB
*I came because you called me. 8ou are on the way# though you still ha!e much to learn. But are you
ready?-
Roncalli ne!er e1perienced the slightest doubt. It had all been prepared for him. 2e saidB *I wait for you
7aster.-
The old man smiled and asked three times if Roncalli would recogni0ed him again" and Roncalli answered
three time# that he would.
A!en the coming of morning did not make the e1perience seem unusual. It would# Roncalli knew# be
repeated# in a way that would gi!e it no ordinary meaning.
2e knew that time had come when he found the same old man waiting outside his lodgings" and he also felt
that a more familiar situation had de!eloped# which caused +oncalli to ask if he would $oin him at table.
The old man shook his head. *It is another table we must dine tonight.- +o saying he set off# with Roncalli
following# into a &uarter of &uiet dark streets that the latter had ne!er entered. 6 narrow opening led to a
door at which Roncalli stopped# as if by instinct# while the old man told him to go up and wait for him.
Beyond the entrance was a short staircase# and then another.
There was no light but in the almost total darkness there seemed to be !oices from abo!e# directing
Roncalli-s footsteps to go on. 2e was brought to a stop by a door# smaller than the others# which was
slightly a$ar# and Roncalli# pushing that open found himself in a wide room# pentagonal in shape# with bare
walls and two large windows that were closed.
There was a big cedar wood table in the centre# shaped like the room. 6gainst the walls were three chairs
one holding a linen tunic# three sealed en!elopes# and some coloured girdles. 'n the tables was a sil!er%
hilted sword# the blade of which# in the partial light made by three red candles in a three%branched
candelabra# appeared to be flaming. Three other candles in a second branched holder had not been
lighted. There was a censer about which were tied coloured ribbons# and three artificial roses# made of
flimsy material# and with their stalks crossing each other.
3ear the sword and the censer was an open bible# and a &uick glance was enough to show that it was open
at the Dospel of +t. ?ohn# telling the mission of ?ohn the Baptist# passages which had always held a
peculiar fascination for Roncalli.
*6 man appeared from God whose name was ?ohnP-
The name 'ohn ac&uires a special significance in secret societies# who make a point of meeting on
@ecember EFth# the feast of the A!angelist# and on ?une E=th# feast day of the Baptist. They fre&uently
refer to the 2oly +aints ?ohn.
Roncalli heard light footsteps behind him and turned from the table. It was someone he was to hear
addressed# as Roncalli had called him# the master. 2e was wearing a long linen tunic that reached to the
ground# and a chain of knots# from which hung !arious sil!er symbols# about his neck. 2e put a white%
glo!ed hand on Roncalli-s shoulder. *.neel down# on your right knee.-
While Roncalli was still kneeling the 7aster took one of the sealed en!elopes from the chair. 2e opened it
so that Roncalli was able to see that it contained a sheet of blue paper on which was written a set of rules.
Taking and opening a second en!elope the 7aster passed a similar sheet to Roncalli who# standing by
them# saw it was inscribed with se!en &uestions.
*@o you feel you can answer them?- asked the 7aster.
Roncalli said that he did# and returned the paper.
The 7aster used it to light one of the candles in the second holder.
*These lights are for the 7asters of the ,ast
.
who are here among us-# he e1plained.
2e then recited the mysteries of the 'rder in words that seemed to pass into and through Roncalli-s mind
without remaining there" yet he somehow felt they had always been part of his consciousness. The master
then bent o!er him.
*We are known to each other by the names we choose for oursel!es. With that name each of us seals his
liberty and his scheme of work# and so makes a new link in the chain. What will your name be?-
The answer was ready. There was no hesitation.
*?ohannes-# said the disciple. 6lways ready to his mind# was his fa!ourite Dospel.
The 7aster took up the sword# approached Roncalli# and placed the tip of the blade upon his head" and
with its touch something that Roncalli could only liken to e1&uisite ama0ement# new and irrepressible#
flowed into e!ery part of his being.

The 7aster sensed his wonder.
*What you feel at this moment# ?ohannes# many others ha!e felt before you" myself# the 7asters of the
,ast# and other brethren throughout the world. 8ou think of it as light# but it has no name.-
They e1changed brotherly greetings# and the 7aster kissed the other se!en times. Then he spoke in
whispers# making Roncalli aware of the signs# gestures that ha!e to be performed# and rites to be carried
out daily# at precise moments# which correspond to certain stages in the passage of the sun.
*A1actly at those points# three times each day# our brethren all o!er the world are repeating the same
phrases and making the same gestures. Their strength is !ery great# and it stretches far. @ay after day its
effects are felt upon humanity.-
The 7aster took the remaining sealed en!elope# opened it# and read the contents to ?ohannes. They
concerned the formula of the oath# with a solemn undertaking not to re!eal the 'rder-s secrets# and to
promise to work always for good# and most important of all# to respect the law of God and 2is ministers 4a
somewhat ambiguous stipulation in !iew of what their surroundings implied.5
?ohannes appended his name to the paper# together with a sign and a number that the 7aster showed him.
That confirmed his degree and entry into the 'rder" and once again a feeling of unearthly strength welled
through his being.
The master took the paper# folded it se!en times# and re&uested ?ohannes to place it on the point of the
sword. 'nce again a sudden flame ran down the length of the blade. This was carried o!er to the candles
that were still gi!ing light *for the 7asters of the ,ast-.
The flames consumed it# and the master scattered the ashes. 2e then reminded ?ohannes of the solemnity
of the oath he had taken# and how it would con!ey a sense of freedom# real freedom# that was known in
general to the brethren. 2e then kissed ?ohannes# who was too o!ercome to respond by word or gesture#
and could only weep.
6 few weeks later ?ohannes 4or Roncalli# as we must again continue to call him5 was told that he was now
sufficiently !ersed in the /ult to figure in its ne1t conclusi!e phase that of entering the Temple.
The master prepared him for what# he ne!er disguised from Roncalli# would be an ordeal" and Roncalli-s
apprehension increased when he found that no one like himself# an initiate of only the first degree# was
allowed to enter the Temple unless a task of great importance was about to be entrusted to him.
What could be ahead for Roncalli? @id the !ision of a certain /hair# or throne# take shape in his mind as he
made his way to the Temple?
There the brethren were assembled# another indication that +oncalli had been picked for some special
mission. 'n the walls were the mysterious words# %zorth and Tetraaton. The latter stands for the
terrible# ineffable# and unpronounceable name of the creator of the uni!erse# which was said to ha!e been
inscribed on the upper face of the cubicle# or foundation stone# in the Holy of Holies in the Teple at
'erusale.
It figures in the pattern that is used for the e!oking of e!il spirits# or sometimes as a protection from them# a
pattern that is known as the great magic circle is drawn between the two circles# which are composed of
endless lines as symboli0ing eternity# !arious articles such as a crucifi1# some herbs# and bowls of water#
which is said to influence e!il spirits# are placed.
6lso in the temple was a cross# picked out in red and black# and the number :::# the number of the (east
in the %pocalypse. The +ecret +ocieties# aware of the general ignorance regarding them# are now confident
enough to show their hand. The 6merican people are being made familiar with the mark of the beast on
forms# brands of ad!ertised goods# public noticesB and is it mere coincidence that ::: is part of the code
used in addressing letters to the British now ser!ing 47ay (<9E5 in the +outh 6tlantic 4during the war with
6rgentina5? Those numbers# said to be all%powerful in the working of miracles and magic# are associated
with the Solar God of Gnosticis.
The Dnostics# a +ect that flourished in the early /hristian centuries# denied the di!inity of Christ#
disparaged re!elation# and belie!ed that all material things# including the body# were essentially e!il. They
held that sal!ation could only be achie!ed through knowledge 4their name is deri!ed from the Dreek gnosis
)nowledge5. The Dospel stories they taught are allegories# the key to which is to be found in a proper
understanding of .neph# the sun God# who is represented as a serpent# and who is said to be the father of
'siris# and so the first emanation of the +upreme being# and the Christos of their +ect.
+oncalli# in his final and more ele!ated role for which the initiation prepared him# was to wear the image of
the sun God surrounded by rays of glory# on his glo!e.
1Cardinal1 Angelo +oncalli a.2.a Anti$Pope John **III3 ,as a 4ocumented 5reemason
Angelo +oncalli 6,ith hand on right 2nee7 seated ne&t to his 1con8idant31 9douard :erriot3 ;ecretar% o8 the +adical ;ocialists
,hom he <+oncalli= hosted3 along ,ith other o88icials o8 the 'asonic 15ourth +epu"lic1 o8 5rance3 in .-53

The colours red and black were held in re!erence by the Dnostics and ha!e been much in use by the
diabolists. They are also the colours of .ali# the di!ine 7other of 2indu mythology" thus pro!iding one of the
se!eral resemblances that occur between de!iations from /hristianity and pre%/hristian cults. It may be
noted that they figured on the banners of the International 6narchist 7o!ement# whose prophet was
'i2hail >a2unin 4(9(=%(9F:5# a pioneer of libertarianism as opposed to +tate socialism.
While +oncalli was noting the details of the room the brethren ad!anced from their places near the walls
until they were drawing slowly and almost imperceptibly# closer# and closer to him. When they had formed a
chain they pressed forward touching him with their bodies# as a sign that their strength# which had been
tried and pro!en in earlier ceremonies# was being transmitted to him.
2e suddenly reali0ed that# without consciously framing them# he was being gi!en words of power that
streamed from him in
a !oice that he failed to recogni0e as his own. But he was able to see that e!erything he said was being
written down by one
who had been referred to as the Grand Chancellor of the Order. 2e wrote in rench. 'n a sheet of blue
paper that bore
the heading *The )night and the Rose.-
2
?udging by that and other signs# it would appear that +oncalli was affiliated with the Rose%/roi1# the
Rosicrucians# a society founded by /hristian Rosenkreut0# a Derman# who was born in (>F9. But according
to its own claims#
*The 'rder of the Rose and /ross has e1isted from time immemorial# and its mystic rites were practiced
and its wisdom taught in Agypt# Aleusis# +amothrace# ,ersia# /haldea# India# and in far# more distant lands#
and thus were handed down to posterity the +ecret Wisdom of the 6ncient 6ges.-
That its origin remains a mystery was emphasi0ed by 4,rime 7inister5 4israeli# who said of the +ociety# in
(9=(# *Its hidden sources defy research.-
6fter tra!elling in +pain# @amascus and 6rabia# where he was initiated into 6rabian magic# Rosenkreut0
returned to Dermany and set up his fraternity of the In!isibles. In a building they designated as *ous
Sancti Spiritus they followed such !aried studies as the secrets of nature# alchemy# astrology# magnetism
4or hypnotism as it is better known as5# communication with the dead# and medicine.
+osen2reut( is said to ha!e died at the o!er%ripe age of (C:# and when opened# his tomb which had been
lost sight of for many years was found to contain signs and symbols of magic and occult manuscripts.
6t first glance# Turkey may seem to be a country off the map# so far as the operations of a secret society
are concerned. But in (<((# 'a& :eindel# founder of the Rosicrucian +ellowship and the Rosicrucian
Coso,Conception# wrote of that country in a manner that showed it was not escaping the obser!ations of
those who work with an eye on the religious# political# and social future.
*Turkey-# he said# *has taken a long stride towards liberty under the 8oung Turks of the Drand orient.-
@uring the last few decades we ha!e learnt much# that was pre!iously hidden# about the rites# passwords#
and practices of the secret societies. But there are few indications of the way in which they choose# from
their mainly inacti!e rank and file# those who are looked upon as capable of furthering their designs. 'ne of
their simple instructions runsB
*8ou must learn to go!ern men and dominate them# not by fear but by !irtue# that is by obser!ing the rules
of the 'rder.-
But an occult writing# which appeared in 3ew 8ork# is rather more e1plicitB
*A1periments are being made now# unknown oft to the sub$ects themsel!es P people in many ci!ili0ed
countries are under super!ision# and a method of stimulation and intensification is being applied by which
they will bring to the knowledge of the Dreat 'nes themsel!es a mass of information that may ser!e as
guide to the future of the race.-
This was accompanied by a pointed remark that was also a pledge for one who had been $udged to be
suitableB
*8ou were long the ob$ect of our obser!ation and our study.-
3

3.
In the last days of @ecember# (<==# +oncalli was preparing to lea!e Turkey for ,aris# where he had been
appointed ,apal
3uncio to the ourth rench Republic. The war was still on# and the difference between Right and )eft in
politics# which had split rance# was !iolently on the surface" and it became soon clear to obser!ers whose
$udgment was not affected by ecclesiastical titles that Roncalli-s innate sympathies were with the )eft.
It was on his recommendation that Jac?ues 'aritain was made rench 6mbassador to the 2oly +ee.
7aritain was generally regarded as a world thinker# certainly as one of the most prominent /atholic
philosophers. The full impact of his *integral humanism- had so far been tempered by his 6&uinian
perspecti!e. But later it was o!ercome by such contemptuous promulgations as that the social kingship of
/hrist had been good enough for medie!al minds 4and 7aritain-s mentor# Thomas 6&uinas# had been a
medie!al5# but not for a people enlightened by such *instruments- as the rench and Bolshe!ist re!olutions.
2is status as a /atholic philosopher again causes doubt since# on his own testimony# he had been
con!erted not by any spiritual urge# not by any theological or historical argument# but by the writings of
Leon >lo% 4(9=:%(<(F5.
In spite of its flowing musical style# Bloy-s writing is hardly the sort of stuff to con!ert one to /hristianity. He
identified the Holy Ghost with Satan# and described himself as prophet of !ucifer# whom he pictured as
seated on top of the world with his feet on the corners of the earth# controlling all human action# and
e1ercising a fatherly rule o!er the swarm of hideous human offspring. /ompared to this !ision of an affable
)ucifer# God is seen to be a relentless master whose work will end in final failure when Satan displaces
Hi as -ing.
6ccording to his own confession# >lo% was con!erted to what he and his disciples called *christianity- by the
ra!ings of a poor prostitute who saw !isions# and who after her affair with Bloy# died in a madhouse.
In (<=F Vincent Auriol was named ,resident of the rench Republic. 2e was an anti%/hurch plotter# one
of those hardened anti%clericals who find a natural home on the continent" yet he and Roncalli became# not
only cordial associates as their offices demanded# but close friends. This was not due to the /hristian
charity on one part and to diplomatic courtesy on the other# but to the ceremony that Roncalli had
undergone in Istanbul# which established a bond of understanding between the two men.
This was gi!en tangible e1pression when# in ?anuary (<;># 6rchbishop Roncalli was ele!ated to /ardinal
and 6ural insisted on e1ercising his traditional right# as the rench head of +tate# to confer the red biretta
on the newly created ,rince of the /hurch. This occurred at a ceremony in the AlysHe ,alace when
Roncalli# seated on the chair 4loaned by the museum5 on which /harles I been crowned# recei!ed the
plaudits of men who had sworn to bring him and all he stood for into dust# a design in which Roncalli was
secretly pledged# though by more de!ious methods to assist them.
Three days later he was transferred# as ,atriarch to Venice" and during the fi!e years he was there he
again showed# as in ,aris# a certain sympathy for )eft%wing ideologies that sometimes pu00led the Italian
press.
It was during the pontificate of ,ius III that a number of priests then working in the Vatican became aware
that all was not well beneath the surface. or a strange kind of influence not to their liking was making itself
felt# and this they traced to a group who had come into prominence as e1perts# ad!isers# and specialists#
who surrounded the ,ope so closely that he was spoken of# half humorously# as being their prisoner.
But those priests who were more seriously concerned set up a chain of in!estigation# both here and in
6merica# where their spokesman was ather 9ustace 9ilers# a member of the Passionist Congregation of
Birmingham# 6labama. This led to establishing the fact that the Illuminati were making themsel!es felt in
Rome# by means of specially trained infiltrators who came from near the place in Dermany where Adam
Weishaupt had boasted of his plan to reduce the Vatican to a hollow shell. That the hand of the Illuminati
was certainly in!ol!ed became clearer when r. Ailers# who announced that he was publishing those facts#
was suddenly found dead# presumably one of those sudden heart attac)s that# when dealing with secret
societies# so often precede promised re!elations.
Pius *II died on 'ctober <# (<;9# and on the E<th of that month. 6ngelo Roncalli# after /ardinals in
concla!e had !oted ele!en times# became the two hundred and si1ty%second pope of the /atholic /hurch.
2e was se!enty%se!en# but with a build well able to sustain the si1ty pounds of ecclesiastical !estments
with which he was weighed down for his coronation on 3o!ember =th# (<;9.
4.
Roncalli-s *election- was a signal for outbursts of welcome# often from the most une1pected &uarters# to
echo round the world. 3on%/atholics# agnostics# and atheists agreed that the /ollege of /ardinals had
made an e1cellent choice# the best# in fact for many years. It lighted upon a man of wisdom# humility# and
holiness# who would rid the church of superficial accretions and guide it
back to the simplicity of 6postolic times" and last but not least among the
ad!antages that promised well for the future# the new ,ope was of
peasant stock.
+easoned /atholics could not account for the warmth and admiration that
greeted him as $ournalists# correspondents# broadcasters# and tele!ision
crews from almost e!ery country in the world swarmed into Rome. or
!ery little had hitherto been known to the outside world about Angelo
+oncalli beyond the fact that he was born in (99(# had been ,atriarch of
Venice# and that he held diplomatic posts in Bulgaria# Turkey# and rance.
6s for his humble background# there had been peasant popes before. The
/hurch could absorb them as easily as it had her academic and
aristocratic ,ontiffs.
But the secular world# as e!idenced by some of the most *popular-
publications in Angland# insisted that something momentous had happened in Rome# and that it was only
the promise of still greater things to come" while informed /atholics# who for years had pleaded the
/hurch-s cause# continued to scratch their heads and wonder. 2ad some information gone forth# not to
them who had always supported religion# but to those who ha!e ser!ed up snippets of truth# or no truth at
all# to titillate and mislead the public?
6n Irish priest who was in Rome at the time said of the clamour for intimate details regarding RoncalliB
*3ewspapers# and radio# tele!ision# and maga0ines# simply could not get enough information about the
background and career# the family and the doings of the new 2oly ather. @ay after day# from the close of
the concla!e to the coronation# from his first radio message to the opening of the /onsistory# the remarks
and the acti!ities of the new ,ope were dealt out in flamboyant detail for all the world to see.-
4
+peculation was added to interest when it became known that the new ,ope wished to be known as John
**III. Was it in memory of his father# who was named ?ohn# or out of respect for ?ohn the Baptist? 'r was
it to emphasi0e his readiness to outface or e!en to shock the traditional outlook? ?ohn had been a fa!ourite
name for many ,opes. But why retain the numbering?
or there had been an earlier ?ohn IIIII# an anti%pope# who was deposed in (=(;. 2e has a tomb in the
baptistry at lorence# and his portrait appeared in the %nnuario Pontifico# the /hurch-s yearbook# until
recent years. It has since been remo!ed. We know nothing to his credit# for his only recorded achie!ement#
if the word of such a precious reprobate as himself can be belie!ed# was to ha!e seduced more than two
hundred women including his sister%in%law.
7eantime there was a general feeling abroad that the /hurch was approaching a break with the traditional
past. It had always e!inced a proud refusal to be influenced by its en!ironment. It had been protected# as
by some in!isible armour# from the fashion of the time. But now it was showing a readiness to undergo a
self%imposed reformation as dramatic as that which had been forced upon it in the si1teenth century. To
some it was anticipated as a bringing up to date of /hristian doctrine# a desirable and ine!itable process of
re%con!ersion# in which a deeper and e!er e1panding catholicity would replace the older and static
/atholicism of the past.
+uch a change was guardedly foreshadowed in an early statement by John **III when he saidB
*Through east and west there stirs a wind# as it was born of the spirit arousing the attention and hope in
those who are adorned with the name of /hristians.-
The words of *Good Pope 'ohn- 4how &uickly he ac&uired that complimentary assessment5 were not merely
prophetic. or they spoke of changes in the once monumental /hurch that would be initiated by himself.
5.
6merican collectors of ecclesiastical mementoes would ha!e noticed# soon after ,ope ?ohn-s election# that
certain ob$ects were being offered for sale in some of their papers. They were described as copies of the
personal cross chosen and sanctioned by ?ohn IIIII.
These crosses had nothing to do with the pectoral cross that is worn# suspended from the neck# by e!ery
,ontiff and Bishop as a sign of episcopal authority. They are made of gold# ornamented with precious
stones# and each one contains a holy relic. Before wearing it the prelate says a prescribed prayer in
memory of the ,assion# and begs for grace to o!ercome the wiles of the A!il 'ne throughout the day.
But the cross that was put before the 6merican public# under Roncalli-s patronage# had !ery different
associations. or its centre# instead of holding a representation of the crucified igure# contained the all%
seeing Aye of the Illuminati# enclosed in a triangle or pyramid" and these crosses# ad!ertised in The Pilot
and The Tablet# the diocesan papers of Brooklyn and of Boston# were# in keeping with the lack of dignity
and re!erence that was becoming pro!erbial# on sale at two hundred and fifty dollars each.
Those who understood the meaning of the mystic symbols# and how profoundly they affect us# again had
their attention drawn to the sun%face that was depicted on ?ohn-s glo!e. It was reminiscent of the design
used by pagan sun worshippers" while his gesture of e1tending a hand# with fingers spread o!er a
congregation# could also be recogni0ed as an in!ocation to the white moon# part of an esoteric code that
has always claimed followers.
To those who think that such suggestions !erge on the ridiculous# it need only be pointed out that
thousands of sedate# bowlerhatted businessmen ha!e# in the course of furthering their careers# performed
rituals and adopted symbols that make the abo!e seem !ery tame indeed.
To people in general# howe!er# the pyramid# without resigning one $ot of its original significance# now
passes as a thoroughly respectable and harmless sign. It is merely a decoration. But it is one that goes into
general circulation whene!er an 6merican one dollar note changes hands.
or on the re!erse side of the note is the secret Aye# enclosed in a pyramid# and the date (FF:. There are
also the words %nnuit Coeptis. /o#us Ordo Secloru.
The date (FF: may indicate no more to the unsuspecting than that it was the year of the @eclaration of
6merican Independence# drawn up by Thomas ?efferson.
True enough. But what of the symbols# which also figure on the re!erse side of the Dreat +eal of the Jnited
+tates why choose them? 6nd (FF: was also the year in which 6dam Weishaupt founded his
brotherhood. 6nd Thomas ?efferson# like his fellow politician Ben$amin ranklin# was an ardent Illuminist.
The words &uoted abo!e may be translated as meaningB
*2e 4God5 has appro!ed of our undertaking# which has been crowned with success. 6 new order of the
ages is born.-
It has been demonstrated# time and again# that the future of the world is in the hands not of mere
politicians# but of those who ha!e the power# occult allied to international financial power# to manipulate
e!ents according to their plans" and we of the present time ha!e witnessed the coming of their new order in
se!eral departments of life# including the religious# political# and social. Before the current propaganda that
emphasises the role of women became popular# the occult authority Os,ald Wirth spoke of woman *not
being afraid- to adopt masculine rites and customs# and of how# when she has obtained her full power# men
will comply with her directions. That process is being acti!ely carried out before us.
The term *new- is being propagated as though it necessarily implies a marked impro!ement in whate!er has
e1isted before. It attained political prominence in (<>># the year in which Roose!elt-s 3ew @eal was
instituted" and it was in that same year that the Illuminati insignia# with the words referring to the *new order
of the ages-# appeared on the re!erse side of the 6merican dollar bill. Their enactment is now taking shape
in the formation of a new 'ne World 'rder in which# it is anticipated# different nations# races# cultures# and
traditions will be absorbed to the point of e!entually disappearing.

.. The 7asters are said to be perfect beings# the masters of humanity# who ha!e passed through a series
of initiations to a state of higher consciousness.
2. 6 full account of Roncalli-s initiation is gi!en in )es prophHties du pape ?ean IIIII# by ,ierre /arpi# the
pseudonym of an Italian who may ha!e entered the same 'rder as Roncalli. It was translated into rench#
but is now !ery hard to find 4?ean%/laude )attes# 6lta Books# (<F;5.
3. )etters on 'ccult 7editation. By 6lice. 6. Bailey. +he was the 2igh ,riestess of an occult school and was
associated with the +ociety of Illuminati minds.
4. ?ohn IIIII# the ,ope from the ields# by ather rancis I. 7urphy. 42erbert ?enkins# (<;<.5
Part /hree
I am certain that when in the /ouncil I pronounced the ritual words *A1eunt 'mnes- 4e!eryone out5# one
who did not obey was the @e!il. 2e is always there where confusion triumphs# to stir it up and take
ad!antage of it.
/ardinal Pericle 5elici# +ecretary%Deneral of the /ouncil.
With a truly ama0ing foresight that was born of confidence# the secret societies had long since made up
their minds how they would bring about changes in the claims and character of the Catholic Church# and
ultimately its downfall. 7ore than a century ago they recogni0ed that the policy of infiltration# by which their
own men were entering the highest places in the ecclesiastical structure# had met with success" and now
they could outline the nature of the ne1t stage to be accomplished.

+peaking as one of the arch%plotters who was *in the know-# 0iuseppe 'a((ini 4(9C;%FE5 saidB
*In our time humanity will forsake the ,ope and ha!e recourse to a Deneral /ouncil of the /hurch.-
7a00ini was not immune to the drama of the anticipated situation# and went on to speak of the *,apal
/aesar- being mourned as a !ictim for the sacrifice# and of an e1ecuted termination.
6 similar note was struck by Pierre Virion who wrote in Mystere d&0ni1uit"2
*There is a sacrifice in the offing which represents a solemn act of e1piation.... The ,apacy will fall. It will fall
under the hallowed knife which will be prepared by the athers of the last /ouncil.-
6 former canon%lawyer# Roca# who had been unfrocked for heresy# was more e1plicit.
*8ou must ha!e a new dogma# a new religion# a new ministry# and new rituals that !ery closely resemble
those of the surrendered /hurch.-
6nd +oca was not merely e1pressing a hope# but describing a process.
*The di!ine cult directed by the liturgy# ceremonial# ritual and regulations of the Roman /atholic /hurch will
shortly undergo transformation at an ecumenical /ouncil.-
'ne e!ening early in (<;<# when he had been ,ope for scarcely three months# John **III was walking in
the Vatican Dardens.
2is slow and weighty perambulations under the oaks and horse chestnuts# where ,ius II had ridden on his
white mule# were suddenly broken in upon by what he was to call an impulse of @i!ine ,ro!idence# a
resolution that reached him from beyond# and whose impact he recogni0ed. 6 /ouncil he almost breathed
the words he was to call a General 3cuenical Council of the Church4
)ater he said that the idea had not been inspired by any re!elation of the Holy Spirit but through a
con!ersation he had with Cardinal /ardini# then +ecretary of +tate# towards the end of the pre!ious year.
Their talk had turned on what could be done to present the world with an e1ample of uni!ersal peace. But
there was still some confusion as to the origin of the thought# for ,ope ?ohn subse&uently said that he
framed it himself# in order to let a little fresh air into the /hurch.
/ouncils in the past had been called to resol!e some crisis in the /hurch# some burning &uestion that
threatened a split or to confuse opinion. But no such &uestion# related to doctrine or discipline# was
pressing for an answer in the early part of (<;<. The /hurch was e1acting its traditional dues of loyalty#
neglect# or antagonism. There appeared to be no need to summon a /ouncil. Why cast a stone into
peaceful waters that# sooner or later# were bound to be disturbed by ob!ious necessity? But ,ope ?ohn# on
?anuary E;th# announced his intention to the /ollege of /ardinals" and the response it e!oked in the
secular world soon made it clear that this was to be no ordinary /ouncil.
The same measure of une1ampled publicity that marked the election of John **III# welcomed the plan. It
was made to appear a matter of moment not only to the non%/atholic world# but to elements that had
always strongly opposed ,apal claims# dogma# and practice. But few wondered at this sudden show of
interest on the part of agnostics" still fewer would ha!e suspected a hidden moti!e. 6nd if a small !oice
e1pressing doubt managed to be heard# it was soon silenced as preparations for the first session of the
/ouncil went ahead.
They occupied two years# and consisted of the drawing up of drafts# or schemas# on decrees and
constitutions that might be
deemed worthy of change. Aach member of the /ouncil# which would consist of Bishops drawn from e!ery
part of the /atholic world# and presided o!er by the ,ope or his legate# could !ote for the acceptance# or
re$ection# of the matter discussed" and each was in!ited to send in a list of debatable sub$ects.
+ome days before the /ouncil opened# it appeared that the authorities responsible for it had been assured
that this mainly /atholic affair would be gi!en more than its usual share of normal publicity. 6 greatly
enlarged ,ress office was set up facing +t. ,eter-s. Cardinal Cicognani officiated at its opening and ga!e
it his blessing" and the gentlemen of the ,ress poured in.
They included a surprising number of atheistic /ommunists who arri!ed# like hunters# e1pecting to be *in- at
a kill.

The So#iet !iterary Gazette# which had ne!er before been represented at any religious gathering# took the
surprising step of sending a special correspondent in the person of a certain '. 'chedlo@# who smoothed
his way into Rome by e1pressing the most heart%felt admiration for the ,ope. Two of 7chedlo!-s fellow%
countrymen were there# in the shape of a reporter from the So#iet newsagency Tass# and another from the
7oscow periodical which was frankly named /ommunist. 6nother prominent member of the Bolshe!ik clan
was '. AdAu"ei# who# besides being editor of 0z#estia# was son%in%law to the +o!iet ,rime 7inister#
.hrushche!.
2e was gi!en a warm welcome by Good Pope 'ohn# who in!ited him to a special audience at the Vatican.
3ews of this promising reception was sent to .hrushche!# who straightway noted his intention of sending
greetings to the ,ope on 3o!ember E;th# (<:># his ne1t birthday. 6n unknown number of Italians# when
they reco!ered from their surprise at seeing the 2ead of the /hurch on friendly terms with its enemies#
decided to cast their !otes in fa!our of /ommunism at the ne1t opportunity.
This resol!e was strengthened when a special number of ,ropaganda# the organ of the Italian /ommunist
,arty# helped to swell the chorus of praise for the coming /ouncil.
+uch an e!ent# it said# would be comparable to the opening of the +tates Deneral# the curtain raiser to the
rench
Re!olution# in (F9<. With the same theme in mind# the paper likened the Bastille 4which fell in that same
year5 to the Vatican# which was about to be shaken to its !ery foundations.
7ore )eft%wing appro!al came from Jac?ues 'itterand# 7aster of the rench Drand 'rient# who knew that
he could safely praise# in ad!ance# ,ope ?ohn and the effects of the /ouncil in general.
6mong the Russian 'rthodo1 obser!ers was the young >ishop !i2odim who# in spite of maintaining a
strict religious standing# was apparently free to come and go through the Iron /urtain. Two other Bishops
from his part of the world# one /0ech and one 2ungarian# $oined him and Cardinal /isserant at a secret
meeting that was held at a place near 7et0# shortly before the /ouncil-s first session. 3ikodim# a somewhat
shady figure# needs to be remembered since he appears later in these pages.
We know now that the Russians dictated their own terms for *sitting in- at the /ouncil. They intended to use
it as a means for broadening their influence in the Western world# where /ommunism had been
condemned thirty%fi!e times by ,ius II# and no less than (E> times by his successor ,ius III. ,opes ?ohn
and ,aul VI were to follow suit# but each# as we shall see# with tongue in cheek. It was now Russian policy
to see that the (ulls of 35counication issued against /atholics who $oined the /ommunist ,arty were
silenced# and that no further attack on 7ar1ism would be made at the /ouncil. 'n both points the .remlin
was obeyed.
The /ouncil# made up of E#>;C Bishops# si1ty from Russian%controlled countries# opened on 'ctober the
((th# (<:E.
They formed an impressi!e procession# with the greatest array of mitres seen in our time as their wearers
passed through the bron0e door of +t. ,eter-s" guardians of the aith# protectors of tradition# on the march"
asserti!e men# confident of their stand# and therefore capable of inspiring confidence# and opposition... 'r
so they were in appearance.

ew who saw them could ha!e guessed that many of those gra!e and re!erend athers were# according to
the rules of the /hurch whose !estments they wore# and at whose bidding they had come together#
e1communicate and anathema. The mere suggestion would ha!e been laughed at.

2.

With the preliminaries o!er# the /ouncil members were free to &uestion# discuss# and compare notes as
they met at the !arious coffee bars that had been opened" and already a more sober and reflecti!e mood#
distinct from that with which many had greeted the calling of the /ouncil# was passing o!er the assembly. In
some cases it was near disillusionment. It was not only a matter of language# though many different ones
were# of course# being spoken. But some of those present seemed to ha!e had little grounding# not only in
)atin# but in the essentials of their aith.

Their background was not that of the orthodo1# traditional /atholic" and those who were part of that
background# and who were familiar with the writings of 2eidegger and ?ean%,aul +artre could detect# in the
statements and e!en casual remarks made by all too many prelates# the e&ui!ocations and lack of authority
habitual to men who are the products of modern thought.
7ore than that# some let it be known that they did not belie!e in Transubstantiation# and therefore not in the
7ass. But they held firmly by 3iet0sche-s pride in life# and the deification of human reason# while re$ecting
the idea of an 6bsolute# and the concept of creation.
'ne Bishop from )atin 6merica e1pressed his bewilderment mildly by saying that many of his fellow
prelates *appear to ha!e lost their faith.- 6nother was frankly horrified to disco!er that some to whom he had
spoken# and who had but temporarily put aside their mitres# scorned any mention of the Trinity and the
Virgin (irth. Their background owed nothing to the Thomist philosophy# and one !eteran of the /uria#
inured to the firmness of the Roman pa!ement# made short work of the /ouncil athers by summing them
up as *two thousand good%for%nothings-. There were some among the bitterly disillusioned who said they
would merely put in a token appearance for a week or two# and then go home.
Representati!es from the 7iddle Aast recalled a warning that had been uttered by ;alah >itah# the
,remier of +yria# when
first he heard that the /ouncil was being called. 2e had reason to belie!e that the /ouncil was nothing but
an *international plot-. 'thers supported that definition by producing a book# which had been handed to
them on landing at the airport# in which it was said that the /ouncil was part of a plan to destroy the
/hurch-s doctrine and practice# then# ultimately# the Institution itself.
The general tone of the /ouncil was soon set# with the *good%for%nothings-# or progressi!es# as they came
to be called# clamoring for moderni0ation and a re!ision of !alues within the /hurch# and a far less acti!e#
and much less !ocal opposition# offered by their traditionalist# or orthodo1# opponents. The difference
between the two sides was stressed at the opening of the first session# when the progressi!es addressed
their own particular message to the world# to ensure that the /ouncil *started off on the right foot-.
,ope ?ohn followed that up by declaring that the ashes of +t. ,eter were thrilling in *mystic e1altation-
because of the /ouncil. But not all his listeners# and certainly not the conser!ati!es among them# were
smiling. ,erhaps they already sensed defeat as they looked at some of the /ardinals# +uenens# )ienart#
6lfrink# and such prominent theologians as the @ominican B@es Congar# who contributed to rench )eft%
wing papers" the ultra%liberal ;chille"eec2&# also @ominican# and ,rofessor of @ogmatic Theology at the
Jni!ersity of 3i$megen" and 'arie$4omini?ue Chenu whose writings# as when he said that *7ar1-s great
analysis enriches both today and tomorrow with his current of thought-# had brought a frown to the forehead
of ,ius III" all hot in pursuit of progress# and none too careful in the choice of weapons they used to attain
it.
6nother of those influential figures was 'ontini# 6rchbishop of 7ilan# who drew up and super!ised the
documents relating to the early stages of the /ouncil. 2is reputation was increasing daily. 2e was ob!iously
a man of the future.
The silence of the passi!e minority# a silence that admitted defeat at the outset# was communicated to ,ope
?ohn# who put it down to the awe and solemnity inspired by the occasion.
3.

These pages will not attempt to summaries the day%to%day work of the /ouncil. They will instead seek to
point out how faithfully the /ouncil fulfilled the purposes of those progressi!es# liberals# infiltrators 4call
them what you will5# who had brought it into being" and the less efficient# less determined attitude of their
opponents.
The former group# made up largely of Derman%speaking Bishops# had from the first been acti!e behind the
scenes. They had audiences with the ,ope and discussed changes in the liturgy and other sub$ects they
had in mind. They altered the rules of procedure to suit their policy# and ensured that the !arious
commissions were made up of those who shared their outlook. They distorted# or suppressed# any issue
that did not suit their purpose. They blocked the appointment of opponents to any position where their
!oices might be heard# discarded resolutions that did not please them# and took o!er the documents on
which deliberations were based.
They were supported by the ,ress# which was# of course# controlled by the same power as that which
added fuel to the flames of infiltration. 6part from that# the Derman Bishops financed their own news
agency. 6nd so# in reports that reached the public# the )eft%wing Bishops were depicted as honest# brilliant#
and men of towering intellect# whereas those in the opposite camp were stupid# feeble# stubborn# and out%
of%date. The )eft# moreo!er# had the might of the Vatican behind it# and a weekly newsletter# written by
7ontini# which set the tone of the way in which debatable issues would be resol!ed by the /ouncil. 2is
remarks on liturgical reform were populari0ed by the ,ress and welcomed by those who wished to see the
7ass reduced to the le!el of a meal between friends.
'n looking back at this time of day# one is forced to wonder at the negligence# or weakness# with which
their traditional or orthodo1 opponents confronted mo!es that# to men of their profession# threatened the
!ery purpose of their e1istence.
They were not ignorant of what had been planned# and of what was then going on. They knew that a
forceful ifth /olumn# many of them mitred members of the hierarchy# were working for the downfall of the
Western /hurch. But they did nothing beyond obser!ing protocol# and o!ercoming whate!er resentment
they felt by an inbred obedience. It was almost as though 4allowing that morality was on their side5 they
wished to e1emplify the sayingB *Dood men are feeble and tired" it is the blackguards who are determined.-
6 factor that helped to decide the situation was that of age. 7ost of the /ouncil athers belonging to the old
traditional school had passed their prime" and they now# like Cardinal Otta@iani# whose name had once
been weighty in the /uria# counted for little more than an almost despised rearguard. 6n unconscious
recognition of this was made by another of their number# the aged Bishop of @akar# who shook his head
o!er the dictatorial method by which the modernists# e!en in the preliminary stages of the /ouncil# swept all
before them.
*It was-# he said# *organised by a master mind.-
or their part# the modernists were frankly contemptuous of e!erything mooted by the orthodo1 elements in
the /ouncil. When one of their propositions came up for tentati!e discussion# one *updated- /ouncil ather
declared that those who put it forward *deser!ed to be shot to the moon.- But e!en so the Russian
obser!ers# despite early signs that the /ouncil was prepared to toe the /ommunist line# were not wholly
satisfied# though ?ohn IIIII was praised for maintaining his independence# and for not becoming a cats%
paw of the Right.
But the Tass correspondent regretted the presence of too many *ob!ious reactionaries- in the assembly# a
sentiment that was echoed by '. 'chedlo@ who addedB
*+o far the die%hard conser!ati!es ha!e failed to carry the day. They ha!e not succeeded in turning the
/hurch into a tool of their reactionary propaganda.-
4.
Between the ending of the first session of the /ouncil on the (st of @ecember (<:E# and the opening of the
second session on +eptember the E<th of the following year# ,ope ?ohn# after a protracted illness# breathed
his last on the e!ening of 7onday# ?une the >rd# (<:>" and e!ery form of publicity# which o!er the past
weeks had deli!ered a breath%by%breath account of the death%bed in Rome# again swung into action to e1tol
a man who had faithfully ser!ed the purpose for which he had been gi!en the occupancy of ,eter-s /hair#
and set in motion a series of e!ents that were directed to fulfill# at the e1pense of the /hurch# a large part of
the aims determined by secret societies o!er the centuries.
6 prominent member of the conspiracy that had fostered ?ohn IIIII# the e1%doctor of /anon )aw# Roca#
commented drilyB *The old ,ope# ha!ing broken the silence and started the tradition of the great religious
contro!ersy# goes to his gra!e-" while a re!ealing tribute# which should open the eyes of anyone who still
finds offence in the mention of a plot# was written by Charles +iande%# a so!ereign Drand 7aster of secret
societies# in his preface to a book by B@es 'arsaudon
.
# State Minister of the Supree Council of +rench
secret societiesB
*To the memory of 6ngelo Roncalli# priest# 6rchbishop of 7essamaris# 6postolic 3uncio in ,aris# /ardinal
of the Roman /hurch# ,atriarch of Venice# ,ope under the name of ?ohn IIIII# who has deigned to gi!e us
his benediction# his understanding# and his protection-.
6 second preface to the book was addressed to *his august continuer# 2is 2oliness ,ope ,aul VI-.
3e!er before had the passing of a ,ope# in the person of John **III# been so e1tensi!ely co!ered. Tough
reporters wept at the news. The fingers of sensation%hardened columnists fumbled o!er their typewriter
keys. 'nly a !ery few# who knew what had happened in the dark room in Istanbul# stood with heads
unbowed and with minds uncluttered by propaganda# reflecting that 6ngelo Roncalli had indeed# as the
pious used to say# *gone to his reward-.
The &uestion of his successor was ne!er seriously in doubt. The calling of a concla!e was little more than a
formality. The same !oices that had eulogised the Rosicrucian ?ohn IIIII now clamoured for 7ontini#
7ontini of 7ilan. 6nglicans# who had no time for a ,ope of any or of no policy whate!er# agreed that
7ontini was the man.
2e had# in fact# been prepared and coached for the office by ,ope ?ohn# who created 7ontini his first
/ardinal# whereas
,ius III had always withheld the red hat from one whom he knew to be pro%/ommunist. 7ontini had been
the only non%resident /ardinal whom ?ohn in!ited to li!e in the Vatican# where they e1changed intimate and
unofficial talks o!er the results they both anticipated from the /ouncil" and ,ope ?ohn packed the /ollege
of /ardinals to ensure that 7ontini# as his successor# would continue to promulgate the heretical decrees
that they both fa!oured.
The most spirited protests against the election were made by Joa?uin ;aen( Arriaga# @octor of
,hilosophy and of /anon )aw# who scented danger in the fact that a large part of 7ontini-s support came
from secular commentators who were not concerned with the welfare# but with the downfall of the /hurch.
+ome of his credentials and &ualifications were said to ha!e been e1aggerated# or false.
2owe!er# the decision of a concla!e# established by usage# could not be &uestioned" and 7ontini# who took
the name of Paul VI# was elected on ?une the E>rd# (<:>.

5.
0io@anni >attista 'ontini was one of those socialists who# although born in far from
humble circumstances themsel!es# are &uick to resent the slightest sign of pri!ilege
in others. 2e was born on +eptember E:th# (9<F# in 3orthern Italy# into a highly
professional family 4of likely 2ebrew origin5 that# more than a century before# had
been accepted into the annals of Roman nobility.
2is father# Diorgi 7ontini# a prominent /hristian @emocrat# in all probability belonged
to a secret society# which would partly account for his son-s later commitment.
+howing early signs of wishing to enter the /hurch# the young Dio!anni was of such
a delicate constitution that he was allowed to study at home instead of at a seminary# which left him free to
de!elop social and political trends that were not those of a normally trained and disciplined ser!ant of the
/hurch.
By the time he entered upon his first regular appointment as a uni!ersity chaplain in Rome he was an
established man of the )eft. But that did not pre!ent his steady and undoubted ability to rise in a
conser!ati!e atmosphere# and he became acting Vatican +ecretary of +tate under ,ius III.
7ontini had long been an admirer of the works of the philosopher Jac?ues 'aritain# whose system of
*Integral 2umanism-# with its re$ection of authoritarian and dogmatic belief in fa!our of a worldwide fraternity
which would include non%belie!ers# had earned the appro!al of ?ohn IIIII. 7an# according to 7aritain# was
essentially good# an outlook that made him less responsi!e to the !ital distinction that e1ists between man%
made secular forms of e1istence and the demands made by belief in the di!ine nature of /hrist and of the
/hurch.
Both 7aritain and 7ontini re$ected the traditionalist !iew of the /hurch as the one means of attaining true
world unity. It
might ha!e appeared so in the past# but now a new world# more sensiti!e to and capable of sol!ing social
and economic
problems# had come into e1istence. 6nd 7ontini# whom 7aritain regarded as his most influential disciple#
spoke for
all of their persuasion when he saidB
*@o not be concerned with church bells. What is necessary is that priests are able to hear the factory sirens#
to understand the temples of technology where the modern world li!es and thri!es.-
There is a document the contents of which# so far as I know# ha!e seldom if e!er been made a!ailable to
the public. It is dated +eptember the EEnd# (<==# after ha!ing been reported on the pre!ious 6ugust E9th#
and based on information gi!en on ?uly (>th of the same year. It is now among the records of the 'ffice of
+trategic +er!ices# which later became the /entral Intelligence 'ffice# the CIA.
2
It is headedB *Togliatti and the Vatican make first direct contact-# and deals with the plans for social and
economic re!olutions that were being worked out between the /hurch and one of its most consistent
enemies# the /ommunist ,arty.
2ere it is &uotedB
*'n ?uly (Cth# at the house of a /hristian @emocrat 7inister# the acting Vatican +ecretary of +tate#
7onsignor Dio!anni 7ontini# conferred with Togliatti# /ommunist 7inister without ,ortfolio# in the Bonomi
Do!ernment. Their con!ersation re!iewed the grounds out of which ha!e grown the understanding between
the /hristian @emocratic and the /ommunist ,arties.
*+ince his arri!al in Italy# Togliatti had pri!ate meetings with politicians of the /hristian @emocratic ,arty.
These contacts constituted the political background of Togliatti-s speech at the Teatro Brancaccio on
+unday# ?uly <th# and account for the warm reception the speech recei!ed from the /atholic ,ress.
*Through leaders of the /hristian @emocratic ,arty# Togliatti was able to con!ey to the Vatican his
impression of +talin-s opinion on religious freedom# as now accepted by /ommunism# and of the
democratic character of the agreement between Russia and the 6llied nations. 'n the other hand# the 2oly
+ee reached Togliatti through the same means# and e1pressed its opinion regarding the future agreement
with +o!iet Russia on the matter of /ommunism in Italy# as well as in other nations.
*The discussion between 7onsignor 7ontini and Togliatti was the first direct contact between a high prelate
of the Vatican and a leader of /ommunism. 6fter ha!ing e1amined the situation# they acknowledged the
practical possibility of a contingent alliance between /atholics and /ommunists in Italy# which should gi!e
the three parties 4/hristian @emocrat# +ocialist# and /ommunist5 an absolute
ma$ority# thereby enabling them to dominate any political situation.
*6 tentati!e plan was drafted to form the basis on which an agreement between the
/hristian @emocrat ,arty and the /ommunist and +ocialist ,arties could be made.
They also drafted a plan of the fundamental lines along which a practical
understanding between the 2oly +ee and Russia# in their new relations# could be created.-
To sum up# 'ontini informed /ogliatti that the /hurch-s anti/ommunist stand should not be considered as
something lasting# and that many in the /uria wished to enter into talks with the .remlin.
These meetings with the enemy displeased ,ius III# who came to eye his +ecretary of +tate with a growing
disfa!our"
and 7ontini# for his part# searched for a chink in the ,ope-s armour. 2e found one in the fact that ,ius had
secured
lucrati!e posts for some of his nephews" and 7ontini played upon this e!idence of ,apal nepotism for all it
was worth# much to the delight of his socialistic# anti%clerical comrades.
,ius responded by dismissing 7ontini from his confidential post# and sending him north as 6rchbishop of
7ilan. That office had pre!iously been filled# as of right# by a /ardinal" but there was no red hat# until (<;9#
for 7ontini.
There he was free to make full play with his political sympathies# which came to shift more ob!iously to the
)eft. +ome of his writings# which appeared in the diocesan paper# !&0talia# made some of his priests wary of
their superior# and before long more than forty of them withdrew their subscriptions to the paper. But their
disappro!al meant little or nothing to 7ontini who# with 7aritain in the background# had come upon a more
acti!e supporter of his ultra%liberal opinions.
This was ;aul 4a@id Alins2%# a typical representati!e of the agitator type who affect to nurse a deep%
seated grie!ance against the capitalistic circles in which they are always careful to mo!e# and on whose
bounty they flourish.
7ontini was so impressed by 6linsky-s brand of re!olutionary teaching he was known as the 6postle of
,ermanent Re!olution that the two spent a fortnight together# discussing how best to bring the demands
of the /hurch# and those of the /ommunist unions# into line with each other. It must be remarked that
6linsky was as singularly fortunate in his personal relations as he was in his financial backers. or at the
end of their talks 7ontini declared that he was pleased to call himself one of 6linsky-s best friends" while
?ac&ues 7aritain# in a mood that re!ealed the softening up process that his philosophic outlook must ha!e
undergone# said that 6linsky was one of the *few really great men of the century.-
'ne of 6linsky-s rich backers and this ad!ocate of the class warfare had se!eral# including such odd
combinations as the Rockefeller foundation and the ,resbyterian /hurch was the millionaire 7arshall
ield. This latter contact had ser!ed as a further aid to strengthen 6linsky-s image in 7ontini-s eyes# since
7arshall ield# who had published a /ommunist newspaper# sponsored !arious sub!ersi!e mo!ements#
and had walt0ed his way through two di!orce courts and three matrimonial cases# had remained a faithful
son of the /hurch his bank balance saw to that and was an intimate friend of >ishop ;hiel of /hicago.
6t the same time 7ontini established a relationship# at first merely business# that was to ha!e far reaching
effects throughout much of Italy# including the Vatican# in the not too distant future. In the course of dealing
with the complicated financial affairs of the /hurch he encountered a shady character# 'ichele ;indona#
who was running a ta1 consultant-s office 4that at least was part of his many%sided operations5 in 7ilan.
+indona was a +icilian# born in (<(F# a product of the heterogeneous ?esuit training# who was studying law
when British and 6merican troops in!aded the island during the second world war. 6nother scourge that the
war enabled to renew itself in +icily was the 7afia.

@ri!en underground by 7ussolini# it had since emerged# with its pro!erbially strong 6merican support and
an obliging hand pro!ided by ,resident Roose!elt who# like practically e!ery one of the 6merican
presidents since the time of Washington 4himself an Illuminatus5 was an acti!e supporter of secret society
ramifications. 'ne of Roose!elt-s se!eral titles was -night of Pythias# which proclaimed membership of a
society based on the mythical pair of pagans# @amon and ,ythias" while he was also a wearer of the red
fe0 as one of the %ncient %rabic Order of /obles of the Mystic Shrine.
;indona thri!ed on the ugly conditions engendered by the 7afia and the war. 2e obtained a truck# and
made a good li!ing by peddling oddments and minor necessities to the troops. It is doubtful whether# as
some say# he took part in lodging information against the Dermans# and helping to sabotage their positions.
But he soon became one with the gangster element surrounding the 6merican army commanders# who
made their rounds in a lu1ury car presented to them# in return for ser!ices rendered# by the 7afia.
,rotected and patronised by the 6llies# +indona was soon at the head of a flourishing black market racket"
and when the war ended# following the trail of those who had sharpened his appetite for money# he turned
his back upon the indigent south and went to 7ilan# where he met an apt collaborator in the 6rchbishop.
'ontini-s coming to power was marked by the arri!al in Rome of people who fairly dismayed the more
con!entional lookers%on at Vatican ceremonial" and since the Roman nature is too sharp for simple
hypocrisy# they more than sniffed disappro!al of the pimpish publicity men# pseudo%artists of e!ery type#
out%of%conscience clerics# and miscellaneous hangers%on who flocked south and pitched their metaphorical
tents under the shadow of +t. ,eter-s cupola.
Rome# 7ontini-s critics declared# was again being in!aded by barbarians from the north. 'thers said it was
the 7afia. They were not far wrong. or among the new arri!als was 7ichele +indona# no longer trundling a
barrow# but lolling in a shiny chauffeur%dri!en car and doubtless appraising the ,apal and imperial
monuments he passed with the eye of a businessman.

.
Pope John# speaking for the /ouncil he had called and referring to its purpose# had saidB *'ur greatest
concern is that the sacred deposit of /atholic doctrine should be guarded.- The /hurch must ne!er depart
*from the sacred patrimony of truth recei!ed from the athers.-
There was nothing strange or re!olutionary in that. +o much had been taken for granted from generation to
generation. But as the /ouncil got underway the ,ope changed his tune# and spoke of the /hurch not
being concerned with the study of old museums or symbols of thought from the past. *We li!e to ad!ance.
We must e!ermore mo!e forward. The /hristian life is not a collection of ancient customs-" and ,ope ,aul#
not many hours after being elected# announced his intention of consolidating and implementing his
predecessor-s /ouncil# and in a way# as we shall see# that endorsed the second of ,ope ?ohn-s statements.
+o far as the general reader is concerned# the most outstanding result achie!ed by the /ouncil was the
changed relationship between atheistic /ommunism and the /hurch" and the fact that such a surprising
turnabout was effected shows that 7a00ini and his fellow conspirators had not miscalculated when# so
many years before# they had pinned their hopes of fatally undermining the /hurch on a Deneral /ouncil. It
also illustrates the methods employed by those who# howe!er e1alted their ecclesiastical titles# were first
and foremost the endorsers of the secret re!olutionary creed.
The schema on /ommunism was welcomed by the ,olish Cardinal W%s(%ns2%# who had had personal
e1perience of life behind the Iron /urtain. +i1 hundred /ouncil athers supported him# and =:C signed a
petition re&uesting that condemnation of the atheistic materialism# that was ensla!ing part of the world#
should be renewed.
8et when the /ommission-s report on the /hurch in the modern world was made known# the substance of
the petition was not referred to" and when those responsible for it pressed for an e1planation# they were told
that only two !otes had been cast against /ommunism.
But what# asked some of the astonished and disappointed signatories# had happened to the much greater
number who had fa!oured the petition? They were informed that the matter had not been brought to the
notice of all the /ouncil athers# since some ;CC of them had gone to lorence# where celebrations in
honour of @ante were being held.
+till not satisfied# those who had been so ob!iously outmanoeu!red pressed the ?esuit +o"ert /ucci# a
prominent member of the appropriate /ommission# for an e1planation. Their suspicions were groundless#
he told them. There had been no bargaining# no back%stairs intrigue. It could only mean that the petition had
*run into a red light on the way-# and so had come to a standstill. 6nother e1planation was that the
inter!ention had not arri!ed within the prescribed time limit# and so had escaped notice.
The argument went on# with two of the Council +athers declaring that they had personally deli!ered the
signed inter!ention to the Deneral +ecretariat on time" and when that was pro!ed to be correct# there was a
climb%down on the part of those who had so far blocked the condemnation of /ommunism.
Arch"ishop 0aronne of Toulouse was called in to s&uare matters# and he admitted the timely arri!al of the
petition# together with negligence on the part of those who should ha!e transmitted the matter to members
of the /ommission. Their failure to do so meant that the petition had not been e1amined. But there was
more inconsistency e!en on the part of those who admitted error. The 6rchbishop said that >>E
inter!entions had been handed in. 6nother &uoted the number of >>=# but that was also contradicted when
it was announced that the total to arri!e on time had been E<F.
There was one more attempt on the part of those who wished the /hurch-s original condemnation of
/ommunism to be reaffirmed. It figured as a re&uest to check the names of the =;C prelates who had
signed the petition. But that was turned down. The petition had been added to the collected documents
relating to the case# and they were simply not a!ailable. +o# as in all such matters# the traditionalists lost
heart. Their cause flickered out and the modernists# confident as e!er# remained in possession of the field.
Their !ictory# and that of the secret societies who manipulated the /ouncil# had been pre%figured by
Cardinal 5rings# one of the Derman%speaking consortium# when he said that any attack on /ommunism
would be stupid and absurd# sentiments that were echoed by the internationally controlled ,ress. 6nd at the
same time# as though to cast light on the far reaching surrender made by the /hurch to its enemy 4which
many people# a few years back# would ha!e $udged unthinkable5# Jose8 Cardinal >eran# the e1iled
6rchbishop of ,rague who was then li!ing in Rome# recei!ed a cutting from a /0echo%+lo!akian paper.
In it# one of their political creed boasted that /ommunists had been able to infiltrate all the /ommissions
that were steering the course of the /ouncil" a claim that was well borne out when tactics similar to those
described were employed# with e&ual success# at e!ery stage of the sittings.
6 typical instance was during the debate on the Religious 'rders. Right%wing speakers# who had pre!iously
made known their intention to speak# were not allowed the use of the microphone. But it was made
a!ailable to their opponents of the )eft whose names had only been handed in that morning. Those
indignant at ha!ing been silenced pressed for an official in!estigation. It was denied them# whereupon they
demanded to see the prelate who had acted as 7oderator on the occasion# Cardinal 4op8ner. But he was
not a!ailable# ha!ing gone to /apri for a long weekend.
When they succeeded in gaining an inter!iew the /ardinal apologi0ed# and then coolly asked them to
resign their right to speak. That was naturally turned down# whereupon the /ardinal promised to read aloud
a summary of the speeches they had prepared. But those who gathered in the /ouncil 2all could hardly
recogni0e the !ersions they heard. They had been considerably shortened# their meaning was confused
and# in some cases# falsified. Then# after the manner of their kind# the ob$ectors ga!e up# defeated by their
own lethargy or was it by the shifts and persistence of those who had come to the /ouncil with a set
purpose and a pattern that was being repeated again and again throughout the sessions?
'n a day late in 'ctober the attention of the /ouncil was concentrated on a figure who rose to speak. 2e
was Al8redo Cardinal Otta@iani# one of the ablest members of the /uria# who carried with him a sense of
the great days of ,ius III# on which account he was respected by some# and feared or disliked by others.
+ome shrank from his glance# which# said his enemies# was due to his possessing the e!il eye. 2is stare
could indeed be disconcerting# since he had been born in the po!erty%stricken Traste!ere &uarter# where an
eye disease# which had raged unattended# had afflicted many# and now# at se!enty odd years# he was
nearly blind.
When he rose the progressi!es in the /ouncil e1changed meaning looks. They knew what was coming. 2e
was about to critici0e the new form of the 7ass# the work of 'onsignor Anni"ale >ugnini 4which we
propose to look at a little more closely later5. 6cclaimed by the progressi!es# and deplored by the
traditionalists as a fatal inno!ation# it had brought about a deeper rift within the /ouncil than any other topic.
There was no doubt in anyone-s mind as to the side on which 'tta!iani would be ranged# and his first words
made that clearB
*6re we seeking to stir up wonder# perhaps scandal# among the /hristian people# by
introducing changes in so !enerable a rite# that has been appro!ed by so many centuries# and
is now so familiar? The rite of 2oly 7ass should not be treated as if it were a piece of cloth to
be refashioned according to the whim of each generation...
The time limit for speakers was ten minutes. The finger of Cardinal Al8rin2# who had charge
of the proceedings# was on the warning bell. This speaker was o!er earnest# and what he had
to say was displeasing to many. The ten minutes passed. The bell rang# and /ardinal 6lfrink
signalled to a technician who switched off the microphone. 'tta!iani confirmed what had happened by
tapping the instrument. Then# totally humiliated# he stumbled back to his seat# feeling with his hands and
knocking against the woodwork as he went. There were those among the /ouncil athers who sniggered.
'thers clapped.

These pages are not intended to be concerned with ,apal authority. But it has to be dealt with# howe!er
briefly# as those who may still doubt the secret society in!ol!ement# and the degree of power with which I
ha!e in!ested it# may point to the fact that one of their most e1treme claims# *The Papacy will fall -# has not
been borne out. or the ,apacy is still in e1istence.
In e1istence# yes. But it has yielded place to a spirit of collecti!ism that would ne!er ha!e been credited in
the days when ,eter and his successors# by !irtue of the authority !ested in ,eter by Christ# were known to
ha!e been gi!en supreme $urisdiction o!er the /hurch.
A!en while the /ouncil was still in session many of its members# led by the Bishop of Baltimore# were
negating the doctrine of ,apal infallibility which# by relating specifically to faith and morals# was much more
restricted than many think" and similar mo!es elsewhere led to its replacement by a new and clumsy
definition the Apiscopal /ollegiality of the Bishops.
+uch a delegation of authority has now come about. 7ore responsibility has passed to the Bishops# and the
general acceptance of such a change has been followed by a corresponding decline in the ,apal monopoly
of power.
That may be no more than a first step towards the fulfillment of the confident boastB */he Papac% ,ill 8all.-

#.
Anni"ale >ugnini# created Titular %rchbishop of *ioclentiana by Paul VI in (<FE# had e!ery reason to be
pleased. 2is life%long ser!ice to the /hurch in the field of liturgical studies and reform had been rewarded.
2e was now# as +ecretary to the /ommission for the implementation of the /onstitution on the )iturgy# a
key figure in the re!olution which had been pending for the past thirteen years.

A!en before the opening of the +econd Vatican /ouncil he had been bidding fair to play a decisi!e part in
the future of the /hurch# much of which hinged upon the 7ass# for which he had compiled new rites and a
new order *as a sign of further progress to come.-
2is work entailed a reform of liturgical books and the transition from )atin to the !ernacular# all to be
achie!ed by easy stages that would not alarm the unsuspecting. The imposition of new and different rules
was being accomplished so successfully that Cardinal Villot# one of their promulgators# could state that no
fewer than a hundred and fifty changes were# after only twel!e months# already in circulation" while as to
the outdated stipulation that *the use of )atin will be kept in the )atin rites-# 7ass was already being said in
thirty%si1 dialects# in patois# e!en in a kind of e!eryday slang.
Bugnini had# in fact# with the appro!al of ,aul VI# put into practice )uther-s programme# in which it had been
recogni0ed that *when the 7ass is destroyed# the ,apacy will ha!e been toppled# for the ,apacy leans on
the 7ass as on a rock.- It was true that an orthodo1 opponent# 4ietrich @on :ilde"rand# had called
>ugnini *the e!il spirit of liturgical reform.-

But no such consideration figured in the 6rchbishop-s mind as# on a day in (<F;# he left a conference room
where he had attended a meeting of one of the /ommissions where he had a !oice# and started to climb a
staircase. +uddenly he stopped. 2is hands# which should ha!e been carrying a brief case# were empty.
The case# containing many of his papers# had been left in the conference room. 3e!er one to hurry# for he
was a hea!y man and needed e1ercise# he now fairly ran back and cast his eye o!er the chairs and tables.
The brief case was nowhere to be seen.
6s soon as the meeting broke up# a @ominican friar had gone in to restore the room to order. 2e soon
noticed the brief case# and had opened it in the hope of finding the name of its owner. 2e put aside the
documents relating to the /ommission# and had then come upon a folder that contained letters.
+ure enough# there was the name of the person to whom they had been sent# but and the @ominican
gasped the mode of address was not to 2is Drace or to the 7ost Re!erend Anni"ale >ugnini#
6rchbishop of @ioclentiana# but to Brother Bugnini# while the signatures and place of origin showed that
they came from the dignitaries of secret societies in Rome.
Pope Paul VI who was# of course# tarred with the same brush as Bugnini# promptly took steps to pre!ent
the scandal spreading# and to smooth o!er the dismay of those progressi!es who# innocent of guile# had no
opinion other than that dictated by the media. Bugnini should ha!e been remo!ed# or at least taken to task.

But he was# instead# for the sake of appearances# appointed 6postolic ,ro 3uncio in Iran# a post where
there was little or no call for diplomatic embellishment since the +hah-s go!ernment had no time for any
Western religion# and where the priest who was unfortunate enough to be banished there# though only for a
time# found his function as limited as his surroundings# which consisted of scanty furniture in two rooms in
an otherwise empty house.
The unmasking of Bugnini was carried a step further when the Italian writer# /ito Casini# who was troubled
o!er the changes in the /hurch# made it known in The So)e of Satan# a no!el that was published in 6pril
(<F:. Then came the e1pected denials and e!asions. 6 Vatican source declared that the reasons for
Bugnini-s remo!al had to remain secret# though# it was admitted# the moti!es that prompted it had been
*more than con!incing-.

!e +igaro issued a denial of any secret society connection on Bugnini-s behalf. The Catholic 0nforation
Office belied its title by professing total ignorance of the case. 6rchbishop Bugnini more than once denied
any secret society affiliation. 6ll of which appears !ery futile since the Italian Register re!eals that he $oined
one of the societies on 6pril the E>rd# (<:># and that his code name was Buan.

).
'n the 9th day of @ecember# (<:;# ,ope ,aul confronted the assembled Bishops# raised both arms high in
the air# and announcedB
*In the name of 'ur )ord 'esus Christ# go in peace.-
The +econd Vatican /ouncil was o!er" and those who heard ,ope ,aul ga!e !ent to the feelings of !ictory#
or defeat# that had sprung up among them during the meetings.
The conser!ati!es were resentful# indignant# and hinted of a counter%offensi!e that was ne!er to be
mounted. They agreed among themsel!es that the /hurch-s progress had been halted by a mo!e that was
both unwise and unnecessary. 'ne of their spokesmen# Cardinal ;iri# spoke of resistance. *We are not
going to be bound by these decrees-" but the decrees were# in fact# implemented# as ,ope ,aul had
promised# to the growing bewilderment of /atholics for whom the /hurch# now a prey to no!elties and
disorders# had lost its note of authority.
The liberals or progressi!es# secure in ha!ing brought the designs of the secret societies to a successful
conclusion# were e1ultant. The /ouncil# said the +wiss theologian :ans Cung# had more than fulfilled the
dreams of the a!ant%garde. The entire world of religion was now permeated by its influence# and no
member of the /ouncil#
*would go back home as he had come-. *I myself-# he continued# *ne!er e1pected so many bold and e1plicit
statements from the Bishops on the /ouncil floor.-
In a similar mood the @ominican B@es Congar# a life%long )eft%winger# announced that past failures in the
/hurch had been brought about by its being imbued with the spirit of )atin%Western culture. But that culture#
he was glad to announce# had had its day.
The most e1treme reformer# Cardinal ;uenens# e1ecuted a mental war%dance of triumph. 2e looked back
to the /ouncil of 7ilan# held in >(># by which the Amperor /onstantine ga!e complete toleration to
/hristians# and made their faith e&ual to what# until then# had been the official +tate religion. That decree
had always been a landmark in /hurch history.

But now the Belgian primate who was known to his fellow conspirators as Lesu# could throw all such
epoch%making reminders o!erboard. 2e was on the winning side. 2e bid defiance to those who differed
from him. *The age of /onstantine is o!erK- 7oreo!er# he claimed he would be able to draw up an
impressi!e list of theses that# ha!ing been taught in Rome yesterday# had been belie!ed# but at which the
/ouncil athers had snapped their fingers.
These danger signs were recogni0ed by 'alachi 'artin# formerly a ?esuit and ,rofessor at the ,ontifical
Biblical Institute in Rome.
*Well before the year E#CCC-# he said# there will no longer be a religious institute recogni0able as the Roman
/atholic and 6postolic /hurch of today... There will be no centrali0ed control# no uniformity in teaching# no
uni!ersality in practice of worship# prayer# sacrifice# and priesthood.-
/an one detect the first signs of this in the 6nglican%Roman /atholic International /ommission-s report
published in 7arch# (<9E?
6 more precise assessment of the post%/onciliar period than that made by 'alachi 'artin appeared in the
%erican +lag Coittee /ewsletter# (<:F. /ommenting on the *most marked and rapid deterioration in
the Vatican-s anti%Bolshe!ik resol!e- since the time of Pius *II# it goes on to say that in less than a decade
the /hurch has been transformed#
*from an implacable foe of /ommunism into an acti!e and &uite powerful ad!ocate of co%e1istence both with
7oscow and Red /hina. 6t the same time# re!olutionary changes in its centuries%long teachings ha!e
mo!ed Rome closer and closer# not to traditional ,rotestantism as many /atholic laymen suppose# but to
that humanistic neo%paganism of the 3ational and World /ouncil of /hurches.-
But if the /ouncil accomplished nothing else# it enabled the caterers to flourish. or some half%a%million
cups of coffee were disposed of at the bars.

.. Acumenism as seen by a rench freemason. 4,aris# (<:<5.
2. It was brought to my notice by 7r. 7ichael Dwynn of the Britons )ibrary.
Part 5our
The @e!il has reco!ered his citi0enship rights in the Republic of culture.
Dio!anni ,apini.
,ublicity flared to its ma1imum co!erage when it was announced# in the summer of (<:;# that ,ope ,aul
would !isit 3ew 8ork later that year in order to address the Jnited 3ations 6ssembly. It was heralded as an
e!ent of the utmost importance that would surely bring results that could not be lost upon the world" but
there was also some speculation as to why non%/atholic# and e!en anti/atholic &uarters# were gi!ing rise
to much the same bursts of e1citement that had marked the election of ?ohn IIIII.
/ould it be that the same power was pulling wires# behind the scenes# to influence the tone of the ,ress#
radio# and tele!ision? We ha!e already assessed# to some e1tent# the character and the leanings of Paul
VI. )et us now glance at the formation and the make%up of the Jnited 3ations.
It was primarily /ommunist in tone# its charter# signed in (<=># being based upon the /onstitution of +o!iet
Russia# while its purpose and principles were decided at a conference of oreign 7inisters held in 7oscow.
The secretaries of the Jnited 3ations- +ecurity /ouncil# between the years (<=: and (<:E# were Ar2ad%
;o"elo@ and 9ugen% Cisele@# both /ommunists. 6 leading figure of the Jnited 3ations- Aducational#
+cientific# and /ultural 'rgani0ation 4D!9;CO5 was Vladimir 'ailmo@s2%# /ommunist. The chief
secretary for J3A+/' was 'adame Jegalo@a# /ommunist" while the ,resident# Vice%,resident# and nine
$udges of the *World /ourt- were all /ommunists.
8et these were typical of the people on whom ,aul VI la!ished praise# and to whom he looked for the
sal!ation of the world" while the ,ress and radio# sub$ect to the same international control as the Jnited
3ations# continues to speak of that body as being worthy of respect.
,osing as strictly neutral# and with the declared intention of promoting world peace# it soon showed a
definite bias in
fa!our of /ommunist%inspired guerrilla mo!ements whose ob$ect# in se!eral parts of the world# was the
o!erthrow of established go!ernments. This was done under the guise of liberating people from oppression"
but the ultimate design of the 6ssembly# then as now# was to set up a totalitarian system in which national
so!ereignty and cultures would disappear.
Incidental to this# as was made plain by the secondary social and economic organi0ations that sprang from
the 6ssembly# would be a !irtual censorship whose !oice was predominantly atheist.

or it had been noted that the more orthodo1 countries such as Italy# 6ustria# +pain# ,ortugal# and Ireland#
were e1cluded from the 6ssembly-s original foundation" whereas Bolshe!ist Russia# from its permanent
seat on the +ecurity /ouncil# possessed a !eto that could reduce the decisions of the 6ssembly to a mere
e1pression of words# without effect" a $udgment that may fairly be passed on all the deliberations of the
Jnited 3ations from the day of its founding to the present.
7ore concrete e!idence for these strictures may be adduced when we look at the record of a professional
criminal who came to occupy a leading place# by way of the Jnited 3ations# in Auropean life. 2e was
'e%er 0enoch 'oise@itch Valla2h# or Wallach# who# before the (<(= war# emerged from the stormy
background of Russian political life as a *wanted- figure who found it safer# and more rewarding# to e1tend
his acti!ities to countries that were# so far# less disturbed.
Working under a !ariety of names# including (uchann# Ma5i Harryson# !udwig /ietz# *a#id Mordecai#
and +in)elstein# he came into the limelight in ,aris in (<C9# when he took a hand in robbing the Tiflis Bank
of two hundred and fifty thousand roubles. 2e was deported# but soon afterwards was in trouble again for
dealing in stolen banknotes.
2is chance came in (<(F# when the Russian Re!olution brought him and his kind to the surface. 3ow#
under the respectable pseudonym of 7a1im )it!inoff# he became +o!iet /ommissioner for oreign 6ffairs.
2is ne1t step was to the ,residency of the /ouncil of the )eague of 3ations. 2e then arri!ed in )ondon as
+o!iet ambassador to the /ourt of +t. ?ames# and as such became a familiar and influential figure in royal
and diplomatic circles.
6s further e!idence of the downward slide in our public and political affairs# it may be noted that the first
+ecretary%Deneral of the Jnited 3ations was 6lger 2iss# who had been con!icted of per$ury in the
6merican courts. 2e took a prominent part in shaping the Jnited 3ations- /harter on Russian%/ommunist
lines.
These considerations# howe!er# did not weigh hea!ily with the faithful# who thought that the ,ope-s address
and appearance# before a world audience# would be a golden opportunity for the ad!ancement of ,apal
teaching. It would burst upon the doubting and insecure world with a certainty that it had ne!er before
e1perienced. 7any listeners# for the first time in their li!es# would be brought face to face with the reality of
religion. It was only the /hurch that had anything really important to say# that could add spiritual
significance to the routine of daily life.
+ome half%a%century before# Pius * had issued directions and indicated guide%lines that were e!erywhere
and at all times rele!ant. But his audience had been as necessarily limited as his means to make himself
heard. 3ow it was for ,ope ,aul to echo the words of his predecessor# but this time to an almost uni!ersal
congregation that could be reached through the medium of the Jnited 3ations.
,ius had saidB
*There is no need for me to point out that the ad!ent of world democracy can ha!e no rele!ancy to the work
of the /hurch in the world .... the reform of ci!ili0ation is essentially a religious task# for true ci!ili0ation
presupposes a moral foundation# and there can be no morally based foundation without true religion .... this
is a truth which can be demonstrated from the e!idence of history.-
But ,ope ,aul had no intention of endorsing what ,ius had said. or instead of a religious leader speaking
on 'ctober =th# (<:;# it might ha!e been a disciple of ?ean ?ac&ues Rousseau holding forth on the
deification of human nature that# finding e1pression in the declaration of the Rights of Man on 6ugust (Eth#
(F9<# ushered in the rench Re!olution.
The Rights of Man# that were enthusiastically defined as being !ested in !iberty# 31uality# and +raternity#
led to the /ult of
7an and man-s ele!ation in place of God" from which it followed that all religious forms# and institutions
such as rulership# family life# and the holding of pri!ate property# were denigrated as being parts of the old
order that was on the point of passing.
When the effects of the +econd Vatican /ouncil became apparent# 4octor +udol8 0ru"er# Bishop of
Regensburg# was led to obser!e that the main ideas of the rench Re!olution# *which represents an
important element in )ucifer-s plan-# were being adopted in many spheres of /atholicism. 6nd ,ope ,aul#
speaking direct to a battery of microphones that carried to the world# ga!e ample e!idence of this.
2e made no reference to spiritual claims or the importance of religion.
*Behold the day we ha!e awaited for centuries.... This is the ideal that mankind has dreamt of in its $ourney
through history.... We would !enture to call it the world-s greatest hope.... It is your task here-# he told the
members of the 6ssembly# *to proclaim the basic rights and duties of 7an.... We are conscious that you are
the interpreters of all that is permanent in human wisdom" we could almost say of its sacred character.-
7an had now come of age# and was &ualified to li!e by a philosophic morality that# owing nothing to
authority# was created by himself. The Jnited 3ations# destined to play the leading role in the world# was
*the last hope of mankind-. +o it was to secular structures that man must look for the stability and
redemption of humanity" in a word# to himself" sentiments that would not ha!e been out of place in the
committee rooms of the rench Re!olution" sentiments that no one would ha!e thought to hear e1pressed
by a ,ope# !oid as they were of any reference to the claims and traditional message of the /hurch.
That this was understood and appreciated was shown by the reception accorded him at the close of his
address# by those of a certain political persuasion who made up by far the greater part of his li!e audience.
2e was surrounded by back%slapping and handshaking representati!es of Russia# /hina# and the +o!iet
satellite +tates. 2e arranged for further meetings# which pro!ed to be four in all# with the +o!iet oreign
7inister Dromyko 4real name .at05# and his wife. There were congratulations from !i2olai Podgorn%#
member of the ,olitburo# and warm e1changes with 6rthur Doldberg# a prominent member of the
/ommunist ,arty.
,ope ,aul had opened up the world of religion to its old and in!eterate enemies# the champions of social
reform who denied re!elation. *@ialogue- was now much in fashion# and the prospect of 7oscow and the
Vatican entering into talks was taken for granted. The world-s leading churchman had propagated the social
gospel# so dear to the heart of re!olutionaries# without a single reference to the religious doctrines that they
found pernicious. @ifferences between the two sides were not so deep%seated and final as had once been
thought. The ,ope# and those who clustered about him sometimes with two%handed clasps# could
henceforth be allies.
It now remained to round off a truly historic !isit with an initiatory rite that would put the seal on this newly
admitted reali0ation.

2.
*Behold# thy .ing is coming to thee# humbly riding on an ass.-
+o wrote +t. 7atthew 4E(.;5 on /hrist-s entry into ?erusalem.
But it was not thus that /hrist-s representati!e rode along Broadway. ,ope ,aul tra!elled in a se!en%
passenger )incoln con!ertible# through a forest of flags and bunting# with a police escort on motor cycles#
and thousands more police lining the way and restraining crowds that were uncertain whether to stand#
kneel# or bow their heads in e1pectation of a blessing# and whether to wa!e or raise an arm in salute" with
two spotter helicopters bu00ing and circling o!erhead# sirens blowing# and on nearly e!ery building
fluorescent lighting that unnecessarily !ied with the daylight# and the Jnited 3ations- ,la0a Building spelling
out *welcome# ,ope ,aul VI-.
This followed upon a &uestion that Cardinal Vagno((i# the 6postolic%delegate in 3ew 8ork# put to ,ope
,aul. What was to be the ne1t goal of his !isit?
The 7editation Room in the Jnited 3ations- building# ,aul told him.
The /ardinal was surprised# shocked. 2e had good reason for affirming that the 2oly ather couldn-t go
there.
But he went.
The room# with two others of its kind# one at Wainwright 2ouse# +tuy!esant 6!enue# Rye# 3ew 8ork# and
the other in the Jnited +tates /apitol# represented the early stage of a scheme the fulfilment of which would
be marked 4in concrete form5 by the erection of what was called the Temple of Jnderstanding# on fifty acres
of ground along the banks of the ,otomac in Washington# @./.
It was part of a design to form one inter%religious world body on the part of a certain 7rs. Judith
4ic2erman :ollister# who re!ealed an anti%traditional# pro%mysterious bias by becoming a +hinto. 6s such#
she belie!ed the ?apanese myth that two di!ine uni!ersal parents descended upon an island that was
made of drops of salt. There the God%mother ga!e birth to other islands# with mountains and ri!ers# and
finally to a whole gala1y of Gods. 6fter that astonishing feat the lady withdrew from her sea%girt home and
was seen no more.
Thus armed with an air of mystery# a suggestion of interior enlightenment# and an eccentric bearing# 7rs.
2ollister found an enthusiastic supporter in the ,resident-s wife# Aleanor Roose!elt# whom some of her
intimates rated as being somewhat below the mentally normal.
rom that it needed but a step to secure the backing of the Jnited +tates Do!ernment# while John 4.
+oc2e8eller# and se!eral of his associates in the /ommunist front that he founded# contributed to what was
called the Spiritual 6nited /ations. 6nother pro%/ommunist millionaire# 'arshall 5ield# who has already
been noted as a patron of the anarchist +aul @a!id 6linsky# helped to pay for the decoration of the room.
The +ord +oundation also ga!e financial encouragement.
6 carefully edited bulletin# that supposedly dealt with the meaning and purpose of the room# was produced
by the )ucis ,ress# which issues printed matter for the Dnited !ations.
The suspicious may find food for thought in the fact that this publishing company# when it started in the
early part of this
century# was known as the )ucifer ,ress. It now functions at > Whitehall /ourt# )ondon# +.W.(.
That title might well ha!e been retained when dealing with 7rs. 2ollister-s creation# for the room 4and this
e1plains the shock felt by Cardinal Vagno((i5 was a centre of the Illuminati# gi!en o!er to the cult of the all%
seeing Aye that under a system of allegories and !eiled secrets# as translated by the Masters of 7isdo#
was dedicated to the ser!ice of pagan cults" and the obliteration of /hristian in fa!our of humanistic beliefs.

3.
Two doors# each fitted with tinted glass panels# lead into the room. 6 guard stands outside# and another is
stationed $ust inside the door. The entrant encounters semi%darkness# and a &uiet into which one-s
footsteps are absorbed by a thick blue rug on the floor. 6n arched inner way# still o!erhung by a sense of
night%like stillness# opens out into a space some thirty feet long# wedge%shaped# windowless# and with a
solitary yellow light# apparently beamed from nowhere# shimmering on the surface of an altar that stands in
the centre# a waist%high block of crystalline iron ore that is known to weigh between si1 and se!en tons.
Blue rugs are spread o!er the floor# that is elsewhere pa!ed with blue%grey lengths of slate. 6t the far end
of the room# where the dimness melts into total shadow# there is a low railing beyond which only the
pri!ileged are allowed to pass.
The fresco%mural# more than eight feet high and some two feet smaller in width# is played upon by a light
directed from the top. ramed in a steel panel# it appears to be an apparently meaningless cluster of blue#
grey# white# brown# and yellow geometrical designs. But to those !ersed in esoteric understanding the
crescents and triangles present a definite form that takes shape# in the centre and outer circle of the mural#
as the Illuminati Aye.
7ain attention is not# howe!er# focused upon the mural but on the altar# that is dedicated to *the faceless
one-# and from
which an air of brooding mystery# pre!alent in the room# appears to radiate. 6nd as one-s senses respond#
it is reali0ed that other shaded lights# concealed in a suspended ceiling that matches the si0e of the room#
add to the somber impression con!eyed by the altar beam.
,ope ,aul# at the end of his mission# was presented with a model of the then prospecti!e Teple of
6nderstanding. The Masters e1tended a similar welcome to Cardinal ;uenens# who later !isited the
7editation Room" and in return representati!es of the Temple were recei!ed at the Vatican.
The underlying purpose of the Temple was plainly re!ealed by its plan# with the all%seeing Aye# faceted like
a diamond in the central dome of the building# reflecting the rays of the sun through wings that represented
si1 world faiths Buddhism# 2induism# Islam# ?udaism# /onfucianism# and /hristianity.
The same symbolism figured at a ban&uet attended by some fi!e hundred supporters of syncretism at the
Waldorf 6stor# where a little scene was enacted when a child# holding aloft the model of an egg# was
presented to the president of the Teple# the same 7rs. 4ic2erman :ollister. +he tapped the egg with a
wand# and the shell dropped away to re!eal a tree with si1 golden branches.
Before lea!ing 6merica ,ope ,aul# to press home his !oluntary renunciation of spiritual authority# made a
show of di!esting himself of the /hurch-s reminders and insignia. 2e ga!e the ,apal ring of diamonds and
rubies# and his pectoral cross of diamonds and emeralds the two containing four hundred and four
diamonds# one hundred and forty%fi!e emeralds# and twenty rubies to the Buddhist D /hant# then
+ecretary%Deneral of the Jnited 3ations.
6 $eweller had estimated that the $ewels alone# apart from their traditional !alue# were worth more than a
hundred thousand dollars. They were swept up at an auction for si1ty%four thousand dollars# after which the
successful buyer sold them to a 7r. 4a@id 'orton of 'rono# 7innesota. +ome items of this ,apal $ewellery
were ne1t seen decking the person of a female performer who appeared in the */arson tele!ision night%
show-.
The ring and the cross continued to go the round of dealers# auction rooms# and superior $unk shops# and
were last heard of among the articles offered for sale at a market in Dene!a.
This abnegation followed ,ope ,aul-s public show of gi!ing up the tiara# the triple crown that denotes the
Trinity# the authority# and the spiritual powers of the /hurch. The crown was
presented to a ,ope at the time of his coronation with the wordsB
*Recei!e this tiara adorned with three crowns and know that you are the
father of princes and of kings# guide of the world# and Vicar upon earth of
'esus Christ.-
,ope ,aul let it be known that he was gi!ing up the crown for the benefit of
the poor of the world# a moti!e that was played up by the ,ress and that
*went down well- with the public. But he was gi!ing up something that had
ne!er been his in the first place# and so was not transferable. 7oreo!er# one
word from him would ha!e caused all the world%wide missions and charitable
organi0ations of the /hurch to open their purses for the poor.

But instead# he made a theatrical gesture by discarding e1ternal signs of
religious dignity which# as he and his kind well knew# was a minor step that#
added to others of its kind# was part of the process of sapping the /hurch-s
internal significance.
2e also made use of a sinister symbol# used by +atanists in the si1th century# that had been re!i!ed at the
time of Vatican Two. This was a "ent or "ro2en cross on which was displayed a repulsi!e and distorted
figure of Christ# which the black magicians and sorcerers of the 7iddle 6ges had made use of to represent
the Biblical term# *Mar) of the (east-.
8et not only Paul VI but his successors# the two ?ohn%,auls# carried that ob$ect and held it up to be re!ered
by crowds who had not the slightest idea that it stood for anti%/hrist.

urthermore# this e1hibition of a desiccated figure on a twisted stick was forbidden by /anon (EF<# which
condemned the usage of any sacred image that is not in keeping with the appro!ed usage of the /hurch.
That it was used for occult purposes may be seen in woodcuts shown in the Museu of 7itchcraft in
Bayonne# rance.
6nother dis&uieting feature of ,ope ,aul-s !isit to the Jnited +tates was his appearance# at the 8ankee
+tadium in 3ew 8ork# wearing the 9phod# the ancient garment with breastplate of twel!e stones#
representing the twel!e sons of ?acob# as worn by /aiphas# the 2igh ,riest of the +anhedrin# who called for
the crucifi1ion of /hrist.
Paul VI ,earing the "reast$plate o8 the 9phod3 a.2.a. the rational o8 Judgment3 o8 a Je,ish :igh$Priest.
/he t,el@e stones represent the t,el@e tri"es o8 Israel.

6s though not content with that &uite unnecessary inno!ation# 2is 2oliness continued to wear that non%
/hristian symbol on other occasions# including the Way of the /ross procession in Rome on 7arch the
EFth# (<:=" at a ceremony in the ,lace d-Aspagne# Rome# on @ecember the 9th# (<:=" the !isit of @octor
Ramsay# 6rchbishop of /anterbury# to the Vatican in (<::" at a reception of parish priests in the +istine
/hapel" and at /astelgandolfo in the summer of (<FC.
The tone of ,ope ,aul-s address to the Jnited 3ations had gi!en no little encouragement to the
progressi!es# or )eft%wing element# within the /hurch. or within a few days of ,aul-s return to Rome the
Bishop of /uerna!aca# 'endes Arceo# was declaring that *7ar1ism is necessary in order to realise God-s
kingdom at the present time-" while ,ope ,aul let it be known that Rome# in order to end an old enmity# was
ready to take a new look at secret societies.
6s part of that process# 'onsignor Pe(eril was entrusted with the task of negotiating with a go!erning
body of those societies with a !iew to establishing friendly contact.
The retenti!e powers of those who write for the papers# like the memories of those who seriously regard
them# are pro!erbially short. 8et because the ,ope-s speech in 3ew 8ork was well in keeping with the
pre!ailing trend# it is not surprising to find that the cue he had gi!en there was taken up# some time later# by
the Vatican $ournal !&Osser#atore Roano# which let it be known that the /hurch-s traditional message had
yielded place to a more unorthodo1 concept# by announcingB
*There are no true riches but 7an.-
The two interlaced triangles e1plain )antoine-s remarks that Satan is an e&ual and indispensable part of
God# as seen when the picture is re!ersed. +imply translated# the motto meansB
*What is abo!e e&uals what is below.-
It re!eals a common occult idea that God is both good and e!il# and that +atan is part of him.

Part 5i@e
The !eil co!ering the greatest deceit e!er to ha!e mystified the clergy and baffled
the faithful# is doubtless beginning to be torn asunder.
6rchbishop 7arcel )efeb!re.
6n obser!er of the Roman scene# Deorges Virebeau
.
# tells how a feeling of surprise# that was near
consternation# spread through the Vatican one morning in (<F:. +tudents in their cassocks# coloured
purple# !iolet# or black# according to their nationality# stood about in groups# discussing the latest number of
a $ournal# the Borghese. +ome# the writer says# were actually perspiring with alarm" for although the
morning was hot# the atmosphere engendered by what they read affected them more than the weather.
or the paper contained a detailed list of clerics# some holding the most e1alted offices# who were said to
be members of secret societies.
It was staggering news# for the doubtful head%shaking students were ac&uainted with /hurch law" and
/anon )aw E>>; e1pressly declared that a /atholic who $oined any such society became e1communicate#
ipso facto.
We ha!e seen that the secret societies had# long ago# declared war on the /hurch# which they recogni0ed
as the one great obstacle barring their way to world domination" and the /hurch responded by condemning
the societies and making laws for her own protection. /anon E>>; was framed for that purpose# while
/anon E>>: was concerned with disciplinary measures to be enforced against any cleric who might be
in!eigled into $oining a society. In the case of a Bishop he would lose all $uridical powers# and be barred
from e1ercising priestly functions including ordination and consecrating.
That the /hurch considered the societies to be a most dangerous threat to its own e1istence is shown by
the number
of warnings and condemnations issued by the Vatican. What is usually regarded as the first official instance
of this
occurred under ,ope /lement III 4(F>C%=C5# which stressed that belonging to any such society was
incompatible with membership of the /hurch.
Ale!en years later >enedict *IV confirmed this in the first ,apal Bull directed against the societies. Pius VI
and Pius VII followed suit# the last named being specially concerned with the threat posed by the
/arbonari. Three subse&uent ,opes# )eo III# ,ius VIII# and Dregory VI added their weight to the strictures.
6 further condemnation came from ,ius II who# incidentally had to face the charge that he had descended
from the /ounts of 7astai%eretti# who had almost certainly been in!ol!ed with the societies.

)eo IIII spoke of the plotters aiming to *destroy from top to bottom the whole religious and social discipline
born of /hristian institutions-# and to replace belief in the supernatural spirit by a sort of second%hand
3aturalism.
?ust as the writings of Voltaire# 4iderot# and :el@etius had opened up the way for the rench Re!olution#
so the secret societies# said ,ius I 4(<C>%(=5# were working to destroy /atholicism in modern rance.
+o paramount was the danger to Benedict IV that not e!en the cares imposed by the (<(= war could dri!e
it finally from his mind" while ,ius II reiterated that the secret societies deri!ed much of their strength from
the conspiracy of silence that has ne!er ceased to surround them.
6lthough conducted largely behind the scenes# and therefore away from the public ga0e# the struggle
between the Church and the secret societies has been more bitter and prolonged than any international
conflict" the reason being that it has turned# in great part# on ideas# on a mental and therefore a moral basis"
and although not uni!ersally recogni0ed# the moral outlook influences the whole nature of man more than
any conflict for personal gain# territory# or positi!e power.
'n one side was a religion that# its supporters claimed# rested on facts# the ob$ecti!e !alue of re!ealed
truth# and a sacramental obser!ance. 'n the other# a system grounded in humanitarian ideals in which all
men# freed from the shackles or dogma and orthodo1y# could share# and on which they could agree. Truth#
they said# is relati!e# hence the claims of ob$ecti!e and re!ealed truth are seen to be not only !alueless# but
fundamentally false.
+o the struggle de!eloped o!er the centuries# with those who accepted the atheism# ,ositi!ism# or
materialism that reached its summit with the rench Re!olution# on one side" and the strictures uttered by
!arious ,opes# from /lement III in the mid%eighteenth century to ,ius II who died in (<><# on the other.
The least condemnatory of those strictures referred to the societies as *conspiracies of silence-. The most
damning called them *synagogues of +atan-.
But not all their members regarded the +atanic connection as a stigma. This is how one of their principle
archi!ists# Al"ert Lantoine# went out of his way to address ,ius III in 6ugust# (<=>B
*I am pleased to say that we# possessed of a critical spirit# are ser!ants of Satan. 8ou defend truth# and are
ser!ants of God. The two masters complete each other# and need each other. 8ou would e1terminate us.
Be carefulK The death of +atan will mark the agony of your God. 8ou must accept the alliance with +atan#
and admit that he completes God.-
The news in the Borghese# that so alarmed the students# came as the culmination of a fear that had
lingered for some time among the more conser!ati!e elements in the Vatican. The e1posure of
Arch"ishop >ugnini# at the time of the +econd Vatican /ouncil# had been shattering enough. But the
re!elations in the Borghese were on a more considerable scale# and came perilously near to touching the
!ery ner!e of the /hurch.
It was known that enemy agents had long been nibbling at its fabric. But so long as /hurch discipline
remained strong# it was difficult for the most ardent infiltrator to gain a footing in the priesthood. But the
general rela1ation and reforms that followed ,ope ?ohn-s /ouncil opened doors by which agents entered
not only seminaries but the /uria# the go!erning body of the /hurch.
Because some of those agents rose high in the /hurch# and became /ardinals and Bishops# many who
might otherwise ha!e been suspicious were decei!ed. The ecclesiastical titles# and the offices that went
with them# were thought to be sufficient 4though they were really only outward5 safeguard. The hands of the
manipulators were raised in blessing# and the faithful knelt.
The warnings against them that were issued went largely unheeded or fell stone dead against the
historically impressi!e walls that bounded the /hurch. *6 ifth /olumn e1ists within the clergy-# wrote
5ather Arrupe# +uperior%Deneral of the ?esuits# *and is steadily working in fa!our of atheism-.
6 similar theme was e1pressed by a number of theologians who came together in Dene!a in (<F:# as an
0nternational Coittee of *efense of Catholic *octrine. *The presence of the enemies of the /hurch# in
the internal structure of the /hurch# forms a part of the mystery of ini&uity and should be unmasked.-
But so far those fears had taken no more tangible shape than to unsettle the minds of students# who felt
their future might be disturbed by the re!elations that produced little or no effect among their superiors and
instructors in the Vatican. The usual in&uiry was ordered 4by some of the churchmen who had been named
as guilty5 with the declared ob$ect of tracing the source of the rumours. But nothing happened" and neither
did one of those who had been implicated e!er issue a downright or straightforward denial.
The (orghese article claimed to ha!e a detailed list of conspirators who had penetrated into the /hurch#
together with dates# numbers# and code names. These allegations were answered by a writer in !&%urora#
'. Jac?ues Ploncard# who asserted that no prelate had been affiliated with a secret society since the time
of /harles I# the last of the Bourbons who ascended the throne in (9E=# and was dri!en out by the
re!olution of (9>C.
This was palpably false# as was pro!ed by determined in!estigators who carried the attack into enemy
territory. By one means or another# sometimes posing as members of the Do!ernment# they gained access
to the Italian Register of +ecret +ocieties# and drew up a much longer and more impressi!e list than that
published in the Borghese.
The particulars that follow are those of /ardinals# 6rchbishops# and Bishops who# as alleged by those who
e1amined it# figure in the Register. +ome ha!e died since the list was drawn up at one time it was said to
ha!e included one hundred and twenty%fi!e prelates. +ome of the offices ha!e changed hands.
But the names and ecclesiastical titles# with the dates on which they were initiated into a society# and their
secret code names# must call for serious consideration# e1cept from those /atholics who blindly follow the
rules# who hang upon the words of a priest# and who think it part of their faith to see no stain upon the
/hurch.
It may be noted that the code name often incorporates the first two letters of the cleric-s name.

2.
Agostino3 Cardinal Casaroli. +ecretary of +tate. ,refect of the +acred /ongregation of ,ublic
6ffairs# and of the +acred /ongregation of Bishops# and of the ,ontifical /ommission for the
Re!ision of /anon )aw. 7ember of the /ommission for Russia and of the /ommission for )atin
6merica. The most influential prelate in the Vatican after the ,ope# whose place he takes during
the absence of the latter. 2e is known as the *.issinger of Vatican diplomacy-. Initiated into a secret
society +eptember E9th# (<;F. +ecret code name /asa.

Leon Joseph3 Cardinal ;uenens. ,rimate of Belgium. 7ember of the ,ontifical /ommission for
the Re!ision of /anon )aw. Was acti!e in the +acred /ongregation of ,ropaganda ide# the
+acred /ongregation of Rites and /eremonies# and the +acred /ongregation of +eminaries and
Jni!ersity +tudies. 2e was a delegate and 7oderator of the +econd Vatican /ouncil# and he has
been associated with ,rotestant ,entecostalism# that reduces people to re!i!alist hysteria. Initiated
?une (;th# (<:F. /ode name )esu.

Jean3 Cardinal Villot. 2e was +ecretary of +tate to ,aul VI# and /amerlengo 4the /hamberlain
who takes o!er affairs at the Vatican on the death of a ,ope5. ,refect of the +acred /ongregation
for Religious and +ecular Institutes# and administrator of the ,atrimony of the 2oly +ee. 2e came
of a family which has produced o!er the last two hundred years# from father to son# Drand 7asters
of secret societies including the Rosicrucians.

Being aware that this had become known# he strenuously denied that he was associated in any
way with such societies. 'ne of his denials was contained in a letter# dated 'ctober >(st# (<F:#
sent from the Vatican by way of the ,apal 3unciature in ,aris# to the @irector of )ectures
ranQaises# a monthly publication. It ranB
o *2a!ing noticed that in your re!iew of +eptember (<F:# you referred to /ardinal Villot as a
member of a secret society# /ardinal Villot declares in the most formal fashion that he has
ne!er had# at any moment in his life# the least connection with any secret society. 2e
adheres closely to the condemnations imposed by the +o!ereign ,ontiffs. /ardinal Villot
begs the @irector of )ectures ranQaises to publish this denial in a future issue# and thanks
him in ad!ance.-

'ne cannot help wondering how /ardinal Villot# who appears to ha!e been afflicted with an
unusually short memory# managed to fulfill his office as +ecretary of +tate. or records show that
he was initiated into a secret society on 6ugust :th# (<::# and that in the hope of a!oiding
identification he was gi!en two code names# ?eani and Gurigo.

Achille3 Cardinal Lienart. Bishop of )ille. 2e was formerly a captain in the rench 6rmy# and a
life%long ultra%)iberal. 2e led the progressi!e forces at the +econd Vatican /ouncil# on which
account it was said that *his ideas were redder than his robes-. +hortly before his death he startled
those in the room by suddenly e1claimingB *2umanly speaking# the /hurch is dead.- Initiated
'ctober (;th# (<(E. /ode name could not be !erified.

Dgo3 Cardinal Poletti. Vicar%Deneral of the diocese of Rome# and so controller of all the clergy in
the city. 7ember of the +acred /ongregation of +acraments and of @i!ine Worship. ,resident of
,ontifical Works# and of the )iturgical 6cademy. 6rchpriest of the ,atriarchal Basilica of the
)ateran. Initiated ebruary (Fth# (<:<. /ode name Jpo.

ranco# /ardinal Biffi. 2ead of the +t. ?ohn )ateran ,ontifical Jni!ersity. Initiated 6ugust (;th#
(<:<. /ode name Bifra.
7ichele# /ardinal ,ellegrino. 6rchbishop of Turin where the 2oly +hroud is kept. Initiated 7ay End#
(<:C. /ode name ,almi.
+ebastiano# /ardinal Baggio. ,refect of the +acred /ongregation of Bishops. Initiated 6ugust (;th#
(<;F. /ode name +eba.
,as&uale# /ardinal 7acchi. ,relate of 2onour and secretary to ,aul VI. 6fter being
e1communicated for heresy# he was reinstated by /ardinal Villot. Initiated 6pril E>rd# (<;9. /ode
name 7apa.
+al!atore# /ardinal ,appalardo. 6rchbishop of ,alermo# +icily. Initiated 7ay :th# (<=>. /ode name
+alpo.
/ardinal Darrone. ,refect of the /ongregation for /atholic Aducation. 2e bra0enly let it be known
that he was a member of a secret society# but he was neither remo!ed nor publicly repro!ed. @ate
of initiation and code name could not be !erified.
Arch"ishop Anni"ale >ugnini. /onsultant in the +acred /ongregation of ,ropagation of the
aith# and in the +acred /ongregation of 2oly Rites. The story of his unmasking during the +econd
Vatican /ouncil has been told. @ied ?uly >rd# (<9E. Initiated 6pril E>rd# (<:>. /ode name Buan.
6rchbishop Dio!anni Benelli. 6rchbishop of lorence. 2e secured the appointment of /ardinal
Villot as +ecretary of +tate in place of the orthodo1 /ardinal /icognani. @ate of initiation and code
name could not be !erified.
6rchbishop 7ario Brini. /onsultor of the ,ontifical /ommission for the Re!ision of /anon )aw.
+ecretary of the +acred /ongregation for Aastern /hurches# and a member of the ,ontifical
/ommission for Russia. Initiated ?uly (>th# (<:<. /ode name 7abri.
Bishop 7ichele Buro. ,relate of the ,ontifical /ommission to )atin 6merica. Initiated 7arch E(st#
(<:<. /ode name Bumi.
Bishop ioren0o 6ngelini. Titular Bishop of 7assene# Dreece. @elegate of the /ardinal%Vicar of
Rome for 2ospitals. Initiated 'ctober (=th# (<;F. /ode name could not be !erified.
7onsignor 7ario Ri00i. ,relate of 2onour to the 2oly ather. 2e was responsible for discarding
certain /anon )aws which formed part of the foundation of the /hurch from 6postolic times.
Initiated +eptember (:th# (<:<. /ode name 7ari or 7onmari.
7onsignor ,io Vito ,into. 6ttachH of +ecretary of +tate# and 3otary of the +econd +ection of the
+upreme Tribunal and of the 6postolic +egnatura. 2e is listed as a !ery important person among
the societies. Initiated 6pril End# (<FC. /ode name ,impi.
7onsignor rancesco 7archisano. ,relate of 2onour to the 2oly ather. +ecretary of the
/ongregation for /atholic Aducation. Initiated ebruary (=th# (<:(. /ode name rama.
6urelio +abattani. 6rchbishop of Diustiniana# 7ilan ,ro!ince# Italy. irst +ecretary of the +upreme
6postolic +egnatura. Initiated ?une EEnd# (<:<. /ode name 6sa.
6bino 7ensa. 6rchbishop of Vercelli# ,iedmont# Italy. Initiated ?uly E>rd# (<:<. /ode name 7ena.
An0io @-6ntonio. 6rchbishop of Tri!ento. Initiated ?une E(st# (<:<. /ode name could not be
!erified.
6lessandro Dottardi. 6rchbishop of Trento# Italy. 2e controls candidates who are likely to be raised
to the dignity of /ardinal. 2e is addressed as *@octor- at secret society meetings. Initiated ?une
(>th# (<;<. /ode name 6lgo.
6ntonio Tra!ia. Titular Bishop of Termini Imerese. 2e is the head of /atholic schools. Initiated
+eptember (;th# (<:F. /ode name 6tra.
Diuseppe 7ario +ensi. Titular Bishop of +ardi# 6sia 7inor. ,apal 3uncio to ,ortugal. Initiated
3o!ember End# (<:F. /ode name Dimase.
rancesco +alerno. Bishop ,refect. Initiated 7ay =th# (<:E. /ode name +afra.
6ntonio 7a00a. Titular Bishop of Velia. Initiated 6pril (=th# (<F(. /ode name 7anu.
7ario +chierano. Titular Bishop of 6crida# /osen0a ,ro!ince# Italy. /hief 7ilitary /haplain of the
Italian 6rmed orces. Initiated ?uly >rd# (<;<. /ode name 7aschi.
)uigi 7a!erna. Bishop of /hia!ari# Denoa# Italy. Initiated ?une >rd# (<:9. /ode name )uma.
6ldo @el 7onte. Bishop of 3o!ara# ,iedmont# Italy. Initiated 6ugust E;th# (<:<. /ode name
6delmo.
7arcello 7organta. Bishop of 6scoli# ,iceno# in Aast Italy. Initiated ?uly EEnd# (<;;. /ode name
7orma.
)uigi Betta00i. Bishop of )yrea# Italy. Initiated 7ay llth# (<::. /ode name )ube.
Daetano Bonicelli. Bishop of 6lbano# Italy. Initiated 7ay (Eth# (<;<. /ode name Boga.
+al!atore Baldassarri. Bishop of Ra!enna# Italy. Initiated ebruary (Fth# (<;9. /ode name Balsa.
Vito Demmiti. 7ember of the +acred /ongregation of Bishops. Initiated 7arch E;th# (<:9. /ode
name Vige.
,ier )uigi 7a00oni. 7ember of the +acred /ongregation of Bishops. Initiated +eptember (=th#
(<;<. /ode name ,ilum.
Arnesto Basadonna. ,relate of 7ilan. Initiated +eptember (=th# (<:>. /ode name Base.
7ario Bicarelli. ,relate of Vicen0a# Italy. Initiated +eptember E>rd# (<:=. /ode name Bima.
+al!atore 7arsili. 6bbot of the 'rder of +t. Benedict of inalpia# near 7odena# Italy. Initiated ?uly
End# (<:>. /ode name +alma.
6nnibale Ilari. 6bbot of +ua +antita. Initiated 7arch (:th# (<:<. /ode name Ila.
ranco Dualdrini. Rector of /apri. Initiated 7ay EEnd# (<:(. /ode name Drefra.
)ino )o00a. /hancellor of the Rome 6cademy of +t. Thomas 6&uinas. Initiated ?uly E>rd# (<:<.
/ode name )oli.
@aima0io 7ongillo. ,rofessor of @ominican 7oral Theology# 2oly 6ngels Institute# Rome. Initiated
ebruary (:th# (<:<. /ode name 7onda.
laminio /erruti. /hief of the 'ffice of Jni!ersity of /ongregation +tudies. Initiated 6pril End# (<:C.
Anrico /hia!acci. ,rofessor of 7orals at the Jni!ersity of lorence. Initiated ?uly End# (<FC. /ode
name /hie.
/armelo 3igro. Rector of the +eminary ,ontifical of 7a$or +tudies. Initiated @ecember E(st# (<FC.
/ode name /arni.
/arlo Dra0iani. Rector of the 7inor +eminary of the Vatican. Initiated ?uly E>rd# (<:(. /ode name
Draca.
)uigi Belloli. Rector of the )ombardy +eminary. Initiated 6pril :th# (<;9. /ode name Bella.
Virgilio 3oe. 2ead of the +acred /ongregation of @i!ine Worship. Initiated 6pril >rd# (<:(. /ode
name Vino.
@ino 7ondu00i. Regent to the ,refect of the ,ontifical 2ouse. Initiated 7arch ((th# (<:F. /ode
name 7ondi.
Vittorio ,alistra. )egal /ounsel to the +acred Rota of the Vatican +tate. Initiated 7ay :th# (<=>.
/ode name ,a!i.
Diuseppe erraioli. 7ember of the +acred /ongregation of ,ublic 6ffairs of the /hurch. Initiated
3o!ember E=th# (<:<. /ode name Dife.
6lberto Bo!one. +ubstitute%+ecretary of the +acred 'ffice. Initiated 6pril >Cth# (<:F.
Ter0o 3attelino. Vice%,refect of the 6rchi!es of +ecretariat of the Vatican. Initiated ?une (Fth#
(<;F. /ode name 3ate.
Deorgio Vale. ,riest official of the Rome diocese. Initiated ebruary E(st# (<F(. /ode name Vagi.
@ante Balboni. 6ssistant to the Vatican ,ontifical /ommission for Biblical +tudies. Initiated ?uly
E>rd# (<:9. /ode name Balda.
Vittorio Trocchi. +ecretary for /atholic )aity in /onsistory of the Vatican +tate /onsultations.
Initiated ?uly (Eth# (<:E. /ode name Tro!i.
,iero Vergari. 2ead ,rotocol 'fficer of the Vatican +tate +egnatura. 2e controls /anon )aw
changes. Initiated @ecember (=th# (<FC. /ode name ,i!e.
@ante ,as&uinelli. 7ember of the /ouncil of the 3uncio to 7adrid. Initiated ?anuary (Eth# (<:<.
/ode name ,ada.
7ario ,impo. Vicar of the 'ffice of Deneral 6ffairs. Initiated 7arch (;th# (<FC. /ode name ,ima.
Igino Rogger. 'fficer in the diocese of Rome. Initiated 6pril (:th# (<:9. /ode name Igno.
,ietro Rossano. 7ember of the +acred /ongregation of non/hristian +tudies. Initiated ebruary
(Eth# (<:9. /ode name ,iro.
rancesco +antangelo. +ubstitute%Deneral of @efence )egal /ouncil. Initiated 3o!ember (Eth#
(<FC. /ode name rasa.
Daetano +canagatta. 7ember of the /ommission of ,ompeii and )oreto. Initiated +eptember E>rd#
(<F(. /ode name Dasca.
,io )aghi. 6postolic @elegate to 6rgentina. Initiated 6ugust E=th# (<:<. /ode name )api.
,ietro +antini. Vice%'fficial of the Tribunal of the Vicariate of the Vatican. Initiated 6ugust E>rd#
(<:=. /ode name +apa.
@omenico +emproni. 7ember of the Tribunal of the. Vicariate of the Vatican. Initiated 6pril (:th#
(<:C. /ode name @ose.
6ngelo )an0oni. /hief of the 'ffice of +ecretariat of +tate. Initiated +eptember E=th# (<;:. /ode
name )ana.
Dio!anni )a$ola. 7ember of the /ouncil of ,ublic 6ffairs of the /hurch. Initiated ?uly EFth# (<FC.
/ode name )agi.
Venerio 7a00i. 7ember of the /ouncil of ,ublic 6ffairs of the /hurch. Initiated 'ctober (>th# (<::.
/ode name 7a!e.
6ntonio Dregagnin. 2e is the Tribune of irst /auses for Beatification for /anonisation. Initiated
'ctober (<th# (<:F. /ode name Drea.
Dio!anni /aprile. @irector of /atholic /i!il 6ffairs. Initiated +eptember ;th# (<;F. /ode name Dica.
Roberto Tucci. @irector%Deneral of the Vatican Radio. 6 most important post since this station
emits news round the clock in thirty%two languages. Initiated ?une EFth# (<;F. /ode name Turo.
Virgilio )e!i. 6ssistant%@irector of the Vatican daily newspaper )-'sser!atore Romano# and of
Vatican Radio +tation. Initiated ?uly =th# (<;9. /ode name Vile.
There are ;E: 7asonic )odges in Italy. In !iew of that# their admitted membership of only EC#CCC is
&uestionable.
The +rench Register of Secret Societies is more closely guarded than the Italian# so that particulars of
recent initiations cannot be &uoted. The most sustained list of clerics belonging to rench secret societies
co!ers a few decades preceding the rench Re!olution# and it numbered# e!en at a time when infiltration of
the /hurch by its enemies was on a smaller scale than it soon attained# some E;: members.

.. In ,relates et rancs%7aQons. 42enri /oston# ,aris# (<F9.5
Part ;i&
When money speaks# the truth remains silent.
Russian pro!erb.
The ad!enturer 'ichele ;indona was already at the head of a !ast financial empire when his friend Pope
Paul VI# in (<:<# made use of his ser!ices as financial ad!iser to the Vatican. The +icilian-s influence on
both sides of the 6tlantic was sufficient to ensure that he recei!ed uni!ersal respect" irrespecti!e of
personal character. The 6merican ambassador in Rome referred to +indona as *the man of the year-# and
Time maga0ine was later to call him *the greatest Italian since 7ussolini-.
2is connection with the Vatican increased his status# and his business operations# carried out with the
de1terity of a spider spinning a web# soon placed him on a near footing with the more political and publicly
ad!ertised +othschilds and +oc2e8ellers. 2e burrowed into banks and foreign e1change agencies#
outwitted partners as well as ri!als# and always emerged in a controlling capacity.
2e in!ested money under assumed or other persons- names# disposing of and di!erting funds# always with
set purpose# and he pulled strings for the underground acti!ities of the /entral Intelligence 6gency as well
as for more secret bodies# that brought about political repercussions in Auropean centers. 6ll this was done
with an air of confidential propriety and by methods that would not ha!e sur!i!ed the most casual
e1amination# carried out by the most inefficient accountant.
'ne of his early banking contacts was with 2ambro# and from that followed a list that came to include the
Pri#ata 0taliana# (anca 6nione# and the (anco di Messina# a +icilian bank that he later owned. 2e held a
ma$ority stake in the +ran)lin /ational (an) of /ew 8or)# controlled a
network that co!ered nine banks# and became !ice%president of three of
them. The real assets of those banks were transferred to ta1 shelters such
as +wit0erland# )u1embourg# and )iberia.
Before long he had taken o!er the ranklin 3ational# with its (C= branches
and assets of more than fi!e billion dollars#
despite an 6merican law that forbade direct ownership of any bank by groups with other financial interests.
But a way round this was found by the then ,resident 3i1on# and by +indona-s friend and share
manipulator @a!id .ennedy# a former secretary to the Jnited +tates treasury and that country-s
ambassador to !A/O.
6t one time it was reckoned that the amount in!ol!ed in his foreign speculations alone e1ceeded twenty
billion dollars. 6part from the interests already named# two Russian banks and the 3ational Westminster
were finger deep in his transactions. 2e was president of se!en Italian companies# and the managing
director of se!eral more# with shares in the ,aramount ,ictures /orporation# 7editerranean 2olidays# and
the @ominican sugar trade. 2e had a !oice on the board of )ibby-s# the /hicago food combine. 2e bought a
steel foundry in 7ilan.
It was only to be e1pected that# when estimating such a man# his past and his character counted for less
than the $ingle in his pocket. 3ew friends# ac&uaintances# public figures# and distant relati!es pressed
forward for a sight of the +indona smile" and among them was a churchman# 'onsignor Ameleto /ondini.
Through him the financier met 'assimo ;pada# who managed the affairs of the Vatican bank# or# to gi!e it
a more innocuous title# the Institute for Religious Works.
Its main concern was with the handling of Vatican in!estments# which to some e1tent came under a body
known as the ,atrimony of the 6postolic +ee. That had come into e1istence# as a financial entity# in (<E<#
under one of the conditions of the )ateran Treaty concluded with 7ussolini.
It had since outgrown the limitations imposed by the Treaty# and had taken on truly international dimensions
under a conglomerate of bankers including ?ohn ,ierpont 7organ of 3ew 8ork# the ,aris Rothschilds# and
the 2ambros Bank of )ondon. Its clerical super!isor was 7onsignor 4soon to be /ardinal5 ;ergio 0uerri.
+pada# who was the chairman of )ancia# became chairman of a part ecclesiastical# part financial institution#
known as the Pius 900 +oundation for the !ay %postleship# a !ery wealthy concern which was later taken
o!er by Cardinal Villot# who was in many ways a reflection of ,aul VI.

2.
There is always a sinister side to big money dealings# and one of +indona-s associates# 0iorgio
Am"rosoli# became increasingly ner!ous as the carrying out of increasing frauds kept pace with the profits#
and with the effects they produced in se!eral Auropean social# economic# and political structures. 2e
e1pressed his doubts to ;indona 4image left5# who brushed them aside. But he did not do the same with
6mbrosoli. Instead he made him the ob$ect of rumour and surrounded him with a network of suspicion. 6nd
one more unsol!ed crime was added to the Italian police register when Am"rosoli 4image below right5 was
shot dead outside his house by *unknown assassins-.
A!en before +indona was concerned with its in!estment policy# the Vatican# despite its condemnation of
money%power in the past# was hea!ily in!ol!ed in the capitalist system. It had interests in the Rothschild
Bank in rance# and in the /hase 7anhattan Bank with its fifty%se!en branches in forty%four countries" in
the /redit +uisse in Gurich and also in )ondon" in the 7organ Bank# and in the Banker Trust. It had large
share holdings in Deneral 7otors# Deneral Alectric# +hell 'il# Dulf 'il# and in Bethlehem +teel.
Vatican representati!es figured on the board of insider which# with its capital of (<; million lire spread
through twenty%four companies# produced ninety per cent of Italian steel# besides controlling two shipping
lines and the 6lfa Romeo firm. 7ost of the Italian lu1ury hotels# including the Rome 2ilton# were also among
the items that figured in the Vatican share portfolio.
+indona-s influence at the Vatican# deri!ing from his earlier friendship with ,aul VI# and the recent meetings
with +pada# was soon felt in much the same way as it had been in the outer world.
2e assumed complete control of the Banca ,ri!ata.

2e bought the +eltrinelli publishing house# and the Vatican shared in its income
despite the fact that some of its
productions included calls to street !iolence and secret society propaganda. The
same &uarter ga!e support to )eft%wing
Trades Jnions# and to the none too healthy work# often on the seamy side of the law#
conducted by the /entral Intelligence
6gency. The same lack of discernment was shown by the fact that one of the firms
that helped to swell the Sindona Vatican
funds had been making# at least for a time# contracepti!e pills.
.
'ther and more direct Vatican commitments were with the Ceraica Pozzi which
supplied taps# sanitary e&uipment# and bidets# and with a chemical group# again with 2ambros in the
background# that manufactured synthetic fibres for te1tiles. Vatican representati!es appeared on the boards
of Italian and +wiss banks# and their influence was increasingly felt in the management of holding
companies in many parts of the Western world.
6nother *shut eye- operation was when Cardinal Casaroli concluded an agreement with /ommunist
authorities# whereby one of the Vatican companies erected a factory in Budapest.
6lmost within hearing distance of the work was another /ardinal# 'inds(ent%# 6rchbishop of 2ungary who#
abandoned by Rome because of his anti%/ommunist stand# had taken refuge in the 6merican Ambassy
after the aborti!e (<;: uprising.
2ad it been possible to conduct a genuine in&uiry at that time# the names of Vatican officials would ha!e
been found figuring in some of ,resident 3i1on-s complicated !entures. +o much emerges when# by
steering a way through a mass of often contradictory manoeu!res# one pin%points the Vatican ownership of
the Deneral Immobiliare# one of the world-s largest construction companies which dealt in land speculation#
built motorways and the ,an 6m offices# to &uote but a few of its operations# and also controlled a ma$or
part of the Watergate comple1 in Washington. It was thereby enabled to build# and own# the series of lu1ury
buildings on the banks of the Ri!er ,otomac that became the head&uarters of the @emocratic electoral
campaign in (<FE.
The management of the Generale 0obiliare was in the hands of Count 9nrico 0alea((i# the director of
an in!estment
and credit company 4estimated capital twenty%fi!e billion lire5# who could so freely come and go at the
Vatican that he was known as the laypope.
The Holy See became a substantial partner in +indona-s commercial and industrial empire in the spring of
(<:< when# in answer to calls from ,aul VI# the financier made se!eral !isits to the Vatican where the two
men met# in the ,ope-s study on the third floor# at midnight. 4'nly# so far as the minor clerics and staff of
the Vatican were concerned# and according to the ,ope-s appointment book that was duly *doctored- before
being entered up# it was not 2is 2oliness who conferred with +indona but Cardinal 0uerri# who in all
probability was sleeping at the time.5
Besides wishing to fortify the Vatican-s in!estment policy# the ,ope was concerned with maintaining the
/hurch-s non%liability for Do!ernment control# in the shape of ta1# of its currency and assets. That
e1emption# with the /hristian @emocrats heading a four%party coalition since the end of the +econd World
War# had ne!er been seriously &uestioned. But new !oices were now being heard. The Vatican was named
as the biggest ta1%e!ader in post%war Italy# and there was a growing demand for its arrears to be settled.
6nother member of this sanctified business circle was Paul 'arcin2us 4image left5# one of a )ithuanian
family who had emigrated to /hicago. 2e was in the good books of 'onsignor Pas?uali 'acchi# the
,ope-s personal secretary# and had so far not been prominent in any pastoral field. 2is most practical
e1perience# in the sphere of /hurch acti!ity had been gained when# due to his standing si1 feet four in his
socks# and his long powerful arms 4which earned him the nickname of *gorilla-5 he super!ised the guarding
of ,aul VI during his tra!els. ,aul made him a Bishop.
6s controller of the Vatican Bank# a post that was handed to him by Paul VI# he was responsible for more
than (C#CCC accounts belonging to Religious 'rders and to pri!ate indi!iduals# including the ,ope. The
number of the latter-s account# by the way# was (:.(:. 2e handled the Vatican-s secret funds and its gold
reser!es at ort .no1# and he transferred a substantial part of the funds# in the hope of making a &uick
profit# to the +indona holdings.
2e was also ,resident of the 0nstitute for Religious Training# and a director of the /ontinental Illinois Bank
of 3assau. 2is rise was neither une1pected nor brought about without influence being e1erted# for on ?uly
End# (<:># 'arcin2us followed the e1ample of those many clerics who# in defiance of /anon E>>;# had
$oined a secret society. 2is code name was 7arpa.
Taking ad!antage of the fact that clerical garb was no longer essential# 7arcinkus shouldered his way
through the fringes# then into the colourful noisy heart# of Roman society. 2e was the affluent manager of
one of the city-s most influential# pri!ileged# and respected banks. 2e lounged at bars# $oined e1clusi!e
clubs that had hitherto been en!ied and far%off places to him# and showed his animal strength on the links
by sending numerous golf balls into obli!ion. In time his blatant playboy attitude annoyed the more
established Roman community# who turned a cold shoulder. It would seem that he had little more than
gangling brawn to recommend him. But there were always plenty of 6mericans# who were there on
business# to take their place# though e!en they were shocked when the Bishop was said to be in!ol!ed in
fraudulent bankruptcy.
7eanwhile the first warnings# con!eyed by hints of danger# were reaching ;indona and the Vatican from
many parts of the world. The current call was to transfer money to the Jnited +tates# as e!ents in Aurope
pointed to political unrest and economic collapse" and the future of the ranklin Bank# in which +indona and
the Vatican were hea!ily in!ol!ed# became highly doubtful following a series of disastrous speculations.
There were frantic efforts to persuade more secure banks to buy outright# or at least re%float# the ranklin.
/alls went out from 'ontini to arrange the transfer of Vatican in!estments to a safer ha!en.
It was not that +indona had lost his touch" but world forces# assisted by enemies in the 7afia who en!ied
+indona-s rise# were pro!ing too much for the maintenance of far%flung !entures like some o!er which he
had presided. 6ware that he was standing on shaky ground# +indona tried to gain the support of the 3i1on
administration# by offering a million dollars# which perhaps could ha!e materiali0ed only if the deal had been
accepted# for the ,resident-s electoral fund. But as ;indona# for ob!ious reasons# insisted on not being
named# and since the acceptance of anonymous gifts for an election was forbidden by law# his offer was
declined. It was disappointing for all concerned that it impinged upon one of the few laws that e!en the
elastic ederal system could not openly stretch.
+indona made a final gesture in the appro!ed style of a 2ollywood gangster. 2e threw a la!ish and
spectacular e!ening party at Rome-s foremost hotel 4that was probably owned by the Vatican5 which was
attended by the 6merican ambassador# Cardinal Caprio 4who had been in charge of Vatican in!estments
before the arri!al of 7arcinkus5# and the accommodating /ardinal Duerri.
7arcinkus merely came in for a great deal of blame. 2is operations with Vatican funds# said 'onsignor
>enelli# one of his critics# had been intolerable. But 7arcinkus# who knew too much of what went on behind
the scenes at the Vatican# could not be abandoned# and he was gi!en a diplomatic post in the /hurch.
;indona had been tipped off# by one of his hirelings who was also employed by the secret ser!ice# that a
warrant was out for his arrest. But he bluffed and drank his way through the festi!ities# went off for a time to
his lu1ury !illa in Dene!a# then took a plane to 3ew 8ork.
There# pending actual charges# he was kept under a form of mild sur!eillance. But it seems that some of
those who were detailed to watch him belonged to the 7afia# and the ne1t the ,ope heard of his former
ad!iser was that he had been shot and wounded in a scuffle.
It was easy enough# by del!ing into his past that was more than ankle%deep in great and petty swindles#
and now that he was no longer a power to be reckoned with# to bring him to trial" and an attempted kidnap
case# and widespread bribery# were now added to the charges against him. When the obliging /ardinal
Duerri heard of this# he seems to ha!e become suddenly con!inced# perhaps because his name had
figured in talks that clinched the bargaining between ,ontiff and financier# that ;indona was a much
maligned man. 2e wanted to go to 3ew 8ork and testify on his behalf.
But the ,ope# aware of Duerri-s easy%going nature# and not wanting the e1tent of his own co%operation with
the accused to be dragged out in the witness bo1# kept Duerri in Rome.
The trial ended# in the autumn of (<9C# with +indona recei!ing a sentence of twenty%fi!e years-
imprisonment. ew# apart from those members of the public who e1pressed indignation as the financial
antics of +indona were made known to them for the first time# belie!e that such a sentence will e!er be
ser!ed. 6t least one anti%clerical paper suggested that ,ope ,aul was lucky not to ha!e been put on the
stand alongside his banker.
6s it was# the ,ope was left with two reminders of their partnership. The /hurch had sustained a hea!y
financial loss which meant# as the ,ope asserted with a &uite gratuitous beating of the breast# that the
(ride of Christ was face to face with bankruptcy" while there was a new administrati!e agency for finance
that he had founded as a result of +indona-s help.
6t the head of this was Cardinal Vagno((i# 6postolic @elegate in 3ew 8ork. 2e was assisted by Cardinal
:oe88ner# of /ologne# and Cardinal John Cod% of /hicago.

3.
The last named of that trio was soon to make a sensational entry into the news. /ardinal ?ohn ,atrick
/ody# aged se!enty%three# the son of a +t. )ouis fireman# was 6rchbishop of the largest Roman /atholic
diocese in 6merica. 2e therefore had the handling of many thousands of ta1%e1empt ecclesiastical funds.
6nd in the autumn of (<9( his congregation was o!erwhelmed# as only loyal /hurch members can be# by
rumours that soon became facts# to the effect that the Jnited +tates 6ttorney-s office in /hicago was
looking into /ody-s financial affairs.
6 ederal Drand ?ury had also asked for the records of a +t. )ouis in!estment company# where a certain
'rs. :elen 4olan Wilson had an account# to be e1amined.
The in&uiry# most unusual in the case of a contemporary /ardinal# turned upon what was called the
di!erting# disposition# or misuse of /hurch funds amounting to more than R;CC#CCC in Anglish money. It
also came to light that the 3ational /onference of /atholic Bishops had lost more than four million dollars in
a single year# during which time the /ardinal had been treasurer.
The 7rs. Wilson referred to# of the same age as the /ardinal# was !ariously referred to as a relation of his
by marriage# as his sister# as a niece# while /ody usually spoke of her as his cousin. 2er father# more
precise $udgments claimed# had married the /ardinal-s aunt# while others were sure that no real blood
relationship e1isted between them. The couple concerned said that a brother and sister relationship# begun
in their childhood in +t. )ouis# was their only tie.
*We were raised together-# e1plained 7rs. Wilson. Their remaining close friends was therefore a natural
de!elopment. They tra!elled together# and for the past twenty%fi!e years she had followed his e!ery mo!e
about the diocese. 2e had become# in the religious sense# her *super!isor-# a role that she found beneficial
when her marriage# which left her with a son# ended in the di!orce court.
It was easy enough for the /ardinal to place her# as manager# in an office connected with the /hurch in +t.
)ouis. 2er appearances there were far from regular but# whether working or not# she nonetheless remained
on the /hurch-s pay%roll. 2e also helped her son to set up business# in the same town# as an insurance
agent# a post that Wilson resigned when# with the /ardinal# he started dealing in *real estate-.
'rs. Wilson retired# after ha!ing earned a modest R=#CCC a year# but before long she was known to be
worth nearly a million dollars# mostly in stocks and bonds. +he was also the beneficiary of a hundred
thousand dollars insurance policy# taken out on the /ardinal-s life# on which she borrowed.
The in&uiries made by the ederal Drand ?ury# and publici0ed by the Chicago Tribune and Sun,Ties#
brought forth a flood of allegations. The /ardinal had made o!er most of the missing money to her. ,art of
it had gone in buying her a house at Boca Raton# in lorida. There had also been a lu1ury car# e1pensi!e
clothes and furs# and holiday cash presents.
The /ardinal# though saddened and feeling re$ected because of the allegations# was firm in saying that he
didn-t need a chance to contradict them. 2e was ready to forgi!e all those responsible. 7rs. Wilson was
e&ually firm in saying that she had recei!ed no money from the /ardinal. To say that there was anything
more than friendship between them was a !icious lie# or e!en a $oke. +he strongly resented being
scandali0ed# and being portrayed as a kept woman or 4as her fellow%countrymen put it5 *a tramp-.
2ad it not been for the many falls from grace that ha!e o!ertaken the modern /hurch# a case like this
would scarcely ha!e merited more than a mention. But now it prompts &uestions. Was it a frame%up# part of
the age%long wish to bring the /hurch into disrepute? Was the /ardinal personally corrupt? 'r was he one
of the infiltrators who# without any real religious con!iction# ha!e been secretly fostered into the /hurch for
the sole purpose of wearing away its moral and traditional fabric?
There is# in the light of other strange happenings that ha!e occurred# nothing e1tra!agant in that
suggestion" and it would seem to be borne out by a long report in The Chicago Catholic of +eptember E<th#
(<F9. 6n 6rchdiocesan )iturgical /ongress was held in order# as one of the $argon%cra0ed 7odernists said#
to keep the /hurch *li!ing# mo!ing# changing# growing# becoming new# after some centuries of partial
paralysis.-
6s part of that process# dance groups frolicked under flashing multi%coloured lights# trumpets blared# people
reached and scrambled for gas%filled balloons# and donned buttons that bore the message *?esus lo!es us-"
while a priest# who was looked upon as an e1pert in the new liturgy# his face whitened like a clown-s#
paraded about in a top hat and with a grossly e1aggerated potbelly emerging from the cloak he wore.
The background to all this was made up of !estments# banners# and the hotch%potch of a mural# all of
which# in the appro!ed style of *modern art-# re!ealed no more than casually applied splashes of paint. The
7ass that marked the close of this truly ridiculous /ongress 4that# as we shall see# was only a faint
reflection of what happened elsewhere# and which would ne!er ha!e been dreamt of before the days of
*Good Pope 'ohn-5 was presided o!er by Cardinal Cod%.
6t another time The Chicago Tribune# in a report describing what was said to be a *Days- altar-# referred to
a concelebration 4meaning celebration of the Aucharist by two or more priests5 at a church in that cityB 'ne
hundred and twenty%two priests were present at what passed for 7ass# and e!ery one of them was a self%
confessed moral per!ert.
3either of these profanities called forth a word of protest from ?ohn ,atrick# /ardinal /ody.
2e died of a heart attack in 6pril# (<9E# while this book was in preparation.

.. 8et ,ope ,aul critici0ed the capitalist system in his social encyclical Populoru Progressio on the
de!elopment of peoples.
Part ;e@en
Woe to him who doesn-t know how to wear his mask# be he .ing or ,ope.
,irandello.
The gi!e%and%take of human relationships poses a more difficult problem than those that are normally
accredited to science. or the latter will# in all probability# be sol!ed in time" but when it comes to people#
especially those who are no longer among the li!ing# we are faced with &uestions that# in this our world# are
unlikely to be answered.
or instance# it has to be asked why did two prelates# within a few months of each other# both die in
circumstances that are not normally connected with any churchman# and# more especially in these cases#
highly placed ones?
When a party of ,arisians# after ha!ing attended a religious festi!al in the country# returned to the capital
late at night on +unday# 7ay (<th# (<F=# some of them noticed that the priest who had been in charge of
them looked ill and tired.
2e was Jean 4aniElou# si1ty%nine years old# and a /ardinal" no cut and dried character# but someone
difficult to place in the minds of ordinary people who knew !ery little about him. 2e had entered a ?esuit
no!itiate in (<E<# and had been ordained nine years later. The author of fourteen books on theology# and
the Head of the Theological +aculty at the 6ni#ersity of Paris# he was also a member of the %cad"ie
+ran:aise.
While re!ealing little# he made certain statements about himself that in!ited &uestions" e!en contro!ersy. *I
am naturally a pagan# and a /hristian only with difficulty-# was one of them# though that# of course#
e1presses a point a !iew held by many of his creed who know that little more than a knife edge e1ists
between affirmation and disbelief. 2e was aware of new elements# that were forming and gathering
strength within the /hurch# and although he $udged freely *6 kind of fear has spread leading to real
intellectual capitulation in the face of carnal e1cesses- the conser!ati!es were no more able to number
him among their kind than were the more !ocal progressi!es. 2e was one of the founders# in (<:F# of the
+raternity of %braha# an interfaith group comprising the three monotheistic religions# Islam# ?udaism# and
/hristianity.
*Today is a time when we sin against intelligence.- Both sides could ha!e claimed that as a dictum. +ome
accused him# when he appeared to hold back# of being prudish. But always he claimed to be uncommitted.
*I feel in the depths of my being that I am a free man.- But freedom# when it is not a political catchword# can
no more be tolerated in the world than truth 4as the peasant girl ?oan of 6rc had reali0ed centuries before5.
6nd the more @aniHlou withdrew from society# and li!ed &uietly at his residence in the Rue 3otre%@ame des
/hamps# without keeping a secretary or running a car# the more he became suspect# or openly disliked.
3one of this escaped him# but he tried not to dwell upon it. 2ad he done so# he owned that he would ha!e
been discouraged# a self%e!ident failure who had not taken ad!antage of the promise that was made
a!ailable by his rise in the /hurch. )ater he found# or at least came to belie!e# that opponents were
scheming and plotting against him. There was# indeed# a definite campaign of whispers and hints in the
,ress that compelled him# though it was more a matter of choice than the force of actual opposition# to
maintain a steadily but relati!ely unimpressi!e place on the fringe of things.
+o he remained# a problematic figure who arri!ed home on that +unday midnight after an e1hausting day in
the country. But 7onday brought no change in his routine. 2e said 7ass# as usual# at eight o-clock# then
worked in his office and recei!ed a few !isitors. 2e lunched at a restaurant# and afterwards called at the
home of a ,rofessor at the +orbonne.
It appears# for some une1plained reason# that part of his mail went to an address in the Rue 7onsieur" for
he collected this# was back at his house at three o-clock# then left a &uarter of an hour later# after saying
that he e1pected to return at fi!e.
But he did not. or at three forty%eight the police recei!ed an urgent message from a 'adame ;antoni#
who occupied an upper floor at number fifty%si1 in the Rue @ulong# a none too reputable &uarter $ust north
of the Boule!ard des Batignolles.
2er message brought the police rushing to the scene# for it told them that no less a person than a /ardinal
was dead on her premises.
2e# @aniHlou# had called there soon after three%thirty. 2e had# so someone told her# run up the stairs four at
a time# then collapsed at the top# purple in the face# and soon became unconscious. +he had torn his
clothes apart# and summoned help. But it was impossible to re!i!e him# and the first arri!als had been
helplessly looking on when his heart stopped.
In answer to a radio announcement of the /ardinal-s death# the 6postolic 3uncio# with the ?esuit ,ro!incial
of rance# and 5ather Coste# +uperior of the ?esuits in ,aris# arri!ed at the apartment# together with
reporters from the +rance Soir# and nuns who were called in to deal with the body that was# howe!er#
already too rigid to be prepared for the funeral.
ather /oste addressed the reporters. It was essential for them to maintain the utmost discretion# and#
ha!ing said that# he went on to state that the /ardinal had died in the street# or it may possibly ha!e been
on the stairway# after he had fallen in the street.
*'h no# it wasn-t-# broke in 'adame ;antoni. ather /oste ob$ected to her interruption# the other clerics
$oined in# the police had their say# the reporters asked &uestions# and at the height of the argument#
although no one actually witnessed her going# 7adame +antoni disappeared and was seen no more at the
in&uiry.
3ow the lady in &uestion thoroughly deser!ed the title of 7adame. +he was well known to the police and to
the ,ress# a twenty%four year old blonde who traded under the name of Mii# sometimes as hostess at a
bar# a go%go girl at an all night cabaret# or as a strip%tease dancer in the ,igalle. +he was ne!er on call at
her home# which was run as a bawdy%house by her husband. It was then# howe!er# temporarily out of
business# as he had been con!icted only three days pre!iously for pimping.
+uch e1planations as the /hurch chose to offer were !ague# and all in line with the general !erdict that the
/ardinal had burst a blood%!essel# or suffered a heart attack. Cardinal 'art%# the 6rchbishop of ,aris#
refused a re&uest from /atholics as well as from secular &uarters for an in&uiry to be held into the
/ardinal-s death. 6fter all# he e1plained# the /ardinal wasn-t there to speak for himself. It may ha!e been an
unfortunate afterthought that caused the 6rchbishop to speak of the /ardinal needing to defend himself.

The eulogy was deli!ered in Rome by Cardinal 0arrone who saidB
*God grant us pardon. 'ur e1istence cannot fail to include an element of weakness and shadow.-
'ne may wonder how deep Darrone-s soul%searching may ha!e gone since# although he was known to
belong to a secret society# he bra0enly sat it out and held on to his red hat. 6 comment by the orthodo1
$ournal !a Croi5 was briefer and more to the pointB
*Whate!er the truth is# we /hristians well know that each of us is a sinner.-
This sort of happening supplied the )eft%wing anti%clerical papers with copy for a week. 'ne such# !e
Canard 3nchaine
.
# had scored hea!ily some years before# in a contro!ersy o!er the ownership of a string
of brothels within a few yards of the cathedral in )e 7ans. The paper claimed that they were owned by a
high dignitary of the /hurch. 2is friends and colleagues strongly denied this. But the paper was pro!ed to
ha!e been right. 3ow the same source had no hesitation in saying that the /ardinal had been leading a
double life.
2e had been under obser!ation for some time# a step that was ordered by no less a person than 7. /hirac#
the ,rime 7inister. 2e and Jac?ues 5occard# a former 7inister of the Interior# both knew perfectly well
that the /ardinal had been paying regular !isits to 7imi.
That in turn was ridiculed by @aniHlou-s supporters" whereupon the paper retorted that there might be more
re!elations to come. *If we were to publish all the details# it would be enough to shut you up for the rest of
your natural days.-
The truth of this strange story may lie in one of four possible e1planations.
'ne may ha!e its origin in the effects of the Second Vatican Council. @aniHlou was said by some to ha!e
regarded that as a
positi!e disaster# and we know that he described the more liberal school of theologians# to which the
/ouncil ga!e rise# as lamentable# miserable# e1ecrable# wretched. 7any resented this# especially when he
went on to call them *assassins of the aith-. 2e determined to do what he could to pre!ent the aith being
seculari0ed and degraded# and this led him to think# since human tempers are $ust as hot within the /hurch
as they are outside it# that he was in danger. That would account for the somewhat enclosed life he led in
,aris.
But he let it be known that he was determined to make a stand# and he drew up a list of those he called
traitors to the /hurch. +ome of those whose names were included breathed fire against him# but he publicly
announced that he intended to publish the list.
our days later# according to a theory held by many who are certainly not light%weights# he was murdered
by those he would ha!e named. Then# inspired by a kind of macabre humour# those he had called
*assassins- had his body taken out and dumped in a brothel. 6fter that# the surprising disco!ery could easily
be arranged.
That is written in full knowledge of how outrageous it must appear to those who regard the /hurch from a
purely parochial le!el" in happy ignorance of its medie!al history that was destined to be repeated# with all
the cut%and%thrust and poisoned cups of that period# in a few years- time# and within the !ery walls of the
Vatican palace.
'r could 4aniElou ha!e been# earlier in life# one of those infiltrators whose influence he came to detest?
@id he# after being initiated into one of the secret societies opposed to the /hurch# undergo a change of
heart# which caused him to be looked upon as a menace? There is ample e!idence that the societies had#
and still ha!e# no scruples in dealing with defaulters.
That suggestion is not without substance. or in the Rue ,uteau1# ,aris# there is an ancient church# the
crypt of which ser!es as the Grand Teple of the Grand !odge of +rance. +ome three years before
@aniHlou-s death the 6u1iliary Bishop of ,aris# 4aniel PE(eril# had there been recei!ed into the )odge#
after he had issued a communi&uH to $ustify his action. In it he saidB *It is not the /hurch which has
changed.
'n the contrary# 7asonry has e!ol!ed.- It was 7onsignor ,H0eril who was asked# by ,ope ,aul# to seek a
way of bridging the gap between the /hurch and the societies.
Cardinal 4aniElou had been a not infre&uent !isitor to the crypt# where he was seen in consultation with
one of the )odge 7asters who had been honoured with the title of Drand +ecretary of the 'bedience. It
must therefore be asked# does the answer to the mystery lie with those with whom @aniHlou had conferred
in the crypt?
But the story circulated by the satirical papers was the most shrill and insistent# and the most commonly
known. They claimed that it had been ob!ious# to those who had been in 7adame 7imi-s apartment before
the police arri!ed# that @aniHlou-s body had been hurriedly dressed. 6nd if he had not been one of her
clients# why had he gone there with three thousand francs that were found in his pocket%book? The
pur!eyors of such scandal concluded that the /ardinal had died in a state of ecstasy# if not of grace.
8et another !ersion brings the story more up to date# with a trial that has now 4the time is 3o!ember# (<9(5
passed through its opening stage in ,aris.
'n /hristmas A!e# (<F:# Prince Jean de >roglie was shot dead by a gunman as he left a friend-s house.
The necessary in&uiries brought a far reaching web of fraud# complicity# and blackmail into the open#
in!ol!ing the former ,resident Discard d-Astaing and a friend of his# Prince 'ichel Poniato,s2i.
The latter had recently ousted and taken the place of ?ac&ues occard as 7inister of the Interior# and
occard was now using a woman# who was known also to Discard# to get money from the ,rince. occard
has already been mentioned in connection with the @aniHlou case.
+ince the known operation is ob!iously part of a !ast co!er%up# it is no more possible# than it is necessary
here# to unra!el
the details# which lea!e all those concerned in a !ery murky light. But it is claimed that they account for
@aniHlou-s being
in the brothel# and for the three thousand francs that were found on his person. They were one of the
installments that he
had been paying# for the past three months# on behalf of someone# referred to as a friend of his# who was
being blackmailed.
6 most disarming finale to all this came in the form of a line or two in an Anglish religious weekly# the
/atholic 2erald# which briefly announced that Cardinal 4aniElou had died in ,aris.
2.
Brief though the memory of the public is# there may ha!e been a few lingering thoughts on /ardinal
@aniHlou-s mysterious death in the minds of some ,arisians who noticed a Bishop from the south%west of
their country step from a train on the afternoon of ?anuary the (Eth# (<F;.
2e was 'onsignor +oger /ort# fifty%se!en years old# and Bishop of 7ontauban# on the Ri!er Tam $ust
north of Toulouse. 2e was due to attend a meeting of the rench Apiscopal /ommission# and he
straightway proceeded to a room he had booked at the head&uarters of the /atholic 6id +ociety in the Rue
de Bac. 2is mo!ements for the ne1t couple of days are unrecorded# but on Thursday the (;th he lunched at
the /ommission-s meeting place in the Rue du Regard# on the left bank of the +eine. It is possible that from
there he went to meet a friend whom he had known during the war# but we know nothing certain about him
until an alarm was raised# and a call went out to the police# on the night of the (:th.
A1citement centered on the Rue du ,onceau# again on the left bank# a narrow street off the Rue +aint%
@enis# a &uarter notorious for brothels# prostitutes# and se1 shops# where red lamps shone in!itingly. The
woman who raised the alarm kept one of the brothels. +he had come across a man# who was ob!iously ill#
in the street outside her door# and she got the help of two others of her kind to drag him inside. By then he
was dead.
Who was he? +he neither knew nor cared. +he had ne!er seen him before. +he had done what she could
from purely
*humanitarian reasons-. The red lamps winked as more people arri!ed and the contradictory stories went
on. The stranger had died of a heart attack# between se!en and ele!en o-clock# in the street# or in the
corridor# or in one of the rooms. 6 news%hungry reporter said that the Bishop# once his identity had been
confirmed# had come a long way from his lodgings and from the /ommission-s meeting place. The reporter
went on to say# backed by a snap $udgment from the police that# as in the case of @aniHlou# the body
appeared to ha!e been hastily dressed.
6 clerical apologist later ad!ised all those interested to put away such thoughts as being totally unworthy.
2e pointed out that 7onsignor Tort# when found# was still wearing his Bishop-s ring# and his pectoral cross#
and that his rosary was still in his pocket. +urely the presence of those ob$ects was enough to pro!e that
*no inadmissible intentions- had brought him into the district? The facts# so far as they could be known# did
not admit of any shameful interpretation.
The /hurch absol!ed the dead man from moral guilt# and within a few weeks a new Bishop was being
installed at the small cathedral in 7ontauban.
6n elementary reading of these two episodes could be taken as e!idence that churchmen 4especially
/atholic ones and# more especially# those of e1alted status5 may be hypocritical and corrupt. That# of
course# will not be disputed by any sa!e the willfully blind" and the fact that they may be members of secret
societies# first and last# and therefore !oid of genuine religious con!iction# is the theme of these pages. But
there is no e!idence to connect the deaths.
In the /ardinal-s case there are signs# howe!er tentati!e# that he had been persuaded to act a minor role in
a ma$or political scandal" or that he had taken a definite stand in a religious &uarrel" and religious &uarrels#
like a ci!il war# admit of no &uarter being gi!en. There is# howe!er# no trace of 7onsignor Tort being
in!ol!ed in anything startling. 2e can only be the ob$ect of assumption that he was the !ictim of personal
weakness# of an accident# or of someone-s wish to discredit religion.
But as it is# the similarity between the two deaths is startling.
.. This is a slightly more radical rench e&ui!alent of ,ri!ate Aye.
Part 9ight
/hristian atmosphere# /hristian tradition and morality ... is diminishing and is in fact to a great e1tent
displaced by a way of life and thought opposed to the /hristian one.
,ope ,ius III.
This section is concerned with some of the most dramatic changes in the whole of history" changes whose
ultimate significance has# in the popular sense# gone largely unreported# and because of that they ha!e
been accepted without comment by the world at large. But they are changes that ha!e set the tone of our
present" they are fashioning our future" and in time to come they will be so established that it will seem
foolish# or eccentric# to &uestion them.

6t the risk of being tedious# and in order to emphasi0e a !ital point# it needs to be repeated that religious
Rome was regarded# less than a generation ago# as the one fi1ed centre of faith that would not change. It
was proof against no!elty. It despised fashion and towered abo!e what is called the spirit of the age.
+ecure in itself# it admitted no speculation# none of the guesswork that too often goes by the name of
disco!ery. It maintained one attitude and taught# century after century# one message that was always the
same. +o much was claimed by itself# endorsed by its followers# and recogni0ed by its enemies.
But $ust as in our time we ha!e witnessed the spread of /ommunism# so at the turn of the century another
mo!ement threatened what may be called the more static ordering of thought. It was# put !ery roughly# a
mingling of the nineteenth century-s liberal and scientific preoccupations# and its ob$ect was to treat the
Bible to the same sort of criticism to which the political and scientific worlds had been sub$ected. A!olution#
as opposed to settled and accepted truth# was in the air" dogma was &uestioned# and many saw this#
though some of its propagators may not ha!e intended it to go so far# as a denial of supernatural religion.
The reigning ,ope of the time# Pius *# denounced 7odernism# as the new mo!ement was called# as being
no less than free%thought# a most dangerous heresy. 6n encyclical# issued in (<CF# and a condition he laid
down a few years later#
that clergy were re&uired to take an anti%7odernist oath# e!idenced his firm opposition. 6nd a similar
situation was created later when Pius *II# brought face to face with /ommunism# condemned it time and
again# and in (<=< promulgated the sentence of e1communication against any /atholic who countenanced
or supported it in any way.
But a !ery considerable difference soon appeared between the receptions that greeted the opposition
e1pressed by the two ,opes. ,ius I had been accused# in the main# of arrogance and intolerance. But ,ius
III# echoing the sentiments of ,ius II# )eo IIII# and ,ius II# was not only ridiculed by a!ant%garde
$ournalists# one of whom called him a *small%town aristocrat-# but was actually opposed and contradicted by
the man who in (<:> ascended the ,apal throne as ,aul VI.
2is sympathy for )eft%wing politics had ne!er been in doubt. 2e had co%operated with /ommunists. 2is
encyclical Populoru Progressio# issued in (<:F on the de!elopment of the world# was ad!ersely critici0ed
by the Wall +treet ?ournal as *warmed up 7ar1ism-
.
. But his being ranged openly on their side# and his
re!ersal of earlier ,apal $udgments# marked a new departure in a ,ontiff whose words carried to the greater
part of the /hristian world.
2e was fully in tune with the modern age# and responsi!e to the currents of the time. 2e was ready to open
doors that e!ery one of his predecessors# e!en those of doubtful character# had kept fastened. This was
made clear in (<:<# when he saidB
*We are about to witness a greater freedom in the life of the /hurch# and therefore in that of her children.
This freedom will mean fewer obligations# and fewer inward prohibitions. ormal disciplines will be reduced
... e!ery form of intolerance and absolutism will be abolished.-
+uch statements were welcomed by some# while others among his listeners were filled with apprehension"
and when he
referred to some normally accepted religious standpoints as being warped# and entertained only by those
who were
polari0ed or e1tremist# the hopes or fears of both modes of thought appeared to be $ustified. Was he pa!ing
the way for
what would !irtually be a new religion# freed from established notions and practices# and embracing all the
ad!antages of
the modern world# or was he bent on so paring down the established religion until# instead of standing out
as decisi!e# uni&ue# it appeared to be but one faith among many?
+o the two sides waited. 'ne in fa!our of a promised rela1ation# the other apprehensi!e lest many of their
traditional supports were about to be dismantled.

2.
2ere again# I feel it necessary to repeat# what follows is neither in the nature of attack nor of defense. It is a
simple summary of e!ents that occurred# and of declarations made" and if they appear to be partisan# it is
not the fault of the present writer# but of ,ope ,aul who made them all of one character.
2e challenged and condemned the unbroken front presented by ,ius I in the face of 7odernism. The
latter-s imposition of an anti%7odernist oath was said to ha!e been an error# so ,aul abolished it. The Inde1
of forbidden books# and the prerogati!es of the 2oly 'ffice with its historic right to impose interdicts and
e1communication# were now things of the past. The /anon )aws of the /hurch# hitherto regarded as pillars#
the guardians and promulgators of decisions and $udgments# were thrown open to criticism and# if need be#
to re!ision. 2istory and te1t%books# written from a predominantly /atholic !iewpoint# were blue%pencilled or
re%edited.-
The /hurch-s contacts with the world# and with other religions# were to be more open# and no longer
conducted from a height of superior authority# knowledge# and e1perience. There was declared to be no
fi1ation of absolute truth. @iscussion or dialogue was to take the place of declaration. 6nd from these
changes a new society of humanist culture would emerge# with an ostensible /atholic background pro!ided
by ad!anced theologians who# under ,ius III# had been kept on the fringes of the /hurch.
They included 2ans .ung# whose !iews were said to be more anti%orthodo1 than those ad!anced by
)uther. 2e was to claim that he had been specially defended by Paul VI. The Derman ?esuit# Carl +ahner#
whose brand of thought had formerly been frowned upon as being too e1treme# was now told by ,aul to
*forge ahead-. The @ominican ;chille"eec2& spread consternation among the already dispirited @utch
clergy with such statements as that /hristianity would# sooner or later# ha!e to surrender to atheism# as the
most honest and natural man was the one who belie!ed nothing.
Teachers such as these# far from being reprimanded# retained their secure positions and were gi!en a
publicity# not usually accorded to churchmen# in the ,ress. A!en an Irish paper referred to :ans Cung and
to +chillebeeck1 as *the most outstanding theologians in the world-" and the belief that they were confident
of ha!ing powerful support was strengthened when it became known# in some ecclesiastical &uarters# that
prelates such as +uenens and 6lfrink had threatened to form a */ardinals- Trade Jnion- if 2ans .ung and
his writings were condemned.
The total ban on /ommunism and its supporters# by Pius *II# was taken for granted# although it had ne!er
been actually enforced. But e!en so there were demands for its remo!al. Instead of an ice%bound
resistance to /ommunism# that had been an accepted feature of the historic /hurch# a thaw set in# and it
soon became no longer remarkable for a priest to speak and act in fa!our of 7ar1ism. +ome accompanied
their change of heart with a profession of contempt for the past# as did +o"ert Adolphs# ,rior of the
influential 6ugustinian house of Aindho!en# in 2olland.
Writing in The Church is *ifferent 4Burns and 'ates5# he said that the philosophy of +t. Thomas 6&uinas
represented *a pretty desiccated kind of Western thinking-. 2e denounced the anti%7odernism of ,ius I as
a *ascist%like mo!ement within the /hurch-# and he ridiculed the warnings gi!en by ,ius III who had
imagined that *he had to do battle with a sort of underground 7odernist conspiracy that was making use of
a widespread clandestine organi0ation in order to undermine the foundation of the /atholic /hurch.-
The lemish professor# Al"ert 4onde%ne# was more outspoken in Deloof en Wereld 4Belief and the
World5# where he critici0ed the mental outlook of the /hurch for always ha!ing been con!inced as to the
total perfidy of /ommunism.
2e referred to the /hurch-s habit of presenting things as though /hristianity were simply and without
reminder opposed to the /ommunistic order of society as being e1tremely dangerous.
*/hristian society-# he went on# *makes God the ser!ant of a kind of /hristian party interest. It may-# he
continued# *identify /ommunism with the @e!il" but what if this particular @e!il has been con$ured up by the
errors and shortcomings of /hristianity itself?-
2e admitted that the inhuman aspect of 7ar1ism could not be denied. *But this does not altogether preclude
there being ma$or positi!e !alues in /ommunism to which /hristianity of the nineteenth century ought to
ha!e been open# and to which /hristianity must all the while remain recepti!e today.-
6 similar plea emanated from a most une1pected &uarter# the semi%official Vatican newspaper
!&Osser#atore Roano# which recommended /atholics being taught to collaborate with 7ar1ists for the
common good. /ommunism# it was urged# had changed dramatically since the time of )enin and of +talin"
and there was now no reason why the /hurch# if only because of its humanitarian aspect# should not regard
it as an ally. 'ld differences between them were disappearing# and the /hurch should now recogni0e# as
more than one Western Auropean go!ernment was on the point of doing# that /ommunism had a !ital part
to play in helping to shape the future.
Traditionalists eyed these ad!ances with no little alarm. 6s they saw it# a door was being opened by which
7ar1ist elements could enter into their stronghold" and those fears increased when /ommunist and Vatican
officials showed signs of entering into a partnership that had hitherto been unthinkable.
,relates whose names might be known to the public# the e!er ser!iceable +uenens# Willebrands# Bea# and
.onig of Vienna# e1hibited a readiness to walk hand%in%hand with agents hot from 7oscow# who# but a short
time before# had ridiculed the /hurch-s claim to moral so!ereignty o!er the minds of men.
3othing now was said of that claim by either side. Instead a list of e!eryday details# which maintained a
steady growth
o!er the years# showed how atheistic and orthodo1 spokesmen were passing from dialogue into a series of
friendly e1changes.
Arch"ishop Casaroli# acting as middleman between the Vatican and the satellite +tates# flew in a Red
airliner to the +o!iet capital. 2e and members of the /entral /ommittee raised glasses together in the
.remlin. 2e dined with .DB officers in Bulgaria# and later in /0echoslo!akia. The secular ,ress circulated
such items as proof that the /hurch had at last come down from its pedestal# and was accepting
democracy" and the ner!ousness pre!iously felt by traditionalists became downright fear when Paul VI#
between the years (<:F and (<F9# by his own words and actions# ga!e e!idence of that !ery definite shift
in Vatican policy.
)et us telescope and summari0e the allusi!e e!ents of that time. )ocal armed risings in 6frica were
e!erywhere on the increase# and the ,ope supported those mo!ements e!en when they not infre&uently
led to the massacre of women and children. By a surprising turn%about he said that the /hristians in those
parts were the terrorists# and the whites the latter had displaced had always e1erted an influence that was
bad. When the Reds finally took o!er the pro!inces of 7o0ambi&ue and 6ngola# he hailed them as
legitimate representati!es of the people# and e1pressed a personal desire to meet some of the guerrilla
leaders.
Three of them# Amilcar Ca"ral# Agostino !eto# and 'arcellino dos ;antos# accordingly went to the
Vatican# where there was a kissing of hands as the ,ope ga!e them a letter e1pressing de facto recognition
of their /ommunist regime. But he was less forthcoming when a deputation showed him pictures# some
re!olting# of murderous acti!ities carried out by West 6frican terrorists. +keptical $ournalists e1changed
knowing looks when he made !ery ob!ious efforts to put them aside.
A&ually surprising was the affectionate respect he confessed for O"ote of Jganda# who had a long record
of !iolence behind him and who is# at the moment of writing# still in the news as being a more bloodthirsty
tyrant than the o!erthrown 6min. The blacks of Jganda were actually urged by the ,ope it must be the
first call of its kind e!er to issue from such a &uarter to take up arms against the whites.
In 6lgiers# many of the half%million /atholics there# under 'onsignor 4u@al# were slaughtered when the
o!erwhelming 7oslem population turned against them. @u!al abandoned his charges and $oined their
enemies# an act of betrayal that was rewarded by ,ope ,aul creating him a ,rince of the /hurch.
6nother pu00ling situation occurred in +pain# at a time when the shooting of police# by Bas&ue gunmen#
was at a startlingly high le!el. i!e of the gunmen were caught and sentenced to death. It was a time of
grief for ,ope ,aul# who called the e1ecutions that followed *a homicidal act of repression-. 2e offered
special prayers# but only for the murderers. Their !ictims were ne!er mentioned.

Thus encouraged by Rome# there was an upsurge of /ommunism in 7e1ico and in )atin%6merican +tates.
'onsignor Ignaccio de Leon# speaking for the 7e1ican bishops# declared that his /hurch had shown
itself to be useless in the face of social problems. 7ost fair%minded people will agree that it probably had.
But no better e1ample had been shown by the 7ar1ism he openly preached from the pulpit.
Cardinal :enri?ue( celebrated a Te @eum in his cathedral when +al!ador 6llende# who boasted of being
atheist# became ,resident of /hile. 7any /atholics# swayed by the hierarchy# had used their !otes to help
him to power. The name of Christ was now rarely heard in those once highly orthodo1 countries# e1cept
when it was used to in!ite a depreciatory comparison with such luminaries as )enin and 7ao Tse Tung.
The re!olutionary idel /astro of /uba was honoured as a man *inspired by God-.
/auses that e1cite suspicion are sometimes co!ered by euphemistic terms# and obser!ers who were
alarmed by ,ope ,aul-s political leanings were liable to be assured that he was following *a policy of
e1pansionism-. But whate!er their nature# his sympathies certainly e1tended o!er a wide area. 2e
confessed to feeling close spiritual ties with Red /hina. 2e sent his accredited diplomatic agent to the
/ommunist go!ernment in 2anoi. 2e !oiced support for the atheistic regimes in 8ugosla!ia and /uba. 2e
entered into talks with the Russian controlled go!ernment of 2ungary. But he was less cordial in his
relations with a traditionally orthodo1 country such as ,ortugal.
2is presence there in 7ay# (<:F# e1cited comment# both on account of the almost casual arrangements he
made for meeting the /atholic ,resident# +ala0ar# and the way in which 4as one of his closest colleagues
remarked5 he practically mumbled when celebrating the 7ass that marked the clima1 of his !isit.
It had been taken for granted that he would welcome a meeting with Lucia dos ;antos# the last sur!i!or of
the three children who# in (<(F# witnessed the apparitions# the strange phenomena that accompanied them#
at the small town of atima. But the ,ope put her aside with a testyB *3ow now# later.- 6s an afterthought he
referred her to a bishop.
6 different kind of reception was accorded to /laudia /ardinale and Dina )ollabrigida# when the ,ope
recei!ed them at the Vatican. They were certainly not dressed in the appro!ed way for a ,apal audience"
and the crowd who had assembled to gape at the *stars- e1pressed admiration for the 2oly ather-s
broadmindedness.
This would seem to be the place to introduce a report that reached me by way of a '. 'aurice 0uignard#
a former student of the +ociety of ?esus at the college of +t. rancis de +ales# A!reu1# 3ormandy. The
report# dated the Fth of 6ugust# (<FE# originated from a body for the defense of the aith# of Waterloo
,lace# 2ano!er. It was drawn up *out of obedience- to orders gi!en by 5ather Arrupe# +uperior%Deneral of
the +ociety# and it was the work of 5ather ;aen( Arriaga# @octor of ,hilosophy and of /anon )aw.
6part from those influential ?esuits# it was substantiated and countersigned by the following members of the
+ocietyB
S /ardinal @aniHlou# the story of whose mysterious death# in (<F=# is told in part se!en of this book.
S ather Drignottes# pri!ate secretary and confessor to ather 6rrupe.
S ather de Bechillon# former Rector of A!reu1.
S ather de )estapis# formerly of A!reu1 and for some time in charge of Radio Vatican broadcasts.
S ather Bosc# formerly professor at A!reu1 and ,rofessor of +ociology at the Jni!ersity of 7e1ico.
S ather Dalloy# member of the faculty of the /ollege of )yons.
@ealing with the past of ,aul VI# it states that from (<>: to (<;C he was prominent in a !ast network of
espionage that co!ered some of the countries# on both sides# in!ol!ed in the +econd World War.
It goes on to say that he was a principal shareholder# with a 7aronite 6rchbishop
2
# of a chain of brothels in
Rome. 2e found the money for !arious films# such as the erotic Temptations of 7arianne# which he
financed on condition that the leading role was gi!en to a certain actress named Patricia !o@arini. When
not working at the mo!ie studio# this young lady performed as a striptease artist at the /ra0y 2orse +aloon#
an e1clusi!e night%club in Rome.
The tolerance accorded to film stars was# howe!er# withheld from those who refused# e!en at great cost to
themsel!es# to compromise with the Russians. 'ne such was Cardinal ;lip%i who# as ,atriarch of the
Jkrainian /hurch# had witnessed the deaths# deportation# or the une1plained disappearance of some ten
million of his fellow /atholics. 2e was ultimately arrested and spent some years in prison.
When released# he cried out against *traitors in Rome- who were co%operating with those who had been his
oppressors. *I still carry on my body the marks of the terror-# he e1claimed to those who# like ,ope ,aul#
were suddenly afflicted with deafness. The ,ope# in fact# refused to recogni0e him as ,atriarch" and from
then on +lipyi encountered a surprising number of obstacles and harassments at e!ery turn.

3.
It was only to be e1pected that the Vatican-s attitude would# sooner or later# be reflected by a similar
change of heart
among the people of Rome" and elections held there in (<F9 brought about a result that would once ha!e
been regarded as
a catastrophe# but which now passed as commonplace. or the newly returned ,resident was ;andro
Pertini# a life%long
member of the /ommunist ,arty who soon introduced measures that affected e!ery sphere in the hitherto
settled precincts of Italian family life.
7any /atholics# influenced by the friendly relationship that had e1isted between the Red leaders and Dood
,ope ?ohn# ga!e their !otes to ,ertini.
Traditionalists called to mind the directions gi!en by the 'ar?uis de la 5ran?uerie in !&infaillibilit"
Pontificale to those who were planning to infiltrate the /hurchB
*)et us populari0e !ice through the masses. Whate!er their fi!e senses stri!e after it shall be satisfied....
/reate hearts full of !ice and you will no longer ha!e any /atholics.-
6nd now# as the 7ar&uis had rightly anticipated# a general breakdown occurred in e!ery social grade and
e!ery department of life" from $unior schools to factories# on the streets# and in the home.
7urders increased# as did the kidnapping of wealthy people who were held to ransom. /rime and chaos
flourished as a barrage of anti%police propaganda weakened the law. The pre!ailing a1iom# and not only
among the young# was that *anything goes-. ,ornography flourished. The hammer and sickle emblem was
painted on church doors# and scrawls ridiculing priests# the /hurch# and religion in general appeared on
walls and hoardings.
The ,ope-s reaction to this did not surprise those who were already dismayed by his pro%/ommunist !iews.
2e in!ited Pertini to the Vatican# where# it was disco!ered# the two men had so much in common that their
meeting was afterwards described by the ,ope as ha!ing been emotional.
*The encounter brought us !ery close-# he said. *The eminent !isitor-s words were simple# profound# and full
of solicitude for the welfare of man# for all humanity.-
In the same year 0iulio Argan became 7ayor of Rome. 2e too was a hardened /ommunist# and his
election pro!ided further proof of the way in which the political pendulum was swinging in Italy. ,ope ,aul#
e1pressing satisfaction with the turn of e!ents# looked forward to working with the mayor in a spirit of
*desire# confidence# and anticipated gratitude.-
We ha!e so far gi!en instances of the ,ope-s personal commitment to 7ar1ist principles. 6nd that he was
by no means a!erse to compromising with or surrendering the /hurch-s doctrine was pro!ed by the way he
handled the case of 6lighiero Tondi# a priest who left the /hurch and became an ardent worker for
7oscow.
Tondi married Carmen Fanti# whom he chose as being the possessor of a *melancholy look and a sweet
!oice.- Tondi had ne!er been dispensed from his former !ows# but ,ope ,aul had no difficulty in declaring
that his marriage# !oid of any religious form# was canonically !alid.
7eanwhile /armen had used her !oice to such good effect that she was elected to the +o!iet /hamber of
@eputies# and afterwards to the +enate. Then# both .DB agents# they went to Berlin where Carmen# who
was ob!iously more pushing than /ondi 4who was e1periencing &ualms of conscience5# became the leader
of the Women-s /ommunist organi0ation.
Tondi# who ne!er &uite forgot his ordination# was suffering a premature dread of hell fire# and wished to
return to the /hurch. 3othing could be easier# said the not%at%all s&ueamish ,ope ,aul. 2e remo!ed the
ban of e1communication from the penitent# assured him that he had no need to recant# and declared that
his marriage was still perfectly !alid.
The fact of /ommunism ha!ing been gi!en *a human face-# and by no less a legislator than the 2ead of the
/hurch# was not without effect on other countries. When the 3ational /ommittee of /atholic 6ction for
Workers met in rance# it was attended by se!en card%carrying members of the /ommunist ,arty. The
rench Bishops o!erlooked their anti%national and disrupti!e tendencies.
In Angland# Cardinal :ume of Westminster e1pressed sympathy for mo!ements that challenged the
authority of go!ernments opposed to the )eft. 6nd in ebruary (<9(# Cardinal 0ra% and his 6u1iliary
Bishop# 'onsignor 'onaghan# leaders of the 6rchdiocese of +t. 6ndrews and Adinburgh# called on
/atholics to support 6mnesty International# a mo!ement that# under the banner of 2uman Rights# ga!e
what help it could# moral and otherwise# to agitators who# in se!eral parts of the world# worked for the
o!erthrow of established order.
@issatisfied elements within the /hurch# who had weaker !oices and no clenched fist to emphasi0e their
protest# soon disco!ered that they had no right of appeal against the imposition of what# to them# was a
more deadly danger than heresy. 6 spokesman for traditional /atholics in 6merica# 5ather 0ommar de
Pau,# e1plained their bewilderment to the Vatican# and begged for guidance. 2is letter was not e!en
acknowledged. When it was announced that a congress of +panish priests# for the defense of the 7ass#
would be held at +aragossa# an edict issued by ,ope ,aul# at almost the last minute# pre!ented the
meeting.

4.
The once proudly independent colours of the /atholic /hurch were hauled perceptibly lower when ,ope
,aul entered into *dialogue- with the World /ouncil of /hurches.
6t that time# (<F;# more than two hundred and se!enty religious organi0ations# of !arious kinds# were
grouped under the /ouncil# and it soon became clear that it stood for the liberation theories that had been
introduced by ?ohn IIIII and since furthered by ,aul VI. It had funds to spare for sub!ersi!e mo!ements in
what is called the Third World# so that e!en our ,ress was forced to complain of the support it handed out.
Its gifts were not niggardly. or instance# as the @aily A1press deplored# R=;#CCC had gone to terrorists who
were responsible for the massacre of white women# children# and missionaries" and the 6nglican /hurch
Times remarked that the World /ouncil of /hurches *has de!eloped a political bias recogni0ably 7ar1ist in
its preference for a re!olution of a )eft%ward character.-
The /atholic /hurch had always stood apart from the World /ouncil. But the ad!ent of ecumenism had
changed all that# and the /ouncil-s dangerous tendencies were made light of in order to foster harmony
between the different religions.
,ope ,aul# acclaimed as being always ready to mo!e with the times# was willing to see eye to eye with the
/ouncil. But he
had to mo!e warily# as /atholic opinion throughout the world had# so far# been well trained to resist any
encroachment upon its rights and its historical claim.
+o when asked whether an alliance could be effected# he returned a diplomatic *not yet-. But he showed
where his sympathies were by following that up with a personal gift of R=#CCC to further the /ouncil-s work
and its aid to guerrillas.
The present ,ope# John Paul II# has announced his intention of renewing negotiations with the pro%
terrorists.

5.
There is a more sinister note on which to end this summary of ,ope ,aul-s intransigence.
The name of a self%confessed de!il worshipper# /ardonnel# is practically unknown here" but in other
countries his writings e1cited a !ariety of feelings ranging from awed admiration to horror in those who read
them.
6s a member of the @ominican 'rder# he was gi!en permission to speak in ,aris 3otre%@ame in mid%)ent
(<:9. )isteners were struck by his rabid anti%/hristian e1pressions# on account of which he was called *le
th"ologien de la ort de *ieu- 4the God&s death theologian5. 2e boasted of the title# left his 'rder and finally
the /hurch# and became a hardened de!il%worshipper. In a typical outburst he likened the /hristian God to
+talin# to a beast# and finally to Satan.
,ope ,aul admired his work" and although he ignored re&uests from /atholics who wished to safeguard
their religion# he made a special point of writing to Cardonnel# congratulating him and sending good
wishes.

.. Robert .aiser# who appro!ed the inno!ations of Vatican Two.
2. The 7aronites are a group of Aastern /atholics# named after their founder# 7aro# and mainly settled in
)ebanon.
Part !ine
' change beyond report# thought# or beliefK
7ilton.
The following section has been written with some misgi!ings. or on the one hand it leads up# in a
subse&uent part# to e!ents that are startling# obscene# desecrating# which ha!e taken place in buildings
consecrated by ritual and by history# that the still practicing /atholic may prefer to ignore. While on the
other hand it deals with the /hurch-s teaching on the 7ass# or rather# on what the /hurch taught about the
7ass when it still spoke with an authority that was recogni0ed e!en by those who refused to accept it.
It is therefore necessary# to clear the understanding of those who may not ha!e been ac&uainted with that
teaching# to glance at a few essential aspects concerning it.
The 7ass was not merely a ser!ice. It was the central act in the /hurch-s life# a great mystery by which
bread and wine were consecrated and so became the actual body and blood of Christ. It was the sacrifice
of /al!ary enacted o!er again# an earnest of the sal!ation effected by Christ who was there# under the
sacred species of bread 4*This is my Body-5 and wine# upon the altar.
Whene!er a /atholic found himself in strange surroundings# the 7ass was there as a rallying point for his
worship. +o it had been# with but a few minor alterations# for )atin /atholics from the earliest /hristian
centuries 4beginning# roughly# from the se!enth century5 on record. 6nd so it would remain# the /hurch
taught and the faithful belie!ed# until the end of time# a bulwark against error that inspired an air of sanctity
or impressi!e hanky%panky# call it what you will that was recogni0ed by de!otee and disbelie!er alike.
Typical of those who knew this was the )iberal and ,rotestant Augustine >irrell# (9;C%(<>># who was
sometime +ecretary for Ireland. *It is the 7ass that matters-# he said. *It is the 7ass that makes the
difference# so hard to define# between a /atholic country and a ,rotestant one# between @ublin and
Adinburgh.-
The uni&ue &uality of what may be called# in pedestrian terms# a landmark in religion# has always influenced
the plans of those who set out to o!ercome the /hurch. The 7ass has always stood in their path# a
stumbling block that had to be demolished before their attack could make headway. It was denigrated as a
base superstition# a mere operation of the hands# accompanied by words# that decei!ed the o!er%credulous.
The assault against it was hea!iest# and partly successful# in the si1teenth century" and when the /hurch
reco!ered its breath it called a /ouncil that took its name from the little town of Trent# which later became
an Italian pro!ince# where the principles of the /ounter%Reformation were defined. 6nd those principles
took shape# largely# as a defense of the focal point that had ne!er been lost sight of the 7ass.
It was codified by ,ius V# the future saint who had started life as a shepherd boy and who# in keeping with
Rome-s !erdict that 2enry VIII-s marriage to 6nne Boleyn had been in!alid# declared that their child# the
Anglish Lueen Ali0abeth I# was therefore both heretic and bastard. 6nd from then on the echoes of his firm#
uncompromising yet always dignified thunder had li!ed on in association with the old Romanes&ue
cathedral of Trent# the place that gi!es its name# Tridentine# to the order of the 7ass that was intended to
pass into general use for the whole /hurch# and for all time.
The 7issal he drew up# and in which this was decreed# lea!es no doubt as to thatB
*6t no time in the future can a priest e!er be forced to use any other way of saying 7ass. 6nd in order once
for all to preclude any scruples of conscience and fear of ecclesiastical penalties and censures# we declare
herewith that it is by !irtue of our 6postolic authority that we decree and prescribe that this present order of
ours is to last in perpetuity and ne!er at a future date can it be re!oked or legally amended.-
The decree specifically warned#
*all persons in authority# of whate!er dignity or rank# /ardinals not e1cluded# and to command them as a
matter of strict obedience ne!er to use or permit any ceremonies and 7ass prayers other than those
contained in this 7issal.-
This was repeated# as though to make doubly clear# e!en to those who were already con!erted# that he
was speaking as ,opeB
*6nd so this /ouncil reaches the true and genuine doctrine about this !enerable and di!ine +acrifice of the
Aucharist the doctrine which the /atholic /hurch has always held# and which +he will hold until the end of
the world# as +he learned it from Christ Our !ord Hiself# from the 6postles# and from the Holy Ghost.-
ew ,apal assertions ha!e been more e1plicit. The 7ass# as generally known# was to be preser!ed#
unaltered and unalterable# for all time. But Cardinal >ugnini# who had gone on clinging to the office after
his membership of a secret society had become known# and ,aul VI# who affected to be unaware of any
such re!elation# made short work of ,ope +t. ,ius V-s pronouncement.
It later became known that some twenty years before Vatican Two made pulp of the traditional 7ass book#
a priest%professor had been detailed to draw up plans for gradual liturgical changes" while in @ecember
(<:> the /ouncil introduced new practices and a new phraseology that# at first# made little impact on the
public.
But now ,ope ,aul and /ardinal Bugnini# assisted by Cardinal Lercaro# went straight ahead# with the
assistance of non%/atholics whom they called *authoritati!e e1perts of sacred theology.-

2.
The e1perts called in to amend the Most Holy Sacraent of the Catholic Church comprised one or two
,rotestants"
/anon Ronald ?asper
Robert 7c6fee Brown# a ,resbyterian
Brother Thurion# who was a )utheran
a /al!inist# a Rabbi# and a certain ?oachim ?eremias# a one%time ,rofessor of Dottingen Jni!ersity
who denied the di#inity of Christ
>ugnini said that they were merely present as obser!ers# that they had no !oice when the changes were
discussed. But apart from the fact that they claimed to ha!e played an acti!e part in the /oncilium# that they
commented upon it and made suggestions# one need only askB why# without some set purpose# were they
e!er in!ited to participate?
Whate!er this !ery mi1ed bag decided# said ,ope ,aul# would be *in accordance with God-s will-. It was
also intended to correspond to the temper of *modern man-. 6nd what emerged from their deliberations was
a /o#us Ordo 43ew 7ass5 missal# a !eritable sign of the times which meant that the era of a *7ini7ass#-
and of *pop- music in /hurch# with all the profanities it led to# was about to begin.
+uch inno!ations e1tracted a blind obedience from those who belie!ed that conformity to whate!er was
said and done by the priesthood# especially in church# was a !irtue. +ome who &uestioned the changes
were told not to presume any further. It was said to be contumacious# and displeasing to God" while the fact
that many were resolute in opposing the changes# and turned their backs upon the /o#us Ordo# called forth
the charge that they were in mortal sin# and inflicting another wound on the lo!ing ather who was waiting
to welcome them.
6fter all# the Vatican and its spokesman%in%chief# ,ope ,aul# had appro!ed the changes. 6 re!olution had
been achie!ed# and it was all for the good. The old Roan Missal had become a back number. The
progressi!es were cock%a%hoop. 6nd now they proceeded to pass beyond their original ob$ecti!e and
pressed forward.
6 number of what may at first appear to be minor practices came under their scrutiny. Denuflecting# and
kneeling to recei!e 2oly /ommunion# were found to be unnecessary. 'ne entering a church# the interior of
which had long been familiar# suffered a shock when it was seen that the perhaps priceless Tra!ertine altar
had been replaced by a table# at which the priest# who was now sometimes called the president# faced the
people and# in a clumsy !ernacular instead of the old !erbal music 4for )atin has always been hated by the
enemies of the /hurch5 in!ited the congregation to $oin in a *repast-.
The manner of recei!ing Counion now differed greatly.
The 2ost might be gi!en into the hand# as was e!idenced when ,ope ,aul celebrated a 3ew 7ass at
Dene!a. 6 number of 2osts were passed to a girl who was standing con!eniently near# and these she
distributed into the hands# sometimes grubby or sticky# of those about her# or into the hand of any chance
looker%on who came up to see what was being gi!en away.
6nother method was to place the one%time +acred Alements in a chalice and then in!ite the people to come
forward and help themsel!es. 6n e1tra relish could be gi!en to the bread by dunking it in the wine. It had
hitherto been out of the &uestion for non%/atholics to recei!e /ommunion at 7ass. But ,ope ,aul
introduced a new *updating- by permitting a self%confessed ,resbyterian lady# 7iss >ar"erina Olsen# to
recei!e the wafer.
2is e1ample was followed. irst Cardinal >ea# and after him Cardinal Wille"rands# empowered their
Bishops to issue an open in!itation" and then /ardinal +uenens# at the close of a /ongress at 7edellion# in
/olumbia# called on all and sundry to come forward with open mouth or ready hand.
6 more decisi!e battle was fought out in Rome# where Bugnini-s 3ew 7ass was celebrated in the +istine
/hapel. 6 large ma$ority of the prelates who were present !oted against it. The actual numbers were
se!enty%eight in fa!our# two hundred and se!en against. The orthodo1 Cardinal Otta@iani# who ne!er lost
caste# e1amined the te1t of the !andali0ed !ersion# and found that it contained some twenty heresies.
*The 3ew 7ass-# he said# *departs radically from /atholic doctrine and dismantles all defenses of the aith.-
The same sentiment was e1pressed by Cardinal :eenan of WestminsterB
*The old boast that the 7ass is e!erywhere the same ... is no longer true.-
'tta!iani was head of the 2oly 'ffice# which e1ercised guardianship o!er faith and morals. ,ope ,aul
clamped down upon the office# and clipped the /ardinal-s claws" and he was so annoyed by the ad!erse
!ote that he forbade the 3ew 7ass e!er to be the sub$ect of a ballot again. rom then on it was gi!en
official# but not popular sanction.

Thousands of people# who would not tolerate a form of the 7ass that was less dignified than the ,rotestant
/ommunion ser!ice# either left or stopped going to church. 7any priests followed suit. Those who stood by
the incontro!ertible ruling of ,ius V on the 7ass were threatened with suspension# or e!en
e1communication.
'ne of the first to be declared anathema for obser!ing the old 7ass# was a priest who was somewhat
remote from the scenes of tension# a 5ather Carmona of 6capulco# in 7e1ico. >ishop Ac2ermann of
/o!ington# 6merica# when faced with a number of orthodo1 and therefore recalcitrant priests in his diocese#
lamented helplessly# *What can I do? I can-t throw them into $ail.- Their doubts were embodied in a &uestion
that was left for ,ope ,aul to answer whether the introduction of the 3ew 7ass was the beginning of an
age of new darkness on the earth# or the harbinger of an unprecedented crisis within the /hurch?
2e refused to answer. 6nd the same wall of silence was encountered by a deputation of priests who
begged for a return to the traditional. 7ass" while thousands from se!eral parts of Aurope# who went to
Rome with the same purpose in mind# were turned away.
Those who brought about the changes had not been working blindly. They had followed a plan# in
conformance with the secret design that furnishes the theme of these pages. They now had the future in
their hands# and the confident way in which they accepted this was made clear by an article in
!&Osser#atore Roano# which depicted the pretty hopeless future awaiting those priests who bra!ed the
wrath of the Vatican by carrying out the duties for which they had been trained. They would# said the article#
become *headless# autonomous priests facing an arid# s&ualid life. 3o sheltered future# no promotion to the
hierarchy# no e1pectation of a pension at the end of their ministry.-
'ne who had been most 0ealous in promoting the changes sang their praises in the following termsB *It is a
different liturgy of the 7ass. We want to say it plainly. The Roman rite as we knew it e1ists no more. It has
gone. +ome walls of the structure ha!e fallen# others ha!e been altered. We can look at it now as a ruin or
as the particular foundation of a new building. We# must not weep o!er ruins or dream of an historical
reconstruction. 'pen new ways# or we shall be condemned as ?esus condemned the ,harisees.-
.
,ope ,aul was e&ually e1treme in appro!ing the findings of the +econd Vatican /ouncil-s commission on
the )iturgyB
*The old rite of the 7ass is in fact the e1pression of a warped ecclesiology.-
Reading that# some may ha!e been reminded of the old /oronation 'ath# that ran as followsB
2
*I !ow to change nothing of the recei!ed tradition# and nothing thereof I found before me guarded by my
God%pleasing predecessors# to encroach# to alter# or permit any inno!ation therein.
*To the contrary" with glowing affection to re!erently safeguard the passed on good# with my whole strength
and my utmost effort. To cleanse all that is in contradiction with canonical order that may surface.
*To guard the whole canons and decrees of our ,opes likewise as di!ine ordinances of hea!en# because I
am conscious of Thee# whose place I take through the grace of God.
*If I should undertake to act in anything of contrary sense# or permit that it will be e1ecuted# Thou willst not
be merciful to me on the dreadful day of @i!ine ?ustice.
*6ccordingly# without e1clusion# we sub$ect to se!erest e1communication anyone be it myself or be it
another who would dare to undertake anything new in contradiction to this constituted e!angelical
tradition and the purity of the orthodo1 aith and the /hristian religion# or would seek to change anything by
his opposing efforts# or would concur with those who undertake such blasphemous !enture.-
Whene!er this oath may ha!e been taken at the time of a coronation# I know not. But its principles# until the
Roncalli era# were tacitly accepted and endorsed as a con!entional part of ,apal obser!ance.
or instance# one of the greatest and most gifted of the ,opes# ,ius II 4(=;9%:=5 in his Bull A1ecrabilis#
repeated a law that
was endorsed through the centuries and accepted# without modification# by what has always been referred
to as the
agisteriu of the /hurchB
*6ny /ouncil called to make drastic change in the /hurch is beforehand decreed to be !oid and annulled.-
But Paul VI# the friend of /ommunists# who collaborated with the anarchist 6linsky and with the 7afia
gangster# +indona# issued his own statement of policy which appeared in !&Osser#atore Roano# on 6pril
the EEnd# (<F(# Anglish editionB
*We moderns# men of our own day# wish e!erything to be new. 'ur old people# the traditionalists# the
conser!ati!es# measured the !alue of things according to their enduring &uality. We# instead# are actualists#
we want e!erything to be new all the time# to be e1pressed in a continually impro!ised and dynamic
unusual form.
It was ra!ing of this sort 4reminiscent of *,eter +imple-s- sarcasm in The @aily Telegraph5 that led to the
introduction of eatables such as roast beef# $ellies# and hot dogs# washed down by draughts of coca%cola# in
the 2oly +acrifice of the 7ass# and to nuns clicking their heels and twisting their bodies# in a kind of
carmagnole# to mark the 'ffertory.
*6nti%/hrist-# said 2ilaire Belloc in (<E<# *will be a man.-
But perhaps the most ludicrous $ustification of the change was put forward by one of our most *progressi!e-
Bishops# who said to the present writerB *The 3ew 7ass got off to a ringing start yesterday. The guitars
were going all o!er my diocese.-

3.
The doctrinal and liturgical changes in the /hurch were not long in showing the effects that the
conser!ati!es had forecast" and startling though many of them were# they still remain largely unknown e!en
to people who li!e in the countries where they occurred.
It used to be looked back upon as an outrage of the most e1treme order when# during the rench
Re!olution# a harlot was hoisted on to the altar of 3otre @ame where she was crowned and worshipped as
the Doddess of Reason" or when /hartres /athedral was on the point of being con!erted into a Teple of
Reason.
But such things pale into insignificance when compared with the desecrations and obscenities that ha!e
taken place# often with the appro!al of prelates# in some of the most re!ered /atholic ministers on both
sides of the 6tlantic.
There was a marked falling off from established ritual when such things as a communal supper took the
place of a solemn 7ass" when the priest# armed with a bread knife# had a large loaf placed in front of him
which he proceeded to cut into chunks# helping the others and then himself until a general munching of
$aws showed their appreciation of the (ody of Christ. +uch suppers# ser!ed in a parishioner-s house#
became a regular feature of @utch family life. +ometimes the *lady of the house-# instead of a priest#
officiated at 7ass that was ser!ed in her *best room-.
There were not a few places where the traditional office of priest was taken o!er by a woman# who walked
among the congregation gi!ing out the +acrament to any who stood with gaping mouth and a nauseous
display of tongue and teeth. +ometimes it was placed in the sweaty hand of a child# or between the
trembling fingers and palm of a geriatric who promptly dropped it on the floor# where it could be trampled" or
it might be self%administered.
'ne small girl came away from 7ass# in one of the more *ad!anced- &uarters of 2olland# saying that she
had learnt more there than she e!er had through seeing her brother in a bath. or the altar%boy who# in
Angland# would ha!e passed for a fourth former# had been naked.
,ope ,aul# determined not to lag behind in the scurry for progress# signed a special edict whereby any who
cared to help themsel!es to the Blood of /hrist could suck it up through a straw. In that way some churches
came to resemble a coffee bar# especially when the blare of a discothe&ue issued from the sanctuary#
together with the shouting# strumming# and stamping of feet that accompany the celebration of a $a00 7ass#
a beat# and a *yeah%yeah- 7ass.

There were teenage 7asses where# instead of the sacramental Bread and Wine# hot dogs# buns# and coca%
cola were ser!ed. 6t others# whisky and cream crackers took the place of the elements. +ome priests found
the wearing of an alb incon!enient when saying 7ass# and so resorted to shirt%slee!es.
The new freedom offered a chance for political e1tremists to ad!ertise their usually )eft%wing tenets. 'ne of
the foremost seminaries in /anada was sold to /hinese Reds# who tore out the tabernacle and put in its
place a portrait of the wholesale murderer 7ao Tse Tung. It later became a training centre for re!olutionary
street fighters.
In +eptember# (<F(# the /atholic school at Vald-'r# 6bitibi# Luebec# initiated a new game for boys. It
consisted of spitting at the figure of /hrist on the cross# and the one who co!ered the face with the biggest
spit was declared winner. This was reported in the rench%/anadian paper# Vers *eain# in +eptember#
(<F(.
In one +outh 6merican pro!ince# where disturbances rarely died down# a local >ishop Casaldaliga came
out on the side of the Russian%inspired insurgents. 2e adopted the rough and ready garb of a guerrilla#
complete with cartridge belt# and went on preaching and officiating at 7ass under the name he ga!e
himself# 7onsignor 2ammer and +ickle.
But a truly sinister scene was enacted at the basilica of +t. 7aria de Duadalupe in 7e1ico /ity# where a
goat was sacrificed in front of the high altar. 3ow it is not only the fact of an animal being killed# and in
church# that e1cites comment. It seems to ha!e called for none from the people there present who gaped#
were astonished# and then walked away no doubt concluding that it was all part of the new order within the
/hurch. 6nd so it was. But Arch"ishop 0ome(# who had charge of the basilica# knew more than that# as
did the strange crowd of people to whom he actually rented it for the occasion.
The goat# said to ha!e been created by the *e#il# figures in the +atanic lore of those whose secret design
has always been the downfall of the /hurch. The happening referred to resembles part of the old pre%
/hristian ritual# when a goat was sacrificed at an altar during the *ay of %toneent. The sins of the 2igh
,riest# and of the people# were transferred to a second animal of the same species# which then became the
scapegoat and was dri!en into the wilderness" or# in demonology# it was forced o!er a cliff into the hell%fire
that was tended by A(a(el# a fallen angel.
2ence it was no ordinary 7ass but a Black 7ass that was celebrated in 7e1ico /ity# with the use of an
in!erted cross# an e!ent that was filmed and recorded by those who arranged it.
But such things marked only a beginning# as did a growing clamour# supported by priests# for abortion# and
for se1ual aberrations to be recogni0ed as perfectly normal. There were priests who almost shouted from
the housetops that they were glad to be homose1ual# as it was a pri!ilege that conferred the *psychological
fulfillment of one-s personality-. It became accepted# in some parts# for per!erts of the same se1 to be
married in church.
In ,aris# a man and a woman# minus e!ery stitch of clothing# paraded their nakedness before an altar#
where they were married by a priest who con!eyed to them what has been called the *sublime- nuptial
blessing. 6d!anced 2olland# not to be outdone# reacted with the news that a couple of male homos had
e1changed !ows and tokens in a church wedding" while an 6merican priest# who was still holding on
despite the fact that he had been cited in a di!orce case# gleefully smote his breast and affirmed that he too
was an emancipated moral per!ert# which he afterwards ratified by uniting a pair of lesbians in matrimony.
It was a fruitful time for cranks and opportunists of e!ery kind. 6n e1%nun# Rita 7ary# $oined an 6merican lay
community whose members were committed to the *new spirit emerging in religious life-. 6 breath from that
spirit of newness suddenly re!ealed to her that *God the +ather is feale-. 'thers who fa!oured the cause
of women-s liberation adopted the same slogan# and as part of their campaign cars adorned with stickers
e1horting people to *Pray to God. she will pro#ide- appeared on the streets.
Traders were &uick to sei0e upon it as a good stunt# and Rita 7ary-s !ehicles were soon $oined by others
offering a more material tipB
*With 'esus on your side you can be a more successful businessman.-
+till keeping to 6merica# there was a gathering at +tuben!ille# 'hio# in ?uly (<F:# at which a thousand
priests endorsed a no!el intention to *de%clericalise the ministry-# which meant# in effect# putting themsel!es
out of work. They were ad!ised to get ready for the collapse of the social order" then# after prayers# some
disco!ered that they had been gi!en the gift of healing. 6 general laying on of hands followed# and from that
the mi1ed congregation# amid shouting# fell to hugging and kissing each other.
Bursts of spontaneous affection# as we shall see# were fast becoming a feature of the 3ew 7ass# as also
was a growing obsession with se1. The *e1ploration of touch-# referring to bodies# became a new kind of
worship.
6t a meeting in ,hiladelphia# where Cardinal Wright and eight of his Bishops were present# the main
speaker# 5ather 0allagher# told his audience that *touching is crucial-. 6nd it may be assumed that many
suppressed instincts found a relief that had long been clamoured for in the words that followedB
*@o not hold hands se1lessly.-
The nine prelates con!eyed smiles and blessings to the *lo!e in-# as such displays of emotion were coming
to be called# that followed.
6 !ariation on the same theme was heard at the 3ational ,astoral /ongress at )i!erpool in (<9C# where a
declaration was passed that# much to the surprise of a representati!e Anglish audience# deified the most
taken%for%granted of their marital actsB *@uring se1ual intercourse a man and his wife create /hrist-B a
statement that sounds suspiciously like Aleister Cro,le%-s words# that *se5ual organs are the iage of
God -.
The latest e1cursion into the realm of ecclesiastical nonsense 4?anuary# (<9E5 has been made by >ishop
Leo 'cCartie# the Catholic %u5iliary (ishop of (iringha. )et Rastafarians# he urged# the mostly young
blacks who wear woolly caps and plait their hair into strings# be gi!en the use of church premises. They
worship the late Amperor 2aile +elassie of Athiopia as the true God# they belie!e that Christ was black# and
they smoke cannabis as part of their religious ritual.
The Bishop admits that the /hurch could not condone the smoking of cannabis on its premises# but only
because it is against the law 4my emphasis5. But Rastafarianism# he goes on# is a !alid religious
e1perience# and its followers use cannabis like a sacrament# *which is comparable to the chalice or
communion cup in /hristian worship-. +o now we know.
)et us take a few more instances of what the modernistic trend has achie!ed in 6merica# all# let it be
remembered# without calling forth more than an isolated protest# here and there# from any of the hierarchy.
7oreo!er it was all appro!ed by ,ope ,aul as was shown by the presence of his official representati!e who
passed on ,apal greetings to those who dressed up# ca!orted# and made irreligious idiots of themsel!es to
demonstrate the new freedom.
or the past two years# on ?une the E9th# +t. ,atrick-s /athedral# 3ew 8ork# has been the finishing point of
what is known# to ecclesiastical and secular authorities alike# as a Day ,arade. In (<9( an estimated crowd
of ;C#CCC marched up ifth 6!enue# led by a figure with a whitened face# and wearing a frilly ankle%length
dress and a bonnet# who spun up and down the road and pa!ement in front of the cathedral on roller%
skates. 6t least one of the lookers%on recogni0ed the figure as being that of a reputable Wall +treet broker.
6n indi!idual who was hailed as the Grand Marshal of the Parade then stepped from a black limousine#
performed clown%like on the steps then# delicately holding a bou&uet of pansies# made as if to enter the
front door. By that time a 'r. 'cCaule%# who practiced as a 3ew 8ork attorney# already sickened by what
he had seen# snatched the flowers and threw them in the faces of those who swarmed after the 7arshal. 6
scuffle broke out# and police led the ob$ector away.
It took two hours for the parade to pass a gi!en point and gather about the cathedral. +ome were dressed
as priests# others were nuns" some were wearing black leather and chains. There was a group called
@ignity# and another known as the 3orth 6merican 7an%Boy )o!e 6ssociation. They carried a large sign
announcing that *7an%Boy )o!e is Beautiful-# the older members walking arm%in%arm with boys# whose
a!erage age was about thirteen# and some of whom wore bathing suits.
The Day +ocialists carried a red banner# and shouted their hatred of God and the /hurch as they marched.
But their fren0y was more than matched by that of the Day 7ilitant 6theists# who roared in unisonB *+mash
the /hurchK @eath to the /hurchK- 6nother cry of *+mash the +tateK- showed that the real dri!ing power
behind the demonstration was making itself heard.
Then came an interlude as a male# in a nun-s habit and trailing a cross upside down# e1ecuted a dance#
accompanied by obscene gestures# for a full half%hour. That was followed by a group that came forward and
made as if to light a candle at the cathedral door. By then 7r. 7c/auley had returned. 2e renewed his
protest# asked the police to stop the outrageous performances# and was promptly arrested.
The homose1uals then proceeded to drape a large banner about the barricades they had erected at the
front steps of the cathedral. 6 captain of the /ity ire @epartment then came forward and asked a police
officer to inter!ene. The officer turned his back# whereupon the ire /hief sei0ed the banner# rolled it up
and threw it on the ground.
The yelling mob swarmed o!er him. 2e was pulled down# his $acket was torn from his back# blows rained
upon him# his fingers were sei0ed and bent in an effort to break them# his legs were forced apart and hands
reached for and grabbed his genitals. When he could speak# he told the police officer that he wished to
press charges against those who had attacked him. The policeman sneeredB */ome back tomorrow at the
same time and see if you can recogni0e them.- When the ire /hief persisted# the policeman gripped his
re!ol!er so tightly and menacingly that his knuckles were seen to whiten.
'nly two people were arrested# 'r. 'cCaule% and the ire /hief# both for disorderly conduct. They later
heard the charges against them being framed. 'ne police official saidB
*+ay that you saw him assault someone.- 6nother saidB *,ut in that he broke through the police line.-
7eanwhile the parade was going on# with the cathedral front being embla0oned with pro!ocati!e signs and
banners# one announcing that *'esus was a homose1ual.- @oggerel was chanted. *Two# four# si1# eight. @o
you know if your kids are straight?- inally a flag was hung from the cathedral door. It was designed like the
6merican flag# e1cept that in place of the stars# se1 symbols and representations of the penis were
substituted.
The demonstrators# followed by a large crowd" made their way to /entral ,ark# where they engaged in a
free%for%all public e1hibition of se1 acts. rightened people who had gone to the cathedral in search of
consolation or &uiet bunched together throughout the afternoon in side chapels and corners. When
approached on the matter# the members of the @iocesan /uria said there had been nothing to complain
about.
In Virginia# a priest dro!e a Volkswagen down the aisle of his church to mark Christ-s entry into ?erusalem.
)ater he had a forklift placed in the churchyard and climbed into its basket# where he stood wa!ing his arms
while being lifted up to commemorate 6scension @ay. In Boston# 7assachusetts# priests attired as clowns#
with red hearts decorating their foreheads# scrambled and $ostled about a church trying to catch balloons. 6
priest wearing a singlet and $eans ca!orted in church with a girl whose flesh bulged from her leotard.
In this country# one +unday e!ening# tele!ision went out of its way to show an 6u1iliary Bishop processing
up the aisle of
one of our /atholic cathedrals. 2e was led to the altar by a young girl who danced and skipped about in
front of him like
a young horse. The celebration of 2oly 7ass in another church concluded with the singing of *or he-s a
$olly good
fellow.-
3
+imilar outbreaks occurred e!en in )atin countries# where the mysteries of the /hurch had long been part
of the national consciousness# its blood and bone. or !isitors to a church near Drenoble# in the Isere
department of rance# on a day in (<FC# were surprised to see that the ornaments and candlesticks were
being remo!ed from the altar# and that the space before it was cleared. Then ropes were put in place to
form a business%like representation of a ring where# according to the bills# an international bo1ing contest
was to take place.
6t the appointed time# a throng that was far from typical of the usual one seen there# and mostly male#
shuffled# stumbled# or made their way arrogantly into the building where some of them had been bapti0ed#
and some married. 6s they ac&uired a more familiar feeling odds were shouted and bets made# but details
of the fight were ne!er recorded. Whether it was won on points# or by a knock%out" who acted as referee or
time%keeper# and who plied the sponges" how much the church funds profited from the purse or the takings#
none of this appears in the parish register. 3either does a protest from the Bishop.
'n a riday in early @ecember# (<F=# the coronation church of rance# Rheims /athedral# was gi!en o!er
to a horde of hippies and layabouts for one of their all%night sessions. The 6rchbishop and his clergy# who
had obligingly pro!ided the setting# may ha!e noted# with a feeling of en!y# as the prematurely aged youth
of the district poured in# that they far e1ceeded in number those who were seen at 2igh 7ass on +undays
and 2oly @ays.
/acophony was pro!ided by the Tangerine Orange Group# and when the mi1ed congregation grew tired of
wa!ing their arms and shuffling in time to the uproar# they settled down to an orgy of drugs and hashish
smoking.
When this affair became known# angry parishioners demanded that the /athedral# which occupies a special
place in history# should undergo a ser!ice of purification.
But their protests were wa!ed aside by 5ather >ernard 0oreau# who held the always &uestionable post of
*cultural attachH- of the archdiocese. 2e agreed that the dancers and smokers had been left to their own
de!ices for hours in the Dothic darkness.
*But-# he added# *things might ha!e been worse.-
Indeed they might. We are told that they only urinated and copulated on the stone floor ... o!er which the
.ings of old rance had passed on the way to their anointing# and where ?oan of 6rc# holding her bla0on#
had stood like a soldier home from the war.
6lso in rance# it was not unknown for a priest to light and smoke a cigarette while saying 7ass.
A!en Rome was not immune from the sacrilegious parodies that followed the new religious freedom# the
opening of the
windows of the /hurch. The scene of one# in (<F;# was the classroom of a Roman con!ent. ,ope ,aul was
present# but
the star turn was pro!ided by 5red Ladenius# a gentleman from the 7iddle West who had ac&uired
celebrity through
appearing on Belgian tele!ision. 2e had furthermore been spoken of by an enthusiast as *the born again
spirit# whose
God updated the ?esus of (<F= by being the God of (<F;.-
4
red set about his task right manfully# stripping off his $acket and gi!ing !oice to almost incoherent ra!ings
for which# he said# he was in no way responsible. What they heard were some of the truths he had
recei!ed# that !ery morning# from the )ord-s mouth. or the )ord spoke and prophesied through him. red
accompanied these re!elations by flinging up his arms so !iolently that he broke into a sweat. But he was
by no means e1hausted. 2e rolled up his shirt%slee!es and in!ited all those who wished to recei!e the )ord#
to come up *rapido-.
red# though still in a state of undiminished perspiration# wa!ed his hands frantically o!er the heads of
those who accepted the in!itation# and accompanied each gesture with a cry of *2allelu$ahK- 6t the end of
these ministrations the school blackboard was mo!ed to make way for a table# on which were placed two
chalices# one holding wine# and the other wafers of the kind that are used to celebrate 7ass.
Then e!eryone fell into line and followed the e1ample of red# who took out a wafer and dipped it in the
wine before transferring it to his mouth. The meeting broke up amid more and louder cries of *2allelu$ahK- in
which the ,ope $oined# and with further manifestations that the spirit was indeed mo!ing amongst them.
red was duly rewarded by being sent for by the ,ope# who thanked him warmly for all the good work he
was doing for the /hurch. red stayed on in Rome# where he acted for a time as the Vicar of /hrist-s ,ress
+ecretary.
In the /hurch-s calendar# one year in e!ery twenty%fi!e is declared to be a 2oly 8ear. It is a time of special
pilgrimages# when millions do penance to mark their adherence to the aith and to obtain what is called the
Dreat ,ardon.
Throughout that time Rome is seething with !isitors from e!ery part of the world# and on the last occasion of
a 2oly 8ear being declared# in (<F;# ,ope ,aul e1tended a welcome# couched in the terms of emancipated
religion to the *new generation who had come in search of a liberating and inspiring aid# in search of a new
word# a new ideal.-
Those who attended 2igh 7ass in +t. ,eter-s on 7ay the (<th# half%way through 2oly 8ear# in e1pectation
of those spiritual
ad!antages# were in no way disappointed. They numbered some ten thousand. Cardinal ;uenens
officiated at the high
altar. ,ope ,aul was present. i!e hundred priests were ranged about them. This is how an e1perienced
/atholic
$ournalist described what happened when the time came to recei!e 2oly /ommunionB
5
*It was not uncommon to see what one first thought of as white petals being scattered among the
congregation. 'nly when I could push my way nearer did I reali0e that they were handfuls of consecrated
2osts# that the /ardinal-s hench%priests were scattering among the crowd.... They fell on the shoulders of
men# on the dyed and co!erless heads of women# and as was ine!itable# not a few fell on the ground and
were trampled upon by the crowd.
*I spoke to a lady standing near me who was gobbling a number of them together. I asked her where she
came from and was she a /atholic. +he came from Agypt# she replied# and in fact had no religious
persuasion# but her feelings were in fa!our of 7ohammedanism.-
Tape%recorders were held high abo!e the assembly# that was fast being gal!ani0ed into a state of
e1citement. +uddenly a !oice boomed out through a microphone placed near the altar that God was not
only present but was now# in fact# actually speaking# albeit in a strong and nasal 6merican accent one
wonders whether the ubi&uitous red was in action again?

Then ,ope ,aul took up the running. 2e gathered up handfuls of 2osts# pressed them upon people whose
mouths were
already full of the consecrated species# so that they could only free their hands by passing the 2osts on to
others# who either crumpled them up or dropped them on the floor. The ,ope# beginning to gi!e an
address# had to raise his !oice in order to be heard abo!e the growing turmoil# to which he added by
e1claiming a further anachronistic *2allelu$ahK- and flinging up his arms.
By now some of the people were dancing. 'thers s&uatted or huddled on the floor among the trodden
fragments of what# those same people had been taught# was the body of Christ. They swayed in time to a
low moaning# an e1pression of the ecstasy inspired by the occasion# that grew in !olume until it filled the
basilica.
+till in the same year# a !isitor to the church of +t. Ignatius# in the street that bears the name of the founder
of the ?esuits# in Rome# would ha!e noticed that a hea!y curtain was co!ering the main altar. 7oreo!er# the
seats had been turned round# as though to indicate that those who attended the ser!ice did not wish to be
reminded of the lapis la0uli urn containing the relics of +t. 6loysius Don0aga.
6 battery of microphones and loud%speakers was in e!idence# and through one of these the !oice of an
Irish%6merican ?esuit# 5ather 5rancis ;ulli@an# was heard announcing# in the appro!ed style of a follower
of Deneral Booth# that they had come together in order to praise the )ord. 2e went on to hammer home the
fact that religion was in a state of flu1# that e!erything was changing# and that it was a waste of time to take
a nostalgic look back at things that used to be belie!ed. 2is statements met with the smiling appro!al of
Cardinal ;uenens# who could always be relied on to patroni0e *way out- effusions.
By now the Romans were getting used to ha!ing their faith super!ised by oracles from the +tates" and they
listened attenti!ely when a second !oice# from the same place of origin as ather +ulli!an-s# e1horted them
to lo!e one another. ,eople who were packing the church# thus encouraged# began to use their eyes#
e1change looks# and to sidle alongside the person of their choice. @id they imagine# the !oice went on# that
the gift of lo!e was a pri!ilege intended for the early /hurch only? 'f course it wasn-tK
With that# cries of agreement nearly split the roof# and couples fell into each other-s arms# sprawling on the
floor# arms and legs flailing# fingers and mouths gi!ing !ent to a passion that was no longer fearsomely
restrained by their surroundings# but which could now find e1pression in a freedom akin to that known to
lo!ers in a ditch. Those who were barred# by age or infirmity# from taking part in the spectacle# sa!oured it
with a lickerish look# or danced a few steps# or sang the praises of the 2ost whose house they had turned
into a Bedlam. 2allelu$ahK God was good# and all this showed that churchgoing could now be a $oyous
e!ent.
6t the height of the uproar# a friar in the brown garb of +t. rancis of 6ssisi somehow managed to make
himself heard. 2e was in dire physical straits# aware of a strange# mystical# and maternal sensation. 2e felt
e1actly as 7ary had done when concei!ing the +on. ull of grace ... more applause ... and 2allelu$ah again.
What was left of +t. 6loysius in his urn remained silent# as also did +t. Ignatius who# as a soldier# had
known the cleanly hiss of a sword as it was drawn from its scabbard.
or the sake of pro!iding a still more startling clima1# let us look back to the year (<FC# when a Progressi#e
Theological Congress was held in a ranciscan church in Brussels. The principle sub$ect discussed# in flat
contradiction of the /ongress-s programme as indicated by its title# was se1# and it was e1pounded to an
almost e1clusi!ely youthful gathering.
It was rightly anticipated# because of the theme# that Cardinal ;uenens would be present" apart from
which# as ,rimate of Belgium# he was on his home ground.
The /ongress opened with the entry of girls# dressed in white and# as they twisted this way and that#
wa!ing cords and bits
of broken chain to show that they were free. In an inter!al after the dancing# pieces of bread and glasses of
wine were
passed round# followed by grapes and cigarettes. Then# $ust as the young conference members thought all
was o!er# their
eyes were drawn towards the altar from which something was beginning to rise and to take on an
unbelie!able shape.

It was at first greeted with gasps# then giggles# and finally pandemonium broke loose as the transparent
plastic forming the shape was seen to represent a gigantic penis. The delegates screamed themsel!es
hoarse# feeling that it was a challenge to a recognition of their !irility. It was the sort of clima1 that had
ne!er been imagined and might only figure in the most e1tra!agant of bawdy dreams. The presence of the
/ardinal ga!e a permissi!e glamour to a setting that they would ne!er again regard with awe.
It is well in place here# as part of our thesis# to look somewhat more closely at the scene that occurred in
the Brussels church# and at the word 2allelu$ah# which has ne!er been in e!eryday use# as a spoken
e1pression of praise# within the +e!en 2ills. 6s an offering of praise to 'eho#ah# it has always been
commonly used by religious re!i!alists rather than by )atins. But now we find Pope Paul using it.
What made him? 6nd why did /ardinal +uenens# before an altar# preside o!er an ama0ing e1hibition of
carnal tomfoolery that many# especially the church%bound# will find difficult or impossible to belie!e?
There is one e1planation. 3either of those named# while wearing the robes# !estments# and all the outward
signs of /atholic prelacy# were /hristian men. They had passed# by preparatory stages# into the highest
echelon of occult understanding. They had been tutored# signed for# and guaranteed by the Masters of
7isdo in one of the foremost temples where ata!istic rites# all with se1ual undertones# take the place of
religion.
When the adolescent girls shrieked with delighted embarrassment as the large plastic penis rose up before
them# Cardinal ;uenens knew perfectly well that they were# as he intended# commemorating the heathen
Dod Baal whose name# di!ided into its +umerian
#
root words# has se!eral meanings. 6mong them are lord#
master# possessor# or husband# while others refer to a controlling male-s penis with its forceful boring and
thrusting.
+o what the /ardinal arranged for the young# mostly girls# of Brussels# was a show of phallic worship# which
symboli0es the generati!e power contained in the semen# or life $uice# which streamed down upon all life
and nature from the ighty penis of (aal. 6n e1aggerated phallus was also a symbol of 8esed# the sphere
of the moon# and also of the horned Dod @ionysius# or Bacchus.
The praise chant !oiced by Pope Paul has its origin in the same fount of heathen worship# as its meaning#
again according to its +umerian construct# refers to the strong water of fecundity# or semen. @uring the
public displays of mass se1ual intercourse# which go by the name of fertility rites# this semen# when
e$aculated# was caught in the hands of the officiating priests# who held it up for the appro!al of Bah,eh
<Jeho@ah= and then proceeded to smear it upon their bodies.
+o much was implied by ,ope ,aul when he raised his arms and uttered a heartfelt 2allelu$ahK

.. ather ?oseph Delineau. The )iturgy Today and Tomorrow. 4@arton# )ongman# and Todd# (<F9.5
2. Translated by @r. Werner 2en0ellek from Vatican II# Reform /ouncil or constitution of a new /hurch? By
6nton 2ol0er.
3. The +unday Telegraph. ebruary E(st# (<9E.
4. or more details of this and other e!ents in Rome see rom Rome# Jrgently 4+tratimari# Rome5 by 7ary
7artine0# a li!ely book to which I am much indebted. I ha!e also drawn upon another eye%witness account
by )ouise 7arciana# formerly a +ister of the ,recious Blood. It was at that 'rder-s con!ent that some of the
antics here described took place.
5. +imon .eegan. 3ews%)etter of the International ,riests 6ssociation.
,ublished by +t. Deorge-s ,resbytery# ,olegate# Aast +usse1.
. Report from the Belgian 3ews +er!ice# &uoted in Il Diornale d-Italia# +eptember (Fth# (<FC.
#. rom ;umer# which was a part of Babylonia.
Part /en
'ne is always wrong to open a con!ersation with the @e!il# for howe!er he goes about it# he always insists
on ha!ing the last word.
6ndre Dide.
It is hoped that possible readers of this book# who may not be ac&uainted with the /atholic story# will by
now ha!e grasped one essential fact that the general decline of the /hurch was brought about by the
/ouncil that goes by the name of Vatican Two. urthermore# that the /ouncil was called by ?ohn IIIII who#
like se!eral of the prelates and many of lesser title under his ,apal wing# were clandestine members of
secret societies# and who were# according to the age%long ruling of the /hurch# e1communicate and
therefore debarred from fulfilling any legitimate priestly function.

The disastrous results of their being allowed to do so# with ,apal approbation 4since both the ,opes who
followed ,ius III were part of the o!er%all conspiracy# while the recent ?ohn ,aul I and ?ohn ,aul II are
sub$ect to suspicion5 are apparent to the most superficial obser!er. +uch results are the outcome of ,aul
VI-s main wish regarding the implementation of Vatican II# as e1pressed in his last will and testament# and
repeated more than once by John Paul IIB *)et its prescriptions be put into effect.-
Those prescriptions were defined years ago in the policies of Adam Weishaupt# Little /iger# !u"ius# and
others 4already &uoted5 for their trained disciples to infiltrate# and then to wear down the authority#
practices# and !ery life of the /hurch. This they ha!e accomplished# under the guise of progress or
liberation.
A!ery aspect of the /hurch# spiritual and material# has been taken o!er# from ,eter-s /hair# with its once
regal dignity# to a faldstool in the most insignificant parish church. The few priests who recogni0ed this were
kept in the background# or# if they managed to get a hearing# were e1posed to ridicule" and sur!eying the
scene# with its disorders# the e1hibitions of profanity# and se1ual aberrations staged in some of its most
re!ered buildings# including +t. ,eter-s# one is tempted to think of a once highly disciplined Duards brigade
being transformed into a mob of screaming hooligans.
'ne may pass from the truism# that little things are little things# to a more comprehensi!e reali0ation that
little beginnings are not little things" and it is by working precisely on that principle that the modern
controllers of the /hurch achie!ed their ends without producing too much alarm among the populace at
large.
They began by rela1ing formal disciplines and inhibitions# such as keeping riday as a meatless day. Then
certain symbols# rituals# and de!otions went. The old liturgical language of )atin practically disappeared.
The nun-s habit# which had ne!er failed to inspire respect e!en in the most irreligious# went out of use# as
did the cassock. The latter was sometimes replaced by $eans# as was demonstrated by two no!ices who# in
Rome# went up to the altar to recei!e the blessing of their ather%Deneral looking more like hippies than
future ?esuits. 6 small cross# worn in the lapel of a $acket# was fast becoming the only sign that the wearer
was a priest.
The old idea of priestly authority# whether e1ercised by a simple cleric or by the ,ope# was effecti!ely
destroyed" and !oices were always ready to applaud whene!er the /hurch s&uandered this or that of its
inheritance. *The priest is today no longer a special being-# cried the e1ultant B@es 'arsaudon# a member
of the Masonic Supree Council of +rance. 6 congress of moral theologians# held at ,adua# went much
furtherB
*The indi!idual conscience is the /hristian-s supreme authority abo!e the ,apal magisterium.-
It was becoming generally accepted that *one day the traditional /hurch must disappear or adapt itself.- It
was to become one of many institutions# with the accumulated legacies of two thousand years being cast
away as things of little worth.
6 &uick glance at a!ailable statistics# o!er those years# shows a startling falling off in all the relati!e
departments of /hurch
life. Vocations# baptisms# con!ersions# and church marriages# took a downward plunge. The only increase
was in the
number of those who walked out of the /hurch. 7any preferred to read the liturgy of the 7ass in their
homes# on
+undays and days of obligation# rather than see its once dignified mo!ements parodied# and hear the
historic language cheapened# in church.
In Angland# between the years (<:9 and (<F=# it has been reckoned that some two and a half million
people fell away" and# if one may add to that the selling of /atholic $ournals# the most popular of these# The
6ni#erse# had an a!erage weekly circulation of nearly three hundred and twel!e thousand in (<:>. 3ine
years later that figure had dropped to under a hundred and eighty thousand.
In rance# with eighty%si1 per cent of the population officially /atholic# ten per cent put in an appearance at
7ass" while a similar figure from (<F( to (<F:# applied e!en to Rome. @uring the same period# in +outh
6merica# once regarded as one of the toughest nuts for anti%clericals to crack# and where the people were
commonly regarded as being steeped in superstition# an estimated twenty%fi!e thousand priests renounced
their !ows. Vatican sources reported that there were three thousand resignations a year from the
priesthood# and that figure took no account of those who dropped out without troubling to get ecclesiastical
appro!al.
The /atholic part of 2olland# where the new teaching was paramount# was in a truly parlous condition. 3ot
a single candidate applied for admission to the priesthood in (<FC# and within twel!e months e!ery
seminary there was closed. In the Jnited +tates# in the se!en years prior to (<F=# one in e!ery four of the
seminaries put up their shutters.
The traffic was all one way# for apart from the recorded drop in church attendance# a regular procession of
priests and nuns# in the spirit of the new freedom# were deciding that marriage offered a more comfortable
daily round than life in the presbytery or cloister. *Rebel priest# aged fifty# weds girl of twenty%fi!e- so ran a
typical headline in the @aily A1press of <th +eptember# (<F>. The marriage was celebrated in a ,rotestant
church# where the attendance was brightened by priests and nuns who were all professionally geared to
add their blessings to the confetti.
7any priests had passed beyond the hinting stage and were now openly declaring in fa!our of abortion. 6s
for the
+acrament of 7atrimony# as more and more couples tired of encountering the same face at breakfast# the
/hurch disco!ered that it had been wrong in pronouncing them man and wife. ,leas of consanguinity# non%
consummation# or that neither party had been !alidly bapti0ed# were the order of the day# and the granting
of annulments became &uite a flourishing business.
By (<FE# a few years after the rot had set in# ,ope ,aul personally disposed of some four thousand cases.
Thus encouraged# a !eritable flood of applications followed. Very few of those in search of *freedom- were
definitely refused# but were ad!ised to try again or to come back later. In Trenton# 3ew ?ersey# >ishop
+eiss was so o!erworked that he nominated se!enteen e1tra priests to help him 4I &uote his own words5
*beef up- the number of annulments.

2.
In 7arch (<9( the Vatican took the &uite superfluous step# so it seemed to many# of reiterating its /anon
)aw E>>;# which stated that any /atholic who $oined a secret society faced e1communication. To the man
in the street# who was unaware that do0ens of clerics# some in the highest offices of the /hurch# had
already broken that law# it seemed a mere formality. But the Vatican# acting on information recei!ed# knew
!ery well what it was doing. It was protecting itself# in ad!ance# from any likely effects of a scandal that
broke in 7ay of the same year.
The Do!ernment of the country# headed by /hristian @emocrats# was formed of a coalition that included
+ocialists# +ocial @emocrats# and Republicans. But the /ommunists were now demanding a place in the
coalition# for political ends that left no doubt of their intentions. *The problem is-# they said# *to remo!e
democratic institutions# the +tate apparatus# and economic life from the /hristian @emocratic power
structure.-
But their efforts failed. The /hristian @emocrats held firm. +o their enemies resorted to a weapon that has
pro!ed no less deadly in political warfare than assassination. They brought about a far
reaching scandal which# they hoped# would topple the e1isting order of go!ernment in
Italy.
It was made to appear# as part of the repercussions which# following the break%up of
'ichele ;indona-s financial empire# had rumbled through the early summer of (<9(# that
the acti!ities of a widespread and dangerous secret society# known as ,ropaganda Two
4P2 for short5 had come to light. But in the confused world of politics and finance things do
not happen as simply as that. The people who# when compelled to do so# cry out against
the machinations most loudly# ha!e in!ariably been part of the backstairs conspiracy.

The fact of frauds being brought into the open may be through personal spite#
disappointed blackmail# or the probing of some o!er%0ealous underling *why couldn-t he keep &uiet?- 6nd
the self%righteous profiteers who# from their lofty moral pedestals but with their pockets suffering# cannot do
less than publici0e the swindle# ha!e to fume in pri!ate.
The e1posure of P2 began when the police recei!ed a mysterious call ad!ising them to search the home of
Licio 0elli 4image right5# a prestigious name in secret societies# and to in!estigate his relationship with the
erstwhile barrow%trundler 'ichele ;indona.

The mere mention of +indona made the implicated members of the /uria think of how to a!oid being
caught up in the scandal. 2ence their apparently unnecessary reminder to the world at large that /anon
E>>; was still !alid. 7eanwhile the police had come upon a suitcase in Delli-s house containing the names
of nine hundred and thirty%fi!e members of P2.

There were many prominent politicians# including three /abinet ministers and three under%secretaries" army
generals and na!y chiefs" leading bankers and industrialists# secret ser!ice heads# diplomats# $udges# and
magistrates" ci!il ser!ants in foreign affairs# defense# $ustice# finance# and the treasury" top names in radio
and tele!ision# and the managing director# editor and publisher of Italy-s leading newspaper# Corriere *ella
Sera.
7any others resigned# while a whole host of others came crashing down# like so many Hupty *upties#
when the
lists were published. 7ore si0eable litter followed as the go!ernment of Arnaldo 5orlani# in its entirety# was
swept off
the wall. The accusers and their !ictims were# of course# all members of the same gang. It was a case of
*Brothers falling out- with a !engeance. The usual accusations and recriminations followed# in!ol!ing e!ery
degree of crime# e!en murder. The falsification of accounts# espionage# and official stealing# passed as
minor considerations.
Through it all the Vatican reacted with only a mild fluttering of hearts. or although the /hurch had shed its
aura of re!erence# and its prestige had been reduced to a shadow# it remained inscrutable. The ghost of its
former self was still potent. The fatally loaded guns might be le!elled against its walls# but there was no
cannoneer to apply the match.
It was a wise cynic who saidB
*In Italy religion is a mask.-
3.
6lthough no churchman had been named in the scandal# the breaking of the ;indona story indirectly led to
the /hurch re!iewing its attitude to the secret societies. This had# according to orthodo1 belief# been settled
by the said /anon )aw E>>;# which forbade any /atholic# on pain of e1communication# to $oin one.

But in spite of that# because so many clerics# including members of the /uria# had broken that law#
negotiations between the two sides# started in (<:(# had been carried on for ele!en years# with Cardinal
>ea# the ,ope-s +ecretary of +tate 4whose name was as doubtful as his nationality5# assisted by Cardinal
Conig of Vienna# and 'onsignor J. de /oth# putting forward a more amenable !ersion of the /hurch-s
!iewpoint.
These prolonged talks were more concerned with ironing out past differences than with formulating any
future policy. But they managed to keep off the sub$ect of hidden designs against the /hurch# which had
partly prompted the latter-s ban. Then came further discussions at 6ugsburg in 7ay# (<:<# where
consideration was gi!en to ,apal pronouncements that roundly condemned the societies" and there was
more apprehension in conser!ati!e &uarters when such e&ui!ocal terms as placing ,apal Bulls in their
*historical conte1t-# and the remo!al of past in$ustices# were used to e1plain the purpose of the assemblies.
The outcome of this newly founded relationship fully $ustified the doubts of those who feared that the
/hurch was gi!ing ground# and going back on its $udgments that had been defined as final" and that the thin
end of the wedge was being imposed became apparent in ?uly of the same year# after a meeting at the
monastery of Ainsiedeln# +wit0erland.
It was there confidently anticipated# by Pro8essor ;ch,ar("a@er# that no reference to the seamy side of
secret societies would be made. 3either was it. Instead it was announced that Rome-s pre!ious rulings on
relationship between the /hurch and secret societies had not been contained in ,apal Bulls or Ancyclicals
but in /anon )aw which# as e!ery *updated- cleric knew# was being re!ised.
This occasioned more serious doubt in orthodo1 &uarters. It was recalled that /anon )aw refers to a body
of laws# authori0ed by the /hurch# and *binding to those who are sub$ect to it by baptism.- /ould it mean
that such terms as binding# re!ision# and alterations# were on the point of being sub$ected to new
interpretations? 7oreo!er# more than one ,apal Bull had certainly contained a condemnation of the
societies.
The societies 4and this must be repeated5 had no intention of refuting their original intention of undermining
the /hurch. They had no need. They had so far succeeded in their design. Their own men had infiltrated
and taken o!er the /hurch at e!ery le!el" and to such an e1tent that the /hurch seemed in a hurry to
abandon what was left of its original claims# its historic rites# and ma$esty" and now the societies waited for
their picked men# /ardinals and others# to present themsel!es before the world# cap in hand# and cry aloud
their past errors of $udgments.
6 definite mo!e towards this came from the once highly orthodo1 centre of +pain# where 5ather 5errer
>enimeli put forward the e1traordinary plea that ,apal Bulls# condemning the societies# could no longer be
regarded as !alid.
6n undertaking that strictures imposed by /anon )aw on secret societies in the past would not again be
in!oked# was
gi!en by /ardinal .onig when /hurch and secular representati!es met at )ichtenau /astle in (<FC. Then
came the statement that /anon )aw and ,apal Bulls had been all !ery well in the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries# but such documents now had a mainly historical significance# and their import could not be
enacted by a /hurch that was preaching the more significant doctrine of *brotherly lo!e- which# together
with friendship and morality# *pro!ided one of the most e1cellent tenets of the societies-.
The critics of these *get together- tactics saw in this a concession to the fraternal spirit inspired by the
societies# and also a !irtual endorsement of the Cult of Man that ,ope ,aul had preached in the Jnited
+tates# and in which he had been confirmed by the Masters of 7isdo.
The general result of these contacts# on the /hurch side# was submitted for e1amination by the
/ongregation for the aith" and the outcome was decided in ad!ance by the remarks and reser!ations that
accompanied them. It was no use looking back at what the /hurch had formerly decided. /omparison
showed that its past attitude was old%fashioned# and properly belonged to a time when it had taught *no
sal!ation outside the /hurch-.
That slogan too was outmoded" and the world-s ,ress# including most /atholic organs# again went to work
with a will as it always did when it came to propagating !iews that undermined tradition and reinforced the
designs of those secret society members who wore mitres in the Vatican.
With the 2oly 'ffice continuing to bend o!er backwards to confirm the changes# the process of
seculari0ation gained momentum from the autumn of (<F= onwards. It was made clear that the bar against
secret societies had become a dead letter# and that its abrogation was bringing relief *to a number of good
people who $oined them merely for business or social reasons-. They no longer presented a danger to the
/hurch.
The dismay occasioned by this in some &uarters was summed up by 5ather Pedro Arrupe# Deneral of the
+ociety of ?esus 4?esuits5# who saw it as a concession to organi0ed *naturalism- which# he said# had
entered into the !ery territory of God and was influencing the minds of priests and religious.
3aturalism# by dogmatically asserting that human nature and human reason alone must be supreme in all
things# was another echo of the /ult of 7an.
The /hurch-s changing attitude towards secret societies was reflected in this country by John Cannel
:eenan# who was appointed 6rchbishop of Westminster in (<:> and created /ardinal two years later. In
keeping with his hopeful e1pectation that the /hurch-s ban on the societies would soon be abolished# some
of his senior clergy were authori0ed to negotiate with them. The /ardinal was then informed that a
publication repeating the differences between the two sides was on sale in /atholic bookshops in his
diocese.
2e e1pressed his concern. *If# as I suspect# it is misleading# I shall see that it is withdrawn.- 2e did so# and
that publication# together with all similar ones# disappeared.
6n interested in&uirer who wrote to the /ardinal on the matter recei!ed# in reply# an assurance that the
/ardinal con!eyed his blessing. The same in&uirer# on calling at the Catholic Truth Society bookshop# near
Westminster /athedral# was told that there had been no dealings with the /ardinal# and that the booklets
had been withdrawn *through lack of public interest-.
The growing belief that /anon E>>; would not appear in any re!ised edition of /hurch law# together with
the fact that orthodo1 elements were being out%manoeu!red# as they had been at Vatican II# led to the
/hurch and the societies e1pressing a more open relationship.
There was# for instance# a *dedication breakfast- at the 3ew 8ork 2ilton 2otel in 7arch# (<F:# presided o!er
by Cardinal /erence Coo2e# seconded by /ardinal .roll# of ,hiladelphia# and attended by some three
thousand members of secret societies. /ardinal Brandao Vilela of +an +al!ador de Behia# represented
Bra0il.
In his speech# /ardinal /ooke referred to this *$oyous e!ent- as marking a further stage *on the road to
friendship-. 2e
regretted *past estrangements-# and hoped that his presence there signified that the new understanding
between the two
sides would ne!er again be compromised. To the /ardinals and the 7asters it was not so much an outsi0e
breakfast party as a momentous union# effected by opponents who had ne!er before at any time come
4openly5 together.
Cardinal Croll# as ,resident of the Jnited +tates Bishops- /onference# had pre!iously been approached
by Cardinal ;eper# ,refect of the /ongregation for the @octrine of the aith# who !oiced the fears of those
who regretted the signs of !ital changes in the /hurch. +eper was informed that no alteration had been
made# and that none was pending within the area of central legislation.
*It is still# and in all cases-# said .roll# in a statement that e!en to read causes a raising of the eyebrows#
*forbidden for clerics# religious# and members of secular institutes to belong to a secret society
organi0ation.... Those who enroll their names in associations of the same kind which plot against the
/hurch# or the legitimate ci!il authorities# by this !ery fact incur e1communication# absolution from which is
reser!ed for the 2oly +ee.-
It was true that no acti!e plot against the /hurch was then in motion. The societies could well afford to sit
back and to take breath" not through any decisi!e change of heart# but because the first stage of the plot
had been successfully accomplished. Two of the societies- choosing# in the persons of ?ohn IIIII and ,aul
VI# had occupied ,eter-s /hair. 'thers of their kind# who had recei!ed a red hat or a Bishop-s mitre# had
dominated their counsels. The ne1t mo!e in the plot against the /hurch was being reser!ed for the future#
when the inno!ations in doctrine and practice had been accepted by a generation who had ne!er known
what it was to respond to the guiding hands of ,opes such as the now belittled ,ius III.
The rearguard# for so the anti%)iberals may be called# made what capital it could by harking back to /anon
E>>;# and to
the Sindona scandal as illustrating the widespread disasters brought about by contact with a secret society.
6s part of this
campaign# a Derman Apiscopal /onference of Bishops was held in the middle of (<9(# where it was
stressed# without any
&ualification# that *simultaneous membership of the /atholic /hurch and of a secret society is impossible.-
.
This was followed by the Italian Do!ernment appro!ing a Bill to outlaw and dissol!e all secret societies# and
reminding /atholics that e1communication was still the /hurch-s penalty for $oining one.
But both the Derman and Italian pronouncements were merely smoke screens" and none recogni0ed this
more than the societies# who were not in the least impressed. That /anon E>>;# if it appeared at all in any
re!ised edition of /hurch law# would be shorn of its urgency# had passed from being rumour and
newspaper gossip to becoming an imminent fact. 6n Anglish prelate# Cardinal :eenan# had said more
than that# and had e!en anticipated it being abolished. While a leading official of the societies in Rome#
unruffled# said he had it on good authority that /anon )aw was being re!ised# as it was# in fact# by a
/ommission of /ardinals that had been set up by John **III and continued under Paul VI.
The official went on to say that the still apparent differences between the /hurch and the societies were all
part of the conflict in the Vatican between the traditionalists and the progressi!es. *This may well ha!e
been- and he could well afford to shrug it off *their last attack upon us.-
That pronouncement# like e!ery other emanating from the same &uarter# has pro!ed to be correct.
or it has now to be accepted# according to a statement from the 2oly +ee# that#
*The +acred /ongregation for the @octrine of the aith has ruled that /anon E>>; no longer automatically
bars a /atholic from membership of 7asonic groups.-

4.
It had probably been by ,ope ,aul-s own wish# in defiance of a custom that was part of a /hristian-s# and
especially a /atholic-s# second nature# that# after his death in (<F9# there was no crucifi1# nor e!en the
most common religious symbol# a cross# on the catafal&ue when his body was placed for !eneration in +t.
,eter-s pia00a.
Was it a silent acknowledgment that his work# in compliance with the secret counsel en$oined upon him
since the time he became 6rchbishop of 7ilan# had been well and truly done?

.. The full te1t is gi!en in 6mtsblatt des A00bistums# /ologne# ?une (<9( issue.
Part 9le@en
' VillainK thou hast stolen both mine office and my name.
+hakespeare.
To those unac&uainted with the power and scope of secret societies# the personality of Pope Paul VI
presents a !eritable enigma. 3o other ,ope# e!en in the most tempestuous times# has been the sub$ect of
such conflicting reports" no other ,ope has been so apparently self%contradictory. A!en a casual reading of
his reign lea!es an impression of doubt# e&ui!ocation# and a pathetically weak kind of hedging that is a far
remo!e from the asserti!e ,ontificates of the past.
or how can one account for a ,ope lamenting# as ,aul did# that *one can no longer trust the /hurch-? 2e
signed the documents that kept Vatican Two on course# and promised# almost in the early hours of his
reign# to consolidate and implement its decisions. 8et he changed his tune e!en before the last of its
sessions.
*'ne would ha!e belie!ed the /ouncil would ha!e brought sunny days for the /hurch-s history. 'n the
contrary# they are days of storm# cloud# and fog. 2ow did this come about?-
6nd the answer he pro!idedB
*We think there has been the influence of a hostile ,ower. 2is name is the @e!il-
tempts one to ask whether that was a form of confession# a self%indictment. Was he merely e1pressing
what he knew had become fact# or speaking as a !ictim# a disillusioned man in the grip of forces beyond his
control?
/ompare his $udgments with those of almost any of his predecessors# a ,ius V# a )eo IIII# and the contrast
appears to be# as I said before# &uite pitiful. To &uote but two instances. 'n (= +eptember# (<FE# he came
down hea!ily against the suggestion that women might play some part in the ministry of the priesthood.

+uch a departure from custom was unthinkable. 8et his was not a decisi!e !oice# for only some three
weeks later the Vatican issued a hand%out to $ournalists announcing that the ,ope might change his mind.
The final contradiction came on E< 7arch# (<F># when the 6ssociated ,ress reportedB
*,ope ,aul ruled today that women# regardless of whether they are nuns# may distribute /ommunion in
Roman /atholic churches.-
The ,ope had already# in 7ay (<:<# condemned a new departure that had crept in whereby /ommunion
was recei!ed in the hand. 8et later he took that stricture back# with the meaningless pro!iso that
/ommunion bread could be so recei!ed *after proper instruction.-
2is weakness# his yielding to inno!ation in ritual and practice# together with the acceptance of re!olutionary
7ar1ism# and the many strange rumours that issued# from time to time# from the Vatican# caused many
people in more than one part of the world to wonder if they were indeed witnessing the fall of Rome.
It was said that the ,ope-s correspondence# before it reached him# passed through the hands of Casaroli#
Villot# and >enelli# the /ardinals in !irtual control of the Vatican. +tatesmen and churchmen who paid
official !isits found ,ope ,aul diffident# almost !ague# and more ready with comments and opinions than
with definite answers. 2e lacked clarity" and as wonder ga!e way to a feeling of dis&uiet# !arious theories
emerged to account for the air of mystery around Peter&s Chair.
Cardinal Agostino Casaroli Cardinal Jean Villot Cardinal 0io@anni >enelli

The most feasible one# that ,aul was an anti%pope# a trained /ommunist infiltrator# could be supported by
his known past# his friendship with the anarchist Alins2% and others of his kind in 7ilan# and the heresies
he had fostered since coming to power.
'ther e1planations will be ad!anced here 4not because they figure among the beliefs of the present writer#
who regards them as e1tra!agant# some wildly so5# but in order to make known what many intelligent
people ha!e come to think in the face of a situation akin to those# in centuries past# when the forces of +t.
7ichael and 6smodeus clashed by the banks of the Tiber.
'ne theory is that Paul VI# a good ,ope in the normal sense# fell into the hands of agents of secret
societies 4and here the names of Villot# /asaroli# and Benelli crop up again5 who drugged him# in$ected
poison into his !eins# and made him incapable of reasoning# so that all that purported to be stamped by the
agisteriu of the /hurch came# in reality# from the trium!irate of /ardinals.
But that would seem to be ruled out by 7ontini-s life%long attachment to 7ar1ism# which would ha!e
ob!iated the need for the )eft orientated secret societies to e1ert any pressure upon him.
That would ha!e been superfluous. Though there was one utterance by the ,ope# when a dignitary asked
him to &uieten the widespread alarm# that might ha!e been taken as indicati!eB
*@o you people belie!e the ,ope to be badly informed# or sub$ect to pressure?-
6t length stories emanating from Rome of sacrilege and abuses committed in church# with the appro!al of
the ,ope# became so startling# that groups of people in Aurope and 6merica decided to take action.
This culminated in a 'r. 4aniel ;callen of the Marian Press in Georgetown# 'ntario# /anada# employing
the ,inkerton @etecti!e 6gency in 3ew 8ork to in!estigate. 'ne of the agency-s detecti!es was sent# in
(<F># to Rome# and he returned with a story that dwarfed all other speculations# howe!er sensational.
2e had determined that there were two ,opes li!ing in the Vatican# Paul VI and an impostor who had been
made to resemble 'ontini with the aid of plastic surgery. +e!eral such operations were necessary# and
when colour photographs of the false ,ope were sent to interested circles in 7unich# where the imposture
is still recei!ing concentrated study# there were certain noticeable differences in the two sets of features
that could not be o!ercome.
To point out the differencesB 7ontini had clear blue eyes# large# and being long%sighted he only re&uired
glasses for near !iewing. The impostor had green eyes# small# and he wore glasses with thick lenses on all
occasions.
7ontini-s photographs re!eal a small mole# or birth%mark# between the left eye and the left ear. This does
not appear in photographs of the impostor# whose left eyebrow was nearer to the eye than was 7ontini-s.
The differences between the nose and the ears of the two men are held to be decisi!e. 7ontini-s nose was
Roman# and protruded somewhat o!er his mouth. The impostor-s nose# part straight and part hooked# was
short# and those who sub$ected the photographs to professional e1amination claim to ha!e detected the
insertion of a plastic strip in the nose to make it appear more straight.
But it is differences in the shape and formation of the ears that present the greatest difficulty to those who
doubt the e1istence of an impostor. +uch differences are uni&ue# indi!idual# and they are treated the same
as finger%prints in courts of law. 6ny comparison of the lobes and build of the ears# as re!ealed by
photographs# becomes not a little impressi!e.
But the interested circles did not stop there. They turned their attention upon the !oice# and called in the
help of the Type (,;< -ay 3leetrics of ,ine Brook# 3ew ?ersey# and the (all Telephone Copany. Their
ob$ect was to analy0e the !oice 4or !oices# if there were indeed two popes5 when they pronounced the
traditional Aaster +unday and /hristmas @ay blessing# with the words 0ndulgentiu Peccatoru# spoken
from the Vatican in (<F;.
'n both occasions the message was broadcast o!er Rome# and many people taped it" and it appeared#
according to sonograms that were made and sonograms are more sensiti!e than the ear that the man
who had spoken at Aaster# and again at /hristmas# had not been one and the same. There had been two
different speakers.
2ere I &uote from those who are &ualified to $udge the sonograms and sum up the distinctionsB
'ne !oice had a much lower pitch than the other# with a more pronounced dragging of word syllables.
6nother difference was that one !oice had a much lower range of fre&uencies. It emitted a more hissing
sound# and was noticeably shaky.
These graphs were submitted to the 5>I for e1amination# and the same conclusions were arri!ed at. The
!oice patterns were different# and indicated that the !ocal chords# the mouth# and the lips# were uni&ue to
each indi!idual.
+ubse&uent statements alleging that there was a false ,ope ,aul VI# go on to say that he was an actor
whose initials are ,.6.R.# and that it was he who died at /astelgandolfo on : 6ugust# (<F9. 6 Derman
Bishop# who claims to ha!e proof that 'ontini was last known to be li!ing not in the Vatican but in the
outskirts of Rome# hopes to make this public in a forthcoming book.
+o could this point to the fact that the genuine Paul VI was held capti!e in the Vatican# or that he was
kidnapped# perhaps murdered? 6 layman in search of more concrete e!idence went to Brescia# where
some of 7ontini-s relations were li!ing. There a niece informed him that they were perfectly well aware of
the imposture# but that all their efforts to make it known had been stifled.
The in!estigator# who was ob!iously untried and filled with a crusading 0eal to bring things into the open#
soon landed in trouble. 2e was $ailed for four years# and afterwards deported from Italy. 6ll efforts to trace
his whereabouts since then ha!e failed.
Well# as part of the pre!ailing confusion in the Roman stronghold# that is what some far from negligible
people ha!e come to belie!e.
NA!idence for the abo!e can be found at below. The discerning reader will not fail to distinguish between the
actual e!idence presented and the authenticity or otherwise of the apparitions of (ayside % ed.O

Excerpts
"The Deception of the Century"
from EndTime'sProphecy Website
Paul VI: the Pope of 1972
One of the most startling revelations of Our Lady of the Roses was the message concerning "the deception of the
century" in which an actor was substituted for Pope Paul !" in certain public appearances beginning around the
year #$%&' (ound incredible) There is an astonishing amount of evidence for this claim* photos voice prints
testimonials of pilgrims in Rome who witnessed this fact themselves a reported e+orcism in (wit,erland and Our
Lady of the Roses apparitions in -ew .or/'

Sister ucy trie! to "arn Pope Paul VI
On 0ay #1 #$2% after a 0ass celebrated in front of the basilica in 3atima Portugal (ister Lucy approached Pope
Paul !" and re4uested "" want to have a private conversation with you'" (he repeated this re4uest many times'
Obviously (ister Lucy had an important message for him' 5ut Pope Paul !" refused her re4uest and replied "(ee
it is not the moment'"
(ister Lucy withdrew' Pope Paul !" got up and turned towards the statue of Our Lady of 3atima trying to place a
silver Rosary between 6er hands' 7s he could not reach them he deposited the Rosary at the statue's feet'
The crowd shouted* "Lucia Lucia Lucia8" Then 5ishop 6nilica led (ister Lucy onto the front of the podium' When
the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims saw (ister Lucy near the Pope they applauded' 5ut T! reporters and
hundreds of cameras recorded a stunning event* (ister Lucy was crying' Why)
Pope Paul#s plea for help
On 9une :$ #$%: Pope Paul !" stunned the world with the words*
"3rom some fissure the smo/e of satan entered into the temple of ;od'"
The 5ayside message of (eptember :< #$%< referred to Paul !"'s statement*
=Listen to your !icar who stated that the smo/e of satan had entered 0y >hurch' ?id he have pride when he
brought this /nowledge to you) -o8 6e as/ed for help' 7nd what did you do) .ou turned away and widened the
door for satan to enter8@
A(eptember :< #$%<B
Pope Paul's plea went unheeded and he entered into a martyrdom that would endure for years'

Co$parison of photo%raphs: Pope Paul VI &s' the i$postor
eft above C Pope Paul !"* Long nose reaching to the end of the ear lobe'
(i%ht above C the impostor pope* -ose much shorter in comparison to ear'
-ote the prominent birthmar/ between the eye and ear of the true Pope Aon the left #$%1 photoB and
conspicuously absent on the impostor Aright #$%% photoB' -otice the visible difference in the nose' Pope Paul has
a longer straighter more pointed nose' The impostor has a shorter and rounder nose'
eft C Pope Paul !"* -otice complete difference of ear structure with that of the impostor' ?ue to the tiny bone
structure the ear is the hardest thing to change in plastic surgeryDthis becomes obvious in the two pictures'
(i%ht C the impostor pope* -otice not only the difference of the ear but also the shorter nose'
eft C Pope Paul !"* Long straight noseDalmost to the end of ear lobe' Ear is full and round'
(i%ht C the impostor pope* -ose is shorter and rounderDreaching only 1EF length of ear' Ear is longer and not as
wide'
A-ote* (ome have conGectured that this "actor of great talent" was the stage actor Parr'B

Voice prints Asame e+act words different voice signaturesB*
Photos are only one type of physical evidence to distinguish identity' Other physical evidence includes fingerprints
voiceCprints medical findings etc' "n his Hmstur, im !ati/an) A7n Overthrow in the !atican)B )ol*er% presents
further evidence for the e+istence of the impostor pope'

!oice recordings of the Latin "Hrbi et Hrbi" speech of "the Pope" were made on two different occasions' The two
recordings were passed through a voiceCfre4uency analy,er made by Iay Elemetrics of Pine 5roo/ -ew 9ersey'
The output Type 5E2& sonagram voice prints of the same words pronounced by the "the Pope" on two occasions
shows that they they were made by two different men'

The $ysterious *etrayal of Car!inal +in!s,enty
The story surrounding the valiant shepherd >ardinal 0inds,enty of 6ungary Aleft in photoB adds another
dimension to the usurpation of Pope Paul !"'s pontificate' This saintly >ardinal suffered imprisonment and torture
in his home country of 6ungary spea/ing out and trying to defend his floc/ first from -a,ism and then from the
ravages of communism' "n fact >ardinal 0inds,enty suffered at the hands of the communists tortures lasting 1$
consecutive days and nights consisting of sleepCdeprivation and every conceivable outrage'

"n #$&2 as communism tightened its grip on the >hurch in 6ungary >ardinal 0inds,enty was given asylum at the
7merican Embassy in 5udapest by President Eisenhower' The >ardinal languished there for fifteen years unable to
leave the building' >ommunist agents awaited him day and night to assassinate him should he leave the
embassy'
On (eptember :< #$%# the world heard that >ardinal 0inds,enty had arrived in Rome at the invitation of Pope
Paul !"' 6e was received with real Goy and tenderness by Pope Paul' The 6oly 3ather embraced >ardinal
0inds,enty and hung his own pectoral cross around his nec/' They both concelebrated 0ass and the 6oly 3ather
spo/e of the >ardinal as "a guest we have awaited with longing ''' a symbol of unsha/eable strength rooted in
faith and in selfless devotion to the >hurch'"
On October :1 #$%# Pope Paul !" again concelebrated 0ass with >ardinal 0inds,enty' Pope Paul gave 0inds,enty
his own cardinal's mantle and told him in Latin
".ou are and remain 7rchbishop of Es,tergom and Primate of 6ungary' >ontinue wor/ing and if you have
difficulties turn trustfully to us8"
The >ardinal returned to his pastoral tours around the world' 5ut on 3ebruary & #$%F something unbelievable
occurred* he received a letter from the "Pope" declaring the (ee of Es,tergom vacant' The !atican announced to
the world that >ardinal 0inds,enty had "retired'" The !atican had lied to the world in a public statement' "n
profound sorrow >ardinal 0inds,enty had to ma/e clear that he had not abdicated but had been deposed' 6is
0emoirs end with the words*
"This is how " arrived at complete and total e+ile'"
The !atican was flooded with protests and the free world's press attac/ed the deposition of >ardinal 0inds,enty
with fury'
E+actly what did happen) 6ow could Pope Paul !" have betrayed his promise to >ardinal 0inds,enty) ?id Pope
Paul !" really depose >ardinal 0inds,enty on 3ebruary & #$%F) This is e+tremely unli/ely in light of a message
given on 7ugust :# #$%F Athe "V" in the 4uote below represents >ardinal !illot the (ecretariat of (tateB*
"V does much damage to the 6oly 3ather by changing his correspondence' V rewrites his letters' V censors his
mail'"
C 7ugust :# #$%F
Was the letter sent to >ardinal 0inds,enty on 3ebruary & #$%F written by Car!inal Villot) >onsidering Pope Paul
!"'s tremendous support of >ardinal 0inds,enty and his promise in #$%# this e+planation would fit with Our Lady
of the Roses message and the real Third (ecret'
Pope Paul VI "as !ru%%e!
We also /now that between #$%# Awhen Pope Paul met with >ardinal 0inds,enty in RomeB and #$%F a lot had
ta/en place' "n the 7pril #F #$%1 and (eptember :% #$%& messages it was revealed that Pope Paul was being
drugged*
!eronica C -ow " am''' Our Lady is ta/ing me into a bedroom' Oh8 " see sistersDthey're nursesDin the bedroom'
Oh and thereD" can see him in his bedDis the 6oly 3ather' The nurse now has a needle and she's rolling up now
the sleeve' 6e has on''' it loo/s li/e a robe the 6oly 3ather and she's giving him a needle in his arm' 6e''' and he
loo/s very sic/' -ow the needle was placed into his left arm into his left arm' -ow as the needle is placed into his
left arm Pope Paul is reaching over onto a table near his bed' 6e's reaching for his crucifi+' 6e's placing it across
his chest'
A7pril #F #$%1B
"0edication of evil has dulled the brain of the true Pope Pope Paul !"' They send into his veins poison to dull his
reasoning and paraly,e his legs'"
AOur Lady (eptember :% #$%&B
"t appears that >ardinal 0inds,enty's betrayal is one of many mysteries e+plained by the overthrow of Pope Paul
!"'s papacy'
Paul VI !ie! -u%ust ./ 1970/ at the a%e of 01'

Part /,el@e
3o Roman was e!er able to sayB *I dined last night with the Borgias.-
7a1 Beerbohm.
6 disillusioned priest who# nonetheless# still says 7ass daily and fulfils all the duties demanded by a parish#
merely shrugged his shoulders when I mentioned the possibility of crimes being perpetrated in the Vatican
today.
*Well-# he said# *such things ha!e always happened there. Why shouldn-t they still be going on?-
2e was not in the least troubled by my suggestion. 6n enemy of Rome could not ha!e been more casual#
more resigned to the use of poison and the strangler-s cord# and the acceptance of adultery# in high places.
The two complaints of malaria and gout figure among the causes of death of &uite a few ,opes. But
sometimes they could be contracted into a single word# poison# as in the case of Dregory V who reigned
from <<: to <<<. The same could be said regarding the death of 4amasus II who# after being elected on
?uly (F# (C=9# li!ed for only three weeks.
Celestine II# a one%time disciple of 6belard# was made ,ope on +eptember E:# ((=># and died in the
second week of the following 7arch. There were those about him who more than suspected poison. In
?une (;(F the 7edici Pope Leo * narrowly escaped a plot led by Cardinal Petrucci# and four other
,rinces of the /hurch# to poison him.
<8or more in8o clic2 a"o@e image=
8rom GCatholic 9nc%clopediaG @ol.I*3.-.H3 p..3
Also /.W.4oaneGs G>i"le '%thsG3 p.43)

Leo *I died on 6pril EF# (:C;# after a reign of only twenty%se!en days. 2is death# according to official
biographers# was caused by a sudden chill aggra!ated by the cares of office. But there were those on hand
who had seen him droop o!er a poison cup.
Between those two short,li#ed pontificates# the Vice%/hancellor of the Roman /hurch# +odrigo de >orgia#
who was to stamp the period and his family with an infamy that was rare at any time# took his seat on the
,apal throne in (=<E as 6le1ander VI.
6s well as se!eral secondary ones# he had already taken as his principal mistress a married Roman lady#
Vano((a de Cataneis# who presented him with three sons and a daughter# all of whom li!ed under their
father-s wing as fa!oured members of the /ourt" and from the first# apart from the gestures and
protestations that were inescapable parts of his office# the mainspring of 6le1ander-s life became the
ad!ancement and political security of his family.
The oldest son# ?uan# @uke of Dandia# ri!alled his father in the number of illicit relationships in which he
figured. 2is brother# /aesar# not a whit behind him in this# was to add his own distincti!e brand of crime to
the Borgia annals. When he was only se!enteen 6le1ander created him /ardinal# though /aesar was
ne!er more than a sub%deacon# certainly not a priest. 2is papa was e&ually obliging when /aesar# although
a ,rince of the /hurch 4he soon dropped the sham5# wanted to marry. The necessary dispensation was
soon forthcoming.
The youngest of 6le1ander-s sons# ?ofre# married an illegitimate daughter of 6lonso II of 3aples. Then
came )ucre0ia who# because of her se1 and the manifestly pious strain she e1hibited in such surroundings#
has been badly treated by no!elists and historians of the 2ollywood type. +he was# according to the time#
sufficiently ungirlish to deal with her father-s official correspondence when he was out of Rome# and we
know nothing definite to her discredit.
2er first marriage# to a prince of the +for0a house# was annulled on the grounds of non%consummation. 2er
second was to another of the illegitimate brood produced by the 3eapolitan king# while her third was to
@uke 6lfonso d-Aste of errara.
Lucre(ia died young# but not before she had passed through the strange e1perience of knowing that her
second husband had been strangled by her brother /aesar. But that was not the highlight of /aesar-s
career# for he also dealt# in similar fashion# with his own brother ?uan. 2e then turned his attention to
/ardinals# those with money# and used his ready hands# or the always con!enient poison# to account for
se!eral# including Cardinal 'ichele# who was a nephew of ,ope ,aul II# and Cardinal Orsini.
But that by no means depleted the /ollege of /ardinals# for apart from /aesar four other members of the
Borgia clan sported the red hat. 6le1ander turned a blind eye on /aesar-s e1ploits# though he was
genuinely grie!ed by the loss of his first%born# ?uan.
@uring this time the *e#il made his presence felt# sometimes !isibly# in Rome# and the populace had no
doubt but that the dregs of wickedness were being stirred by doings at the Vatican. or instance# a ballet
was performed there on the 3#e of %ll Saints# (;C(# at which e!ery one of the fifty dancers was a whore
picked from the streets of Rome.
'ne of those who came to decide that the Borgias had been in the saddle all too long was Cardinal
Castellisi o8 Corneto. +o he in!ited father and son to a ban&uet# and prepared a dose of his own mi1ing
that was guaranteed to rid Rome of them both.
They accepted the in!itation# but it so happened that 6le1ander had made up his mind that /astellisi was a
nuisance# and he came pro!ided with some wine that had pro!ed so efficacious in the past.
Those were not the days of mi1ed drinks# but the wines were somehow mi1ed up as they sat at table# with
the result that 6le1ander and /aesar got a draught of their own preparation. 6mid their groaning and
twisting the party hurriedly broke up. /aesar reco!ered# but 6le1ander died# duly fortified by the
+acraments of the /hurch.
/ause of death malaria.
2is Aminence of /orneto probably en$oyed a &uiet laugh.
/aesar made some amends for his e!il life by dying in battle. )ucre0ia was caricatured in a no!el by Victor
2ugo# and her name was gi!en to the title role in an opera by @oni0etti. 6n apologist for 6le1ander could
say no more than that during his reign Dreenland accepted the Dospel.

2.
6ccording to a recipe that was handed down and came into the hands of 0arelli# who
was physician to the 2absburg
Amperor /harles VI 4(:9;%(F=C5# the Borgias obtained their poison by first killing a pig#
sprinkling its abdominal organs with arsenious acid# and waiting until putrefaction set in.
This contaminated matter# when introduced into li&uids# became an acti!e# deadly# and# in
the ma$ority of cases# almost instantaneous poison.
Dreat precautions were taken at the /ourt of 6le1ander VI to pre!ent this being written
down" and some of the other methods employed to administer the poison were nothing
short of ingenious. 6 person cutting fruit could die through touching the edge of a knife
that had been brushed by the preparation" while the effect of turning a key to open a door
or a bo1 might cause a minute gra0e of the skin through which a fatal drop imperceptibly
entered the bloodstream.
'ther to1icologists affirm that there was another (orgia poison# a comple1 mi1ture consisting of a gritty and
whitish powder that resembled sugar. It was known as canterella or cantoreli.

Part /hirteen
Who shall decide when doctors disagree?
6le1ander ,ope.
The figure of John Paul I# who succeeded ,aul VI# adds yet another# and one of the most profound# to a
situation that is already crowded with problems. /reated Bishop by ?ohn IIIII# and made a /ardinal by
,aul VI 4the ,opes who# between them# created and implemented the re!olution5# his rise to the ,apal
throne after ha!ing been Al"ino Luciani 4image left5# /ardinal%,atriarch of Venice# came almost as an
ecclesiastical bolt from the blue.
2umbly circumstanced# he grew up in a family where opinions# &uite naturally# were formed and dominated
by those of the father# a committed )eft%winger" and he was in his mid%si1ties when# on E: 6ugust# (<F9# he
emerged from the concla!e at which he had been elected# with unprecedented speed# after four ballots that
co!ered only eight hours and forty%fi!e minutes on the first day.
6n obser!er with an eye on the state of affairs at the Vatican might ha!e noted that the stage was being set
for yet another Renaissance drama. 6nd such an e!ent was indeed figured forth by the enigmas at once
presented by this 4apparently5 by no means uncommon ,ope.
Two schools of thought# in neither of which his !oice had so far been definitely heard# grew up about him.
'ne insisted that he was bent on continuing the changes set afoot by his two predecessors" that he
fa!oured the modernist or progressi!e elements# and their reforms.
+upport for this was gi!en when he re$ected the title of +upreme ,ontiff# and elected to be installed rather
than crowned. There was no crucifi1 on the table that ser!ed for an altar# at his inaugural 7ass. +implicity
go!erned all# and those who echoed the ideology of Paul VI were soon claiming that the new ,ope was
*their man-# especially when he was known to ha!e opposed the /hurch-s teaching forbidding
contraception.
'n the other hand# it was said. that he contemplated the annulment of some of the inno!ations started by
Vatican Two" that he deplored the so%called *upward- mo!ement that was threatening the /hurch" and those
conser!ati!es who looked for an endorsement of their !iewpoint were encouraged when the time came to
appoint new Bishops to !acant sees# and# more especially# one to his old ,atriarchate of Venice.
In that he was opposed by Cardinal >aggio 4known as /eba to the secret societies5 whose candidate was
a certain 7onsignor /e# who was known to be radical. But ?ohn ,aul refused to make the appointment#
thus gi!ing support to those who wished to belie!e that he was in conflict with heresy.
Their satisfaction# howe!er# was short li!ed# as was e!idenced by an occasion when he was called upon to
address a gathering of students and teachers. 2e led them in reciting the 6ngelus# but no sooner had he
concluded the last *2ail 7ary- than he began to sing the praises of one whom he e1tolled as *a classical
e1ample of abnegation and de!otion to education.-

This was not# as might ha!e been e1pected# a saint# nor e!en a simple member of the /hurch# but 0iosue
Carducci 4(9>;%(<CF5# who had been professor at Bologna Jni!ersity and whose name# as a self%
confessed worshipper of Satan# was widely respected in occult circles.
2is poem Hyn to Satan# in forty stan0as# contained such lines as the following Napart from the first line#
the &uotation here gi!en bears little resemblance to the original 0nno a Satana % ed.OB
*Dlory to thee#
7agnanimous RebelK
'n Thy brow shall rise# like laurel gro!es# The forests of 6spromonte.
I drink to the happy day which shall see the end 'f Rome the eternal.
To )iberty who# a!enging human thought#
'!erturns the false throne of ,eter-s successor"
In the dust with crowns and garlandsK
)ie shattered# ini&uitous )ordK-
.
In shorter pieces# Carducci apologi0ed to +atan# or the spirit of e!il# which he called 6gramainio# for the
lies and slanders that are heaped upon him on earth. Dlorifications of the occult and the Black 7ass# and of
+atan as the symbol of re!olt against the /hurch# the antithesis of religion# are mi1ed with blasphemies.
+atan is thanked for being kind# while in his 'de to the Town of errara# /arducci cursed the *cruel old she%
wolf of the Vatican-.
/arducci became the centre of a cult# and was accorded much the same re!erence by his followers that he
ga!e to +atan. ,rocessions were held# preceded by a banner on which +atan# in all his regalia of horns#
tail# and hoo!es# was depicted# and at which a parody of the )itany# including the line *Gloria in profundis
Satanae- was chanted. The last eight !erses of the hymn by this *singer of +atan- passed into the repertory
of songs that made the rafters ring in Italian secret society meetings.
8et ,ope ?ohn ,aul-s admiration for this man# his holding him up as an e1ample for teachers and the rising
generation to follow# was only one of the mysteries connected with his reign.

2.
'!er the centuries Rome# insisting on her uni&ue historical !alidity# had remained stubbornly aloof from
negotiations with other /hurches# ,rotestant or 'rthodo1. But the +econd Vatican /ouncil had opened
doors so that representati!es of those /hurches were now e1changing !iews and discussing the
possibilities of unity.
'ne such !isitor to Rome was the Russian 7etropolitan 'onsignor !i2odim# the 'rthodo1 6rchbishop of
)eningrad.
Born in (<>C# and becoming the youngest Bishop of any creed in /hristendom# he was reputed to e1hibit a
pro%+o!iet and
anti%West bias. In (<:( he led a deputation of 'rthodo1 churchmen to the World /ouncil of /hurches. 2e
was
awarded the Jnited 3ations- medal for peace# and became head of the oreign Relations @epartment of
the 7oscow ,atriarchate" and after attending the installation of ?ohn ,aul I# he was recei!ed in audience by
the ,ope on +eptember the ;th.
The meeting occurred in the study ad$oining the ,ope-s pri!ate library# and the opening remarks# as
reported probably by 5ather Arrupe# +uperior%Deneral of the ?esuits# or by the liberal Cardinal
Wille"rands 4who acted as hosts to 3ikodim5# followed these linesB
*Welcome# dear brother-# said the ,ope# coming forward from the large oak table at which he had been
working# *+o close to us# and yet so far away. What shall we disco!er about oursel!es? When will all of us#
/atholic and 'rthodo1# be sons of the same /hurch?-
3ikodim responded in the same spirit. *I wish it could be in your reign that such a thing could happen.-
The ,ope asked for news of the state of religion in Russia.
*ather 6rrupe tells me that you are !ery hopeful about the future of the /hurch in your country.-
!i2odim was silent for a time. Those who had met him could imagine how# when pausing for an answer#
his eyes showed as little more than slits under bushy brows.
*7ost 2oly ather# I-ll be frank with you-# he said at length. *In Russia they think !ery badly of me. They say I
am working with the +tate authorities# and that I ser!e them rather than God. 8et I am a faithful ser!ant of
God.-
That short confession brought a rush of colour to his cheeks.
2e breathed &uickly# in the grip of some !iolent emotion.
?ohn ,aul asked &uietlyB *What do you wish me to do?-
When able to speak again# 3ikodim continuedB *7ost 2oly ather# how can we work together if Russia still
thinks that the 'rthodo1 /hurch is part of the /ommunist system? 'ne day I shall be crushed- he flung
out his arms *and the Russian 'rthodo1 /hurch will come to an end. 8ou must come to an
understanding# and negotiate with them as they ask you to.-
2ad that been the ob$ect of 3ikodim-s !isit? We shall ne!er know# for by now his physical state was truly
alarming. 2is hand was pressed to his left side# as though# it was later said 4perhaps by ?ohn ,aul himself5#
he wished to tear out his heart and fling it at the ,ope-s feet. 2e tried to speak# but failed. 2is mouth
twisted# and only the whites of his eyes were !isible.
The ,ope sei0ed and partly supported him. *7ercy# he is ill-# he e1claimed to Willebrands# who was still
within hearing. *Luickly# Aminence# call @octor ontana- the ,ope-s pri!ate physician.
The ,ope arranged what comfort he could for 3ikodim on the floor of the study. Then he opened the
window. By the time the doctor arri!ed the Russian was dead.
It later emerged that !i2odim had been refused permission to enter rance# on his way to Rome# and that
he was only able to do so when a number of rench Bishops interceded on his behalf.
Then# as though to account for their opposition# the rench oreign 'ffice let it be known that 3ikodim was
an accredited agent of the +o!iet +ecret ,olice.

3.
Thursday# the E9th of +eptember# (<F9# had been what passed as on ordinary day at the Vatican. The
,ope# after working in his office# had recei!ed some members of the hierarchy in pri!ate audience# and
then a group of prelates from the ,hilippines# to whom# as representati!es of the most /atholic region in
south%east 6sia# he e1tended a special welcome.
ollowing lunch# and the usual siesta# there was more business and discussion with se!eral of the
/ardinals. A!ening prayers in his pri!ate chapel had been followed by a general goodnight to members of
his staff# after which he retired to his bedroom on the third floor of the 6postolic ,alace.
riday dawned as a typical end%of%+eptember day# with the rows of ,alace windows taking shape in the dull
grey light and the first sounds coming# not from birds in the Vatican Dardens# but from the little room where
;ister Vicen(a# a nun who had been in the ser!ice of ,opes for the past ten years# was preparing coffee.
2er timing# her mo!ements# and the details of her task# had an almost military precision.
It had turned fi!e o-clock. 6t ten minutes past she would place the cup of coffee# always strong# in the
sacristy ad$oining the chapel where the ,ope knelt# in meditation# before saying 7ass at fi!e%thirty. +he was
therefore surprised when# not hearing any mo!ement# she had gone to the sacristy and found that the
coffee# half%cold in the cup# had not been touched.
'ne of the ,apal secretaries# @on @iego# then $oined her" and when fi!e%twenty came# and still the ,ope
had not appeared# they went to the door of his bedroom. There the secretary tapped# more than once# and
ha!ing recei!ed no answer he opened the door.
The ,ope lay on his bed# fully dressed# and ob!iously dead. 'n the bedside table was a lamp# still burning#
and a cheap little alarm clock that he had brought from Venice. In the corridor was a red light emanating
from an electric bell. It was placed there as an alarm# to summon help# and its glow meant that such a
signal had been made by the ,ope who# as @iego saw at a glance# had died alone without his call being
answered. 2e had worn the isherman-s Ring for only thirty%three days.
The ,ope-s other secretary# ather ?ohn 7agee# was ne1t on the scene# and as the news spread Cardinal
Con8aloniere# @ean of the /ongregation of /ardinals# who arri!ed at the bedside# pronounced what was
afterwards accepted as the regular and official !ersion of the tragedy.
The resulting description might relate to the death%bed of any outstandingly religious man. The ,ope was
on the bed# supported by pillows# with his head# turned a little to the right# inclining forward o!er his chest.
2is eyes were open.
The pre!ailing impression was one of calmness and serenity# with no suggestion of pain. There was
nothing to belie the
name *smiling ,ope- that had been gi!en him during his brief time in Rome. 'ne hand held some sheets of
paper containing notes for a speech he intended to deli!er on the following day. 6 copy of Thomas a
.empis-s 0itation of Christ was on the floor. NThe author is here repeating the saniti0ed !ersion pro!ided
by the Vatican and challenged by @a!id 8allop in his book *0n God&s /ae- % ed.O
In the near panic and stupefaction that followed# @on @iego# who might ha!e been. e1pected to $oin in# was
holding a hurriedly e1cited con!ersation on the telephone. It later transpired that he had called @octor
6ntonio da Ros# begging him to come at once to the Vatican to carry out an e1ternal e1amination of ?ohn
,aul whom he had known and treated for some twenty years an e1traordinary act for a secretary to carry
out on his own initiati!e# when he was surrounded by a be!y of influential prelates" and doubly surprising
since @octor da Ros was not in Rome# but in Venice.
The news was released through Vatican Radio at se!en%thirty%one# and on Italian Radio the morning-s
announcer cut short the latest act of terrorism by the Red Brigade to sayB
*We interrupt this broadcast to bring you gra!e news ...-
The tolling of bells throughout the city# and the lowering of the yellow and white Vatican /ity flag# took up
the story" and away in /racow# when the tidings were heard in the old building that housed the cathedral
/uria# a man who had been seated at breakfast suddenly rose and retired to the pri!ate chapel. Those who
saw him at the time remembered how Carol WoAt%la# for that was his name# was deathly pale and
trembling# as though some hea!ily charged mission# whose import had been made known to him by some
secret counsel in the not too far off past# was on the point of reaching fulfillment.
Those who e1perienced it ha!e no hesitation in saying that from then on an atmosphere# hitherto unknown
there# passed into the Vatican. 7en began almost to &uestion themsel!es# as they did others. +mall groups
met# and talked without animation. They were under a nameless pressure that it was beyond the power of
any among them to remo!e. 7uch of the con!ersation there# at normal times# is highly allusi!e# causing one
to search into their classical# historical# or literary memories to find a reason for it# or an answer.
3ow that impression was heightened# as when Cardinals Poletti and >aggio came face to face# both
aware of a &uestion# and both e&ually ner!ous lest the other might sol!e it. 'ne of them took refuge in
recalling the words of Antonio 5oga((aro# the anticlerical writer.
*Aminence-# said one# *you $eer at anyone who holds his tongue. @read his silenceK- 6 less e1perienced
priest came nearer to summing up the situation in more pictures&ue language.
*The cupboards of the Vatican are full of skeletons. Their bones are beginning to rattle.-
*What if they are?- said another cleric. *They were placed there during the great heresies of the 7iddle
6ges. 3ow those heresies ha!e come again.-
Rumours# mystery# embarrassment# perple1ity.... It came almost as a relief when mo!ements were heard in
the hall%way that led to the ,ope-s bedroom. The +wiss Duards# before the termination of their four hours-
duty there# were marching out# and a high temporary partition was being erected round the bed. 6t the
same time# all e1its and entrances to that part of the building were sealed.
Before long the dead ,ope-s brother and sister# Aduardo and 6melia )uciani# and a niece ,ia# had arri!ed.
They were plain# simple people# who would be regarded# by some in Rome# as rugged sons and daughters
of the mountains 4they came from the @olomites5# and not the sort to impress# in spite of their closeness to
the dead ,ope# a /ardinal like Villot who# now in charge of Vatican affairs and worldly to a degree# co!ered
an iron nature with a more than usual share of rench courtesy.
Worried by the sudden and une1pected death of their brother# they !oiced their agreement# with most of the
doctors# that an autopsy must be held to settle the matter and dispel any lingering doubts.
Pro8essor Prati# consultant of the heart unit of +t. /amillo hospital# said an autopsy was not only desirable#
but necessary. Pro8essor Alcona# head of the neurological department of the ,olyclinic of the /atholic
Jni!ersity of Rome# ga!e his more downright opinion that it was the duty of the 2oly +ee to order a post%
mortem. The same theme was to be more strongly renewed after the ,ope-s funeral when another
specialist# Pro8essor 5ontana# saidB
*If I had to certify# under the same circumstances# the death of an ordinary unimportant citi0en# I would &uite
simply ha!e refused to allow him to be buried.-
7any publications were e&ually insistent that a post%mortem was necessary# among them being the
conser!ati!e group Ci#ilta Cristiana# under its director 5ranco Antico# and the influential Corriere della
Sera# of 7ilan.
Their doubts were supported by the way in which the specialists# who e1amined the ,ope-s body#
contradicted each other. 4octor >u((onetti# the first doctor on the scene# said the ,ope had suffered an
acute coronary thrombosis. 6nother put it down to cancer# while a third said the ,ope had an apoplectic fit
resulting from a brain tumour. 4octor +ulli of the +t. /amillo hospital# said it was a case of cerebral
haeorrhage.
The suggestion of heart trouble was discountenanced by Adouardo and 6melia )uciani# while 'onsignor
;enigallia said that ?ohn ,aul# acting on his ad!ice# had had an electro%cardiogram which lasted for twenty
minutes# and that no irregularity had been re!ealed.
The official in!estigators now adopted a new line to help them out of an embarrassing situation. They
suddenly announced that the ,ope had# from the first# been a !ery sick person" that he had been bapti0ed
soon after birth since he had not been e1pected to li!e through the day" that he had been in hospital eight
times# in a sanatorium twice# and had undergone four operations.

6ppendicitis# heart# and sinus trouble# with swelling of the hands and feet# were also numbered among his
complaints. 2is fingernails had turned black# he had managed to sur!i!e with a single lung# while there was
also talk of an embolism# or blood clot. If this summary of ills had been true 4and he underwent the usual
medical e1amination before the concla!e5 he would not ha!e been elected.
Within a few hours# when the initial feeling of shock had been passed# a !eritable campaign of suspicion
made itself felt#
from which only Villot# and a few of his close associates stayed aloof. There was talk of a more than
medicinal dose of digitalis# of the rare wickedness that would be necessary to introduce poison into the
wine used for 7ass# and of the unobtrusi!e ways in which a man might be helped to die.
But these ha0ards apart# with such terms as murder# assassination# and poison beginning to be heard#
there were some unanswerable &uestions that were threatening# as one prelate put it# to shake the pillars of
the Vatican to their !ery foundations.
The first one to look on the face of the dead ,ope was @on @iego# a secretary. 2e must ha!e seen
something that thoroughly alarmed or shocked him# since he had rushed to the telephone to call @octor da
Ros# a more intimate medical friend of ?ohn ,aul than any on the Vatican rota# although the a!erage of
fourteen prominent specialists it numbered were readily a!ailable# while da Ros was three hundred miles
away.
7oreo!er# @on @iego was ne!er asked to account for his action# or# at least# not in a way that was e!er the
sub$ect of any known in&uiry. 6nd# normally lo&uacious# he became reser!ed# and could ne!er be drawn to
enlarge upon the reason why# with so much threatening to break about him# he rushed to the telephone to
make a distant call.
What had he seen? 2ad it been the e1pression on the face of ?ohn ,aul? 6ccording to the octogenarian
@ean of the /ongregation of /ardinals# Con8alonieri# the dead man appeared serene# smooth# peaceful#
with a hint of smiling. But a young cleric who had recently been accredited to the Vatican# and who pressed
forward with a beginner-s eagerness and ardour to make himself familiar with its affairs# saw a !ery different
countenance from the one officially described.
It was distorted by a pronounced look of suffering# while the mouth# instead of presaging a smile# was
gaping wide. That this latter !ersion was true was borne out when the embalmers arri!ed# the four brothers
+ignoracci from the 7edical Institute. Their combined and highly practiced efforts# carried out for two hours
on the face alone# and with the aid of cosmetics# could not o!ercome# still less remo!e# the manifestation of
horror that the dead ,ope carried to his tomb.
But the greatest obstacle# in the way of a comfortable e1planation# was the red light in the corridor. It was
controlled by an electric bell on the ,ope-s bedside table# and it was a signal that meant he was calling for
assistance. That signal had certainly been made. The red glow had sprung into life. But it had not been
answered. 3ot by any of the guards# nor by any of the staff# the secretaries# clerks# nurse# the chauffeur#
who were in the anne1" not by either of the se!en nuns of the Order of Marie,3nfant who# being responsible
for the ,ope-s domestic arrangements# were on the floor abo!e his own.
What had they all been doing at the time? What more important task than the ,ope-s welfare# his safety
e!en# had kept them employed? The police who patrolled +t. ,eter-s +&uare# all through the night# must
instincti!ely ha!e glanced more than once at the slightly parted curtains in the ,ope-s bedroom. The red
glow might ha!e appeared between them. But was it indeed obser!able all through the night# or had it been
tampered with so that it only became !isible at early dawn? There was no in&uiry along those lines. Those
&uestions went unanswered. The ,ope was dead. But a post%mortem# demanded by most of the ,ope-s
doctors and his relati!es# and seconded by an influential ,ress# would settle all doubts as well as
determining the cause of death.
But here again the tall imposing presence of Villot inter!ened. 6n autopsy# he declared# was out of the
&uestion" and his reason for saying so left the doctors more bewildered than before. The body had been
found at fi!e%thirty a.m. Time# that is normally so regular and methodically paced at the Vatican# had then
taken a surprising leap forward. or the embalmers# with &uite unnecessary and unprecedented haste# had
immediately been summoned# and their process had been completed by nine%thirty.
*But the intestines?- asked one of the doctors# who had made up his mind to remo!e them and carry out
tests for a trace of poison.
Villot-s answer was again decisi!e. They had been burnt.
'ne of the most salient comments on the strange affair came# surprisingly enough# from !&Osser#atore
Roano# which asked whether the death of ?ohn ,aul might in any way be linked to the homily he had
pronounced in fa!our of the +atanist and de#ilworshipper /arducci. But only /atholics in Dermany read
this# for it was deleted from e!ery copy of the paper that went elsewhere. 6n effort was actually made to
suppress the Derman edition# but it was too late.
6n unimpressi!e ,ress conference# that Villot could not actually oppose# though his ob!ious displeasure
almost had the effect of a positi!e ban 4especially when one of those present !oiced the widespread regret
at the failure to hold an autopsy5# yielded nothing. Villot referred ob$ectors to the final !erdict gi!en by
5ather +omeo Panciroli who# after carrying out whate!er check was possible on the highly%spiced and
!iscerated body# was *pleased to report that e!erything had been in order.-
7eanwhile a medical man# 0erin# who re$ected the possibility of the ,ope-s death ha!ing been a natural
one# openly pronounced the word *poison-" and a Bishop 4one must respect his wish to remain unnamed5
made up his mind to succeed where doctors# professors# and $ournalists# had failed. 2e would penetrate the
!eil of silence and secrecy# and establish the truth# whate!er its import or what it might entail.
2e worked hard and long" inter!iewed countless people" del!ed into e!ery department# mounted stairways
and passed through de!ious passages in the Vatican. Then# for a time# he !anished from the scene" and
those who ha!e since met him found him not only changed# as may happen after only a few months# but in
e!ery sense an entirely different man.
2ardened Romans and realists# who had e1pected nothing else# merely shrugged. The dome of +t. ,eter-s
is not an egg%shell# to be cracked. 2e was merely one more fool who had cracked his own heart against it.
Cardinal Villot# aware of the growing dis&uiet in the /hurch# promised to make a statement on recent
e!ents in the Vatican
before the calling of the ne1t concla!e. 2e ne!er did# but remained a man of mystery to the last# lea!ing no
e!idence as
to how much he had known 4there was ample suspicion to more than make up for absence of certainty5# or
for how much he had been responsible. The cause of Villot-s own death on < 7arch# (<F<# occasioned the
same elementary confusion that surrounded the passing of ?ohn ,aul I. The /ardinal# according to an early
announcement# had died of bronchial%pneumonia.

6 second !erdict named kidney trouble" a third# hepatitis" while yet another attributed
the cause to internal haemorrhage.
It appears that top%flight /atholic specialists# when called to the bedside of their most
eminent patients# re!eal themsel!es as being !ery indifferent diagnosticians.

4.
It was raining. rom their places on the colonnade abo!e the pia00a# +imon ,eter and his fellow saints
looked down upon a forest of umbrellas. The dead ,ope# in !estments of red# white# and gold# and with a
golden mitre on his head# had been brought from the /lementine 2all in the 6postolic ,alace to the s&uare
where# in a plain cypress coffin# the body rested on a red blanket fringed with ermine# for the celebration of
an open air 7ass.

The flame of a single tall taper# placed near the coffin# flickered this way and that in the wind and dri00le#
but ne!er to the point of going out. 6 7onsignor# his mind hea!y with a fast growing certainty# looked round
at the mostly shawled heads and white faces# and thought of the terrible suspicion that was trembling on
e!eryone-s lips.
*It is too much-# was all he could murmur to himself. *It is too much.-
6 chill 'ctober dusk# pierced by pin%points of light from the city# was closing down as the cortege mo!ed
into the basilica where# in the crypt# future generations will come to ga0e at a tomb bearing the simple
inscription ?'2633A+ ,6J)J+ I. 6nd some# despite the blunting of time# may wonder.

.. ?oseph )eti. /harbonnerie et 7aQonnerie dans le Re!eil national italien. Translated by ). )achet. 4,aris.
Ad. polyglotte# (<E;.5 Luoted by 6lec 7ellor in 'ur +eparated Brethren. 42arrap# (<:=.5
Part 5ourteen
Belief in the innocence of rulers depends upon the ignorance of those ruled.
2ugh Ross Williamson.
The /atholic world at large had barely reco!ered from the shock of ?ohn ,aul-s death# sudden and
une1pected as it was# when another e!ent di!erted their attention from the Sedis #acantia 4!acancy of the
6postolic +ee5 to the puff of white smoke that# on (: 'ctober# (<F9# issued from the small bent chimney of
the +istine /hapel# and to the announcement that followed itB *We ha!e a new ,ope.-
7ore than the usual e1citement resulted# and there were those among the more e1perienced obser!ers
who noted that much of it came from the same &uarters that had acclaimed ?ohn IIIII" from those who
greeted the changes 4or disasters# as many thought5 that resulted from his reign# as long awaited and
welcome signs that the /hurch was throwing off its iron archaic fetters.
or the new ,ontiff was Carol WoAt%la# who recei!ed something like a hero-s welcome because he was a
,ole# from behind the Iron /urtain# where religion# especially the /hristian# had had to run the gauntlet# and
where now# although the era of blows and taunts was somewhat rela1ed# it was still sub$ect to a mainly
wary and restricted acceptance. Wo$tyla was# incidentally# the first non%Italian to be elected ,ope since
(;EE.
6 !eteran 6merican $ournalist who had the not inappropriate name of %#ro Manhattan# who knew the
Vatican more intimately than he did the White 2ouse# and who was well !ersed in Russian tergi!ersation#
had earlier writtenB
*The proportion of radical /ardinals# and of future members of the +acred /ollege# whose political leanings
range from light pink to scarlet red# has been mounting and will continue to increase. The ine!itable result
will be that# thanks to the greatest number of )eftist clerics# the election of a Red ,ope is becoming more
likely.-
.
2ad such a ,ontiff arri!ed in the person of .arol Wo$tyla?
In !iew of the strained relationship between countries in the West# and those behind the Iron /urtain# the
officially irreligious policy of the latter# and the emergence of John Paul II as the new ,ope elected to be
called# a number of &uestions presented themsel!es that called for an answer. 2is orthodo1 early training
and de!elopment# his becoming a priest# and his rise to 6rchbishop and then to /ardinal# had proceeded
normally.
7any hundreds of his co%religionists in ,oland during the thirty years of /ommunist domination had
undergone petty or serious persecution# many being $ailed# some put to death. 8et there is no indication of
Wo$tyla e!er undergoing more than the usual trials that ha!e to be endured by known dissidents. 2e had
not been sub$ect to any sustained or menacing outcry# and his relationship with the 7ar1ist authorities had
been the same as that of any ordinary citi0en who wore his faith upon his slee!e.
Through it all he must ha!e been called upon# as a prelate# to gi!e not only religious but also social# and
e!en economic ad!ice to those of his faith# ad!ice that must ha!e sometimes conflicted with the go!erning
code. 8et he was ne!er actually silenced# and he was tolerated# e!en pri!ileged by the authorities# while his
religious superior# Cardinal W%s(%ns2i# then ,rimate of ,oland# li!ed under constant pressure.
6 case in point was the granting of permission to lea!e the country. When the +ynod of Bishops was called
for Rome# both /ardinals applied for e1it !isas. The ,rimate encountered a blunt refusal# but Wo$tyla was
gi!en permission as a matter of course.
2e e1perienced the same fa!our when it came to attending the concla!e at which he was elected# and
those who had been dismayed by the prospect of a ,ope from a +o!iet background soon felt they were
$ustified.
Pierre >ourgreignon# writing in *idasco# a rench publication that appeared in Brussels# 6pril (<F<# saidB
*3o one capable of coherent thought will easily belie!e that a /ardinal from behind the Iron /urtain can be
anything but a /ommunist plant.-
6 similar doubt was e1pressed in The War is 3ow# an 6ustralian production issued on behalf of /atholic
tradition. If Wo$tyla# it asked# is a true /atholic ,ole#
*why would proper# sensible# prudent /ardinals with the /hurch-s welfare at heart# elect a target# a man
whose family and people remain under the gun# a whole nation of ready%made hostages or martyrs?-
The 6bbH de 3antes# leader of the /atholic /ounter%Reformation of the Twentieth /entury# was more
downrightB
*We ha!e a /ommunist ,ope.-
It was formerly acknowledged that differences# when they were in ,oland# did e1ist between the two
/ardinals. Wys0ynski ne!er yielded an inch when dealing with the controllers of his country. Wo$tyla was all
for coming to terms and continuing *dialogue- with them# along the lines that had been established by ,aul
VI" and what was more noticeable# Wo$tyla# apart from ne!er actually condemning atheistic 7ar1ism# stood
in the way of those who wished to adopt a more militant attitude towards it.
+omeone had noted that during the concla!e in the +istine /hapel# at which he was elected# the solemnity
of the occasion# and the fact of being o!erlooked by 7ichelangelo-s gigantic frescoes of the )ast ?udgment#
did not pre!ent WoAt%la reading from a book that he had thought fit to take in for instruction or for a little
light relief from the gra!ity of choosing the Vicar of /hrist? It was a book of 7ar1ist principles.
Those who regarded him with suspicion were not reassured when he re$ected the ritual of coronation and
chose to be *installed-# and when he let it be known that he rested more easily in an ordinary chair than on
the ,apal throne. Were /hurch practices# they asked# to undergo a further paring down after those that had
already resulted from the /ouncil?
Their fears grew when he put aside the mantle of authoritarianism with which the /hurch# of which he was
now the 2ead# had hitherto been in!ested. 6nd any lingering doubts they may ha!e had !anished when# in
his inaugural speech# he undertook to fulfill the last will and testament of ,aul VI# by adhering to ,ope
?ohn-s directi!es of collegiality and the liturgy of the 3ew 7ass and that# it may be obser!ed# in spite of
the fact that he must ha!e been aware of all the obscenities that followed it.
When making that announcement# WoAt%la stood by a makeshift altar that# like ,aul VI-s bier# was bereft of
any religious sign in the form of a crucifi1 or cross.
'ther indications of what might be e1pected of the new ,ope soon followed. In his first encyclical he
praised ,aul VI for ha!ing re!ealed *the true countenance of the /hurch-. 2e spoke in a similar !ein of the
+econd Vatican /ouncil which had gi!en *greater !isibility to the Aucharistic sacrifice-" and he undertook to
follow and promote the renewal of the /hurch *according to the spirit of the /ouncil-.
6 later statement referred to that /ouncil as ha!ing been *the greatest ecclesiastical e!ent of our century-"
and it now remained to secure#
*the acceptance of fulfillment of Vatican Two in accordance with its authentic content. In doing this we are
guided by faith.... We belie!e that /hrist# through the 2oly +pirit# was with the /ouncil athers# that the
/hurch contains# within its agisteriu# what the +pirit says to the /hurch# saying it at the same time in
harmony with tradition and according to the demands posed by the signs of the times-.
2is remark on being in harmony with tradition was flatly contradicted by his admission that *the liturgy of the
7ass is different from the one known before the /ouncil. But- 4he added significantly5 *we do not intend to
speak of those differences.-

It was essential to renew the /hurch# in structure and function# to bring it into line with the needs of the
contemporary world" and from that admission it needed but a step for WoAt%la to emphasi0e the
re!olutionary principles of (F9<# with the glorification of man# liberated man# as a being who is sufficient
unto himself. 7an was the only idol deser!ing the re!erence of those on earth# his stature being confirmed
by and classified as the Rights of Man.
That somewhat ha0y terrestrial belief has been the inspiration of e!ery )eft%wing mo!ement from then on.
With a fine disregard for the authority of law it was proclaimed# in 6merica# that *liberty is the !ery
foundation of political order-.
While a few years ago 5ranIois 'itterand# the /ommunist who is now ,resident of the rench Republic#
said that *7an is the future of 7an.- It was then left for .arol Wo$tyla# as John Paul II# to enshrine that belief
in a modern religious setting by declaring that *7an is the primary issue of the /hurch-" a ,apal
announcement that is thoroughly in line with the 7ar1ist principle that *7an is an end in himself and the
e1planation of all things.-
The ,ope then proceeded to pass from !erbal to more acti!e appro!al of the political system from which he
had emerged. +peaking of the /hurch in ,oland# he said that *its relationship with /ommunism could be
one of the elements in the ethical and international order in Aurope and the modern world.- 2e maintained a
friendly understanding with the Red occupiers of his country# and thought it possible to open up a spiritual
dHtente with them. In furtherance of this the /ommunist 7inister of +tate# Ja"lons2i# with a train of
comrades as large as that of any Aastern potentate# was recei!ed at the Vatican. Then came the +o!iet
7inister# 0rom%2o# who was granted more than the prescribed time with 2is 2oliness.
2e greeted guerrillas between their bouts of *freedom fighting- in 6frica and 3icaragua. 2is moral support
went with them. 2e opened the door of his study to the 7e1ican ?ose 6l!are0# who tra!elled far and wide in
+outh 6merica calling on e1tremists to light the flames of anarchy. 3ot e!en the ,ope-s intimates knew
what passed between them. 2e was the *star- speaker at a )atin 6merican /ongress in ,anama /ity#
where the theme was certainly not religious# since the organi0ers were the /ommunist dictator# 0eneral
/orriAos# and the 7ar1ist ;ergio 'ende( Arceo# of /uerna!aca.
When addressing a group of refugees from Vietnam# )aos# and /ambodia# the ,ope-s lukewarm attitude
was commented on by +o"ert ;errou# the Paris Match correspondent. The ,ope# naturally enough# had
commiserated with his audience# but why# asked +errou# had he not so much as mentioned the Red terror
from which they had escaped?
In !iew of that failure to condemn tyranny# it is remarkable that one of the few strictures uttered by ?ohn
,aul II has been
directed against those /atholics who deplore the gradual taking to pieces of the /hurch since Vatican TwoB
*Those who remain attached to incidental aspects of the /hurch which were more !alid in the past but ha!e
now been superseded# cannot be considered the faithful.-
2is orthodo1y# when it came to the teaching of /atholicism and its relation to other religions# has also been
called into &uestion. It is a commonplace# but no belittlement of Islam# to point out that the fatalistic 6rabian
tradition# with its denial of /hrist-s di!inity and of the redemption# is a far remo!e from the essentials of
/hristian belief. 8et the ,ope told an audience of 7oslems that their .oran and the Bible *are in step-.

6nd in more casual mood# was he pandering to the mechanical spirit of the age when he told a gathering of
motorists to ha!e the same care for their cars as they ha!e for their souls? 'r was it by a slip of the tongue
that the importance attached to cars preceded that of souls?
'ne of the ,ope-s letters# dated (; +eptember# (<9(# on the sub$ect of pri!ate property and capitalism#
shows a marked contradiction of and a departure from the /hurch-s teaching. or in the letter he saysB
*/hristian tradition has ne!er upheld the right of pri!ate property as absolute and untouchable. 'n the
contrary# it has always understood the right as common to all to use the goods of the whole creation.-
That is so blatantly false# and so opposed to what e!ery ,ope from )eo IIII to ,ius III had said# that one is
tempted to agree with those outspoken trans%6tlantic critics
2
who bluntly call Carol WoAt%la a liar# and who
follow that up with the e1hortationB *Break off# /harlieK-
or here I &uote from Leo *IIIJ
*The +ocialists endea!our to destroy pri!ate property# and maintain that the indi!idual possessions should
become the common property of all# to be administered by the +tate or by municipal bodies.... It is un$ust#
because it would rob the legal possessor# bring the +tate into a sphere that is not its own# and cause
complete confusion to the community.-
)eo went on to say that a man works in order to obtain property# and to hold it as his own pri!ate
possession.
*or e!ery man has the right by nature to possess property of his own. This is one of the distinct points
between man and the animal creation.... The authority of the @i!ine )aw adds its sanction forbidding us in
the gra!est terms e!en to co!et that which is another-s.-
rom Pius *IJ
*The primary function of pri!ate property is in order that indi!iduals may be able to pro!ide for their own
needs and for those of their families.-
6nd from Pius *IIJ
*The /hurch aspires to bring it about that pri!ate ownership shall become# in accordance with the plans of
the di!ine wisdom and with the laws of nature# an element in the social system# a necessary incenti!e to
human enterprise# and a stimulus to nature" all this for the benefit of the temporal and spiritual ends of life#
and conse&uently for the benefit of the freedom and dignity of man.-
6nd still from the same ,opeB
*'nly pri!ate ownership can pro!ide the head of a family with the healthy freedom it re&uires to carry out
the duties allotted to him by the /reator for the physical# spiritual# and religious well%being of his family.-
+ide by side with these proclamations the /hurch has issued warnings against )iberalism# which ends in
capitalism# and against 7ar1ism which preaches the abolition of pri!ate property. Therefore the statement
made by ?ohn ,aul II may be seen to be e1traordinary compared with many of those made by his
predecessors.

2.
@uring his early life in /racow# both as student and as a young priest# WoAt%la ac&uired a liking for the
theatre that has ne!er left him. It began when he $oined a school dramatic group# and later# during the war
when ,oland was occupied# what is often referred to as a *subterranean theatre-# which means that
rehearsals and performances took place in a room# sometimes the kitchen of an apartment# secretly and by
candlelight.
*It was round about that time-# says one of his biographers
3
# *that he formed a sentimental attachment to a
young woman-"
and from then on she has followed him like a shadow# by rumour# newspaper report# and in the
con!ersation of ,olish e1iles on both sides of the 6tlantic.
+ometimes the details differed. The most unlikely !ersion# that was probably put out to engage sympathy#
was that she worked against the Dermans# had been disco!ered# and shot. 6nother gi!es the date (<=C as
marking the height of their attachment. 6ccording to >la(%ns2i# who was born in ,oland# the future ,ope
was popular with the girls and *had a steady girl friend-.
2is lo!e of entertainment e1tended to the cinema# and to such superficial mock%religious shows as ?esus
/hrist +uperstar. 6fter one performance of the latter he spoke for twenty minutes to the audience on the
theme of lo!e and $oy. 2e encouraged the adolescent bawling and aimless strumming of guitars that# in the
name of popular accompaniments# make some present day 7asses unbearable to many. In the same spirit#
he in!ited the 6merican e!angelist# Billy Draham# to preach one of his red%hot sermons in the church of +t.
6nne# /racow.
'ne of the sub$ects discussed by the circle in which he mo!ed was a book by the writer Fegadlo,ic(#
which had been frowned upon by the /hurch because of its obsession with se1" while an early piece of
writing by Wo$tyla 4translated by Boleslaw Taborski and &uoted by Bla0ynski5 contains
such lines as *)o!e carries people away like an absolute....

+ometimes human e1istence seems too short for lo!e.-
The same theme occurred in WoAt%la-s book !o#e and Responsibility# (<:C# which#
Bla0ynski says#
*does not ignore the bodily reality of man and woman# and goes into considerable detail in
describing both the physiology and psychology of se1 4the latter often with a great deal of
insight that might seem surprising in one who is now# after all# a celibate clergyman.-
A!en when Wo$tyla became ,ope the ghost of the mystery woman who had haunted his
student days was not laid. There are those among ,olish e1iles who claim to ha!e known
her# and one of the most downright rumours spread is that her name is Adwige.
But be that as it may# not e!en Wo$tyla-s apologists can deny that he has shown more
interest in human se1uality than any ,ope since the 7iddle 6ges. 7any listeners to an
address he ga!e in Rome were &uite embarrassed when he launched into details on lust
and the nakedness of the body.
+ome of his own statements ha!e gi!en publicity agents ample scope to enlarge upon
them. *8oung people of rance-# he cried to a far from mature audience in ,aris# *bodily
union has always been the strongest language that two people can say to each other.-
Those words ha!e been called some of the most stupefying e!er spoken by a ,ope.
@uring his !isit to .isingani in Gaire# 6frica# a correspondent in 3ewsweek shook his head
sadly o!er the way in which the 2ead of the Roman /hurch dispensed with formality. In
humid heat# and almost as soon as he stepped from the plane# he was seen *grinning#
sweating# swaying and stomping with dancing girls.- 2e has been photographed watching
a group of adolescent girls in one%piece garments that reached well abo!e the knee carry
out a series of acrobatic dances. 6nother picture has recently come to hand in which# at
/astelgandolfo# he watches a young dancer perform con!olutions in front of him# with her
head and face almost lost sight of in a flurry of white underclothes.
6 play written by Wo$tyla# The 'eweller&s Shop# was produced at the Westminster Theatre in 7ay# (<9E.
+aid to be written in purple prose# the producer hoped that the play *should draw the punters- as well as the
church audiences.
2is hope may well be reali0ed since the play# still &uoting The *aily Telegraph 4E9 6pril (<9E5 *embraces
the unlikely
sub$ect of prostitution.-
4


3.
There is no need for ?ohn ,aul II to enter deeply into the differences in the /hurch resulting from Vatican
Two. It has
been said that he is walking with a rose in his hand that is# until the early gains achie!ed by ?ohn IIIII
and ,aul VI ha!e
been consolidated.

The once proud boast relating to the One True Church has diminished into a spineless acknowledgment of
*these ecumenical days-. The claim of ,apal authority# which has yielded place to the idea of power%sharing
with Bishops# may remain on the /hurch-s statute books for a while longer# but the force of its di!ine origin
has been watered down" and the altars# always a sign of *whate!er Gods may be-# ha!e been demolished.
A!en so# the ne1t phase of the attack upon the /hurch# from within# has passed beyond its preparatory
stages and is already under way. It is likely to be less spectacular than the earlier depredations. The word
*re!isionary- will be heard more often than *change-. The churches will no longer be used as amatory
playgrounds. 8et what is likely to result from meetings in the Vatican +ynod 2all# between more than
se!enty /ardinals and Bishops# will probably# in the long run# be &uite as de!astating as the inno!ations
that ha!e now been accepted as norms by a largely unpercepti!e and uncritical public.
6mong the sub$ects that are known to ha!e been discussed are marriage and abortion" and prelates such
as Cardinal 5elici are rational enough to admit that the issues on these# and similar &uestions# ha!e
!irtually been decided in ad!ance.

7arriage annulments# robbed of much of their earlier formality# will be made easier. The threat of
e1communication will be lifted from women who undergo abortion" and# a still greater earnest of more and
!ital concessions to come# the articles of /anon )aw will be reduced from numbering E#=(= to a possible
(#FE9.
But these considerations will not weigh hea!ily on those who are likely to be impressed by the ,ope-s !isit
to this country in 7ay this year# (<9E. The power of 'r. 'ar2 'cCormac2-s 0nternational Manageent
Group has been in!oked to pro!ide the same publicity for a ,ope that it has so ably done for golfers#
baseball toughs# and tennis players" while a firm of business consultants# ,apal Visits )imited# will add
further promotional backing.
The pro!en dramatic instinct of ?ohn ,aul II will doubtless come into play as# scattering blessings from a
glass%topped !ehicle# he rides slowly between miles of fencing# stands# mar&uees# and ,ress platforms#
and o!er carpet decorated with thousands of plants# to where three crosses# the tallest a hundred and
twenty feet high no# 7r. 7c/ormack# /al!ary was not like that rise abo!e a steel and can!as altar
structure.
6fter 7ass# the faithful may come away with a screwdri!er that bears a sticker showing the ,ope-s head on
its handle. 6ll arrangements for the !isit will be in the capable hands of Arch"ishop 'arcin2us# who has
ob!iously been washed clean of the somewhat doubtful reputation that clung to him in Rome.

.. The Vatican%7oscow 6lliance# (<FF.
2. The publishers of Veritas# an orthodo1 newsletter. )ouis!ille# .entucky# J+6.
3. Deorge Bla0ynski in ?ohn ,aul II 4Weidenfeld and 3icolson# (<F<5. +ome of the incidents related here
are taken from that book.
4. Anglish theatre critics did not e1actly acclaim the ,ope-s efforts as a playwright%editor.
Appendi&
/he strange death o8 +o"erto Cal@i
2ard upon the uphea!al caused by the collapse of 7ichele +indona-s financial empire# and the re!elations
concerning membership of the masonic lodge Propaganda 2# Oriental Rite# the Vatican faced a third
embarrassment when on ?une (9# (<9E# the body of banker Roberto /al!i was disco!ered hanging from
scaffolding under Blackfriars Bridge.
/al!i had been the president of Italy-s biggest pri!ate bank# the %brosiano# which took o!er many of
+indona-s assets. +ometimes known as *God-s banker- because of his close connection with Vatican
finance 4the Vatican bank was a large shareholder in the 6mbrosiano5# in 7ay of the abo!e year he faced a
number of charges related to# among others# illegal currency transactions.
'ichele ;indona +o"erto Cal@i

2e !anished from Rome and arri!ed in )ondon# where he took accommodation in /helsea /loisters# on
?une (;. 2e was a frightened man# burdened with secrets connected with his own and the Vatican bank#
into which it was not wise to probe too deeply. +ome who had tried were suddenly dismissed from their
posts# others went to $ail on faked charges# and there had been at least one known shooting affair during
in!estigations.
While Cal@i was absent his secretary# who had been with the bank for thirty years# wrote a note cursing
/al!i and then threw herself# so the authorities said# from the fourth floor of the bank-s head&uarters in
7ilan.
In )ondon /al!i treated his chauffeur as a bodyguard. 2e arranged with a friend to call at his flat at regular
inter!als# and then to knock three times for entrance. 2e also sha!ed off his moustache# which he had worn
for years.
But although disinclined to lea!e his apartment# /al!i# it was said# had nonetheless walked four miles in the
night or early morning# to commit suicide in the unlikely area of Blackfriars.
The mention of that area calls for comment# together with a reminder that secret societies lay great stress
on association and symbols. Blackfriars was the site of the friary and church of the @ominican 'rder#
members of which ac&uired the name of Black riars because of their habit. They were# and still are# known
as the 'rder of ,reachers. 6s such they brought the pulpit into general use# and pulpits figure in the
stonework of Blackfriars Bridge. 6nd members of the P2 lodge# in which /al!i figured as number C;(<#
dressed as Black riars in white tunic# with black cloak and hood# for their ritualistic meetings.

6n in&uest $ury# supported by +cotland 8ard# found that /al!i had committed suicide# a !erdict that caused
raised eyebrows and disbelie!ing smiles among his relati!es and the Italian ,ress and police. or it implied
that /al!i# who was si1ty%two# had displayed the de1terity of an athletic young man in seeking# as the Rome
,ublic ,rosecutor said# a complicated way to end himself.
In the dark# and on completely strange ground# he had filled his pockets with rubble#
negotiated a long ladder and wet planks which had a gap of some feet between them#
sei0ed a piece of sodden rope# tied one end to his neck and the other to a piece of
scaffolding# and flung himself off. Why take so much trouble# when among his
belongings were found medical syringes# se!en bo1es of tablets# and (FC pills of
!arious kinds# many of which could ha!e done the trick more easily?
But here again the obscure# somewhat bi0arre# yet sinister influence of P2 and other
secret societies comes into the picture. The initiation of a candidate into the craft
often includes the taking of an oath not to re!eal any of its secrets. +hould he offend#
he would undergo a !iolent death and then be buried near water at low le!el within
reach of the tide" the belief being that his ghost would thereby be pre!ented from
walking# which might embarrass his murderers.
This would apply to /al!i# who in all probability had been strangled before being taken to Blackfriars# to
ensure that the dangerous secrets in his possession would not be di!ulged. or after his mysterious and
clumsy *suicide-# before his body was cut down# the Thames tide was co!ering his feet.
There is nothing to suggest that Cal@i had offended his brother masons. But he was under legal pressure#
and there were many who feared the possible bringing to light of his e1tensi!e financial network. The
Vatican# e!er since the ;indona scandal# had been on its guard against further re!elations# and when the
acti!ities of ,E were brought into the open# it took a surprising and an apparently unnecessary step.
The Congregation for the *octrine of +aith reminded /atholics that according to article E>>; of /anon )aw
they were forbidden# under pain of e1communication# to become freemasons. This was merely a tongue%in%
cheek e1ercise to out%step &uestioners since# as readers of these pages will know# some of the leading
prelates at the Vatican were established masons. But the mo!e reflected the alarm that was felt there. Two
cardinals# 0uerri and Caprio# had worked hand%in%glo!e with +indona whose fall had brought ,E and its
shady dealings into the open. 6 prominent member of the lodge# Dm"erto Ortolani 4image left5# was
known to ha!e close links with the Vatican.
But the most significant name that surfaced with the scandal was that of Arch"ishop 'arcin2us# among
whose se!eral unacknowledged connections were those with 7afia circles and with Licio 0elli# a former
Grand Master of P=. But e!en more to the point# he was also president of the Vatican bank# the most
secreti!e and e1clusi!e bank in the world.
Arch"ishop 'arcin2us Licio 0elli

7arcinkus had also been a friend and business associate of /al!i# and# ha!ing remarked that */al!i has our
trust-# he bore that out by issuing a guarantee# in the name of the Vatican bank# to co!er some of /al!i-s
e1tensi!e loan operations# in!ol!ing many millions# as part of a !ast monetary programme that included
international arms selling deals.

But as the storm gathered 'arcin2us withdrew his guarantee# though by then sufficient e!idence had
come to light to $ustify the belief that more than normal business e1changes had passed between the
Vatican bank and the Banco 6mbrosiano.

The 7inister for the Treasury# Andreatta# called for the Vatican to come into the open and admit its part in
the crisis
that was rocking the financial world. There were also demands for 7arcinkus to be &uestioned# while
pressure was put upon the ,ope to dismiss him. But 7arcinkus was too well !ersed in Vatican banking
secrets for the ,ope to risk his displeasure. 7oreo!er# he had been nominated chairman of the influential
/ommission of /ardinals# and so was well on the way to becoming a prince of the /hurch# a prospect
which made him una!ailable for awkward contacts.
or when commissioners went to the Vatican to seek information on its bank and /al!i-s relationship with it#
'arcin2us was *not at home-. 6nd when subpoenas 4implying that the recipients were sub$ect to
e1amination5 addressed to 7arcinkus and two of his clerical banking associates# were sent by registered
post to the Vatican# the en!elope was returned unopened.
6 somewhat grudging admission that the Vatican may ha!e been partly responsible for the Cal@i bank
failure was made this month 46ugust (<9E5 by Cardinal Casaroli.
7eanwhile the highly contro!ersial 6rchbishop 7arcinkus# in his office that is $ust a few steps down from
the ,ope-s apartment# may sometimes handle a balance sheet from his late colleague-s bank and reflect
upon the words with which such statements endedB
*Thanks be to God> -
5inale
*8e-re a bad lot" a blackguard# in the likes of a li!ing man.-
I was thus greeted by an Irish priest early one crisp 6pril morning. 2e had read in manuscript much of what
I ha!e here written# and while he could not confute it# he thought that I was doing the Church a sorry
ser!ice. 2e was a big# broad%shouldered man# with sad eyes and a knobbed stick that he swung as though
it were a shillelagh.
We were standing within the shadow of +t. ,eter-s# while the blinds were still drawn in the palace windows#
and only isolated footsteps sounded on the pia00a. 2is hint of humorous menace contrasted with the
serenity of my feelings.
or there is nothing more golden in the world than a Roman dawn. Dold dust# lighting the past more surely
than it does the present# filters through the air and settles# like a hesitant touch# on 7aderna-s faQade with
its bold Roman letters# turning its brown and ochre tints into gold. @ust motes# where the first light catches
them# are turned into gold that touches the base of /aligula-s obelisk and breaks in splendour o!er the
cobbles" o!er the statues of the saints on the colonnade# and the dome that gradually wears to white" o!er
the space before the basilica surrounded by Bernini-s giant columns# as once the legions surrounded the
le!elled spears that rose in en!y of the Roman Thing" water from the fountains# whene!er a bree0e ruffles
it# falls away in drops of gold.
The angle of the stick was in!iting me to look o!er Vatican 2ill.
*That-s the way dawn will come# o!er the city# o!er the /hurch. @on-t you belie!e it?-
I only half nodded.
*What you-!e written will pass# like a holiday or a slow fe!er. But the promise that was gi!en to ,eter- and
he pointed to the central figure on the colonnade *will not pass. It cannot. The fissure in the Rock will be
closed. @awn will come again. @on-t you belie!e it?-
*8es-# I agreed# influenced perhaps by his sad eyes and the swing of his shillelagh. *@awn will come again.-
But will it be a false dawn?
>ac2 to Contents
>i"liograph%
Benson# 7gr. R. 2.# )ord of the World 4,itman# (<CF5.
Bla0ynski# D.# ,ope ?ohn ,aul II 4Weidenfeld and 3icolson# (<F<5.
/arpi# ,ierre# )es prophHties du ,ape ?ean IIIII 4?ean /laude )attes# (<F:5.
/asini# Tito# The )ast 7ass of ,aul VI 4Instituto Aditoriale Italiano# (<F(5.
/otter# ?ohn# 6 +tudy in +yncretism 4/anadian Intelligence ,ublications# 'ntario# (<9C5.
/ristiani# 7gr. ).# +atan in the 7odern World 4Barrie and Rockliff# (<:(5.
/rowley# 6leister# /onfessions 4Bantam Books# J.+.6.# (<F(5.
@em# 7arc# Il faut &ue Rome soit dHtruite 46lbin 7ichel# ,aris# (<9C5.
@israeli# Ben$amin# )othair 4)ongmans Dreen# (9FF5.
Appstein# ?ohn# 2as the /atholic /hurch gone mad? 4+tacey# (<F(5.
ahey# r. @enis# The 7ystical Body of /hrist in the 7odern World 4Regina ,ublications#
(<FE5.
ahey# r. @enis# The 7ystical Body of /hrist and the Reorganisation of +ociety 4Regina
,ublications# (<F95.
Dearon# r. ,. ?.# The Wheat and the /ockle 4Britons ,ublishing /o.# (<:<5.
.olberg# Theodor# @er Betrug des ?ahrhunderts 47unich# (<FF5.
)a!er# ?ames# The irst @ecadent. ?. .. 2uysmans 4aber# (<:=5.
)e!inson# /harles# Vodka%/ola 4Dordon and /remonesi# J.+.6.# (<F<5.
7artin# 7alachi# The inal /oncla!e 47elbourne 2ouse# (<F95.
7artine0# 7ary# rom Rome Jrgently 4+tatimari# Rome# (<F<5.
7ellor# 6lec# 'ur +eparated Brethren 42arrap# (<:=5.
7iller# ulop# The ,ower and +ecret of the ?esuits 4'wen# (<:F5.
'-7ahoney# T. ,.# The 3ew ,ope. ?ohn ,aul I 4Villa Books# @ublin# (<F95.
'ram# ?ames# The ,eople-s ,ope 4Bay Books# +ydney# (<F<5.
,inay# 7aurice# The ,lot against the /hurch 4+t. 6nthony ,ress# (<:F5.
Lueensborough# )ady# 'ccult Theocracy 4British%6merican ,ress# (<>(5.
Rhodes# 2enry# The +atanic 7ass 4Rider# (<;=5.
+mith# Bernard# The raudulent Dospel 4oreign 6ffairs ,ublishing /o.# (<FF5.
+toddart# /hristina# )ight%Bearers of @arkness 4Boswell# (<>C5.
+toddart# /hristina# Trail of the +erpent 4Boswell# (<>:5.
+ymonds# ?ohn# The Dreat Beast. The )ife and 7agic of 6leister /rowley 47ayflower#
(<F>5.
Thierry# ?ean ?ac&ues# )ettres de Rome sur le singulier trHpas de ?ean%,aulK 4,ierre
Belfond# ,aris# (<9(5.
Virebeau# Deorges# ,rHlats et rancs%maQons 42enri /oston# ,aris# (<F95.
Webb# ?ames# The light from Reason 47acdonald# (<F(5.
Webster# 3esta# +ecret +ocieties and sub!ersi!e mo!ements 4/hristian Book /lub5.
Williamson# 2ugh Ross# The Dreat Betrayal 4Tan Books# (<FC5.
Williamson# 2ugh Ross# The 7odern 7ass 4Tan Books# (<F(5.
Wiltgen# r. R. 7.# The Rhine lows into the Tiber 46ugustine ,ress# (<F<5.