... 3 J.Cross/Artemis CHAPTER 1 THE VATICAN Pope Francis lithely entered into the small chapel next to his private ... ...e candles that cast a soothing splay of shadows across the ancient altar. The Pope knelt his thin, angular body before it; his white cassock cascade... ... of gray clouds, and rays of sun spotlighted the hills of Rome. Alfredo, the Pope’s personal secretary, knocked once and then entered the Pope’s pr... ...trine again.” Ignoring Alfredo’s concerned warning, “Sit down, Alfredo,” the Pope said, removing his glasses and motioning him toward a chair next ... ...motioning him toward a chair next to his desk, “I want to talk to you.” The Pope’s usually robust and eager mood, to which Alfredo had become accu... ... he asked with genuine concern, as he sat down. “We are fine, Alfredo.” The Pope paused and looked out the window, which was 5 J.Cross/Artemis ... ...as always used instead of I when referring to the Papacy. After serving three Popes, the use of the word I threw Alfredo momentarily, but then he qu... ...tarily, but then he quickly reminded himself that this was the first American Pope in history, and more importantly the first one of Jewish decent, ... ...the First, to do it. But Alfredo was puzzled. During the last eight years the Pope had never broken with any Vatican tradition. Why today? “Is it...

...The Pope receives a vision that includes the names of four men: a U.S. Senator, a covert military intelligence agent, a priest from a small parish, and the head of the Italian mafia. These men form an alliance to eliminate the dr...

...Pope Francis lithely entered into the small chapel next to his private quarters. The dark chapel was dimly lit by a row of flickering votive candles that cast a soothing splay of shadows across the ancient altar. The Pope kne...