The following day, Mac arrived at the Vatican, after his morning run through the Villa Borghese. He had coffee with Father Leiber and the Pontiff in the Papal Library, relating his plans, kissing the ring of the Pope, as a sign of respect, and as a hope for his blessing. Pope Pius was not only accepting of his decision, but he congratulated Mac, agreeing to attend the wedding, as did Father Leiber.
Father Leiber reminded Mac of their meeting with Josef Muller later that morning, concerning pressing issues that Dr. Muller wished to bring to the attention of the Pontiff. Mac was told that Josef Muller, or as he was called by those who knew him, Joey Ox, was a robust, beer-loving Bavarian lawyer who had earned an Iron Cross in the Great War. He was brave beyond words, and he had been a spy for the Vatican since well before Cardinal Pacelli had been elevated to Pope Pius XII. Muller had a very successful law practice in Munich, where he was known as a godfather like figure, dispensing legal advice to a wide variety of businesses, to the Catholic Church, and its clerics, to those in government, and to anyone else who might need his services. He was a man with his finger on the pulse of everyone, the Nazis, the Church, the Jews, and anyone else who was anyone.
Despite being a devout Catholic, Jews flocked to him for help and guidance in dealing with the Nazis. His reputation was well known to the SS as well, as his law office adjoined the former Wittelsbach Palace, now the Bavarian Headquarters of the SS. When Bavarian Jews would come to him for assistance, they would have to cross paths with the same SS officers they feared.
Muller had offered counsel to the Bavarian Prime Minister, Heinrich Held, telling him of the Reich's intention to annex Austria, much to the astonishment of the Prime Minister. When Heinrich Himmler appeared at the office of Prime Minister Held with a whip in his hand, which he brought down with a slam on the minister's desk, he asked him, not so nicely, to leave his position, Held contacted Muller. The lawyer told the Prime Minister to declare a state of emergency, and to immediately arrest SS Chief Heinrich Himmler, and put him before a firing squad. While Held did not want to make matters worse, he was now in fear of his life. So, he did agree to have Muller secret him over the border into Switzerland that same night. Thereafter, the Gestapo arrested Muller in Munich, charging him with treason, punishable by death. Muller was to be brought to Dachau, the first of the Reich's concentration camps.
Himmler himself, however, wished to first direct an interrogation of Muller, before sending the lawyer off to Dachau. He glared at Muller, with his small beady eyes darting behind his rimless glasses, while his thin manicured hands stroked his narrow chin. When Himmler accused Muller of representing enemies of the Reich, Muller jovially countered that he was not aware of any edict against practicing law. Himmler demanded to know what advice he had given to Prime Minister Held. Muller responded, without hesitation, that he had urged Held to have Himmler arrested, and shot before a firing squad. Flabbergasted, Himmler marveled at the man's honesty and courage. Muller looked at Himmler's confused demeanor, asking him if he wouldn’t have dispensed the same advice if he had been in Muller's position. Himmler released Muller on the spot, asking him to join the SS. While Muller said he would have to think about it, as he was a Catholic, he was still allowed to leave, and go about his business.
Muller thereafter got himself close to Cardinal Pacelli, who was then the Vatican Secretary of State, keeping the future Pontiff informed as to what was happening in Berlin on a regular basis. This closeness continued through the years, as Muller flew his own single engine plane from Germany to Italy, bringing the secrets of the Reich to the Vatican, including documents and maps that he would secure at his feet in the cockpit of his plane. When Cardinal Pacelli was elevated to Pope Pius XII in 1939, Muller became one of his group of Catholics, including Bishops and Priests, who formed a cadre of informal bearers of intelligence from those Countries controlled by the Nazis.
“Josef Muller is a very brave man,” said the Pontiff, sipping his hot coffee. “He has come to understand our Disciplina Arcani, and he is loyal to the core.”
“Disciplina Arcani?” asked Mac.
“Our Way of Secrecy,” said the Pope. “The Way has been our practice since our Lord Jesus Christ himself preached secrecy in the face of hostile adversaries. Jesus had ordered his disciples to conceal his identity, his words, and his actions from the non-believers. The apostles were formed into clandestine groups, led by James and John. They met in safe houses and were gathered by coded signals. The Fathers of our Church followed the Disciplina Araeni after Jesus died on the cross, remaining underground to be free from persecution. With the establishment of the church in Rome, the heathens lashed out at the Holy Fathers for the first hundreds of years, beheading us, crucifying us, killing us in all kinds of gruesome manners. So “The Way” allowed us to continue to exist. Josef Muller understands this, and he lives by it. He and others bring us the secrets of our would-be enemies.”
“Why is he here in Rome, Your Grace?” asked Mac.
“He has word of the atrocities planned by the Nazis toward our own bishops and priests; a plan to kill our brother disciples in Christ. Apparently, he has proof, and he wanted to bring it to us himself, so that there would be no chance that it would not get here. That is the greatest moment of danger for any spy, Tommaso, the attempt to communicate what he knows. Muller thought the information he carries important enough to ensure its delivery to the Vatican.”
“I see.”
“Your Grace,” said Father Leiber, “we will be meeting with Dr. Muller without you, I take it?”
“No, Robert, I will be with you. This Hitler has publicly professed his intention to “crush us like toads.” We are at war, my son. A Pope, as the leader of his flock, must be prepared to defend the Church from all who would seek to do us harm. We have learned from the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that the preservation of the Word, at times, requires extraordinary measures. Further, the Aquinas Doctrine tells us that ambushes and other secret means are permitted in the conduct of a just war. Our very existence is at stake here, Robert. No war could be more just. It is no time to hide behind these Papal robes.”
“My understanding, Your Grace, is that Dr. Muller brings us news of a planned violent insurrection against the despot ruler, and proof of the atrocities committed in his name, under his direct orders, in Poland,” remarked Leiber, making sure the Pontiff understood what he was getting himself into. “You think it appropriate to take part in such discussions, Your Grace?”
“They seek to bring this evil man the justice he so richly deserves, Robert. I understand fully what they are planning to do. I also understand the proof he carries is a file prepared by Hitler's own Abwehr, which will be used as evidence to justify what they are planning to do to him.”
“Hitler's own spy organization prepared a file against him?” asked Mac, rather incredulously.
“Not only did they prepare the dossier he is about to give us, but they gave it to Muller with the expressed purpose of bringing it to here to me,” said the Pope. “They want me to see why they are prepared to do the unthinkable, so that I can convey to the English that they are serious about a negotiated peace, with whomever oversees the Reich when the Fuhrer is gone. That is why Muller is bringing the documents here himself, at great risk, as the future of the world may very well hang in the balance. I must be in the room when he does.”
“Has Muller verified this evidence he brings to us?” asked Leiber.
“Muller has his network of agents, including his law school friends, bankers, newspapermen and even priests and nuns. He also has a source high within the SS itself, who only he and I know exists. The information has been fully vetted and investigated. It is the truth, gentlemen, and we can most certainly rely on it.”
“We will want to document this meeting, Your Grace, to protect you. Shall we see that it is recorded?” asked Leiber.
Mac only found out at that moment that the Papal Library, where Pope Pius XII took all his meetings, was bugged. A small hole was drilled in the wall between the library and an outer office, which was fitted with a microphone, which amplified the sound from the room, sending it by cable out of the office to a dragon toothed tower in the Papal Garden, where the sound was recorded on razor thin metal tape. The taping system was put in two years earlier, upon the Pope's elevation, as he did not trust his own cardinals, particularly the four from Germany, in disseminating his true words. As a cardinal, the future Pope had taken strong positions against the Nazis, and their preaching. There were those who sought to manipulate his words for their own benefit, thus the installation of the taping system.
“Yes, Robert, I am afraid that must be done. Be sure to preserve the transcript only in my library, and make sure there are no other copies.”
Later that morning, Father Leiber brought Dr. Muller, looking like a Joey Ox, into the Papal Library, where he dutifully kissed the ring on the hand of the Pope Pius. Josef Muller was a robust man, with wild, sky-blue eyes. He was colorful, and jovial, but Mac could tell that the man's reputation as being a fearless adventurer was not exaggerated. He seemed larger than life, piloting his own plane across the mountains, carrying the secrets of the Third Reich, dangerously at his feet, right over their heads. He was a man's man, ready to take on all comers, in protection of his Church, and of his Holy Father.
“Your Grace, it is so good of you to see me,” said Muller, on his knees before Pope Pius.
“The pleasure is all mine, my dear friend,” replied the Pope. “Please rise, my son. You know Father Leiber. This is Tommaso Martini, my legal counsel here at the Vatican. He will be sitting in with us to effectuate anything we decide needs to be done. I understand that you have brought files with you?”
“Yes, Your Grace, but let me start by telling you what is happening. The Fuhrer is not at all happy sharing his people with the church. His position is that a German's God is either the church, or it is Adolf Hitler. It cannot be both. He believes that the Nazi philosophy itself is a de facto religion, in competition with the Vatican for the hearts and minds of the German people. I know that you have been told that Heir Hitler has vowed to crush the Catholics like toads. True to his word, he has already killed thousands of clerics in Poland, and in Eastern Europe, as part his modern-day pogrom. He needs to be stopped, Your Grace. I am here to tell you that there are members of the military that want to do just that. They want to do away with the Fuhrer and negotiate their own peace with the Allies. They, through the Abwehr, have built a dossier of the crimes committed either by Hitler, or in the name of Hitler, that will justify the action that they are willing to take. It would have been done already, but for the success Hitler had marching through the Low Countries and France. And now, he seeks to keep it going by attacking the Soviets. The military feels it is enough already. But Hitler is not a stupid man. He knows that the only thing keeping him in power, and probably alive, is this war. He will not only never voluntarily end it himself, but he will continually seek new lands to conquer, just to keep himself in power.”
“The Pontiff understands all of that, Dr. Muller,” said Father Leiber, “but he is looking for proof, for documented proof that these atrocities are being committed. He needs to see with his own eyes the substantiation of these charges before he can be a part of what you are suggesting. More particularly, the British will need to see proof of the German's intentions before they waste more time chasing a fantasy negotiation, while Germany continues to take more and more. They have been fooled once before; they will not be fooled again.”
The man reached into a large leather trial suitcase he had brought into the library with him, pulling out several labeled folders containing photographs, affidavits and copies of documents associated with each area where the atrocities had occurred, setting them down on the conference table, while he sat without invitation.
“Your Grace, I will not take your valuable time going through all this material with you, here and now. I am sure your capable counsel and Father Leiber are qualified to parse through the documents in good time. Let me just point your attention to a few of the more outrageous of the atrocities being committed in the name of Hitler, and his movement, and the corresponding irrefutable evidence that substantiates these charges.”
Muller proceeded to show the Pontiff enlarged photographs of hangings, shootings, mass killings, and thousand upon thousand innocent victims of the Nazi regime. Naked women and children, separated from their men, being herded into long lines at purported work camps, while the guards look on and make comments. Those not co-operating, are shot on the spot, as depicted in black and white. He showed Pope Pius various directives from Hitler himself discussing the termination of any enemy of the State, in Poland, and anywhere else the Swastika flies. He showed them copies of notes from meetings where Hitler and Himmler used the term “Final Solution” to describe what needs to be done with the Jewish population, and with any dissidents of the Third Reich. He described how Himmler was putting together a plan to put forth this Final Solution, which is to be distributed to the SS, as the blueprint for carrying out this heinous business.
The Pontiff took it all in, quietly, with pensive consideration. He finally closed his eyes, and he began to weep.
“This is beyond the possibility of my ability to comprehend, Dr. Muller. I should have done something before now, but I was afraid I might make it worse. My inaction has led to them to believe that they can get away with this,” sighed the Pontiff.
“No one faults you, Your Grace,” responded Father Leiber. “The Jews did not want you to say anything for fear that it will make it worse.”
“Not saying anything is one thing, my son, but not doing anything is something quite different all together. We must get this information disseminated to the free world. We can pray to motivate the United States, and others, to do something before it is too late. This man is capable of anything.”
“Shall I put together a package, Your Grace, and send it to the president?” asked Mac.
“My son, prepare a package, but I need to speak to the President clearly and forcefully on this matter. Many are dying. Innocents are being stripped and killed. How many? No one even knows, but he will clearly not stop until he is forced to stop.”
“I will write something up for you, Your Grace, as a starting point,” offered Mac.
The Pontiff stopped speaking, looking gaunt and old, suddenly. He sat in his Papal Chair, his eyes closed, his hands covering his face. The only movement was the reflection of light off the diamond ring on his finger. He motioned for the visitors to leave the library.
Once outside the library, Dr. Muller grabbed hold of Father Leiber's arm.
“There is one other thing, Robert.”
“Yes?”
“There is word that the Nazis are planning to kidnap the Pontiff, particularly if he does not back off.”
“He knows, Dr. Muller. He has heard this before. He does not believe they will invade the sanctity of a sovereign nation, headed by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. That would turn much of the world, not to mention all of Italy, against the Reich.”
“As if he worries what other nations think of him?” said Dr. Muller. “He does whatever he pleases and withstands the consequences. Who would have believed he would have just annexed Austria, just take Czechoslovakia, and roll over Poland, France, and anyone else in his way?”
“I have increased the Swiss Guard surrounding His Grace, but would it really matter if they wanted to come in here with their Panzer tanks?” asked Father Leiber.
“Our prayers are with you all,” said Dr. Muller, “but it would make sense to get others, such as the United States, to lead on this one.”
“The Pontiff will not act out of concern for his own personal safety. He will do what he feels best to protect his flock.”
Dr. Muller went back to Germany, while Mac wrote the letter the Pontiff would send to the President of the United States.