‘It’s me, Cardinal,’ said Sforza, anger in his voice as he knocked on Fouquet’s office door. The door opened and Sforza rushed in, newspaper in hand, shaking it at Fouquet. ‘Have you read this?’
‘What could I do?’ said Fouquet. ‘I couldn’t deny it, could I?’
‘A bit more vagueness wouldn’t have hurt.’
‘I reacted as best I could.’
‘The Pope planted this. He leaked the information to the press. Now the truth comes out. He plans to eliminate cardinals as well,’ said Sforza, still shaking the newspaper at Fouquet. ‘He’s trying to pre-empt any deposition procedure on our part. This is a declaration of war. War to the finish.’
‘What do you have in mind?’ said Fouquet.
‘First we have to find out who our allies are. Who we can count on. We must draw up a list of all the conservative archbishops, cardinals, bishops, everybody. We must call them before it’s too late.’
‘I agree.’
‘I won’t allow him to take the Church down the path of heresy,’ said Sforza. ‘Catholic dogma is not to be determined by a popularity contest.’
‘What can I do?’
‘You can gather the complete Canon law legislation and jurisprudence on the procedure to depose the Pope. There’s no time to waste.’
The Vatican’s telephone lines were swamped. Calls were flooding in from everywhere. Calls of congratulations, calls of support, threats and expressions of joy, anger, disbelief and admonition: atheists, agnostics, priests, bishops, archbishops from Uruguay to Greenland, all wanted to be heard.
The following morning, fuelled by the news of the upcoming reforms, St. Peter’s Square was filled to capacity, as word spread that the Pope would make a loggia appearance. Situated over the main doors of the Basilica and overseeing the Square, the loggia – or balcony – was reserved for the Pope’s special announcements, such as the beatification of a recent candidate for sainthood, or the official papal reaction to a world event.
At 10.30 a.m., Cardinal Legnano, standing next to the French doors which gave access to the balcony, pushed aside the drapes, and peered discreetly outside. He looked at his watch. At that moment, Gonzales rushed in. ‘Sorry your Holiness, your Eminence. I was delayed.’
‘Never mind, Cardinal. Where are the others?’ said Legnano.
‘They should be joining us any minute,’ said Gonzales.
Through the space of the slightly ajar doors, Legnano could hear the dull murmur of the crowd’s anxiousness and impatience.
‘We can’t wait much longer, your Holiness,’ said Legnano, looking out the window.
‘You’re right, Cardinal. The people have waited long enough.’
Legnano opened the large, glass paneled doors, and the three most influential men of the Catholic world walked outside onto the balcony. At the sight of the prelates, suddenly the crowd broke into a thunderous cheer, rising into a crescendo of joy. ‘Viva il Papa. Vi-va, Vi-va, Vi-va!
The words became a rhythmic incantation of 100,000 voices chanting in unison.
‘You have certainly won their hearts, your Holiness,’ said Legnano as he responded to the cheering crowd by waving discreetly.
At the western extremity of the Square, a scuffle had broken out between a handful of dissenters and some of the faithful. Members of the Vigilanza, the Vatican’s security forces, were already intervening.
‘You can’t please all of them, your Holiness,’ said Gonzales.
‘I know. Not even all of the Curia.’ He threw a critical glance at Legnano.
Directly below, fervent followers waved hastily-made placards bearing Finalmente, and Papa te amo, in bold, handwritten letters.
‘It’s time you joined them, your Holiness,’ said Gonzales. ‘I’ve had the pope-mobile prepared.’
‘Yes, I should,’ he said, waving to the crowd.
Gonzales walked to the entrance of the papal chamber and talked briefly to one of the Swiss Guards standing in the doorway.
Moments later, the threesome walked downstairs to the entrance of the Basilica. As the pope mobile pulled up and stopped in front of it, Gonzales signaled the driver over.
‘Your Holiness, your Eminences,’ said the driver as he bowed. ‘Your Holiness wishes to have the top up, or down?’
‘Down. I want to shake hands with members of my flock.’
Moments later, the white customized Mercedes started its slow tour of St Peter’s square, to the tumultuous applause of the crowd. Cries of joy erupted from well-wishers, who would rush out, sometimes briefly clutching his offered hand, sometimes prostrating themselves in front of the car. ‘God bless His Holiness. We support you. We love you.’ The crowd would not let the popemobile return to the steps of the Basilica, so the driver started another slow tour of St Peter’s Square, stopping now and then before overenthusiastic worshippers standing in front of the Mercedes and blowing kisses. The crowd chanted louder still: ‘Viva il Papa. Vi-va. Vi-va.’
After the triumphant tour, the popemobile slowed and came to a stop at the entrance. Still the well-wishers grabbed his hands, touched his cassock, and prostrated themselves before him.
Cardinal Gonzales walked up, embraced him, and whispered in his ear. ‘Congratulations. You have won. They won’t dare depose you now.’