THE VATICAN
CONSPIRACY
by
Jonathan Cross
2 J.Cross/Artemis
THE VATICAN CONSPIRACY
A Novel
by
Jonathan Cross
3 J.Cross/Artemis
CHAPTER 1
THE VATICAN
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 knelt his thin, angular body before it; his
white cassock cascaded across the red, soft cushion. He gently entwined the ebony
rosary beads between his fingers, crossed himself in the supplicant tradition, and kissed
the crucifix as he closed his eyes and began to recite out-loud the Five Holy Mysteries of
the Rosary.
His nightly reverie, before bed, calmed him and connected his soul to the sublime
obedience of God. During these moments of prayer, he put the chaos of his Office into
perspective: the business of running the Vatican, the spiritual responsibility of guiding
over one-billion Catholics in the area of faith and morals. This was his time to commune
with his own spirituality, to harmonize his soul with the peace of his Father in Heaven.
He rolled the rosary beads, one by one, through his fingers as he chanted the Ave
Maria. His voice rose into a cadence of a Gregorian chant, the beauty of the alliterated
ancient Latin echoed through the chapel like a spiritual sonnet.
As he prayed, a soft, almost imperceptible light began to invade the small
shadowy chapel. Oblivious, he continued his chanting recital of the rosary until the light
brightened into an intrusive force, causing his eyes to open. Startled, he watched with
curious astonishment as a purple mist emanated from the Tabernacle on the altar where
the Holy Eucharist was kept. A singular focus began to take shape within the mist – a
presence with form and face. An indescribable harmonic rhythm pulsated from an
4 J.Cross/Artemis
iridescent,