Chapter 35 Chapter Thirty-Four
Cardinal Mortati stared at the luxurious ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, trying to think quietly for a while.The walls surrounded by murals echoed with the voices of cardinals from all over the world.They crowded into the candlelit church, talking excitedly in subdued tones in a variety of languages, English, Italian and Spanish being the common languages here.
The cathedral always looked sublime and majestic when the sun shone in—the long streaks of multicolored light came in like celestial lights, piercing the darkness—but not today.According to custom, in order to keep secret, all the windows of the church had to be covered with black velvet.This ensures that no one inside can send signals in any way to communicate with anyone outside.And so the church was dark, lit only by candles... and the glow of the candle seemed to purify everyone it touched, making them otherworldly... like saints.
What a great honor, Mortati thought, to oversee this sacrament.Cardinals over the age of eighty are past the age to participate in elections and cannot attend electoral meetings, but Mortati, at seventy-nine, is the oldest cardinal here and is authorized to oversee the entire process of the meeting.
According to tradition, two hours before the start of the conclave, the cardinals gathered here to communicate with friends and hold final discussions.At 7:00 p.m., the former pope's emeritus will arrive here to offer an opening prayer before departing.Next, the Swiss guards will seal all the doors and lock the cardinal inside.Then, the world's oldest and most secret political ceremony will begin.The cardinals are locked in until the next pope is chosen from among them.
, even the name carries secrecy, an English word that literally means "locked."The cardinals were absolutely forbidden to have any contact with the outside world.They can't make phone calls, text or whisper at the door.The secret meeting room is in a vacuum state and will never be disturbed by the outside world.This will ensure that the cardinals remain in absolute isolation...with only God in sight.
Undoubtedly, the media is waiting outside the church walls, watching what is going on and wondering which of the cardinals will be the ruler of the world's billion Catholics.The conclave created a tense, partisan atmosphere that had grown dire over the centuries; scandals of poisoning, melee, and even murder erupted from within the hallowed walls.That's old stuff, Mortati thought, and tonight's conclave will be united, cheerful, and above all... brief.
Anyway, that's his hypothesis.
However, now an accident happened.Four cardinals mysteriously disappear from the church.Mortati knew that all the exits to the Vatican City were guarded by guards, and it was impossible for the absent cardinal to go far, but now, less than an hour after leaving the field for prayer, he suddenly became flustered. After all, the four missing These people are not ordinary cardinals, they are those few people.
The four selected.
As the supervisor of the meeting, Mortati had properly sent a message to the Swiss Guards to warn them that the cardinals had disappeared, but he has not yet heard back.Other cardinals had noticed the inexplicable disappearance.People chattered restlessly in low voices.Of all the Cardinals, these four should be there on time!Cardinal Mortati began to worry that it would be a long night.
His mind went blank.
Notes:
Notes: