Sunday, 5:41 a.m.

Switzerland

Mario found himself perched in his seat at the antique writing desk nestled in the corner of their clandestine hotel room. They had registered under an assumed identity paying cash, a necessary precaution to elude the ever-watchful eyes of the Vatican. The room, dimly lit by a single lamp, cast long shadows that danced along the walls, mirroring the turmoil in Mario’s heart.

Involving Janet in his life of perpetual evasion from the Vatican was a decision haunting him every waking moment. Now, he found himself on the edge of a desperate plea—a plea to the pope himself, begging for liberation from the relentless shadow of death that ceaselessly pursued them. He yearned for a life untethered from the Vatican and its intricate labyrinth of deceit.

In a moment of profound humility and desperation, Mario reached for the ornate pen that lay dormant on the desk, ready to inscribe the deepest fears and hopes etched in his heart. The cool metal, a stark contrast to his feverish hand, offered a strange sense of reassurance as he began to craft the meticulously worded letter. It was a plea for their lives, a desperate cry for freedom:

21 May 2000

Your Holiness, Pope John Paul II,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits.

I am writing to you about a matter of utmost urgency. It is important enough to require your immediate attention.

With a heavy heart, I must confess to a transgression I committed during my recent honored position in the Vatican Secret Archives. I am deeply ashamed to admit that I succumbed to a moment of weakness and removed a journal not belonging to me. The journal, a beautiful artifact, had been hidden in the Archives, and I was captivated by its historical significance and beauty. However, I now realize the gravity of my actions and the disrespect I have shown towards you and the sanctity of the Vatican Secret Archives.

I understand my actions have not only violated the law but also the moral and ethical principles I hold dear. I am deeply remorseful for my actions and the potential harm they may have caused.

Over the past several weeks, I have been subjected to a series of unfortunate incidents involving individuals who, I am led to believe, are associated with Vatican Secret Security. These individuals have caused physical harm to multiple people I hold dear to my heart, including my best friend. This has caused me much distress, affecting my personal well-being. I understand there may have been some misunderstanding or miscommunication leading up to this situation.

Acting in good faith, I have enclosed the journal from Pope Pius XII. In return, I kindly request you instruct your associates to cease their actions against myself and Dr. Janet Doerr immediately. I am sure that, as a respected and responsible entity, you would not endorse nor condone such actions that cause harm and distress to others.

If my request is not honored, I am more than willing to discuss these matters with the media. As you might have inferred from this letter, I firmly believe that dialogue with influential individuals is key to mediating conflicts and misunderstandings.

I look forward to your prompt response. I am hopeful my letter will resolve this issue amicably and without further escalation.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

I pray for Your Holiness’s health and peace.

Respectfully yours,

Mario Marino

Chapter 100

May 24, 2000

Wednesday, 7:43 a.m.

Switzerland

“Mario!”

Janet burst into their clandestine hotel room, her hand waving a newspaper like a victorious flag. “You’re free!” She unfurled the newspaper, revealing the headline that might as well have screamed “freedom” beneath a picture of Mario.

As Mario’s eyes meticulously navigated through the lines of the article, a smile gradually spread across his face, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We are free,” he murmured, the words rolling off his tongue like a sweet symphony of liberation.

In a flurry of joy, Janet clambered onto him, her arms wrapping around him in a fervent embrace, her lips seeking his in a passionate kiss. They were finally free. Free to live the remainder of their lives devoid of the perpetual threat the Vatican assassins represented.

A subtle twinge in Mario’s right thigh served as a reminder of the microSD card Janet had meticulously extracted just three days prior. It was their insurance policy. At some point during their years of dinner conversations, Roberto had taught Mario the intricate art of orchestrating a mass digital information release to the media—and Mario had paid attention.

He’d harnessed this knowledge to construct a fail-safe for him and Janet. If the Vatican ever dared to dispatch their assassins on them, reneging on their “deal”, the media would be instantaneously inundated with damning evidence. Any unfortunate mishap that befell either of them would trigger an email to major media outlets across the world—all the incriminating evidence Mario had collected would be released into the wild. The world would be forced to confront the grim truth about Pope Pius XII, the Vatican, and their malevolent role behind the darkest chapters of World War II.

Chapter 101

EPILOGUE

May 29, 2000

Monday, 10:02 a.m.

Rome, Italy

“Why don’t I clarify the reason behind your presence here?” Pope John Paul II began addressing the young priest with a serene smile. “I’m guessing you’re brimming with questions. Allow me to shed light on why you were handpicked.”

Father Luigi Gasparri remained silent, his attention riveted on the most revered figure on the planet.

“Within these hallowed walls, we possess what is known as the Vatican Secret Archives, a repository of history. This treasure trove houses countless books and fragile documents of deep historical import. Our goal is to modernize these in line with the current era.”

Father Gasparri listened with rapt attention.

“To put it plainly, we wish to digitize these volumes, transferring them onto computerized storage. The Vatican II Council convened recently and expressed concern over the potential loss of these invaluable documents sometime in the distant future should they remain only in their original format. A mishap could result in the irrevocable loss of this delicate information that’s currently preserved in paper form. In fact, we recently experienced a close call where one of these crucial volumes was nearly lost to us. Fortunately, it was recovered.” The pope was relieved that Father Mario Marino had seen reason and returned Pope Pius XII’s journal. “Our hope is that you could assist us in our monumental task of digitizing these volumes, safeguarding them into perpetuity.” Pope John Paul II paused, allowing the young priest to digest this information. “Father Gasparri, would you be able to undertake this endeavor?”

Father Gasparri’s heart swelled with pride and joy. Having been raised and nurtured in the Santa Maria Orphanage, it was almost predestined he would be the next candidate working within the Vatican Secret Archives. “It would be my privilege to undertake this task for you, Your Holiness.”

“I am forever grateful, as is the Vatican II Council,” the pope expressed, his head bowed in reverence towards this latest recruit to the Secret Archives project. “I find myself with some spare moments. Would you be available for a personal tour of the Sistine Chapel?”

“That would be wonderful, Your Holiness.”

The pope, with an air of regality, glided across the marble floor towards the door, the young priest trailing in his wake. As they exited the esteemed antechamber, they crossed paths with a towering figure, a man whose chiseled features were as distinct as his attire—an all-black ensemble consisting of a two-piece suit, shirt, and tie. The young priest felt a shiver run down his spine as he locked eyes with the man, whose gaze was as cold and hard as obsidian.

Alistar maintained his icy expression, staring at the Vatican’s newest addition as the pope led him towards the Sistine Chapel. I’ll be watching you closely. Your predecessor slipped through my fingers, but that won’t happen again. His groin still throbbed with the memory of Father Marino’s unexpected attack. That yellow-bellied rat may have landed a low blow, but the journal was back where it belonged.

The assassin straightened up, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. Every last document belonging to the Vatican was safely tucked away in the Vatican Secret Archives. Pope Pius XII’s journal was secure. It would remain forever unknown to the world.

THE END

Acknowledgements

In the fascinating journey of over three decades of research that led to the creation and publication of The Vatican Dictator, I have been blessed with the support and patience of countless individuals. SelfPublishing.com, my guiding star in this voyage, has been instrumental in shaping the physical and digital presence of my book. From the captivating cover design to the meticulous formatting for Amazon Kindle, they have been my steadfast companions. A special note of gratitude to Ramy Vance, whose expertise and guidance breathed life into Part 2 of my novel, making it a thrilling read.

To Steve McFaul, whose lens captured the perfect image for my back cover, I extend my deepest appreciation.