I was a professor of law at a small Catholic university. I preferred the title professor to “father” even though I was an ordained priest and a theologian as well. Some would say that I was a rather well-known theologian. Others would spit and call me infamous and the spawn of the devil. In the context of the Catholic Church I’m considered a raving mad leftie. I prefer liberal. While I don’t think I question the basic tenets of the Faith I certainly question that the social system of the first centuries AD in the eastern Mediterranean basin should dictate how the Holy Church is organised today. Recently I had been involved in some rather heated debate.

That was probably the reason why the Dean was falling to pieces when he received the message that His Holiness Johannes XXIV had requested my presence in Rome AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Me, I was delighted, and horrified. It was a long time since I had last met Father Domenico, my true father. Not that he had sired me but he was the young priest that had saved the semi-starved, abused orphan from the favela. To survive I had had to do horrible things, things that I’d prefer to forget but can’t (even though statutes of limitation have long since passed). I was at the same time horribly vulnerable and completely ruthless. As ruthless as Father Domenico could be, despite being a genuinely GOOD person. That’s the reason why I was horrified. I knew that Father Domenico (as he still was to me) would not call for me like this unless he had something really important and difficult for me to do. Remember, he knew EVERYTHING that lurked beneath my deceptively timid surface and what I was capable of doing. He also knew that I’d be unable to refuse him anything, anything at all.

His Holiness Johannes XXIV was widely and genuinely loved and widely and no less genuinely hated. When electing him pope the cardinals had only seen the successful and very popular pastor that they thought was a political non-entity. A classic compromise candidate. Those princes of the church that had chosen a real prince had no idea how liberal he was, how determined he was and how ruthless he could be. Well, Father Domenico wasn’t exactly a prince, his father had been and his brother was. Father Domenico was a member of one of the Roman princely families that once upon a time had monopolised the higher echelons in the Church. If you could get close enough to Father Domenico you could feel what that heritage had done to him.

His Holiness Johannes XXIV has started a thorough renovation of the structure that is the one and only true church. Not unexpectedly he gained many enemies, powerful enemies. He dealt with most of them. On the surface he mostly smothered them with kindness, in reality he was completely ruthless. Those remaining got cautious but bided their time. Such was the situation when the one man who could ask anything from me, and wouldn’t hesitate to do that to further his higher goals, called for me. If he wanted someone “disappeared” I was more than capable. I’m ashamed that this was I thought when I entered into the presence of the Vicar of Christ. I had severely underestimated his ruthlessness.

- Pepe, how good of you to come to see me.

He hasted toward me and embraced me just like in the old days. Father Domenico by words and actions signalled that he wanted us to interact in the way we used to before we parted ways, The last time we had actually seen each other was when he had ordained me, he had insisted. He had just become an archbishop. I left to take up my first teaching position. I had decided that caring for a flock was not something I could do with a good conscience.

- Father, I’m always happy to see you but why have called me in this rather abrupt way?

- I’ve been murdered and I really need you to do some things for me.

I was aghast. Murdered?! He didn’t look fit but he was definitely alive.

- Murdered?

- Yes, murdered. Oh, it may take some weeks before I actually die but there is no way of stopping the effect of the poison I’ve been given. Now I urgently need to settle some things so spare me your words. I know what you feel anyway, as I always do. I know who are behind all this. Two cardinals! One of them hoping to succeed me. We don’t have enough evidence to act –yet. Unfortunately that only leaves me the possibility to create five new voting cardinals. I want you to be one of them. Consider it as a bribe for what I really want you to do.

I was disgusted. Becoming a cardinal was the last thing I wanted. I was prepared to whatever he wanted me to do. Why did he have to punish me futher?

- I see what you think Pepe, I’ve always known everything about you even your innermost thoughts. Yes, even THAT!

I was devastated. He KNEW. I thought I had been able to keep at least that part from him. But if he knew how, could he still love me? He evidently did despite his commitment to punish me.

- Well, actually I need you as a cardinal as well. My successor will inevitable be more conservative than I. This will harm the Holy Church. We need to become part of the 21th century. You may not have realized it but your theology is not that far from mine. Preserve the core tenets. Modernise the shell. I need to leave a legacy for the long term as well. You and your fellow new cardinals will provide a nucleus for that. I expect you all to shake them up. I rely on you in particular.

The bishops he mentioned made me gasp. In comparison I was deeply conservative. And like me they were YOUNG, all of us below 60!

- Father, I’m not worthy.

- Of course your aren’t! Remember, I know you. I know how terrible a punishment this is for you. However, you can’t deny that you have done things that merit punishment, and punishment more severe than this. Nonetheless, the Mother Church NEEDS you, I NEED you.

I was crushed. I had finally decided to leave the priesthood and finally set myself free. I would be unable to do that now!

- As Your Holiness desires.

- Oh, don’t look that glum. Apart from not leaving the priesthood and taking on the burdens I will ask of you I don’t expect you to change your plans in any other way. As a matter of fact as you friend I sincerely beg you to proceed as planned. That’s part of my plan.
Now, for the most important part. My brother died in an accident last week. This left me as the guardian for my 15 year old grand-nephew Prince Andrea. The poor child has been horribly abused by my brother. There is no one other that I could trust to be the support Andrea needs, to truly understand and care as well as having the “heft” necessary to protect him, or rather her, from my distant relatives. Andrea is transgender. My poor deluded brother tried to “beat it out of him” and in any other way “make a man of him” ever since Andrea’s parents passed away. I need you to help Andrea heal the wounds, to protect her fortune and if possible save her title (she doesn’t care but I do). To be a parent and knight in shining armour. I’m sure if anyone can, it will be you, well if we forget about the shining armour. Your law expertise and your commitment will prevail if at all possible. You will NOT fail me! Consider Andrea as my child, as I do. Come to think of it it’d make her kind of your sister wouldn’t it? Your sister la Principessa Andrea - she has decided to keep her name.

- Father, you know me and yet you trust me with this?

- It’s exactly because I know you like no one else do, that I DO trust you.

Father Domenico had made sure he’d have time to spend the evening together with me. Our last time ever together. We didn’t touch upon what he’d asked to do or his imminent demise. It was just two very, very good friends who spent a most pleasant evening. Father Domenico did talk a lot about Andrea but only as a person. Only when I left Father Domenico said one last thing.

- Pepe, you have my benediction and absolution for what you plan to do. And if the investigation isn’t ready when I join Our Father – well, things may get stalled then - so please make sure cardinals Mattei and Okwungo don’t attend the conclave.

His Holiness Johannes XXIV ordained me as bishop the day after in a quiet ceremony. Il Principe Andrea, as he still was, attended. When first seeing the child I got a shock. She was almost a spitting image, only a few years younger, of the young priest that had saved me and that I had come to love. Of course I would do anything I could for the young principessa, there was no other option. Unfortunately I had to have surgery so I didn’t have the opportunity to meet Father Domenico again before my installation as cardinal.

I have to admit that the investiture awed me. The pomp and glory, while hopelessly out of date, did thrill me. However, that could not diminish my pain when I saw my old friend. It must have been only by marshalling his absolute last forces that he was able to officiate. I had no doubt he would be dead before the morning. I knew the investigation had stalled and I saw the faces of cardinals Mattei and Okwungo among the host of vultures, sorry cardinals, that had already gathered here in Rome in anticipation of the conclave. An accident that tragically would end the life of two cardinals would happen tonight, possibly a bit prematurely, possibly not. No matter, I had arranged all that needed arranging.

Looking at all those cardinals, those princes of the church, that I was about to join I once more felt how reluctant I was to become one of those princes of the church. Or, come to think about it since I finally had had the operation - a princess of the church?

No matter what, I would not let down the one and only man I had ever and always loved.