Peter J. Tanous

“The pope was lying fully stretched out on the floor, his body half-obscured by Cardinal Villot, who was leaning over him. Calvi's heart jumped into his throat. The pontiff 's eyes were shut, his face distorted in pain. He wasn't breathing. He was life-less, drained of color.”

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

“Lord, I'll embrace whatever it is you want me to do, but please, please let me know what it is." - Father Kevin Thrall.”

“Many believe that the Vatican withheld important parts of the Third Secret, perhaps because its contents were too dangerous to reveal...”

“The three Secrets of Fatima were closely held by the Vatican for decades, until the text of the third and last secret was finally released in 2000.”

“What could there be in this document written by a young girl in 1917?”

“What to do? Fight it or play along? Was God behind it?”

“Calvi was sobbing. This couldn't be! A moment ago the Pope was healthy, smiling. How could His Holiness be no longer? Only a month into his papacy!”

“Well, they've come a long way. To think that he now could access a secret document held in the Vatican archives, via electronic technology.”

“And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

“Whatever was in that document had caused the death of the leader of the Catholic Church. Who'd be next? Calvi shuddered. His life's work was safe-guarding this document. Whatever its purpose or mystery, it was his solemn and sole mission to protect it. Even if it meant giving up his life for it.”