“That was Pope Michael’s secretary on the phone. He wanted you to know that the new Pope’s first official act was to name you as a Prince of the Church. You are now Cardinal Leopold Amodeo.”
Leo was stunned. His hearing seemed to disappear momentarily while his friends congratulated him with hugs of joy. Lev took the Coke from Leo’s hand and replaced it with a flute of the Carmela’s finest champagne. Ariella sat up and yawned before noticing all the excitement and walked over to join John on the deck. When she heard the news, she threw her arms around Leo and told him how proud she was of him. She had gained a deep respect for this man, and over the past few months, he had become like a second father to her.
Leo paused and looked at Morelli. “But what about you, Anthony? All your work…”
“I was waiting for you to ask. I’m now a bishop and the new pope’s personal assistant.”
Leo tilted his glass in Morelli’s direction. “Congratulations, my friend. You deserve even more.”
A big grin crossed John’s face. “Just think. A cardinal and a bishop at our wedding … what Catholic could wish for more?”
Ariella pinched him on the arm and reminded them that the new pope was about to speak on TV. They all gathered around the large screen and listened as Pope Michael looked out over the crowd and held his hands in the air. The multitude in the square grew silent with anticipation. Slowly and deliberately, the new pope began to speak.
“Today, we begin a new era of the Church. I have started by appointing several new cardinals and bishops who will lead us in the years to come in the fight against evil in the world. We will be meeting in the next few weeks to discuss what can be done in the face of a worsening world crisis. I have complete confidence that we, together with God’s help, can convince leaders of other religions and nations to arrive at solutions that heretofore have not been considered by men in a world on the brink of some very dark days if we fail to act, and act swiftly. These are days that require men of action in the Church, and the soldiers of Christ will be called back to the field of battle. May God bless you and keep you safe in the days ahead.”
With that short speech, the pope waved at the crowd below, and loud cheers went up in Saint Peter’s Square. Leo turned away from the screen and took a long sip from his glass before he and Morelli exchanged looks. Both realized that they were the soldiers the pope had just referred to.
“This has been a day blessed in heaven,” Leo said, “and I pray we’ll have many more days ahead together. Here with all of you today, I feel like I’m with my true family.”
Everyone raised their glasses in a toast as they let the meaning of the moment sink in. The true greatness of the occasion was not lost on anyone present.
Leo felt that he had to be alone for a moment and excused himself. Walking to the railing of the yacht, he felt the outline of the large golden cross under his shirt. At least now, as a cardinal, he could wear it proudly out in the open. The joy he felt on this day, along with the miracles he had witnessed months ago, had lifted his faith to new heights. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the Holy Land beyond the ancient harbor. The copy of the Devil’s Bible on Daniel’s computer had yet to be completely translated, and it would probably take years to discover what dark messages it might hold for the world. For now, that part of it would remain a mystery.
The Bible code was still their greatest source of information, and they would continue to study it for messages from God. It had led them to the Devil’s Bible in the desert and the holy chapel under the Vatican where they encountered the archangels. Nothing would ever convince Cardinal Leo Amodeo that the code was anything other than the work of God.
The new cardinal inhaled the crisp fall air of the Holy Land. He knew that evil still flowed through the world like a river with many branches, and Gabriel’s words echoed in his mind-words he had shared with Cardinal Lundahl before he and Morelli had left for Israel. The time would come when God would withhold his miracles until humans put aside their petty differences and came together. He sensed that the Antichrist would soon be in the world of men. The feeling was strong within him. Humanity had created fertile soil for the evil one to plant his seed, and time was running out.
Leo felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Lev standing behind him. “Care to take a little flight on my helicopter, Cardinal?”
“Where to?”
“I thought we’d hop over to Jerusalem for a while. There’s something I want to show you.”
“Why not. We have time. Let’s go.”
The two men ascended the steps to the yacht’s helipad, where Nava was warming up the aircraft. They strapped themselves in and were soon skimming across the varied landscape of the Holy Land. After a brief flight, they found themselves at treetop level, hovering over a park in the center of Jerusalem. Nava circled once before bringing the small helicopter down in the middle of a wide green space.
Leo and Lev stepped out onto the grass and walked over to a beautiful fountain surrounded by sculptures of enormous bronze lions of different shapes and sizes, standing and lying around the perimeter of the pool.
“Where exactly are we?” Leo asked.
“We’re in the middle of the historic Yemin Moshe district of Jerusalem, in Bloomfield Gardens. This is what I wanted to show you. It’s the famous Lion Fountain. I thought you should see it before you return to Rome. To me, I think this fountain is a symbol of our group. The bronze lions here remind me of the Bible Code Team. God called his lions together for a reason, and we must stay united no matter where we are. There are other lions out there, you know. They are chosen ones too, and just like Sarah, they will find us.”
A cool breeze ruffled the fading colored leaves that began to fall from the trees as Leo and Lev gazed up at the gigantic bronze lions. Just like the sculptures, they were frozen in action for now, but Leo knew that Lev was right and that, someday, God would call on them again. He would summon all of His lions.
