The Last Day

Nicholas gathered his up and skimmed rapidly through them.

Further down the table and on the opposite side of Cardinal di Concerci, sat Alphonse Bongiorno Cardinal Litti. A bit flushed, a bit anxious, Litti turned to the elderly man on his right, but the cardinal was occupied with his own papers. Litti rotated in the opposite direction, but that neighbor was also busy reading. Frustrated, Litti sighed, folded his arms and stared at the whorls in the dark mahogany tabletop.

Litti had read this document before him numerous times, and his reaction had never wavered. The report had been hurriedly prepared at the pope's request by the Congregation in secret session under the auspices of di Concerci, sitting prefect. Its ponderous commission: A Preliminary Evaluation of the Purported New Messiah, with an Assessment of the Current and Potential Repercussions of the Millenarian Movement on the Stability and Welfare of Holy Mother Church and Her World Congregation.

The report was vintage di Concerci. Hopelessly dogmatic and closed-minded. To Litti, the final lines betrayed the prefect's mind-set:

Given the cursory examination with which this Forum has been charged, it must be concluded at this time that there are no preternatural circumstances surrounding the appearance of an alleged Messiah in Israel. Granted that a number of surprising and perplexing incidents and coincidences have occurred, in each instance, a reasonable explanation can be provided referencing natural or man-made causes.

However, we find the issue of unrest within the World Congregation to be very real and pressing, and we recommend an immediate, formal inquiry be conducted to examine these issues in specificity, and to render a vox veritatis whereby these circumstances can be put in measured perspective for the faithful.

After discussions with the Congregation today, the pope was to decide whether or not a formal inquirendum, an official, secret inquiry of the Holy See, should be undertaken. Such a weighty inquisition would likely result in recommendations for a papal encyclical, or decree, to clarify the Church's position in these consequential matters.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Catholic Church's stern defender of holy orthodoxy, was precisely the organization to undertake this mission. Its reputation and demonstrated abilities for uncovering facts and truths in moral matters could be traced all the way back to the 1500s when it was better known as the Congregation of the Inquisition.

There was little doubt around the great table that an inquirendum would, indeed, be authorized. The real issue was how quickly the inquirendum could be completed and an encyclical issued to restore order. And, not insignificantly, who would be entrusted with heading this important inquest.

It was Alphonse Litti's ardent hope that Nicholas would bestow the distinguished responsibility on him. To that end, the cardinal had already sent a long private letter to Nicholas listing more than eighteen solid reasons why Litti was the right choice to oversee this sacred undertaking.

But Nicholas, apparently, had little inclination for a prolonged discussion of the issue.

“Brethren,” he began, and the cavernous hall quieted in attention. “This controversy surrounding a possible Second Coming, or the arrival of a New Messiah, genuine or otherwise, demands a calm and reasoned response from this Holy See as the one source most highly qualified in these matters. All of us recognize that the very existence of the Church is predicated upon the inevitable return of our Savior. It is an eventuality we have been anticipating for two millennia. But sadly, as these recent occurrences have made evident, we seem surprised and ill-prepared to authenticate it.

“While the Church traditionally moves slowly and cautiously in examining serious theological concerns such as these, unfortunately, the recent events in the Holy Land require immediate and decisive response from this chair. I have prayed fervently over the past days for guidance and wisdom in these proceedings. I believe my prayers have been answered and I am now decided how we shall move forward.”

Litti inhaled.

“Effective immediately,” Nicholas declared, “I order this Congregation to initiate an inquirendum, to be headed by Antonio Prefect Cardinal di Concerci, who has done an admirable job in the completion of this preliminary report.”

There was acclamation and applause from fellow cardinals in the hall, but not from Alphonse Litti, who sat quietly, stunned and crushed.

“Furthermore,” the pope continued, “I order that the inquiry receive the complete and uninterrupted attention of the entire Congregation, and that the final draft be completed and submitted for my review four weeks from today, February 18.”

The hall grew immediately still again. This was an unheard of deadline in an ecclesiastical domain where such substantive inquiries typically required years to reach their painstaking conclusions.

“I recognize the unreasonableness of the time frame,” the pope responded to the silence, “but we must all recognize the unreasonableness of this crisis.” And in a quieter voice, almost to himself, “I only pray that four weeks is not too long.”

“It will be done as you order, Holiness,” di Concerci assured him. “I request your permission to dispatch delegates to the Holy Land immediately for a firsthand investigation of the circumstances there.”

“Of course, Antonio,” Nicholas granted. “I authorize you to do whatever is required to arrive at the truth of this matter as quickly and completely as possible. If this person, Jeza, is indeed a precursor to the Second Coming as John the Baptist was to the First, we must determine it without delay.”

“My fellow cardinals.” Di Concerci rose from his chair to address the assembly. “I ask the entire Congregation to remain here in counsel after our audience with His Holiness. I would wish to make appointments to chair the respective subcommittees and to establish the structure for accomplishing our objectives.”

An ashen, depressed Alphonse Litti knew all too well that his out-of-favor, conflicting voice would not be among the appointees. He also knew that any window for salvaging his dissenting perspective was rapidly closing.

Heavily, Litti stood and extended his hand to hold the proceedings in abeyance. “If I may,” he began, and the pope displayed a fleeting look of annoyance. “As a means of advancing the progress of this important inquirendum, I'd like to call to the Congregation's attention the fact that a convocation of world churches is gathering in the United States on February 4, 5 and 6. The expressed purpose of this convention is to address the very issues we're pursuing here.”

“Begging your forgiveness, Holy Father,” di Concerci broke in impatiently, “but Cardinal Litti has raised the question of this conference to me before and I have investigated it. It's being hosted in Salt Lake City by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormons, whose creed, as you know, is profoundly millenarian. The makeup of the convention,” he added, “will be predominantly millennialists and fundamentalists. It hardly raises itself to the level of a world convocation, and we should not legitimize the proceedings with our attendance.”

“Holiness”-Litti ignored di Concerci and appealed directly to the pope-”your words were that we should arrive at the truth as quickly and completely as possible.” He gave di Concerci a pointed, defiant glance before continuing. “The prefect has unintentionally overlooked the fact that the Presbyterian, Lutheran, Unitarian and Jewish faiths, among others, will each be represented there. Even if there is little new information to come from this conclave, what harm could it possibly do? The inquirendum would at least benefit from knowing the perspectives of these other denominations.”

The pope shrugged his shoulders deferentially, and to di Concerci said, “I see no harm in Alphonse attending this conference, Antonio.” Rising from his chair and with a patriarchal smile, he added, “In any event, perhaps it will keep the two of you out of each other's way for a while!” There was appreciative laughter from the assembly, and the pope retired, leaving the Congregation to its work.

42

WNN headquarters, Jerusalem, Israel 4:47 P.M., Friday, January 21, 2000

Everybody's eating our goddamn lunch,” Bollinger complained hotly to the entire staff at their end-of-week