mistress of the vatican.pdf - End Time Deception

Eleanor Herman
next commission, a side chapel in the Church of Saint Mary of the Conception.
The artist painted the archangel Michael pushing the devil against a
rock with the angel’s foot planted firmly on his head. The devil looked
exactly like Cardinal Pamphili, with his bald pate, furrowed brow, and
straggly beard. When Gianbattista saw the painting, he knew immediately
that it was his face on the devil and raced to confront the artist. But
after hearing the cardinal’s tirade, Reni merely shrugged. He explained
that he had simply tried to paint the most horrible face imaginable on
the devil. If Gianbattista Pamphili happened to look like that, it was not
the fault of Guido Reni, it was the fault of the cardinal’s face.
In his report to the Venetian senate, Ambassador Alvise Contarini
had only a slightly more flattering opinion than Guido Reni. He wrote,
“His stature is tall and dry, his eyes small, his feet big, his beard sparse,
his complexion olive-green and sunburned, his head bald and, in short,
a nice complex of bones and nerves.” 17
Looks aside, and despite his sometimes surly demeanor, Cardinal
Gianbattista Pamphili had many excellent qualities that were true assets
to the Sacred College. He was genuinely devout, and his tall, spare
figure lent an air of great dignity to the ecclesiastical rites in which he
participated. He was cautious in his congregations, but once he finally
rendered a decision, he backed it up with solid canon law. He could be
sulky and suspicious, but he also had a great deal of kindness. Even the
humblest petitioners could easily obtain audiences with him, during
which the cardinal listened patiently. And if he found that an injustice
had been committed, he was quick to correct it.
Gianbattista was thoughtful and hardworking, and he did not gossip,
except, of course, with Olimpia. He was respected for his diligence;
though he was a late riser, he worked into the wee hours, burning the
midnight oil. Unlike many cardinals, he was known for the moderation
of his personal life, rarely spending money on himself. According to
Ambassador Contarini, Cardinal Pamphili was sparing with food and
wine and enjoyed robust health, which he attributed to keeping as far
away from doctors as possible.
But for all his assets, the one black mark against Cardinal Pamphili
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