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mistress of the vatican.pdf - End Time Deception

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Mistress <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vatican<br />

Pamphili and perched on <strong>the</strong> canopy over his four-poster. Hearing <strong>the</strong><br />

child’s cries, Olimpia and some servants ran to find her. To <strong>the</strong>ir shock,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y saw <strong>the</strong> white dove on Gianbattista’s bed, flapping its wings, cooing,<br />

and blinking at <strong>the</strong>m. All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m knew <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> how a swarm<br />

<strong>of</strong> bees—<strong>the</strong> bee was <strong>the</strong> symbol <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Barberini family—had entered<br />

<strong>the</strong> conclave <strong>of</strong> 1623 and hovered over Cardinal Barberini’s cell just before<br />

he was elected. The dove, <strong>the</strong> symbol <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pamphili family and <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit, which directs papal elections, had clearly been sent by<br />

God to indicate that Cardinal Gianbattista Pamphili would be <strong>the</strong> next<br />

pope.<br />

Armed with such a sign from heaven, Olimpia played her hand. The<br />

only person still blocking Gianbattista’s election was his old enemy Cardinal<br />

Antonio Barberini. She was well aware that Antonio was terrified<br />

that <strong>the</strong> family <strong>of</strong> an unfriendly new pope would prosecute <strong>the</strong> family<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old pope for stealing Vatican funds, a tradition that had existed<br />

for centuries. He also feared losing his political power, being pushed<br />

back to <strong>the</strong> ranks <strong>of</strong> unimportant cardinals.<br />

In a message smuggled in to Antonio, Olimpia reassured him on<br />

both points. If he swung his block <strong>of</strong> votes to Cardinal Pamphili, Olimpia<br />

would have her twenty-two-year-old son, Camillo, marry Antonio’s<br />

niece, <strong>the</strong> fourteen-year-old Lucrezia Barberini. This marriage would<br />

ensure <strong>the</strong> alliance and mutual support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two papal families and<br />

<strong>of</strong>fered <strong>the</strong> added advantage that <strong>the</strong> Barberinis could keep <strong>the</strong>ir powerful<br />

positions. By marrying Lucrezia, Camillo would give up any<br />

chance <strong>of</strong> being cardinal nephew and ousting <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

Seeing <strong>the</strong> impossibility <strong>of</strong> electing his friend Sacchetti, Antonio was<br />

tempted by Olimpia’s <strong>of</strong>fer. He smuggled a message out to <strong>the</strong> French<br />

ambassador floating <strong>the</strong> idea. The marquis de Saint-Chamond replied<br />

with icy politeness, “I would like at <strong>the</strong> expense <strong>of</strong> my own blood to favor<br />

<strong>the</strong> exaltation <strong>of</strong> Pamphili, as much as for <strong>the</strong> esteem I have for his<br />

person and <strong>the</strong> particular affection I have had for him for twenty years,<br />

as for <strong>the</strong> respect <strong>of</strong> Your Excellency and to conform to your wishes<br />

which will always be law to me, but it is impossible to go against <strong>the</strong> intentions<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> King.” 17 And so <strong>the</strong> stalemate continued.<br />

On August 29, Cardinal Bentivoglio took to his bed with a raging<br />

[ 131 ]

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