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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 />

condemn <strong>the</strong> movement. But <strong>the</strong> commission, which had labored and<br />

debated for two years before her return to power, had made up its<br />

mind without her, and <strong>the</strong> pope had merely accepted its recommendation.<br />

If Olimpia had influenced <strong>the</strong> congregation, she would have pushed<br />

for condemnation <strong>of</strong> Jansenism even if no money had traded hands.<br />

Certainly <strong>the</strong> image <strong>of</strong> a comfortably wide path to heaven, wide enough<br />

for her both physically and spiritually, was more appealing than <strong>the</strong><br />

Jansenist concept <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> narrow path, where her broad rear end and her<br />

wide range <strong>of</strong> sins were destined to become irretrievably stuck. She<br />

hated <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong> an angry, unforgiving God pitching sinners helterskelter<br />

into hell; one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m might very well be her.<br />

After two and a half years <strong>of</strong> bitter exile, Olimpia enjoyed her position<br />

as <strong>mistress</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vatican more than ever before. But this time around,<br />

her work was not about enjoyment. It was about revenge and safety.<br />

She would revenge herself on all who had hurt her. The princess <strong>of</strong><br />

Rossano was, except for family events and social occasions, barred from<br />

<strong>the</strong> pope’s presence. She would no longer be advising him on politics or<br />

nominating her friends as cardinals. Officially, <strong>the</strong> two women had made<br />

peace with each o<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>the</strong> princess had stopped sponsoring poetry<br />

contests to see who could pen <strong>the</strong> nastiest epigram about her mo<strong>the</strong>r-inlaw.<br />

But <strong>the</strong>ir frigid courtesy to each o<strong>the</strong>r chilled even <strong>the</strong> warmest reception<br />

room. The War <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Olimpias had become a cold war.<br />

Then <strong>the</strong>re was Cardinal Astalli-Pamphili to deal with. In sweeping<br />

into <strong>the</strong> Vatican, he had swept Olimpia out and taken a good chunk <strong>of</strong><br />

her possessions for himself. In an effort to get rid <strong>of</strong> her for good, he had<br />

shown <strong>the</strong> pope <strong>the</strong> gold medal featuring her wearing <strong>the</strong> papal tiara<br />

and Innocent wearing curls. Though <strong>the</strong> cardinal had been sidelined<br />

from power and was disliked by <strong>the</strong> pope, this was not enough for<br />

Olimpia. She would cook something up to make sure his ruin was entire<br />

and very public.<br />

And <strong>the</strong>n, last but not least, <strong>the</strong>re was <strong>the</strong> pope. Though he had spurned<br />

her in anger, now he welcomed her back with joy and forgiveness, letting<br />

q<br />

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