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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 />

were admitted into his chamber for a few minutes only. Olimpia, sitting in<br />

a chair next to <strong>the</strong> pope’s bed and—if Gregorio Leti can be believed—<br />

holding his hand, would answer for him. When Innocent was too weak to<br />

give audiences at all, Camillo received <strong>the</strong> ambassadors in <strong>the</strong> cardinal<br />

nephew’s apartments, as if he had resumed his old job.<br />

Those last few months, as <strong>the</strong> pope slipped into decrepitude, Olimpia<br />

was more powerful than ever before. “At <strong>the</strong> palace one spoke only <strong>of</strong><br />

Donna Olimpia,” Leti declared. “One heard only her name ringing out,<br />

Donna Olimpia this and Donna Olimpia that. All letters were delivered<br />

to Donna Olimpia and Donna Olimpia read <strong>the</strong>m. No one gave petitions<br />

to <strong>the</strong> pope anymore but only to Donna Olimpia who reported to<br />

him <strong>the</strong> contents. And she always received <strong>the</strong> same response from him,<br />

which was to do what she wanted.” 4<br />

During <strong>the</strong> first part <strong>of</strong> December, rain soaked Rome in such quantities<br />

that many wondered if God was preparing ano<strong>the</strong>r biblical deluge<br />

as punishment for <strong>the</strong>ir sins. The Tiber rose and flooded <strong>the</strong> Jewish<br />

ghetto, <strong>the</strong> area around <strong>the</strong> Pan<strong>the</strong>on, and <strong>the</strong> Piazza Navona. When<br />

<strong>the</strong> rain stopped and <strong>the</strong> skies cleared, <strong>the</strong> pope felt <strong>the</strong> need for fresh<br />

air. On <strong>the</strong> afternoon <strong>of</strong> December 14 he had himself carried in a litter<br />

to Olimpia’s Ripagrande garden on <strong>the</strong> Tiber, where he sat on a bench<br />

with her. We don’t know what <strong>the</strong>y discussed as <strong>the</strong> sun started to set—<br />

perhaps politics, or family problems, or <strong>the</strong> good old times all those<br />

years and years ago.<br />

As <strong>the</strong> shadows leng<strong>the</strong>ned, <strong>the</strong> pope shivered. Night was coming. It<br />

was getting cold. He climbed into his litter. When it disappeared into<br />

<strong>the</strong> courtyard <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Quirinal, he would never again be seen alive by <strong>the</strong><br />

Roman people. Back in <strong>the</strong> palace, Innocent began to rave.<br />

Popular discontent, which trickled out harmlessly in <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> pasquinades<br />

when a pope was healthy, began to unleash itself in a torrent<br />

<strong>of</strong> rage when it became clear that he was dying. Grievances over bad<br />

bread, high taxes, and greedy papal relatives swelled into a tidal wave<br />

that flooded <strong>the</strong> city with riots, murders, and arson until <strong>the</strong> new pope<br />

was elected. Only when <strong>the</strong> cardinal camerlengo stood on <strong>the</strong> balcony<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vatican and announced “Habemus papam!” did <strong>the</strong> mob lay aside<br />

cudgels, swords, and pistols and go back to work joyously.<br />

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