mistress of the vatican.pdf - End Time Deception

Mistress of the Vatican
candlelight. And all the servants did their level best to make sure there
wasn’t a drop of poison on anything.
Olimpia had, by now, totally immersed herself in the Vatican hierarchy.
She knew all the cardinals resident in Rome, and also knew
which ones were considered papabile, which translates awkwardly as
“popeable”—that is, highly qualified to be elected pope. These qualifications
included a ripening age, diplomatic experience as nuncio, knowledge
of canon law, and a dearth of enemies among the rulers of Europe
and in the Sacred College of Cardinals. These men—and their sisters,
sisters-in-law, and nieces—she would turn into her best friends.
One of the most papabile cardinals was Alessandro Ludovisi. Born in
1554, Ludovisi was a canon lawyer who had worked amicably with
Gianbattista for several years in the Rota. He had sterling qualifications
in municipal, educational, and legal positions in the church. Pope Paul V
made him archbishop in 1612, nuncio four years later, and cardinal in
1616. As Ludovisi slipped into his sixties, Romans whispered that there
went the next pope. Olimpia must have courted him assiduously.
In the midst of this flurry of entertainment and plotting, the Pamphili
family was blessed by a most surprising event. After seven years of
marriage, Olimpia had a baby, a healthy girl she called Maria. Perhaps
this one would live. Roman gossips scrutinized the baby closely not so
much to determine her health but to ascertain whether she bore a greater
resemblance to her father or her uncle. Meanwhile Gianbattista, feeling
somewhat squeezed by the new addition to the family and servants
hired to take care of her, rented the Teofili house next to the Pamphili
residence.
On January 28, 1621, Pope Paul V finally died after a reign of sixteen
years. The conclave that began on February 8 was shockingly short.
The following day, the new pope was announced. Alessandro Ludovisi,
Gianbattista’s old friend, would take the name Gregory XV.
On March 26, 1621, Olimpia’s nine years of hard work were crowned
with success. Gianbattista Pamphili was named the new papal nuncio
to the kingdom of Naples. And now all the ladies of Rome, no matter
how snooty, would have to meet her at the top of the stairs.
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