mistress of the vatican.pdf - End Time Deception

Mistress of the Vatican
impossible, if I had not read this letter, that a public official would have
written in this way to a woman without considering his reputation, and
without reflecting that letters easily go astray, as happened with this
one. But although he had given himself over entirely to this woman, he
didn’t need to make it so public by confirming his love for her with his
own signature. This letter was a great proof of the love between these
two people and an entire confirmation of the rumors of the people, who
amused themselves with speculations, that Donna Olimpia gave secret
instructions to the Nuncio when he departed to go to the princes where
he was destined.” 14
Considering that Gregorio Leti’s works were the National Enquirer
of his time—a mixture of exaggeration, innuendo, and God’s honest
truth—we must sift through his stories carefully. Yet later events, confirmed
by cardinals and other reputable witnesses, confirm that the
sentiments expressed in the letter, at least, were true.
Gianbattista Pamphili had good reason to write gushing letters to his
sister-in-law in Rome. In late September he received the news that on
August 30, 1627, Urban VIII had named him cardinal in pectore. In
pectore meant literally “in the chest,” and referred to the pope’s holding
this news secretly, in his heart, and not publicizing it. What it really
meant was that Gianbattista would receive his red hat and officially
become a cardinal when the next group of candidates was promoted
sometime in the future.
Olimpia had triumphed. She had done it. Fifteen years of her hard
work and brilliant intrigues had raised a mediocre prelate to papal nuncio
and now cardinal. She had single-handedly lifted the fortunes of the
Pamphili family as its men could never have done. She had rewarded
Gianbattista for his love and loyalty. And every cardinal, of course, had
the chance of becoming pope. Olimpia dreamed big.
Olimpia and her family, as relatives of a cardinal, would sit in the front
row at festivities, and near the head of the table at banquets; they would
ride in the front of church and diplomatic cavalcades. As the sister-in-law
of a cardinal, she would be accorded great honors throughout Rome, as if
she were a princess. But best of all, now the noblewomen of Rome would
have to wait at the foot of the stairs when she deigned to visit them.
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