Vatican City Helena Visconte first saw Father Matteo Pintozzi when he stepped out of the sacristy into the deserted curved colonnade that led to the Vatican museum. She had no way of knowing that within a few minutes the priest would arrive at his destination, and both their lives would change. By now tourists would …
What would you be willing to do for money and power? I fled the Islamic Republic of Iran with a suitcase, a thousand dollars, and no regrets. But it wasn’t easy; I had to rebuild my life from scratch. Less than ten years later, I faced a decision that threatened to erase most of what …
Wall Street Tale of Sex, Suicides, and Skullduggery Read More »
Iran: The White Revolution No Country in the World Has a Worse Record on Human Rights —Amnesty International on Iran, 1974 In the summer of 1978, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was the Shah of Iran. The iron curtain was still drawn, and Jimmy Carter was President of the United States. Animal House opened in U.S. movie …
A Murder, a “Suicide” and Bank Collapses Roberto Calvi, chairman of Milan-based Banco Ambrosiano, was found hanging by the neck under Blackfriars Bridge in London in June of 1982. Banco Ambrosiano had just collapsed, and London authorities deemed his suspicious death a suicide. The “suicide” wasn’t a surprise to those who paid attention to investigations …
If You Can’t Trust the Vatican Bank, Whom Can You Trust? Read More »
The Sacred College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as Pope on March 13, 2013. He is the first pope from the Americas. He is the first Pope Francis. Hei s the first pope from the Society of Jesus in the history of the Catholic Church. Past popes held The Society of …
Life Imitates Art Again: For the First Time, A Jesuit Pope Read More »
Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 11, 2012. His papacy ended on February 28, 2012. He died on December 31, 2022, then 95 years-old. The Vatican is the smallest independent city-state in the world, an oligarchy surrounded by Rome and ruled by the Pope. The authority of the Pope provides a law unto …
Life Imitates Art: The Pope Resigns, the First since 1415 Read More »