Chapter 47

           Althoughheknewtimewasshort,CamerlegnoCarloVentrescawalkedslowly.Heneededthetimealonetogatherhisthoughtsbeforefacingopeningprayer.Somuchwashappening.AshemovedindimsolitudedowntheNorthernWing,thechallengeofthepastfifteendaysweighedheavyinhisbones.

           Hehadfollowedhisholydutiestotheletter.

           AswasVaticantradition,followingthePope’sdeaththecamerlegnohadpersonallyconfirmedexpirationbyplacinghisfingersonthePope’scarotidartery,listeningforbreath,andthencallingthePope’snamethreetimes.Bylawtherewasnoautopsy.ThenhehadsealedthePope’sbedroom,destroyedthepapalfisherman’sring,shatteredthedieusedtomakeleadseals,andarrangedforthefuneral.Thatdone,hebeganpreparationsfortheconclave.

           Conclave,hethought.Thefinalhurdle.ItwasoneoftheoldesttraditionsinChristendom.Nowadays,becausetheoutcomeofconclavewasusuallyknownbeforeitbegan,theprocesswascriticizedasobsolete—moreofaburlesquethananelection.Thecamerlegnoknew,however,thiswasonlyalackofunderstanding.Conclavewasnotanelection.Itwasanancient,mystictransferenceofpower.Thetraditionwastimeless…thesecrecy,thefoldedslipsofpaper,theburningoftheballots,themixingofancientchemicals,thesmokesignals.

           AsthecamerlegnoapproachedthroughtheLoggiasofGregoryXIII,hewonderedifCardinalMortatiwasinapanicyet.CertainlyMortatihadnoticedthepreferitiweremissing.Withoutthem,thevotingwouldgoonallnight.