Chapter 123

           InSt.Peter’sSquare,VittoriaVetrastaredupward.Thehelicopterwasaspecknow,themedialightsnolongerreachingit.Eventhepoundingoftherotorshadfadedtoadistanthum.Itseemed,inthatinstant,thattheentireworldwasfocusedupward,silencedinanticipation,neckscranedtotheheavens…allpeoples,allfaiths…allheartsbeatingasone.

           Vittoria’semotionswereacycloneoftwistingagonies.Asthehelicopterdisappearedfromsight,shepicturedRobert’sface,risingaboveher.Whathadhebeenthinking?Didn’theunderstand?

           Aroundthesquare,televisioncamerasprobedthedarkness,waiting.Aseaoffacesstaredheavenward,unitedinasilentcountdown.Themediascreensallflickeredthesametranquilscene…aRomanskyilluminatedwithbrilliantstars.Vittoriafeltthetearsbegintowell.

           Behindheronthemarbleescarpment,161cardinalsstaredupinsilentawe.Somefoldedtheirhandsinprayer.Moststoodmotionless,transfixed.Somewept.Thesecondstickedpast.

           Inhomes,bars,businesses,airports,hospitalsaroundtheworld,soulswerejoinedinuniversalwitness.Menandwomenlockedhands.Othersheldtheirchildren.Timeseemedtohoverinlimbo,soulssuspendedinunison.

           Then,cruelly,thebellsofSt.Peter’sbegantotoll.

           Vittorialetthetearscome.

           Then…withthewholeworldwatching…timeranout.

           Thedeadsilenceoftheeventwasthemostterrifyingofall.

           HighaboveVaticanCity,apinpointoflightappearedinthesky.Forafleetinginstant,anewheavenlybodyhadbeenborn…aspeckoflightaspureandwhiteasanyonehadeverseen