The Vatican Exposed. Money, Murder, and the Mafia

271 Pages·2003·34.182 MB·English

by  Paul L. Williams

THE
VATICAN
E ;·lt?QSED
A
"A captivating history lesson .... Paul Williams reveals in great
detail the hidden relationship of the Catholic Church and the
Mafia."
Edward Lewis,
Journalist, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
"With the skill of a surgeon, Paul, with his easy readability and ever
present wit, deftly cuts through layers of tradition and sanctimony
tO expose a heart of truth . Since it is the truth that sets us free, this
book is a celebration of that freedom."
Rev. Mary E Riggall,
Northeast Regional Director,
Bible Times Ministries
"The shocking and riveting story about the financial structure of
the Catholic Church . A must-read for Catholics and non
Catholics."
Daniel Gulbin
Managing Editor, The Metro
Scranton, Pennsylvania
@Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Ori.ve
Amhe rst, New York 14228-2197
Published 2003 by Prometheus Books
The Vatican :ExposedM: oney, M1wder,a nd the Mafia. Copyright© 2003 by Paul L. Williams. All
rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
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reviews.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Williams, Paul L., 1944-
The Vatican Exposed : money, murder, and the Mafia / Paul L. Williams.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-59102-065-4 (alk. paper)
l. Papacy-History. 2. Vatican City-History. I. Title.
BX955.3 .W55 2003
262'.13-clc21
2002036856
Printed in Canada on acid-free paper
CONTENTS
Introduction. Rags to Riches ........................... 9
Chapter One. The Donation of Mussolini ........ .. .... . . 15
Chapter Two. The Miracle of the Money ... . ...... . . ..... 33
Chapter Three. Mammon Triumphant . ....... . .... . ... .. 41
Chapter Four. The Formation of the Vatican Bank .. .. ...... 55
Chapter Five. Catholic Croatia and Nazi Gold .... ......... 63
Chapter Six. Riches and Ratlines ................. .. .. .. . 73
Chapter Seven. Wealth beyond Measure ........... .. . . . .. 79
Chapter Eight. The Pink Pope . .. .... .. .. .. . . .. .... ... . 89
>
u,
Chapter Nine. Montini's Maelstrom .......... .. ......... 95
7
t-
~
5
6 CONTENTS
Chapter Ten. Enter the Shark .... .. ... .. ............. . 103
Chapter Eleven. The Secret Society ...... . ..... ... ..... 111
Chapter Twelve. High Times, New Crimes .............. 123
Chapter Thirteen. The Counterfeit Church .............. 131
Chapter Fourteen. The Crash of Vatican, Inc .. ..... .. .... 141
Chapter Fifteen. The Pope Must Die ................... 149
Chapter Sixteen. The Ambrosia.no Affair. ................ 163
Chapter Seventeen. In the Wake of the Storm ............ 173
Chapter Eighteen. Business as Usual ..... .... .. ... ..... 181
Chapter Nineteen . A Fortress Impregnable .......... ... .. 189
Epilogue. And So It Goes .............. .. . ... .. ...... 197
Appendix A. A Chronological List of the Popes ............ 203
Appendix B. The Lateran Treaty of 1929 ............. .. . 209
Appendix C. The Concordat between the Holy See
and the German Reich .................... 223
Notes . .... .. .. .............. .. .................. 235
Index .. ... .......................... .. .......... 255
If anyone teachesf alse doctrines and does not agree to
the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to
godly teaching) he is conceited and understands
nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies
and quarrels about words that result in envy) strife)
malicious talk) evil suspicions and constant friction
between men of corrupt mind) who have been robbed of
the truth and who think that godliness is a means to
financial gain . But godliness with contentment is
great gain. For we brought nothing into the world)
and we take nothing out of it. But if we have food and
clothing) we will be content with that. People who want
to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into
many foolish and harmful desirest hat plunge men into
ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of
all kinds of evil. Some people) eager for money) have
wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with
many griefs.
1 Tim. 6:3-10

INTRODUCTION
RAGS TO RICHES
Now when he saw the crowds, Jesus went up on a
mountain-side and sat down, His disciples came to
him, and he began to teach them, saying: «Blesseda re
the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteous
ness,f or they will bef illed . Blessed are the merciful, for
they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the poor in heart,
for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they ·will be called the sons of God. Blessed are those who
are persecuted because of righteousness,f or theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are yo1;wt hen people insult
you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. Rejoice and beg lad, because
9
10 INTRODUCTION
great is your reward in heaven) for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets 1vho were before you.))
Matt. 5:1- 12
T
he seeming miracle occurred on October 28, 312 C.E. Milti
ades, a small, unassuming man of sixty-two years, was sum
moned from his hiding place within a small house in an alleyway of
the Trastevere district of Rome by two centurions. The old man
assumed that he would be hauled off to prison as the leader of the
Christian movement- a movement that had been deemed religio
illicita by the empire. The arrest was only to be expected. Miltiades
would be tried and sentenced with his followers to a public execution
so that the Roman populace could witness the fate of those who
refused to make sacrifices to the gods of Rome.
Miltiades, who wore a threadbare robe and worked in the
common marketplace, was the bishop of Rome, a title that led his
fellow Christians to call him "papa" or "father." The first bishop of
Rome, according to tradition, had been the apostle Peter. Peter had
been singled out by Jesus to establish the Church-tl1e visible
Kingdom of God on earth. "Thou art Peter," Jesus had said, "and
upon this rock (petrus) I will build my Church and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).
Peter had established a Christian community in Rome, the center
of the empire. The great apostle was crucified in 68 C.E., during the
reign of Nero. Peter's successor had been Linus, who, according to
tradition, also died a martyr. Linus was succeeded by Anacletus, a
Greek slave whose name means "blameless." Miltiades, who hailed
from North Africa, was the thirty-second bishop of Rome. Few of his
predecessors had died in bed. Some had been cast to wild beasts in
the arena; some hanged throughout the countryside; some set ablaze
as human torches to light the public games.
The old man made the sign of the cross and prayed for the
courage to merit a martyr's crown. He followed the soldiers into the
bright sunshine, only to behold tl1e Emperor Constantine, flanked by
hundreds of soldiers.