Time: Present Day

Location: Vatican City.

Peter decided that night to be ordained by His Holiness. After all it was a great honour, and as Father Dan explained, it would mark him as someone special, earmarked for greater things in the scheme of things. Peter hoped that the Pope didn't know exactly why he was chosen to be ordained by His Holiness. He mused about how much the cardinals kept from the Pope, or did he know all that went on in the Vatican? In his studies, so far, he had learnt about the history of the Papacy and the rumours of intrigue, and even murder, that plagued the Church all throughout the Middle Ages. There had even been more recent articles discussing many conspiracy theories about what had happened to various Popes. There seemed to be as many conspiracy theories about the Catholic Church as there were about any Seat of Power, including the Presidency of the United States. If Father Dan was right, and wasn't on some ego trip, he was being groomed to be considered as an integral part of succession planning for the Keeper of Secrets and ultimately for the Guardian of Secrets in the Vatican. Father Dan had explained to him that the Guardian Angel as they called the Guardian in the Vatican controlled the network of Guardians throughout the world. They in turn controlled the network of Keepers. The Keeper of Secrets was a powerful position, especially the Keeper of Secrets in the Vatican, who had managerial control over who got told what, and how much they got told. He told Peter that the Guardian Angel, who he was to meet the next day was the second most powerful Cardinal in the Vatican. Second only to the Pope himself, and the Pope's most trusted confident. He was the only one who knew more about the Secrets, that had been passed down through the ages, than the Pope. Peter thought that strange, that there should be someone who knew more than the Pope until Father Dan explained that it was more to protect the reputation of the Papacy. Sometimes the best defence against an outside attack was a legitimate claim to ignorance of the facts. Peter couldn't believe that the Pope was willingly kept in the dark. Father Dan then told him, that he would probably find out one day, just how much is hidden from His Holiness for his own protection.

He then reminded Peter that he was about to enter Hotel California, where you can check out but you can never leave. The Archbishop would explain all this to him before he took his vows before the Pope. Graz would demand of him a separate vow of silence regarding the secrets that might eventually be made known to him should he progress towards the role of Keeper of Secrets in the Vatican. Peter wanted to know why he had been chosen above others, Father Dan explained that he had recommended him to Graz years ago as a likely successor for his role, it wasn't until much later that Graz had told him that the Pope wanted someone from Australia to be eventually made Guardian. This was to happen to eventually allow for the succession of an Australian to the Papacy.

Peter was astonished. At the end of the session he had turned to Father Dan and said, "You're not serious, are you seriously telling me that they want to groom me to maybe be the Pope one day?"

He was relieved when Father Dan said, "No, not you Peter, they have other plans for you, even I am not privy to. I do know, however that no Keeper or Guardian of Secrets can ever be Pope. It is an unwritten law since the beginning. The Pope needs to be above and divorced from the knowledge and deeds that need to be done to maintain the Secrets, for those Secrets, which by the way I know very little of in my role, are Secrets that if made public Graz assures me could damage the Church and even pose a threat to the very fabric of society as we know it."

"So, let me get this straight, you don't know anything about these secrets?" Peter asked.

"I didn't say that, I know a little, and before you ask I cannot disclose any of it to you. I too, have taken a vow of silence. I can tell you that I believe I have been told only as much as any head of state of a Christian country is told. You, my dear Peter, will learn much more than I will ever know, that's if you decide to proceed, but remember, it is a one way door that you go through tomorrow. There is no turning back, it is scary, but exciting, no? Just think Peter, one day you could be one of the most powerful men in the world, the world won't know it, but you will and so will I, exciting beyond belief! It will involve sacrifice, you must stay in Rome for the rest of your days, and abandon all hope of marrying Amelia. You must lose that love for an individual and replace it with a love of position and power, but it will be worth it, my God Peter, think of it, Peter, future Guardian of Secrets.

Chapter 42 - Lost Love.

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