also in attendance, while Emilo, the cardinal’s assistant who seemed to follow him everywhere, was strangely absent. The security man inside the door blocked most of Leo’s view, and he could barely see Father Morelli lying on his bed.
Cardinal Lundahl stood on the opposite side of the bed by the window, looking across the room and through the door at Leo with unblinking eyes. He was an imposing figure dressed in a black floor-length cassock with red piping and a scarlet watered silk fascia draped around his waist. The bright red skull cap of a cardinal crowned his short blond hair, while a large, gold pectoral cross hung from his neck at the level of his chest, hence the name, pectoral.
The room was clean and neat, reflecting Morelli’s need for order in his life. Leo saw that he was lying on top of the bedspread with his shoes off, as if he had just stretched out for a quick nap. He was still clothed in the simple black shirt and trousers of a priest, with the Roman collar draped open for comfort. His red hair was still neatly combed, and from a distance, it appeared that he was just sleeping. Leo felt a sudden rush of relief as he realized that Father Morelli had obviously died of what appeared to be a natural death in his sleep. With all the police presence, the thought had occurred to him that his friend had been the victim of some crime or act of violence. Unbelievable as it may seem, murders had occurred in the Vatican.
Without speaking, Cardinal Lundahl took a purple surplice from one of the priests and placed it around his neck, kissing each end before letting it fall to the front of his cassock. He then took a small bottle of holy water and poured it on a silver cross before using it to anoint the forehead and hands of Father Morelli. The last rites of the dead had begun.
In truth, there really are no so-called last rites in the Catholic Church. What most people refer to as the last rites is actually the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament is used for healing, both spiritual and physical, and is performed by a priest when a person requests divine intervention. It is meant to save souls here on earth before they cross over, for once they are dead, the soul is no longer here but with God and beyond a priest’s intervention. All that any priest can do at that point is offer prayers for the soul.
Following the ritual, the two priests covered the body in a white sheet and placed a plain wooden crucifix on his chest. Leo turned away from the door and gave a silent prayer for the gentle soul of his friend. Wiping the tears from his face, he stood in the hallway as Lundahl and the others exited the apartment. It was only then that Leo realized John was nowhere to be seen.
A strong hand clasped Leo’s shoulder from behind. He turned to see the cardinal looking at him with a mixture of questioning and sympathy. “I’m glad you could be here for him, Leopold. Our dear brother is now in heaven. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of such a good and noble man. I’m sorry that we could not allow you into the room, but it was a request from Father Morelli himself. He gave instructions that, in the event of his death, he didn’t want any of his friends to stand around and look down on his earthly body. I suppose he wanted to preserve your memory of him in life.”
“Thank you, Eminence.” Leo was touched by the apparent sincerity of the cardinal’s words. Lundahl clasped his hands together and stood silently for a moment before continuing. “Father Morelli was one of a kind. Out of all our classmates at seminary, he was the most intriguing, a true Renaissance man. I only wish the Church had more soldiers of the cross like him. I know we had our disagreements, but he was a special and valuable member of a dwindling community.”
Leo took a deep breath. “The Church is like a big family, Cardinal, and families sometimes disagree. I never felt that Father Morelli took your differing views
Cardinal Lundahl stood on the opposite side of the bed by the window, looking across the room and through the door at Leo with unblinking eyes. He was an imposing figure dressed in a black floor-length cassock with red piping and a scarlet watered silk fascia draped around his waist. The bright red skull cap of a cardinal crowned his short blond hair, while a large, gold pectoral cross hung from his neck at the level of his chest, hence the name, pectoral.
The room was clean and neat, reflecting Morelli’s need for order in his life. Leo saw that he was lying on top of the bedspread with his shoes off, as if he had just stretched out for a quick nap. He was still clothed in the simple black shirt and trousers of a priest, with the Roman collar draped open for comfort. His red hair was still neatly combed, and from a distance, it appeared that he was just sleeping. Leo felt a sudden rush of relief as he realized that Father Morelli had obviously died of what appeared to be a natural death in his sleep. With all the police presence, the thought had occurred to him that his friend had been the victim of some crime or act of violence. Unbelievable as it may seem, murders had occurred in the Vatican.
Without speaking, Cardinal Lundahl took a purple surplice from one of the priests and placed it around his neck, kissing each end before letting it fall to the front of his cassock. He then took a small bottle of holy water and poured it on a silver cross before using it to anoint the forehead and hands of Father Morelli. The last rites of the dead had begun.
In truth, there really are no so-called last rites in the Catholic Church. What most people refer to as the last rites is actually the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament is used for healing, both spiritual and physical, and is performed by a priest when a person requests divine intervention. It is meant to save souls here on earth before they cross over, for once they are dead, the soul is no longer here but with God and beyond a priest’s intervention. All that any priest can do at that point is offer prayers for the soul.
Following the ritual, the two priests covered the body in a white sheet and placed a plain wooden crucifix on his chest. Leo turned away from the door and gave a silent prayer for the gentle soul of his friend. Wiping the tears from his face, he stood in the hallway as Lundahl and the others exited the apartment. It was only then that Leo realized John was nowhere to be seen.
A strong hand clasped Leo’s shoulder from behind. He turned to see the cardinal looking at him with a mixture of questioning and sympathy. “I’m glad you could be here for him, Leopold. Our dear brother is now in heaven. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of such a good and noble man. I’m sorry that we could not allow you into the room, but it was a request from Father Morelli himself. He gave instructions that, in the event of his death, he didn’t want any of his friends to stand around and look down on his earthly body. I suppose he wanted to preserve your memory of him in life.”
“Thank you, Eminence.” Leo was touched by the apparent sincerity of the cardinal’s words. Lundahl clasped his hands together and stood silently for a moment before continuing. “Father Morelli was one of a kind. Out of all our classmates at seminary, he was the most intriguing, a true Renaissance man. I only wish the Church had more soldiers of the cross like him. I know we had our disagreements, but he was a special and valuable member of a dwindling community.”
Leo took a deep breath. “The Church is like a big family, Cardinal, and families sometimes disagree. I never felt that Father Morelli took your differing views
Similar Books
