The Shroud Codex - Jerome R. Corsi [92]
“But won’t that just make it a circus?” Castle wondered out loud.
“It’s going to be a circus no matter what we do,” the pope answered. “His boss will send Fernando Ferrar to Rome to report for the television network, regardless of what we do. If we try to keep him out of the tent, we’re only going to raise his suspicions. Let’s prove to him the Vatican has nothing to hide here. There’s no better way to do that than for the Vatican to extend him an invitation to come to Rome at our expense.”
“Any restrictions on what Ferrar can film or report on?” Duncan asked.
“None, as far as I’m concerned,” the pope answered. “That is, unless Ferrar or his camera crew get in the way of Father Bartholomew’s medical treatment. I’ll let you, Dr. Castle, make that judgment call. You are still Father Bartholomew’s attending physician. There should be no concern about Father Bartholomew getting excellent medical care in the flight across the Atlantic. Father Bartholomew may be leaving the hospital, but the chartered airplane I’m sending you will be the next best thing.”
Thinking through the trip, Castle realized that his associate, Professor Marco Gabrielli, was planning to unveil his modern Shroud duplicate at a press conference in Bologna on Thursday.
He explained this to the pope and archbishop.
“Should I plan to attend Gabrielli’s press conference?” Castle asked the pope.
“Absolutely,” the pope said. “You should attend and you should bring everybody with you, including Fathers Morelli and Middagh. Let them see firsthand what Gabrielli is capable of producing.”
“What about Fernando Ferrar and his camera crew?” Castle wondered.
“Absolutely,” the pope said again. “Take Fernando Ferrar and his video crew as well. On Thursday morning, the Vatican will charter another airplane to take you from Rome to Bologna. Coordinate with Professor Gabrielli so the press conference doesn’t start until after you get there. If your friend Gabrielli proves the Shroud is a fake, so be it. Let Ferrar broadcast the story live to the world from the press conference.”
“I admire your courage, Holy Father,” Dr. Castle said.
“Courage has nothing to do with it,” the pope said firmly. “I’m not about to let the credibility of the Catholic Church rest on whether or not a relic is authentic. Nor am I going to bet on a priest who may turn out to be mentally disturbed. My job is to run the Catholic Church, absent the Shroud of Turin and absent Father Bartholomew.”
As soon as the conference call with the Vatican was over, Castle telephoned Gabrielli in Bologna to tell him he would be arriving in Italy on Wednesday morning and would be attending the press conference in Bologna on Thursday in person.
“That’s great news,” Gabrielli said with enthusiasm. He was also very pleased to know Castle was bringing along Fernando Ferrar and his television crew.
“This is going to be a huge international event.” Gabrielli was bubbling with excitement. “Wait until you see my Shroud. I think it’s the crowning achievement of my career.”
“Have you seen the videos of Father Bartholomew levitating in St. Patrick’s Cathedral?” Castle asked.
“Of course I’ve seen them,” Gabrielli answered. “I think every man, woman, and child in Europe has seen them. Too bad Bartholomew isn’t Italian. He might be our next saint, but first he would have to be prime minister.”
Castle laughed at the thought. “What did you think of the levitation?”
“Oldest trick in the book,” Gabrielli answered with conviction.
“What do you mean?”
“Every stage magician in the world has a levitation trick,” Gabrielli explained. “I’m sure you have seen them. The beautiful young woman assistant walks onstage with almost no clothes on. The magician appears to hypnotize her. He lays her down horizontally and appears to put her to sleep. Then he moves his hands about magically and appears to be causing her to rise into the air, still sound asleep. To top off the trick, the magician runs a hoop all around