Carter Roy

They hoped Pope Paul VI would fire Marcinkus for selling off the Veneto shares. But they couldn't just march into the Vatican and make those demands. They needed to abide by the Catholic hierarchy. The only person who seemingly could communicate that to the pontiff was their archbishop and patriarch, Albino Luciani.

So, one day in 1972, the region's bishops spoke to Luciani at his office in Venice's St. Mark's Square, laying out their demands. He did his best to calm the bishops, promising he'd find out more about the partnership between Marcinkus and Calvi. Luciani learned that Pope Paul VI was very close to Marcinkus.

So, one day in 1972, the region's bishops spoke to Luciani at his office in Venice's St. Mark's Square, laying out their demands. He did his best to calm the bishops, promising he'd find out more about the partnership between Marcinkus and Calvi. Luciani learned that Pope Paul VI was very close to Marcinkus.

So, one day in 1972, the region's bishops spoke to Luciani at his office in Venice's St. Mark's Square, laying out their demands. He did his best to calm the bishops, promising he'd find out more about the partnership between Marcinkus and Calvi. Luciani learned that Pope Paul VI was very close to Marcinkus.

The Holy Father had been loyal to him ever since the bishop saved him from a knife attack in the Philippines two years prior. So Luchani couldn't just ask him to fire Marcinkus over the Calvary sale simply because it made his bishops angry. he needed to find evidence of a real conspiracy. According to author David Yallop, he began by visiting his good friend, Bishop Giovanni Benelli in Rome.

The Holy Father had been loyal to him ever since the bishop saved him from a knife attack in the Philippines two years prior. So Luchani couldn't just ask him to fire Marcinkus over the Calvary sale simply because it made his bishops angry. he needed to find evidence of a real conspiracy. According to author David Yallop, he began by visiting his good friend, Bishop Giovanni Benelli in Rome.

The Holy Father had been loyal to him ever since the bishop saved him from a knife attack in the Philippines two years prior. So Luchani couldn't just ask him to fire Marcinkus over the Calvary sale simply because it made his bishops angry. he needed to find evidence of a real conspiracy. According to author David Yallop, he began by visiting his good friend, Bishop Giovanni Benelli in Rome.

Benelli was a secretariat of state assistant who was known for his wit and sharpness. Close to the inner workings of the Holy See, Benelli was also privy to many of the Pope's secrets. which he reportedly had no problem spilling under the right circumstances. Over coffee one day, Luciani asked Benelli if he knew why the Vatican had sold off the Veneto shares, and to Roberto Calvi no less.

Benelli was a secretariat of state assistant who was known for his wit and sharpness. Close to the inner workings of the Holy See, Benelli was also privy to many of the Pope's secrets. which he reportedly had no problem spilling under the right circumstances. Over coffee one day, Luciani asked Benelli if he knew why the Vatican had sold off the Veneto shares, and to Roberto Calvi no less.

Benelli was a secretariat of state assistant who was known for his wit and sharpness. Close to the inner workings of the Holy See, Benelli was also privy to many of the Pope's secrets. which he reportedly had no problem spilling under the right circumstances. Over coffee one day, Luciani asked Benelli if he knew why the Vatican had sold off the Veneto shares, and to Roberto Calvi no less.

Benelli was quick to admit he did. As Yallop reported, the bishop claimed the Catholic Bank of Veneto's sale was part of a scheme coordinated by Calvi and Marcinkus. Calvi supposedly paid Marcinkus around $45 million for those Veneto bank shares, which allegedly helped line his own pockets.

Benelli was quick to admit he did. As Yallop reported, the bishop claimed the Catholic Bank of Veneto's sale was part of a scheme coordinated by Calvi and Marcinkus. Calvi supposedly paid Marcinkus around $45 million for those Veneto bank shares, which allegedly helped line his own pockets.

Benelli was quick to admit he did. As Yallop reported, the bishop claimed the Catholic Bank of Veneto's sale was part of a scheme coordinated by Calvi and Marcinkus. Calvi supposedly paid Marcinkus around $45 million for those Veneto bank shares, which allegedly helped line his own pockets.

It's not entirely clear why Calvi wanted the shares, but his main goal always seemed to be making more money for himself. In another seemingly separate deal, the Vatican Bank purchased shares of Banco Ambrosiano, Calvi's bank. Officially, the Vatican owned 1.8%, but authorities later found out it may have been much more. According to Yallop, this revelation baffled Luciani.

It's not entirely clear why Calvi wanted the shares, but his main goal always seemed to be making more money for himself. In another seemingly separate deal, the Vatican Bank purchased shares of Banco Ambrosiano, Calvi's bank. Officially, the Vatican owned 1.8%, but authorities later found out it may have been much more. According to Yallop, this revelation baffled Luciani.

It's not entirely clear why Calvi wanted the shares, but his main goal always seemed to be making more money for himself. In another seemingly separate deal, the Vatican Bank purchased shares of Banco Ambrosiano, Calvi's bank. Officially, the Vatican owned 1.8%, but authorities later found out it may have been much more. According to Yallop, this revelation baffled Luciani.

He returned to Venice feeling disappointed and told his bishops there was nothing he could do to fix the situation. Rumors spread that he held a grudge against Marsinkas, although years later, Marsinkas himself denied this. So, Luciani continued his work for the diocese. Then, on September 16, 1972, he hosted a very important visitor in Venice, Pope Paul VI.

He returned to Venice feeling disappointed and told his bishops there was nothing he could do to fix the situation. Rumors spread that he held a grudge against Marsinkas, although years later, Marsinkas himself denied this. So, Luciani continued his work for the diocese. Then, on September 16, 1972, he hosted a very important visitor in Venice, Pope Paul VI.

He returned to Venice feeling disappointed and told his bishops there was nothing he could do to fix the situation. Rumors spread that he held a grudge against Marsinkas, although years later, Marsinkas himself denied this. So, Luciani continued his work for the diocese. Then, on September 16, 1972, he hosted a very important visitor in Venice, Pope Paul VI.

The pontiff even stayed with Luciani and the two led mass together. In press photos of the historic event, Pope Paul VI is seen gesturing to the crowd with his arms outstretched. It's unclear what the pope and patriarch discussed in private during that visit, or if Calvi's banking scheme ever came up at all. Either way, Luciani seemed to move on and soon moved up in the Catholic Church.