Niccolo Mainoni

Why did you want Calvi to know that you're with him and everything's okay?

Why did you want Calvi to know that you're with him and everything's okay?

While Calvi was in prison, Patienza was still in contact with the Vatican and politicians around Italy. He sent word to Calvi through the prison chaplain, keep calm, keep quiet, we're with you. Don't talk to prosecutors about the Vatican, the Masons, any of it. This could be a reassuring message, sure, we've got your back, but I can also see how this could be threatening, like don't talk or else.

While Calvi was in prison, Patienza was still in contact with the Vatican and politicians around Italy. He sent word to Calvi through the prison chaplain, keep calm, keep quiet, we're with you. Don't talk to prosecutors about the Vatican, the Masons, any of it. This could be a reassuring message, sure, we've got your back, but I can also see how this could be threatening, like don't talk or else.

I don't know which way Calvi read Patienza's message, but I do know he didn't do as he was told. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner said that jail just sort of broke Calvi.

I don't know which way Calvi read Patienza's message, but I do know he didn't do as he was told. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner said that jail just sort of broke Calvi.

He'd been denied bail multiple times. He'd stopped leaving his cell during the day and stopped going outside to exercise. At one point, he got pneumonia. I mean, he was literally withering away. So according to Posner, on a July night in 1981, Calvi called three prosecutors to the prison and told them, you must get me out of here. I can't take it anymore.

He'd been denied bail multiple times. He'd stopped leaving his cell during the day and stopped going outside to exercise. At one point, he got pneumonia. I mean, he was literally withering away. So according to Posner, on a July night in 1981, Calvi called three prosecutors to the prison and told them, you must get me out of here. I can't take it anymore.

He did what he knew he shouldn't do. He started offering up information in exchange for a deal.

He did what he knew he shouldn't do. He started offering up information in exchange for a deal.

Posner told me at that point, Calvi let it all out. He claimed he'd made payments to politicians on behalf of P2. The P2 masons were behind crooked oil deals and the big Italian newspaper he'd bought. He wept and wept, but the prosecutors demanded more.

Posner told me at that point, Calvi let it all out. He claimed he'd made payments to politicians on behalf of P2. The P2 masons were behind crooked oil deals and the big Italian newspaper he'd bought. He wept and wept, but the prosecutors demanded more.

I read some Italian reporting of this exchange that quoted Calvi as telling the prosecutors, I'm the last wheel on the cart and I'm simply in the service of someone else. But who controls you? The prosecutors demanded. At this point, Calvi realized he'd gone too far. He shut down.

I read some Italian reporting of this exchange that quoted Calvi as telling the prosecutors, I'm the last wheel on the cart and I'm simply in the service of someone else. But who controls you? The prosecutors demanded. At this point, Calvi realized he'd gone too far. He shut down.

The prosecutors grumbled and said they weren't sure how much they could do for Calvi. Over the next few days, Calvi retracted much of what he said about P2. He also sent desperate messages to his lawyers while his body and his career continued to deteriorate. Meanwhile, a public trial was on the horizon, and his chances of being found innocent were looking worse and worse.

The prosecutors grumbled and said they weren't sure how much they could do for Calvi. Over the next few days, Calvi retracted much of what he said about P2. He also sent desperate messages to his lawyers while his body and his career continued to deteriorate. Meanwhile, a public trial was on the horizon, and his chances of being found innocent were looking worse and worse.

About a week after his meeting with prosecutors, Garza discovered God's Banker collapsed and unconscious in his jail cell. From Crooked Media and Campside Media, this is Shadow Kingdom, God's Banker. I'm Niccolo Mainoni, and this is Episode 5 of The Fixers.

About a week after his meeting with prosecutors, Garza discovered God's Banker collapsed and unconscious in his jail cell. From Crooked Media and Campside Media, this is Shadow Kingdom, God's Banker. I'm Niccolo Mainoni, and this is Episode 5 of The Fixers.

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This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in-person therapy can cost anywhere from 100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast. But with BetterHelp Online Therapy, you can save on average up to 50% per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and on time. Therapy should feel accessible. It shouldn't feel like a luxury.