Niccolo Mainoni

But as Posner told me, this holy war was more complicated. You weren't just transferring money to some Western hub, you were sending money behind enemy lines, which required a higher level of skill and anonymity, often physically smuggling money and material. Plus, the Polish economy was on the verge of collapse, and the Vatican Bank had liquidity issues.

But as Posner told me, this holy war was more complicated. You weren't just transferring money to some Western hub, you were sending money behind enemy lines, which required a higher level of skill and anonymity, often physically smuggling money and material. Plus, the Polish economy was on the verge of collapse, and the Vatican Bank had liquidity issues.

the Pope needed someone who could deploy millions ASAP. So according to Calvi's written account, the Vatican asked for his help to find sources of cash and also ensure that cash was received behind the Iron Curtain. And to Calvi, this seemed like the best way to gain some salvation from his own critical debt situation.

the Pope needed someone who could deploy millions ASAP. So according to Calvi's written account, the Vatican asked for his help to find sources of cash and also ensure that cash was received behind the Iron Curtain. And to Calvi, this seemed like the best way to gain some salvation from his own critical debt situation.

Gerald Posner told me that after the P2 membership list was outed, many of Calvi's investors wanted to distance themselves from him.

Gerald Posner told me that after the P2 membership list was outed, many of Calvi's investors wanted to distance themselves from him.

Which meant less cash in Calvi's bank. This created a problem for Calvi. The money that he would normally use to keep his operation going was drying up. If he was in the Pope's good graces, perhaps he could leverage that trust to gain more support for his bank.

Which meant less cash in Calvi's bank. This created a problem for Calvi. The money that he would normally use to keep his operation going was drying up. If he was in the Pope's good graces, perhaps he could leverage that trust to gain more support for his bank.

He needed to make sure that the church kept the investments they already had in his bank, Banco Ambrosiano, as other investors were jumping ship. And so, Calvi got to work. But soon after, Calvi received word from a spy who said he knew all about his plans with the Vatican and he wanted to meet with Calvi or else. Espresso, pre-interview espresso is being made.

He needed to make sure that the church kept the investments they already had in his bank, Banco Ambrosiano, as other investors were jumping ship. And so, Calvi got to work. But soon after, Calvi received word from a spy who said he knew all about his plans with the Vatican and he wanted to meet with Calvi or else. Espresso, pre-interview espresso is being made.

It's the summer of 2023, another sweltering day in Italy, and I'm in what looks like a pool house at a villa waiting for an espresso to be made before my source is willing to talk to me. He didn't give me his address until a few minutes before the interview, which I'm getting used to at this point. Do you have a favorite place to sit somewhere? I put my ass wherever I want.

It's the summer of 2023, another sweltering day in Italy, and I'm in what looks like a pool house at a villa waiting for an espresso to be made before my source is willing to talk to me. He didn't give me his address until a few minutes before the interview, which I'm getting used to at this point. Do you have a favorite place to sit somewhere? I put my ass wherever I want.

You put your ass wherever you want? Yeah. He lights up his pipe and will continue to do so, refilling and lighting throughout our five-hour interview.

You put your ass wherever you want? Yeah. He lights up his pipe and will continue to do so, refilling and lighting throughout our five-hour interview.

Francesco, Frank, Pazienza is a jack of all trades. He was a medical doctor, a hard-nosed businessman, and most importantly, Pacienza used to be a spy, working for the Italian version of the CIA.

Francesco, Frank, Pazienza is a jack of all trades. He was a medical doctor, a hard-nosed businessman, and most importantly, Pacienza used to be a spy, working for the Italian version of the CIA.

Posner told me that if I wanted to understand how Calvi and the Pope were working together to send money behind the Iron Curtain, I had to talk to Pacienza, because at the time, he was spying on the Vatican. You see, one of the dirty secrets I've learned about the Vatican was that cardinals and bishops were all spying on each other.

Posner told me that if I wanted to understand how Calvi and the Pope were working together to send money behind the Iron Curtain, I had to talk to Pacienza, because at the time, he was spying on the Vatican. You see, one of the dirty secrets I've learned about the Vatican was that cardinals and bishops were all spying on each other.

One rival cardinal apparently hired Pacienza to dig up dirt on Archbishop Marcinkus. And so what do you, he tells you this, he implies, fuck Marcinkus. What are you thinking? What's going on in your head?

One rival cardinal apparently hired Pacienza to dig up dirt on Archbishop Marcinkus. And so what do you, he tells you this, he implies, fuck Marcinkus. What are you thinking? What's going on in your head?