Niccolo Mainoni

Talking to Gerwin, there's no doubt that when Gelli looked at Calvi, he saw dollar signs, or lira signs, I should say. Calvi was an up-and-coming executive in one of Italy's biggest banks, a bank that was increasingly international in its business. And that was handy because Gelli's pro-fascist, anti-communist ambitions weren't limited to Italy.

Talking to Gerwin, there's no doubt that when Gelli looked at Calvi, he saw dollar signs, or lira signs, I should say. Calvi was an up-and-coming executive in one of Italy's biggest banks, a bank that was increasingly international in its business. And that was handy because Gelli's pro-fascist, anti-communist ambitions weren't limited to Italy.

At one point, Jelly was planning weapons sales to Argentina. Another time, he wanted to orchestrate oil transfers in Libya. Calvi could move money quickly and secretly to make those deals happen.

At one point, Jelly was planning weapons sales to Argentina. Another time, he wanted to orchestrate oil transfers in Libya. Calvi could move money quickly and secretly to make those deals happen.

In return, Jelly offered Calvi connections and protection. If Calvi joined P2, Jelly said he could start doing favors for him and help him get promoted.

In return, Jelly offered Calvi connections and protection. If Calvi joined P2, Jelly said he could start doing favors for him and help him get promoted.

Jelly cultivated an aura that only he had these connections. Only Jelly could connect Calvi with important politicians and executives. He could get the nobility to respect Calvi in a way the banker had never been able to do on his own. Calvi loved the idea of this. He was new to being rich and very preoccupied, borderline paranoid with the idea of an elite cabal running Italy.

Jelly cultivated an aura that only he had these connections. Only Jelly could connect Calvi with important politicians and executives. He could get the nobility to respect Calvi in a way the banker had never been able to do on his own. Calvi loved the idea of this. He was new to being rich and very preoccupied, borderline paranoid with the idea of an elite cabal running Italy.

Being part of P2 meant that no one would mess with you. And if they did, you'd have very powerful friends on your side. And this was also really appealing to Calvi because Italy wasn't the safest place at the time.

Being part of P2 meant that no one would mess with you. And if they did, you'd have very powerful friends on your side. And this was also really appealing to Calvi because Italy wasn't the safest place at the time.

Italy was going through an economic boom, but it was also extremely dangerous. My parents remember this time well. I grew up hearing stories about how their city was bombed, how you'd hear gunshots in the night. These were called , the years of lead, because there were thousands of shootings and terrorist attacks from the mafia, the communists, and the neo-fascists.

Italy was going through an economic boom, but it was also extremely dangerous. My parents remember this time well. I grew up hearing stories about how their city was bombed, how you'd hear gunshots in the night. These were called , the years of lead, because there were thousands of shootings and terrorist attacks from the mafia, the communists, and the neo-fascists.

Society was extremely unstable. Every bank executive could be kidnapped for ransom by domestic terrorists. Or they might have their bank raided by left-wing regulators. Jelly could sense that Calvi was afraid of the world around him, a fear that bordered on paranoia. And the Grandmaster fed it by inventing threats to Calvi that P2 could magically take care of.

Society was extremely unstable. Every bank executive could be kidnapped for ransom by domestic terrorists. Or they might have their bank raided by left-wing regulators. Jelly could sense that Calvi was afraid of the world around him, a fear that bordered on paranoia. And the Grandmaster fed it by inventing threats to Calvi that P2 could magically take care of.

Jelly would call Calvi multiple times after their first meeting. He'd say, there was an attempt to arrest you. Or, there was an attempt on your life, but I foiled it. And somehow, Calvi felt safer.

Jelly would call Calvi multiple times after their first meeting. He'd say, there was an attempt to arrest you. Or, there was an attempt on your life, but I foiled it. And somehow, Calvi felt safer.

P2 had connections to media, business leaders, judges, police, spies, even the mafia. And Calvi wrote in later letters that Gelli, quote, had been convinced that all political and financial power really depended on him. And so, according to Gerwin, by the summer of 1975, Roberto Calvi was sold. he pledged himself to the Freemasons and pledged himself to Licio Gelli.

P2 had connections to media, business leaders, judges, police, spies, even the mafia. And Calvi wrote in later letters that Gelli, quote, had been convinced that all political and financial power really depended on him. And so, according to Gerwin, by the summer of 1975, Roberto Calvi was sold. he pledged himself to the Freemasons and pledged himself to Licio Gelli.

His signed, sealed oath went into Gelli's safe. From there, it only took Calvi a few months to reach the pinnacle, promotion to chairman of the Banco Ambrosiano, Roberto Calvi's ultimate goal. The thing was, He had tied himself to Li Zhezhe and the P2 masons. He owed them. They expected his loyalty. And there's a reason nobody wanted to talk with me about Propaganda Due.

His signed, sealed oath went into Gelli's safe. From there, it only took Calvi a few months to reach the pinnacle, promotion to chairman of the Banco Ambrosiano, Roberto Calvi's ultimate goal. The thing was, He had tied himself to Li Zhezhe and the P2 masons. He owed them. They expected his loyalty. And there's a reason nobody wanted to talk with me about Propaganda Due.