Niccolo Mainoni

Thanks to Philip Willen for talking with me over these many years and answering my many questions. His book, Vatican at War, was especially helpful when researching this series. Thank you to all the people that spoke with me for this story, especially Mario Platero. Grazie, Mario.

Thanks to Philip Willen for talking with me over these many years and answering my many questions. His book, Vatican at War, was especially helpful when researching this series. Thank you to all the people that spoke with me for this story, especially Mario Platero. Grazie, Mario.

And finally, a special personal thanks from me to John Favreau, Strauss Zelnick, Matt Lieber, Alex Bloomberg, Avery Truffleman, and always and forever to George Walbeck. One last thing before we go. You can also listen to Shadow Kingdom in Italian. Look up Il Banchiere di Dio wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, a special personal thanks from me to John Favreau, Strauss Zelnick, Matt Lieber, Alex Bloomberg, Avery Truffleman, and always and forever to George Walbeck. One last thing before we go. You can also listen to Shadow Kingdom in Italian. Look up Il Banchiere di Dio wherever you get your podcasts.

Friends of the Pod subscribers can listen to the full season of Shadow Kingdom right now. Join Friends of the Pod at crooked.com slash friends or on Apple Podcasts.

Friends of the Pod subscribers can listen to the full season of Shadow Kingdom right now. Join Friends of the Pod at crooked.com slash friends or on Apple Podcasts.

The last day of Roberto Calvi's life started with a shave. For the majority of his 63 years, he'd sported an ever-present dark mustache. Pretty much every picture you'll ever find of Calvi, there's a mustache. But on the morning of June 17th, 1982, Silvano Vitor found Calvi in their shared hotel bathroom with the door open.

The last day of Roberto Calvi's life started with a shave. For the majority of his 63 years, he'd sported an ever-present dark mustache. Pretty much every picture you'll ever find of Calvi, there's a mustache. But on the morning of June 17th, 1982, Silvano Vitor found Calvi in their shared hotel bathroom with the door open.

Vitor is the former smuggler we heard from in the last episode, who told me about helping Calvi flee Italy and watching over him in his final days.

Vitor is the former smuggler we heard from in the last episode, who told me about helping Calvi flee Italy and watching over him in his final days.

And so what do you think? What do you feel in that moment?

And so what do you think? What do you feel in that moment?

Calvi spent the rest of his morning in the cramped Chelsea Hotel, which was more like a hostel. His room was just 10 feet by 16 feet with one small window. Early in the day, Calvi handed Vitor cash to run some errands. And when Vitor returned, he used a special knock he had to identify himself. And Calvi let him in for lunch.

Calvi spent the rest of his morning in the cramped Chelsea Hotel, which was more like a hostel. His room was just 10 feet by 16 feet with one small window. Early in the day, Calvi handed Vitor cash to run some errands. And when Vitor returned, he used a special knock he had to identify himself. And Calvi let him in for lunch.

At the very same time, back in Milan, the Ambrosianos board members gathered at the bank. With Calvi on the run, they voted him out. He was no longer in control of the bank he'd led for seven years. And that soon became global news.

At the very same time, back in Milan, the Ambrosianos board members gathered at the bank. With Calvi on the run, they voted him out. He was no longer in control of the bank he'd led for seven years. And that soon became global news.

Any hope that Calvi may have had to go back to the Banco Ambrosiano was now extinguished. And then more bad news. Calvi received word that his secretary had died by suicide.

Any hope that Calvi may have had to go back to the Banco Ambrosiano was now extinguished. And then more bad news. Calvi received word that his secretary had died by suicide.

The secretary had drafted a suicide note saying, quote, having been exhausted for a long time, I wholeheartedly apologize to everyone for the trauma I have caused and ask for forgiveness from my superiors and all those who love me at Banco Ambrosiano. But she also added a pointed message to Calvi. May you be twice damned for what you've done.

The secretary had drafted a suicide note saying, quote, having been exhausted for a long time, I wholeheartedly apologize to everyone for the trauma I have caused and ask for forgiveness from my superiors and all those who love me at Banco Ambrosiano. But she also added a pointed message to Calvi. May you be twice damned for what you've done.