The eye of the lion

The Vatican’s new conclave room was a new building that looked like an auditorium. Modern, comfortable and functional. It had replaced the old conclave room, more than five centuries old, which was now part of the Vatican’s tourist route.

Two hundred cardinals and bishops from all over the Catholic world were gathered there for an emergency conclave, to elect a new Pope. The alarming news of imminent war - perhaps the last one - had forced the Vatican’s leadership to organize the most rushed conclave in history. It was unthinkable for the Apocalypse to occur without there being a Pope at the head of the Church. It wouldn’t be appropriate.

The bets were centered on Giovanni Cabriani, the late Voquessi’s bitterest rival, but as experience had shown on more than one occasion, in the conclaves nothing was for sure.

The doors of the room closed, defended by the Swiss guards.

Outside in the San Pedro plaza, a multitude was waiting and praying, bathed in the persistent rain.