The Seventh Holy Man

By Xlibris US

The Vatican has been overrun, and many people have been murdered by Swiss Guards in St. Peters Square. Attempting to understand the cause of this unbelievable event, Sean Carrol, an investigative reporter for the New York International News, undertakes the responsibility of investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.
He is challenged as he attempts to understand the link between the ancient kingdom of Malar and the current-day events taking place in the Vatican. As the hierarchy within the Vatican takes extreme steps to complete a plan of secularizing the Catholic Church, many strange occurrences arise. Sean is perplexed as he attempts to secure clues that will answer the additional unexplained questions that have emerged during his investigation.
The involvement of some high-ranking officials within the Vatican raises more suspicion about the seriousness of the activities taking place within the church. Several deaths have been attributed to the progress of Sean Carrols investigation and the potential threats to those in the Vatican hierarchy.
With the potential destruction of the Catholic Church at hand, there must be a revival of the seven holy men who represent the Seven Spirits of God. They provide the only means of protecting the church. In reality, even with their intervention, there is no guarantee that the church will be preserved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499011784

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

TERROR ATTACK

T he scene is a chaotic one as all hell is breaking loose near the pope’s position on the top step of St. Peter’s Basilica. Gunshots are being fired, and several bystanders and cardinals are injured, some fatally. Swiss Guards face off against one another as a group of them fire, killing several of their counterparts. As people run in all directions, the scene becomes a riotous, out-of-control killing field. Innocents are being murdered by an aggressive group of Swiss Guards. No one is safe as the gunfire flares randomly, killing or wounding anyone in the path of the bullets. A sea of red imbues the entire plaza and the basilica steps. Screams are heard from children and parents alike. The fear is so pervasive that everyone present loses control of their senses. In the background, however, the noise of police and ambulance sirens are heard.

With the arrival of the police, the gunshots finally subside as the retreating attackers are seen running from St. Peter’s Square toward Villa Borghese. In the distance, spurts of gunfire are heard as the police pursue these renegades.

As I peruse the area, there are hundreds of people strewn throughout the plaza and on the steps of the basilica. The scene appears to be a war zone. My first thought is that this was a terrorist attack; however, my gut tells me otherwise. As an investigative reporter for over twenty years, I have witnessed many scenes of bloodshed, but this one appears to be unusual. The idea that Swiss Guards would use weapons against other Swiss Guards and innocent people is unimaginable. As I understand, they are sworn to protect the pope at all costs, even if it means sacrificing their own lives. Why would they then go on a random killing spree knowing that the pope’s life is at stake?

Withdrawing quickly from the area around St. Peter’s Basilica, my wife, Debbie, and I rush to escape Vatican City and find a safe haven back at our hotel, the Courtyard Marriott, located several blocks away. As we race to reach the hotel, a stream of ambulances rushes to secure the injured and the dead from the horrific scene at the Vatican. There must be thirty to forty rescue vehicles and ambulances that we observe as we are returning to the hotel. Arriving at the hotel, we rush up the steps and through the front doors to the lobby. Much to our surprise, four army guards have been posted at the hallways leading to the elevators and steps. They are interviewing and patting down the hotel guests at the hallway entrances.

Approaching the hallway to our elevator, we are stopped by one of the guards as he requests my wallet and passport. In turn, he requests Debbie’s pocketbook and passport. He asks us, Why are you visiting Rome? Responding, I say, We are on vacation and have come to tour Vatican City and a number of the historical sites of Rome.

Where were you this afternoon?

Debbie tells him, We had just finished touring the basilica and were on our way to the Sistine Chapel when gunfire erupted.

Did you recognize any of the attackers or notice anything of any consequence?

No, I reply. We were so shocked and terrified that we just ran from the scene, trying to avoid injury. The guard recedes from his position and allows us to pass.

Debbie is still visibly shaken. I then decide that, instead of going to our room, we should head straight to the bar just down the hallway. A drink may calm her down. As we enter, Debbie heads for a table in the corner of the room where we can sit and talk about the day’s event without interruption. In the meantime, I walk over to the bar to order drinks. As I turn to go to our table, an unfamiliar gentleman approaches me. He is a rather thin man and approximately seventy years old. His receding gray hairline and deeply wrinkled facial skin belie a man who has experienced more than his share of turmoil and stress in life. He appears extremely worried, as I note that he is nervously evaluating the people and layout of the room. Under his arm, I notice that he is carrying a small black executive bag about the size of a normal sheet of paper.

As he comes closer to me, he calls, Mr. Carrol, please wait a moment for me. I am quite surprised that he knows my name. He then says, I must speak with you about a serious matter. He introduces himself as Manual Barboza. I invite him to sit at the table with Debbie and me, to which he agrees. As we sit, I ask him if he would care for something to drink. No thank you, he responds.

Mr. Carrol, I know that you are a well-known investigative newspaper reporter. I have read many of your articles and am quite impressed with your tenacity and the detail of the information provided. You have investigated some of the most dangerous and sensitive subjects that I have ever read about or studied. I know that you had secretly infiltrated the Colombian drug cartels and organized crime within the Las Vegas strip. Most reporters would have avoided subjecting themselves to the dangers of this type of investigation. The reason that I have sought you out is that a serious threat has arisen to the Catholic Church and to various governments throughout the globe. I believe that you are the only person who has the ability to secure concrete information about this threat.

By this point, Mr. Barboza has peaked my curiosity. He has dabbled on the edge of something that might result in a great story. He goes on, During the rule of the Roman Empire in 90 BC, Augustus had become concerned about a pagan civilization located in Northern Italy by the name of the Malyans. Their kingdom of Malar was located in the valley of the Po River, approximately three hundred miles from Rome. This was not an ordinary kingdom by any means. Their population of eight hundred thousand were worshipers of Belial, the prince of trickery and the Antichrist. They possessed great powers granted by Belial, powers that Augustus considered a threat to his empire. He was so concerned with this potential threat that an order was given to organize fourteen Roman legions for the purpose of destroying the entire kingdom of Malar, including the temple. The legions marched northwest through what is modern day Siena and then northeast to the Po River and onto Malar. As they approached the kingdom, the Romans took great precautions to assure a surprise attack. It was just before dusk when the legions charged Malar. In their attempt to destroy the kingdom and kill all of the inhabitants, they were overrun by the Malyans. The Malyans had anticipated their attack and were prepared. As a consequence, over forty thousand troops of the Roman legions were killed. Oddly, the surviving thirty thousand were made up mostly of officers. After returning to Rome, the surviving troops had completely changed. They divorced themselves from their families and associated primarily with the survivors of the battle. Their behavior continued to be bizarre. At every turn, they attempted to undermine the authority of the military and to challenge the consuls of Rome.

I question Mr. Barboza, Do you know anything about the powers possessed by the Malyans?

Yes, there are many rumors abounding that they are immortal and that their ability to hypnotize people is irresistible. I’m not sure that their powers are what has been rumored and have no evidence to verify this. I do know that their kingdom slowly disappeared during the next five hundred years. This is important, because it was coincidental with the disintegration of the Roman Empire in AD 480.

Mr. Barboza, I am very skeptical about the implications of your story. It appears almost surreal. Do you believe that your story is somehow related to the events that occurred today?

They may be, but I can’t be sure.

At this point, Debbie is looking at Mr. Barboza as though he has two heads and simply needs to be committed to an asylum. She excuses herself saying, I am a little tired and want to go to our room. I will talk to you later, Sean. Good-bye, Mr. Barboza.

After Debbie leaves, Mr. Barboza begins to explain further, I had been a priest at the Vatican for thirty-five years. I resigned from the priesthood approximately ten years ago due to what I perceived as threats to the church. The environment within the walls of the Vatican was suspicious and uncomfortable.

What do you mean ‘suspicious and uncomfortable’?

Mr. Carrol, I have witnessed satanic worship in some of the lower church levels and even within the confines of the small chapels in the churches. These demonstrations went unchallenged by the hierarchy of the church. The tolerance of this behavior on the part of the church nobility is simply unacceptable. There has also been a consolidation of power among many of the hierarchy of the Vatican. Several exclusive groups or cliques have been created. Furthermore, they associate with no one but their members. Can you see a pattern?

Now, Mr. Barboza, you are really peaking my interest. The answer or answers to what is happening may not be found so easily.

I agree with you, Mr. Carrol. However, any assertions must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. I am an old man and don’t have the capacity to do the necessary investigation. But you are a younger man and an experienced news investigator. You know how to secure information better than anyone that I know. You are the only one who I believe can make a difference in curtailing the activities of the evil forces within the Vatican. Will you please consider my story and determine what might be occurring?

I don’t know, Mr. Barboza. I first need to think about the information that you have provided. I will let you know tomorrow. Please give me an address or phone number that I can reach you at.

I can’t take a chance that someone else will get this information. I could be in danger. I will meet you here tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. if that’s okay.

Yes, that will be fine.

"By the way, Mr. Carrol, I brought this bag for you. It contains some documents that back up what I have told you. In addition, a number of names are included who I believe are participants in whatever plot