Customer Reviews

The Vatican Connection

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This 'reality' novel tells an incredible story: the Vatican through Mgr. Marcinkus tried to use $950 million of forged bonds as a collateral for new loans. But a New York policeman discovered the transactions and the key figure was convicted.
The other villains, besides the Archbishop, in this unbelievable story are very well known Mafia, masonic and money laundering figures: Michele Sindona, Roberto Calvi.
An only average police novel but with an astonishing content. Not to be missed.
I recommend another book with the same main characters in another murky affair: David Yallop 'In God's Name. An investigation into the murder of pope John Paul I'.

This book, nonfiction, should be read with Malachi Martin's novels about the intrigue around the Vatican before the ascension of John Paul II. The author, a NYPD detective, is on a wire tap of the mafia when he learns about an incredible plot. The mafia has a large collection of stolen bearer bonds which would be negotiable except they are known to be stolen and the seller would be quickly identified. They figure out a way to use the bonds as collateral for new loans that are used to invest in legitimate companies in Europe. This works so well that they run out of stolen bonds and begin to counterfeit them.At this point, the Vatican Bank becomes involved and the story is fascinating. The larger story, though, is to be found in Martin's books about the Vatican in the time of Pope Paul VI and his successors.