Papal Justice Read Online Free PDF Page A

parish was attacked. Half of them were murdered, the other half have been kidnapped.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that. Where did it happen?”
    “In Acapulco, Mexico.”
    “Do you know who did it?”
    “I have been led to believe that it may be jihadists.”
    Zimmer’s throat tightened. He’d been receiving reports of increased terrorist activity in Mexico. So far they’d kept to the shadows, only playing an occasional hand. Zimmer always had the feeling they were being tested, like an enemy probing the defensive perimeter to find weaknesses. Nobody had to tell the president about his country’s weaknesses. He’d been to the border. He’d flown over the hundreds of miles of separation between the U.S. and Mexico. So far, no one had come up with a good solution for the problem, and that was something that concerned Zimmer every single day.
    “Have you confirmed this?” Zimmer asked, now understanding a bit more why the Pope had brought up the attack.
    “I have not, but a trusted advisor gave me the information.”
    “Are you planning on letting the media know?”
    “I had hoped you could give me the answer to that question, Mr. President.”
    So there it was. The Pope was telling him about the snake slithering in America’s backyard, and without the means to do anything about it directly, he was asking Zimmer if he could do something. It wasn’t the first time a foreign entity had asked for covert assistance, but it was the last thing he’d expected coming to Rome.
    “I would recommend keeping any mention of terrorists out of the media, at least for the time being.”
    “I thought the same. But the next question would be how do we deal with the situation at hand?”
    “I’m sure my people can help. Off the top of my head, I can think of a number of units that can—”
    “I am not asking you to do it alone, Mr. President. I am not without my own resources.”
    At least that was something.
    “You mean like contacts in Mexico?”
    The Pope shook his head, a smile reappearing.
    “You mentioned the warrior pope a moment ago. What if I told you that although I do not have the ability to strap on a suit of armor or jump from a helicopter, I too have a group of men specifically suited for this task?”
    The first thing that came to Zimmer’s mind was the Swiss Guard. They were one helluva fighting force, but they were far from elite Special Forces.
    “Who are they?” Zimmer asked.
    “Have you ever heard of Saint Longinus?”
    Zimmer’s mind searched through the creaky cupboard of childhood Sunday school memories.
    “He was Roman.” After another second to think, he added, “He was at the crucifixion.”
    The Pope nodded. “Yes. He drove his spear into Jesus’s side. From there, the story is different depending on who is telling the tale. According to official Papal records, Saint Longinus left the Roman military and started his own order. He recruited fellow warriors who had converted to the Christian faith. Eventually they found St. Peter, the first Pope of what was to become the Catholic Church. They swore loyalty to the papacy, and thus, the Brotherhood of Saint Longinus was born. Saint Longinus would die soon after, murdered for his beliefs, but the brotherhood lived on, as it still does today. Every member of the brotherhood was once part of one of the world’s elite paramilitary organizations. They are carefully selected, and it takes years before a new member is given the opportunity to serve. For many, this was their last resort. But they are unquestioning in their loyalty, and boundless in their faith.”
    This was all news to Zimmer. For a man who could find out almost anything about almost anybody, it surprised the American that there were secrets still left in the world.
    “And what does this brotherhood do?”
    The Pope shrugged. “They are loyal to the Pope, and the Pope alone. I only learned of their existence when I came to Rome. I’m sure that at times they have been put to ill