Astoria, OR
Mystery of the Poisoned Pope
$1500
linda@piacentinistudios.com
www.piacentinistudios.com
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“…From some fissure, the smoke entered the temple of God.” Pope Paul VI
As I was finishing my art history studies in Rome, Albino Luciani was preparing to take on the most important post of his life. Popular with pre-Vatican II conservatives as well as post-Vatican II supporters, Luciani, destined to take the place of his ailing predecessor, was elected Pope John Paul I on August 26, 1978.
The new Pope’s self-effacing demeanor had concealed his intelligence and vivacity. He planned to return the papacy to its spiritual origins, reduce the wealth of the church, give money to the poor, and share his positive views on contraception. His biggest challenge —identify and excommunicate bishops and cardinals who had secretly become Freemasons (an illegal act in the church)—and purge members of the Mafia from the Vatican Bank.
Conservative hostilities on all sides mushroomed. Their quiet figurehead, their “smiling Pope,” had betrayed them. Conservative newspapers censored the Pope’s remarks. Alone, John Paul I persisted with his investigation into the Vatican Bank scandal. Within weeks, he penetrated the smoke of corruption. On September 28, thirty-three days after his election, Pope John Paul I was found dead, the files of those under investigation, missing from his private rooms.
Artist Biography
Linda Piacentini-Yaple grew up in a typical Catholic, Italian-American household in Los Angeles replete with cornuto (Italian horn to ward off the evil eye) and crucifixes. Culture and religion influence her work. She attended Oregon College of Art and Craft and holds memberships in the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society of London, Astoria FOG, and Astoria Visual Arts.
All images and text copyright the artist. All rights reserved.
