The Vatican, January, 2078, Saturday…

The sleek black sedan sped through the Vatican gates. Cardinal Seamus O'Leary was late.

Roman traffic is always chaotic, but that is no excuse. One didn't want to be late for this Pope. It was twilight. The balcony from which the Pope regularly greeted the throngs of the faithful was shrouded in shadows. Cardinal Giovanni Prieto met him and took him immediately up to the papal study.

"I must confess I always commit the sin of curiosity, wondering what you two discuss," said Giovanni.

"We discuss the same things you discuss with him - matters of state," observed Seamus.

"But perhaps your matters of state have more intrigue than mine."

After announcing him, Giovanni left silently. Seamus waited just inside the doorway patiently.

The balding, corpulent man with the Roman nose who led the millions of Catholics in the world got up from his desk and walked toward the cardinal with a purposeful stride. He was not much older than O'Leary and much sharper of wit.

After the usual kneel and kiss of the ring, the pontiff and the cardinal went to the conference table. There the cardinal opened his briefcase and took out some data cubes.

"Am I going to be surprised by what these contain?" asked the Pope.

O'Leary, the head of Vatican security, managed an embarrassed smile.

"Possibly, Holy Father, but we will see." He plugged the first one into the computer and brought the first dossier up on the screen. "I'm ready to turn over some of these to Interpol, with your permission. The cases against them are solid."