by Ray Flynn
Thanks to State Representative Jim Hart and Professor Bob Evans.
There are so many other people who have touched my life and helped me with this book who I would like to acknowledge and say a special thank-you to: Jim and Kathy Long, a better family Julie could have never met. Laura and Garrath Conachy. Katie and Bob Hayden. Authors Doris and Dick Goodwin. Joe Fisher, Charlie, Mary Burke, Attorney Harry Grill and his wife, Betsy, who have always been there. Father Richard Shmaruk of St. Columbkille’s Church for his advice and direction, and whose great writing skills should be encouraged. Monsignor Tom McDonnell, St. Augustine’s Church. Roger Oliveira and parents Rogerio and Maria. John Hill, whose devotion to Our Lady of Fatima is unmatched and whose contributions to this book are deeply appreciated. Tom Coyne and his daughters.
The William Morris Agency, Jim Griffin and Mel Berger, better agents you could never have.
Mr. Alex Ghattas, our personal musical consultant, whose musical expertise is most greatly appreciated.
My pals Fran and Joan Coyne, their children and grandchildren. John and Carol and their children. Mary Downs, who will always be with us. Ted Downs and all his children and grandchildren. Brian and Kerry O’Hearn and their children. Frank and Maura Doyle and their children.
Friends at the U.S. Vatican Embassy. Mirella and Lou Giacolone, Evelyn McWade, Claudio Manno, Umberto Bernadini, Fabio Tombasi, Gerry Masaro, Giovanni, Marco Nasso, Piero Fratecceli, Stefano, Aida, Ofelia, Seri and Santiago and Livia Curzi.
Cardinal Law and the late Cardinal O’Connor of New York, true men of God!
Boston labor leader Joe Quilty. Uncle Eddie and Mary Kirby and their children.
Lloyd MacDonald, Monsignor Tim Dolan (a priest’s priest), Paul Quinn, Fran and Franny Duggan. Jack Barry, Will McDonough, Ronnie Perry, Vinnie Collins, Don Murray, Sis and Doc Tynan. A great man, John Dorion, and his dear wife, Lil. Bob and Kathy Walton. Mickey’s at the Pantheon. Agusto at the Giancolo, Joe Callahan and Frank Fallon. Father Gerry Barry. Dan Horgan of the South Boston Tribune. Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt, and my Providence College teammates. Scoop Canavan, Father James Quigley, O.P., Jimmy Foley from J.J. Foley’s. Dave Burke and Ned McGinley of the The Ancient Order of Hibernians. A real gentleman, Jeremiah Foley, and his wife, Eileen (gone, but not forgotten). Evelyn and Ken Lyons and all my good friends at N.A.G.E. My godchildren: Sheila Kelly, Jeremiah Foley, Ann Flynn, Jennifer Hurley, Matthew Doyle, Maura Coyne, Kevin Paul, Owen Costello, and Michael Coyne.
Marie Donovan, Gerry Dooley, John Nucci, John Martin. Neighbors Rosie and Bernie McCarthy, Jack Nee and Ellie Matulivich, Anne, Mickey, and Mary Burke. Ann and Kevin Phelan, Attorney Phil Fina.
To my great parish, Gate of Heaven, all my neighbors of South Boston, where I am so proud to have lived all my life.
Two outstanding physicians, Dr. Sheila MacDonnell and Dr. Kenneth MacDonnell, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Ray and Mary Teatum. Paul O’Dwyer. All at the Farragut House. New York City policeman Steve McDonald and wife, Patti Ann, who taught us how to forgive one another. Tricia and Frankie Murray, in memory of Eddie Sheehy. Attorney Phil Moran and wife Carol. Attorney Dennis Lynch of New York, a heroic pro-life leader of Catholic Alliance. Gerry and Anne Ridge. Father Jim Lane, Dr. Al Arcidi, a special friend, Betty Mahoney, Pat Morelli, Charlene Bizokas, Dottie Mahoney, Anne McDonnell, Janet Healey, and Geri O’Shea.
My great dad and mom, Steve and Lil Flynn, Kathy’s dad and mom, Frank and Winnie Coyne. Four wonderful parents.
To the entire staff at St. Martin’s Press and to respected editor Diane Higgins and Patricia Fernandez, with gratitude for their confidence.
Lastly, Ray Jr., for your passionate devotion to your Catholic faith. Your personal courage is an inspiration to all of us. We’re proud of you, Ray.
And of course, my deepest respect and love for my friend Pope John Paul II.
Ray Flynn, October 2001
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Ray Flynn served as U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 1993 to 1997 and as the Mayor of Boston from 1984 to 1993. He hosts a daily, nationally syndicated political television talk show and lives in Boston. You can sign up for email updates here.
Robin Moore (1925–2008) is the best selling author of The French Connection and The Green Beret. He lived in Concord, Massachusetts. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Authors’ Note
1. The Conclave
2. The Fisherman
3. Cappella Sistina
4. One Less Witch Doctor
5. The Solution
6. Kirby’s Call
7. Feed My Sheep
8. Irish Bread with Caraway Seeds
9. “Oh My God! So It’s True!”
10. Kirby Checks In
11. Bill visits Rome
12. Deputy Chief of Mission
13. The Nancy Reagan Sun Room
14. No Need for More Votes
15. Weakness Reaching Out to Weakness in Love
16. The Accidental Pope
17. Fallout
18. Settling In
19. Washington Rocks
20. Buzzards Bay
21. First Morning
22. Avviso
23. Mark McGwire Photo at the Vatican
24. Peter II among the Tourists
25. Bishop of Rome
26. The Catholic First Family
27. At Home in the Vatican
28. The Eastern Orthodox Conspiracy
29. Dinner with the Kirbys
30. Papal Audience
31. A Vatican Christmas
32. Christmas Eve Mass
33. Christmas Morning Mass
34. The Chosen
35. Africa
36. Africa Up Close
37. Virus
38. Meghan finds St. Paul
39. Ireland
40. Lost at Sea
41. The United Nations Trip
42. Wedding
43. Home is the Captain, Home from the Sea
44. No Uncle Gino
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or used fictitiously.
THE ACCIDENTAL POPE. Copyright © 2000 by Ray Flynn and Robin Moore. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
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eISBN 9781250090287
First eBook edition: June 2015
