Chapter Thirty-Six
Vatican City, Rome
Sat behind his desk, Colonel Renauld felt mentally and physically tired. It had been a long, exhausting day controlling the tight security arrangements surrounding the papal coronation and the delivery of the new Pope’s first Holy Mass. Around the world, people watched the colour and pageantry of the occasion as the live media reporting intruded beyond the bounds of any previous papal coverage. The placing of the traditional tiara, the symbolic crown of the Holy See, on the Pope’s head had been watched live in more than a hundred countries.
Although the security arrangements had gone perfectly to plan the ceremony had been marred by the tragic death of Cardinal Gregory one hour before the event was due to begin. He had died of a sudden heart attack
