The American nodded. “I will do whatever I can.”

The cardinal gave him a smile that seemed to penetrate the American’s soul. “Thank you. First of all, I’d like to tell you that you have been selected over our other personnel because of your deep faith and because you are American, like the woman and her husband. Also because you have already established a certain credibility in this matter by your previous successes.”

“Thank you.”

“It is I and the church which will thank you,” said the cardinal. “Now let me tell you that just as the Holy Father is the heir of St. Peter, we at the CDF are the heirs of Constantine.”

The American looked puzzled.

“Like Constantine, we guard the unity of the church,” Braun explained. “But the strongest and most comforting faith is that which is united, unequivocal, unreserved: in other words, faith must be black and white with no shades of gray. But like Constantine, we know very well that our holy Scriptures and the history of our faith and religion have been rewritten, edited, and altered to fit the exigencies of many different times. In reality, there may be many different interpretations of the truth. There are authorities which seem equal and yet disagree; there are relics and Scriptures and historical proofs that we find compelling and yet, if known, would shatter the unanimity of the church’s theology and create uncertainty. Without unanimity the church would never have survived. It would have splintered into a million little footnotes in the history of faith.

“What’s more, uncertainty offers little solace in a tumultuous world. For ordinary people to receive hope, they must have a certainty to believe in. If there are doubts about matters of faith or religion, it is our duty at the CDF to wrestle with the devil so they don’t have to. If there seem to be two roads to faith, it is our duty to travel them both and then to blockade the wrong path so that the faithful do not have to wander. We fight with the doubts and then create an answer for the church, to be sure that answer is consistent with all other decisions and then with the prayers and blessing of the Holy Father, to declare those answers the unassailable word of God. Unified belief is far more important than the contradictory truths that must remain secret because most people cannot cope with them without falling victim to Satan’s influence.”

He fixed the American with a silent gaze. “Do you understand me?”

“If I hear you correctly,” the American began tentatively, “you’re saying that it is not so much what people believe as that they all believe precisely the same creeds—those created and approved by your office—with no reservations whatsoever. Unified faith means unified strength.”

Braun smiled broadly and nodded. “You are very perceptive. You were wise not to neglect your religious studies.”

The American looked surprised.

The cardinal laughed. “Of course we have your college transcripts. We know more about your past than your current employer.” Braun’s voice was then suddenly serious. “Do you believe this goal is a worthy one? Would you the for it?”