The Pope's Blessing
Count Riario sensed Battista's lingering doubts about the Papal blessing of the plot and so arranged an audience for himself, Battista, Archbishop Salviati with Pope Sixtus IV himself. On the appointed day, the three men entered the Pope's private rooms and knelt at his feet. The Pope began by expressing to Battista a strong desire to see a change in government in Florence. Battista, echoing the earlier words of the Count and Archbishop, told the Pope that such an undertaking would require the assassination of Lorenzo and Giuliano to succeed.
"I want the death of no man for any reason." answered the Pope, confirming Battista's suspicions that His Holiness did not condone the assassination as the Count and Archbishop contended, "It is not part of our office to consent to any person's death, and though Lorenzo is a scoundrel and behaves badly with us, yet on no account would I wish to see him dead. But a change of government, this yes."
"We will do what we can to see that this doesn't happen." Count Riario responded, attempting to guide his Uncle to appear to agree to the plan, "But if it should, Your Holiness will forgive those responsible."
"You're an animal!" the Pope answered in anger, "I tell you I want no man dead, but I do want a change of government. So I say to you, Giovan Battista, that I greatly desire a political change in Florence. I want that government taken from the Lorenzo's hands, because he is a villain and a wicked man and has no respect for us. Once he is out of Florence, we will be able to do as we wish in that republic and this will be very much in keeping with our plans."
"Your Holiness speaks the truth." Salviati affirmed, "When you have Florence in your power, you'll be able to do what you want with it, provided it is in our hands. Then you will set laws for half of Italy and everyone will long to be your friend; therefore be pleased to see everything done to achieve this end."
Again - within the word "everything" - Battista heard the unspoken reference to assassination and awaited the Pope's response. But instead of his earlier angry outburst at the Count's direct reference to it, the Pope replied;
"I have told you what I do not want. Go and do what you think best, as long as death doesn't come into it. I give all my favour to what is necessary to attain these ends."
"Be pleased to have us piloting this boat," the Archbishop said, "for we shall steer it well."
"I am pleased." stated the Pope as he rose to end the audience.
As Battista accompanied his co-conspirators back to the Count's Vatican rooms, he pondered the outcome of the audience; He realized that the Pope could not state openly that he condoned murder to achieve his aims - that would constitute a gross abuse of power and go against the doctrines of the church. But was the unspoken message there? Pope Sixtus IV had all but given Battista the nod when he had said; "I give all my favour to what is necessary to attain these ends."
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