Lomeli looks around. Someone changed their vote at the last moment.

When the count ends, Benítez is just four votes shy of victory.

The line between a papacy and defeat.

An Impossible Decision

That night, Lomeli is visited by Tremblay.

—Jacopo, tomorrow it all ends —says the Canadian, his smile calculated—. Why not make sure it ends the right way?

Lomeli eyes him coldly.

—And what would that be?

Tremblay leans in, whispers:

—You have influence. Convince them to vote for Benítez.

—Why?

The Canadian shrugs.

—Because he’s the perfect man. A clean face. A symbol of unity. And, most importantly, he’ll be easy to manage.

Lomeli feels disgust. This isn’t faith. It’s politics.

He closes the door without replying.

Tomorrow will be the final vote. And if Lomeli wants to keep the Church from falling into the wrong hands, he’ll have to do something he never thought possible.