‘I do not believe I can continue. I could go on so long as my mind stayed fresh, even though my body was but a walking skeleton. But now, I fear I am no longer the man I once was, even in my head’.

Coelestinus took off his spectacles and lay down his stylus. The Pontifex looked at his servus. Answer came there none.

‘You know not what to say to me, do you? That is because I speak the truth. I have heard you talking about me in the corridors. The old bugger’s past it; he’s losing his marbles; he wets himself at night; he talks nonsense most of the time’.

The Pontifex buried his head in his hands and wept.

‘Leave me! Leave this old man’.

The servus bowed and withdrew from the Pope’...

Please subscribe to keep reading.