Giovanni smiled. ‘I will give that some thought, although my initial response would be that many scholars are coming to that conclusion, and that our faith must always be based on truth rather than dogma, and it is therefore a subject that is worthy of debate.’
Tom raised an eyebrow and inclined his head in a silent gesture of respect for Giovanni’s answer. ‘And if I were to ask you about DNA being delivered from a higher civilisation?’
‘I can see we’re playing first grade here,’ Giovanni replied. ‘As a scientist I have delved into the extraordinary intricacies of biochemistry, but I have always felt that behind the exquisite design of nature lies an awesome and mystical Creative Spirit. Many people will rule this out until it has been proven. I have an open mind, preferring not to rule it out until it has been disproven.’
Tom looked pleased. The interview had the potential to be electric. ‘And the warning?’
‘The warning, like those contained in Isaiah and Daniel, is terrible and the threat is real. Unless the powerful Christian nations change course, accept the validity of other religions, and actively work towards an understanding and acceptance of them, I fear the threat will become reality. It is within our power to change the direction of annihilation in which we’re now headed. It is something that I will touch on at the end of my inauguration ceremony in two days’ time, which I hope you will all be able to stay for.’
‘Yes, and it will be a great privilege to interview you, although I think any training that might be required in the art of the fourth estate will be minimal,’ Tom said with a grin.
Two nights later, back in their hotel suite, Allegra and David watched the re-run of Giovanni’s inauguration on CCN. At the end of the broadcast Pope John XXIV appeared on the balcony above the Piazza San Pietro.
Giovanni stretched out his arms and the warmth of his smile was felt by everyone in the square below.
‘A philosophy of the great faiths of the world is needed now,’ Giovanni said. ‘More than at any other time in the history of humanity. The true messages of Christ, Muhammad, Abraham, the Buddha and others have a remarkable resonance and similarity. Love and tolerance for your neighbour, regardless of faith, gender or race.’
The Spirit smiled.
‘The fanatics and fundamentalists on all sides, including Christianity, have to be persuaded that to insist on one path and an ownership of truth to the exclusion of all others, in a world as brilliantly diverse as ours, is to insist on a path that can only lead to the annihilation of civilisation. The truth will set us free. Let us follow our various paths in peace instead of war. For there is,’ Giovanni concluded, ‘more than one path to the Omega.’