When he was at the Vatican, in Cardinal Bainbridge's day, he quickly saw that no one in the papal court grasped what was happening, ever; and least of all the Pope. Intrigue feeds on itself; conspiracies have neither mother nor father, and yet they thrive: the only thing to know is that no one knows anything.
In the narrative set during Cardinal Bainbridge's tenure at the Vatican, the main character observes a troubling reality where the members of the papal court, including the Pope, lack any true understanding of the unfolding events around them. This ignorance fosters an environment ripe for intrigue, where conspiracies flourish without clear origins or accountability.
The quote encapsulates the chaotic nature of political maneuvering within the church, suggesting that those involved are entangled in a web of deceit, with no clear leader or guiding force. The essence of such intrigue is a pervasive uncertainty, highlighting that amidst the complexity of power struggles, the truth remains elusive to all parties involved.
