Who is the Black Cardinal?
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Ricardo Orellana grew up in Spain. His early family life was difficult. However, he soon discovered he had an unusual set of people skills and the lack of a moral compass that might otherwise inhibit their use. Ricardo, then a young priest, traveled to Rome as part of a delegation from the court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The King and Queen sought the Pope’s blessing for certain religious actions, ultimately leading to the Spanish Inquisition.
Ricardo saw such opportunity in the power of the Vatican that he contrived to stay on, making himself an indispensable advisor to Pope Sixtus IV. In turn, Sixtus saw a clever ally with a smooth tongue and the mesmerizing ability to get others to carry out his plans, whether through persuasion, threats or the promise of rewards. The Black Cardinal, as he was known in whispered tones around the Vatican, was the perfect vessel for the Pope’s ambitions. Or was Sixtus being used as part of a bigger plan?