If it wasn't a true story, you'd think the premise was part of a movie script...a tough, immigrant kid from Cicero becomes a priest, rises through the ranks of the Catholic church to sit among the inner circle of the papacy, and serve as "God's banker" controlling the Vatican finances, only to become embroiled in a financial scandal that has the look and feel of a conspiracy and a cover-up. There were two stories in the Chicago Tribune.

Here's the story from February 21st...

Chicago priest who headed Vatican's bank dies

By Ron Grossman
Tribune staff reporter

February 21, 2006, 9:56 PM CST

Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, who went from the sandlots of Cicero to the Vatican's innermost circles, called a longtime golfing buddy Monday to say he didn't feel up for their weekly game—a rarity for a man who thrived on competition and bonhomie.

The prelate once known as "God's banker" had been living in retirement in Sun City, Ariz., a quiet coda to an ecclesiastical career filled with drama and scandal.

Marcinkus, 84, was found dead later Monday. No cause was given.

He made headlines around the world as head of the Vatican Bank, a post he lost in the wake of a massive scandal that rocked the Holy See and Italian financial circles in the 1980s.

Before that, he was a fixture in Rome, a confidant of popes who ended up as governor of Vatican City. Marcinkus had served successive pontiffs as a translator, troubleshooter, bodyguard and advance man. He performed those roles so diligently that he was dubbed the "pope's gorilla" by members of the press.

In 1970, Marcinkus overpowered an attacker armed with a knife who lunged at Pope Paul VI at the Manila Airport, during a papal visit to the Philippines.

That exploit came as no surprise to a childhood buddy, Walter Luksta.

Marcinkus and he were altar boys together at St. Anthony's parish in Cicero and basketball opponents in high school.

"When we played [Quigley Preparatory Seminary], our coach pointed to Paul and said: 'Be careful of that monster over there,'" said Luksta, 83. "He was a brute on a basketball court."

Larger than life in many ways, Marcinkus stood a powerfully built 6 foot 3 inches. He was fond of cigars, and had a five-stroke handicap as a regular at Rome's Aqua Santa golf club.

Marcinkus remained an avid golfer even after recent surgery for cancer, noted Rev. John Slobig, pastor of St. Clement of Rome Church in Sun City.

"He was still a big man at the end," Slobig said. "I wouldn't have wanted to tangle with him."

Pope Benedict XVI recalled Tuesday "the late archbishop's priestly zeal, his years of faithful service to the Holy See and, his valued work for the Vatican City State."

Marcinkus was born Jan. 15, 1922, to Lithuanian-immigrant parents who lived in a two-flat in a working-class neighborhood. The Depression brought hard times to the Marcinkus household, which included three brothers and a sister. But their pastor took a guiding role in Marcinkus' life, providing a role model of the priestly life.

"Father Vaicunas made sure Paul didn't go down the wrong tracks," recalled Luksta.

Ordained a priest in 1947, Marcinkus served at St. Christina Church on Chicago's Far South Side before going to Rome in 1950 to study canon law.

When the Second Vatican Council was convened, he was drafted to provide logistical support for American prelates, a task he discharged so efficiently that he rose quickly through the papal bureaucracy.

By the 1970s, he was in charge of Vatican finances, through its bank then known as the Institute For Religious Works.

But in the early 1980s, he was accused of playing a shady role in the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano, in which the Vatican Bank had a share. The scandal involved the mysterious disappearance of $1.3 billion in loans.

By 1987 Italian prosecutors wanted to charge Marcinkus as an accessory, but Vatican authorities and an Italian court refused to allow the arrest.

Marcinkus always maintained his innocence.

"I went back far enough with him to discuss things like that," said Luksta. "He said, 'Wally, don't believe everything you read in the papers.'"

Nonetheless, he never got the cardinal's hat once widely expected. And though Pope John Paul II defended Marcinkus, saying he had been treated "in a brutal way," by 1989, he was replaced as the bank's head.

He returned to Chicago, where Cardinal Joseph Bernardin said he would always be welcome. In 1991, he moved to Sun City, taking up a pastoral role.

"He said mass at our church twice a week, visited shut-ins, and carried the Eucharist to people in the hospital," said Slobig.

Funeral arrangements are pending with services likely in both Phoenix and Chicago, church officials said Tuesday. It was not clear whether any family members survive him.

rgrossman@tribune.com
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

And here is the obit from today's (February 22nd) Chicago Tribune...

Archbishop Paul Marcinkus 1922 - 2006
Vatican banker linked to scandal

Archbishop served many roles for popes

By Ron Grossman
Tribune staff reporter

February 22, 2006

Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, who went from the sandlots of Cicero to the Vatican's innermost circles, called a longtime golfing buddy Monday to say he didn't feel up for their weekly game--a rarity for a man who thrived on competition and bonhomie.

The prelate once known as "God's banker" had been living in retirement in Sun City, Ariz., a quiet coda to an ecclesiastical career filled with drama and scandal.

Marcinkus, 84, was found dead later Monday. No cause was given.

He made headlines around the world as head of the Vatican Bank, a post he lost in the wake of a massive scandal that rocked the Holy See and Italian financial circles in the 1980s.

Before that, he was a fixture in Rome, a confidant of popes who ended up as governor of Vatican City. Marcinkus had served successive pontiffs as a translator, troubleshooter, bodyguard and advance man. He performed those roles so diligently that he was dubbed the "pope's gorilla" by members of the press.

In 1970, Marcinkus overpowered an attacker armed with a knife who lunged at Pope Paul VI at the Manila Airport, during a papal visit to the Philippines.

That exploit came as no surprise to a childhood buddy, Walter Luksta.

Marcinkus and he were altar boys together at St. Anthony's parish in Cicero and basketball opponents in high school.

"When we played [Quigley Preparatory Seminary], our coach pointed to Paul and said: `Be careful of that monster over there,'" said Luksta, 83. "He was a brute on a basketball court."

Larger than life in many ways, Marcinkus stood a powerfully built 6 foot 3 inches. He was fond of cigars, and had a five-stroke handicap as a regular at Rome's Aqua Santa golf club.

Marcinkus remained an avid golfer even after recent surgery for cancer, noted Rev. John Slobig, pastor of St. Clement of Rome Church in Sun City.

"He was still a big man at the end," Slobig said. "I wouldn't have wanted to tangle with him."

Pope Benedict XVI recalled Tuesday "the late archbishop's priestly zeal, his years of faithful service to the Holy See and, his valued work for the Vatican City State."

Marcinkus was born Jan. 15, 1922, to Lithuanian-immigrant parents who lived in a two-flat in a working-class neighborhood. The Depression brought hard times to the Marcinkus household, which included three brothers and a sister. But their pastor took a guiding role in Marcinkus' life, providing a role model of the priestly life.

"Father Vaicunas made sure Paul didn't go down the wrong tracks," recalled Luksta.

Ordained a priest in 1947, Marcinkus served at St. Christina Church on Chicago's Far South Side before going to Rome in 1950 to study canon law.

When the Second Vatican Council was convened, he was drafted to provide logistical support for American prelates, a task he discharged so efficiently that he rose quickly through the papal bureaucracy.

By the 1970s, he was in charge of Vatican finances, through its bank then known as the Institute For Religious Works.

But in the early 1980s, he was accused of playing a shady role in the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano, in which the Vatican Bank had a share. The scandal involved the mysterious disappearance of $1.3 billion in loans.

By 1987 Italian prosecutors wanted to charge Marcinkus as an accessory, but Vatican authorities and an Italian court refused to allow the arrest.

Marcinkus always maintained his innocence.

"I went back far enough with him to discuss things like that," said Luksta. "He said, `Wally, don't believe everything you read in the papers.'"

Nonetheless, he never got the cardinal's hat once widely expected. And though Pope John Paul II defended Marcinkus, saying he had been treated "in a brutal way," by 1989, he was replaced as the bank's head.

He returned to Chicago, where Cardinal Joseph Bernardin said he would always be welcome. In 1991, he moved to Sun City, taking up a pastoral role.

Funeral arrangements are pending with services likely in both Phoenix and Chicago, church officials said Tuesday. It was not clear whether any family members survived him.

----------

rgrossman@tribune.com
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune