Shadow Kingdom: Episode 5 - "The Fixers"
Podcast Information:
- Title: Shadow Kingdom
- Host/Author: Crooked Media & Campside Media
- Description: Delving into the mysterious death of Roberto Calvi, "Shadow Kingdom" uncovers the tangled web of the Vatican Bank’s criminal activities. Forty years after Calvi's suspicious demise, lawyer Nicolo Majnoni seeks to unveil the truth behind the enigmatic "God’s Banker."
- Episode: God's Banker I 5 - "The Fixers"
- Release Date: April 7, 2025
Introduction
In Episode 5, "The Fixers," Gerald Pozner and Nicolo Minoni navigate the intricate layers surrounding Roberto Calvi's downfall. As Calvi grapples with legal battles and personal turmoil, shadowy figures and fixers emerge, influencing the fate of the infamous banker.
Roberto Calvi’s Arrest and Imprisonment
The episode opens in the summer of 1981, detailing Roberto Calvi's dire circumstances following his arrest:
Gerald Pozner [00:51]: "In the middle of a hot summer night in 1981, Roberto Calvi sat in a prison cell and began to cry."
Calvi faced charges for violating Italy’s currency export laws, a move seen by many as a political maneuver rather than genuine legal action. Francesco Pacienza, a former spy and Calvi's fixer, provides insight into the arrest's broader implications:
Francesco Pacienza [02:46]: "Well, when Calvi was arrested, I was just in my office in Rome..."
Pacienza's role was to maintain Calvi's composure and reassure him through the prison chaplain, suggesting a network striving to protect Calvi from deeper fallout.
Struggles Within Prison
Calvi's time in prison was marked by severe hardship. Deprived of his personal security and accustomed to an opulent lifestyle, he found the prison environment unbearable:
Philip Willan [04:21]: "This was a man obsessed with his own personal security..."
Calvi’s deteriorating health and psychological state led him to seek a plea bargain, revealing his connections to the clandestine P2 Masons and illicit financial dealings. However, his revelations were met with increasing skepticism from prosecutors.
The Role of Flavio Carboni
A pivotal figure introduced in this episode is Flavio Carboni, a powerful construction magnate and fixer with extensive government ties. His influence and shady dealings are crucial to understanding Calvi's predicament:
Roberto Rozone [13:12]: "The man points a gun at me and shoots... the bullet went right by my testicles."
Carboni's attempts to manipulate Calvi and the ensuing conflict underscore the dangerous alliances and enmities within the banking and political spheres.
Frank Pacienza [16:55]: "Carboni was a very intelligent man, but was a son of a bitch. He got a lot of money from Calvi."
Carboni's repeated acquittals despite substantial evidence highlight the corruption infiltrating the Italian justice system, exacerbating Calvi's vulnerability.
Financial Turmoil and Desperation
As Calvi struggled to stabilize Banco Ambrosiano, his financial situation spiraled:
Gerald Pozner [24:28]: "A big chunk of the money Calvi had borrowed $300 million was due to be repaid at the end of June 1982."
Calvi's inability to secure new investments or loans, coupled with mounting debts and deteriorating bank stocks, signaled the impending collapse of his financial empire.
Personal Turmoil and Family Struggles
Calvi's personal life mirrored his professional chaos. His relationship with his wife, Clara, became strained as his mental health deteriorated:
Clara Calvi [07:09]: "I'm afraid all you would talk about was death. Always."
The constant threats against his family and his erratic behavior, including an attempt to clean a gun in front of his family, heightened the tension and fear within his household.
Disappearance and Death
The climax of the episode details the final days leading to Calvi's disappearance and subsequent death:
Gerald Pozner [25:17]: "As May turned to June, Calvi didn't seem to have a plan. He bounced between trying to figure out how to save his bank and sobbing at home with his family."
Calvi's last public appearance was a dinner at Banco Ambrosiano, where his abrupt departure marked the beginning of his disappearance:
Gerald Pozner [27:06]: "Roberto Calvi was missing, and he only had a week to live."
His body was found hanging from a bridge in London on June 17, 1982, officially ruled a suicide by British police. However, the episode casts significant doubt on this conclusion, suggesting foul play orchestrated by those threatened by Calvi's knowledge and connections.
Concluding Insights
"The Fixers" unravels the complex interplay between power, corruption, and personal downfall. Roberto Calvi's tragic end serves as a microcosm of the broader systemic issues within Italian banking and political structures.
Roberto Rozone [30:24]: "I can't stand the anymore."
The episode emphasizes the pervasive influence of fixers like Flavio Carboni and the clandestine networks that manipulate and control high-stakes financial institutions.
Notable Quotes
- Francesco Pacienza [02:46]: "... this was a shock to Calvi's world."
- Philip Willan [04:21]: "This was a man obsessed with his own personal security."
- Roberto Rozone [13:12]: "The man points a gun at me and shoots."
- Clara Calvi [07:09]: "I'm afraid all you would talk about was death. Always."
- Carlo Calvi [26:57]: "These were documents about a legal proceeding that... were a real, real threat for my dad."
- Gerald Pozner [27:51]: "Roberto Calvi was missing, and he only had a week to live."
Production Credits
- Hosted and Reported by: Nicolo Minoni
- Additional Reporting: Simona Zeki, Joe Hawthorne
- Written by: Joe Hawthorne, Ashley Ann Krigbaum, Nicolo Minoni
- Producers: Joe Hawthorne (Lead), Ashley Ann Krigbaum (Managing)
- Executive Producers: Nicolo Minoni, Sarah Geismer, Katie Long, Allison Falsetta (Crooked Media); Josh Dean, Adam Hoff, Matt Sher, Vanessa Gregoriadis (Campsite Media)
- Voice Acting: Bonnie Biagini, Andrea Bianchi, Ferrante Cosma, and others
Subscribe and Support: To delve deeper into the full season of "Shadow Kingdom," consider joining Crooked’s Friends of the Pod at crooked.com/friends. For Italian listeners, subscribe to "Il Banchiere di Dio" on your preferred podcast platform.