TV’Vatican Girl’ is the title of a documentary series that premieres onNetflix this week. It is the story of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old girl whodisappeared in 1983. “I am convinced that the Vatican knows more.”
Also watch: Trailer ‘Vatican Girl’
“My sister is still registered at the registry office in the Vatican.” PietroOrlandi laughs a little uncomfortably. “We never had her pronounced dead. Aslong as I have no remains, she is still alive for me.”
From the bench in the park, between the houses, you can see the dome of St.Peter’s, the cupolone that has determined Pietro’s life for 63 years. He grewup within the walls of the Vatican City, his grandfather and father worked forseven popes, and it is the Vatican that has been silent for 39 years aboutwhat exactly happened to his sister Emanuela. “I’m convinced they know morethere.”
What if?
On June 22, 1983, Emanuela Orlandi disappears. She is 15 years old and thesecond youngest of four sisters, Pietro is her brother nine years older. Shehas that warm June afternoon music lesson, but never turns back. “We hadanother altercation that afternoon,” Pietro Orlandi recalls crystal clear thatafternoon. “She wanted me to pick her up, but I had other things to do. I’vebeen wondering for a long time: what if?
The guilt slowly fades – “I’m sure if she hadn’t been kidnapped that day, itwould have happened another day” – and gives way to determination. PietroOrlandi absolutely wants to get to the bottom of the truth about his sister’skidnapping.
(Read more below the photo.)
Pietro Orlandi still remembers the day his sister went missing. Emanuela hadasked him to accompany her on the bus, but he refused. © AFP
Italian Mafia and American Cardinal
Theories about the kidnapping vary. Andrea Purgatori, investigative journalistand also one of the main characters in the Netflix series, is convinced of theinternational theory. On the terrace of a Roman cafe – there too the cupoloneof Saint Peter is visible as an eternal shadow over the city and this story -he explains what the Polish trade union Solidarinosc, the Italian mafia and anAmerican cardinal have to do with a 15-year-old girl from Vatican City.
“Pope John Paul II and President Reagan had a common goal, to dismantle theSoviet Union,” said Purgatori, who has been following the case since 1983.Everything was allowed, even channeling white-laundered mafia money to theEastern bloc via the Vatican bank. “The Vatican Bank, headed by AmericanCardinal Paul Marcinkus, did business with Italy’s largest private bank, BancoAmbrosiano. When that bank went bankrupt, 1200 billion lire had disappeared(about 18 billion euros, ed.), including a lot of mafia money. Emanuela hasbeen used as a means of pressure.”
On the latter, journalist Purgatori and Emanuela’s brother Pietro agree,although the reason for the extortion is different. “Within the Vatican thereare different factions and one faction knows something about the other, andthat’s what Emanuela was used for,” is Pietro’s conviction.
dark secret
So a dark secret within the Vatican, which is not allowed to come out evennow, 39 years later. “It is no coincidence that John Paul II was canonized soquickly,” emphasizes journalist Andrea Purgatori. “You don’t doubt a saint.”
The Orlandi family knew right away 39 years ago that something was wrong,Pietro Orlandi recalls. “At our house, we had dinner at a fixed time and theneveryone was there.” Emanuela was not there and would never come again. In thedays after that specific June 22, the Orlandi family covered the city withportraits of Emanuela. Without result. “When we received a call from thealleged kidnappers on 5 July, we heaved a sigh of relief,” says Pietro.“Emanuela is alive!”
Never a sign of life
Yet the Orlandi family has never received any sign of life from the allegedkidnappers. “Normally, the family or the police quickly get proof that theabductee is alive, that never happened with Emanuela,” says journalistPurgatori. Only a few personal belongings were shown to the family: thebooklet of the music school and that of her school. “I suspect she was killedvery soon after the kidnapping.”
By whom and how is still a mystery almost forty years later. The kidnapping ofEmanuela Orlandi is said to be linked to the attack on Pope John Paul II twoyears earlier; the KGB would be involved and the Banda della Magliana, anotorious group of Roman criminals, would be involved.
Huge embarrassment
Most stories are fables, but the link between the Banda della Magliana and theVatican is certain. In 2012, after an anonymous tip, two tombs are opened in achurch in Rome. In one of the tombs, the great boss of the Banda dellaMagliana, Enrico de Pedis, is said to have been buried and the body ofEmanuela Orlandi also lies. Emanuela’s body is not found, but that of the mobboss is. A huge embarrassment to the Vatican.
The key to the mystery surrounding Emanuela Orlandi is still there, under thedome of St. Peter’s. “I was betrayed by the people I served, that’s what myfather said on his deathbed,” said Pietro Orlandi on the bench overlooking thecupolone. “That’s proof enough for me.”