PopeWatch receives a good deal of curious correspondence. Most of it is filed away after a brief reading. However this letter requires a bit more attention.
It was printed out on official Vatican stationary. It was contained in an unmarked letter with no return address. It read as follows:
I am a puzzle solver! Are you a puzzle solver? If you are perhaps we can work together to solve some puzzles at the Vatican. If you are interested reprint this letter in a PopeWatch Saturday column. Puzzles can be fun but they also can be dangerous. Take care.
The letter was signed Astrid.
Well Astrid, PopeWatch is not particularly good at puzzles nor is he very fond of them. However, he is intrigued by your offer. The first piece of the puzzle is up to you to supply.
At the bottom of the letter was an anagram. After working on it for a few minutes PopeWatch came up with Deo Vindice, the national motto of the Confederacy.
“Puzzles can be fun but they also can be dangerous.”
Hummm.
Is Astrid trying to scare you with that sentence?
Dangerous. Really?
Very strange.
Vatican stationary too.
The Riddler is back.
Holy Smoke Batman.
?……ha. It’s Mark Shea!
Any puzzles from the Vatican must be in braille since they must really think the flock is blind to what they are doing to God’s church.