of the Virgin Mary at Međugorje in what is today Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said that false pretenses were used in obtaining earlier his recommendation. Concerning the Garabandal apparitions, he remained open minded. In March 1997, Martin claimed on Radio Liberty's Steel on Steel, that two popes were murdered during the 20th century: Pope Pius XI was allegedly murdered by Benito Mussolini, because of his 1931 encyclical, Non abbiamo bisogno, which was critical of the Italian Fascist state. Pope John Paul I was allegedly murdered according to Martin's book, Vatican: A Novel, by Jean-Marie Villot, formerly Cardinal Secretary of State under Pope Paul VI, under orders from the Soviet Union. Martin stated that, along with diabolic possession, angelic possession also exists and that angels could have use of preternatural powers in certain circumstances. Siri theory Martin partially gave credence to the Siri thesis, saying that Cardinal Giuseppe Siri was twice elected pope in papal conclaves, but declined his election after being pressured by so-called worldly forces acting through cardinals present at the conclaves. Martin called this the little brutality. On the one hand, Martin says that Siri was intimidated; on the other hand he says that Siri did indicate that his decision not to accept was made freely. The first election, according to Martin, happened at Papal conclave, 1963. Martin mentioned the possibility of a nuclear threat which involved "the very existence of the Vatican state" during this conclave on pages 600–610 of The Keys of this Blood, The second election was the Papal conclave, October 1978. Martin said on Steel on Steel in March 1997, that Siri received a written note after his initial election threatening him and his family with death should he accept. Freemasons Martin claimed that John XXIII and Paul VI were Freemasons during a certain period and that photographs and other detailed documents proving this were in the possession of the Vatican State Secretariat. He allegorically mentioned these supposed facts in his 1986 novel Vatican: A Novel, where he related the Masonic adherence of Pope Giovanni Angelica and Giovanni De Brescia. Martin also claimed that Archbishop Annibale Bugnini was a Freemason and that Agostino Casaroli, long-time Cardinal Secretary of State, was an atheist. Metz accord In his 1987 book The Jesuits, Martin describes negotiations and a diplomatic agreement between the Vatican and the USSR named as the "Moscow Vatican Pact of 1962" or the "Metz