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Foreword

Sometimes a story finds an author rather than the reverse. After writing the #1 New York Times Best Seller, Unfit for Command, in 2004, I resolved not to write again, despite numerous offers, requests, and even suggested stories.

I came to Houston in 1975 after graduating from the Naval Academy and the University of Texas School of Law, followed by a clerkship at the United States Supreme Court. For years I was deeply involved as a lawyer in representing many oil companies and pipelines, and sometimes suing them. From this I knew, of course, the near legendary stories circulating in the oil industry of the great George Strake and his unlikely discovery of the immense Conroe field near my home in Houston. I only learned the story of this secretive man, however, when his son and grandchildren became my friends. Through them and much independent research, I came to know of his largely undisclosed but immense financial support of the Catholic Church and, in particular, the special projects of Popes Pius XII and Paul VI, including the search for the grave of the Apostle Peter.

Since early childhood, I have been a student of Roman and early Christian history and archeology. My love of these subjects and a restless soul have taken me to many major archeological sites, from Christian catacombs south of Istanbul, to Crete and sites in North Africa. When I began to look into the search for Peter’s grave, financed by George Strake, I immediately ran into the amazing story of the great pioneer woman, archeologist Margherita Guarducci, and her epic battle over many years with a Vatican priest and archeologist, Father Antonio Ferrua. I have spent a lifetime researching massive international legal cases involving subjects as diverse as a 1988 oilfield case with the People’s Republic of China and cases in places like Colombia, Ecuador, and Kazakhstan. Because of those experiences, I was able to track the numerous technical works written in Italian, Spanish, German, and even Latin and Greek, tied to the search for Saint Peter’s tomb.

Stemming from this background, I felt compelled to write a book telling the great, true story of the seventy-five-year search for Peter’s grave. It was only the serendipitous coincidence of my home in Houston, friendship with the Strakes, familiarity with oil exploration, love of and familiarity with Roman and Christian archeology, and a lifetime of research in complex international matters that made it possible to gather and record (with the assistance of many others, including my coauthors) the facts of this extraordinary story. I felt that, after seventy-five years, this was a story the world needed to hear.

Understanding both the facts of this story and the need to record it, I nonetheless dithered, doing little writing. Several years ago, I was suddenly diagnosed with four distinct types of cancer — throat, head, back, and legs. In the course of treatment, I contracted the dreaded MRSA bacterial infection. My chances of survival were less than 5 percent. I was and am not afraid of dying, having stared death in the face many times in Vietnam and elsewhere. However, I was afraid of dying with this story untold.

My prayer and my promise was that I would survive at least long enough to record the facts of this great story — that it would not die unrecorded with me. I thank my great coauthors, my wonderful friend and agent, Jeff Carneal, and many others who made this book possible. Most of all, I thank God for the time and breath to write it.

A slaughter and persecution of ancient Christian communities in the Middle East is underway today, even using the familiar, dehumanizing tools of crucifixion, fire, and rape employed by the persecutors of Christians in the ancient Roman Empire. These Christians are the true brothers and sisters in faith of the brave Christians depicted in this book. Inspired by George Strake, I contribute all proceeds I receive from this book to their relief.

— John O’Neill