What does Cotton Malone do when there's no fire in the USA? He saves Europe! The world is captivated by Rome, where a new pope is being chosen in the Sistine Chapel. However, one seat remains empty – one of the cardinals is on his way to Malta to find a document that could overturn a millennia-old order. Meanwhile, Cotton Malone is searching for the legendary letters between Churchill and Mussolini that disappeared in 1945 at Lake Como. But his quest attracts the attention of the mysterious Knights of the Order of Malta. And they have their hands in the upcoming papal election and are ready to go to any lengths to achieve their goals...