I've been mulling over the Siri Thesis, and while I am quite convinced that Siri was indeed elected Pope in 1958 but, for whatever reason, did not endure in his exercise of the office, handing it over to Roncalli in another conclave, I'm puzzled by a couple of things:
First, the threat of a nuclear attack on Rome. Presumably this would have been by the Soviets, "egged on" by whomever wanted Roncalli to ascend to the papacy --- again, this was apparently not so much because Siri was Siri, but because he was not Roncalli, and if another cardinal had been elected, the objection would have been the same --- "we wanted Roncalli". So let's say that Siri had said "go ahead, make my day", and had remained as Pope Gregory XVII. Then the bombs start falling, and there is a parking lot where the Vatican and Rome used to be. Who, then, benefits? Cui bono? How are the ends accomplished that would have been accomplished if Roncalli had been elected? (And, unless he had been spirited out before the nuclear attack, Roncalli would be dead, as would be the rest of the Cardinals.) Was it a question of "well, we can destroy the Church and undermine the Faith one way or the other --- either Roncalli can become Pope and things can be set in motion according to our plan, or there will be no Cardinals, no Vatican, and, at least at the moment, no Pope, and we will accomplish our ends that way"? The communists, the "learned elders", the Freemasons will then destroy the Church and the Faith through a "Plan B"? And what would that plan have consisted of? Or do they just throw up their hands, say "that Siri was one tough [insert expletive of choice here], we tried, it didn't work, such is life"?
Second, there are supposedly going to be these riots that break out. Where? Led by whom? How widespread will they be, and how long will they last? And will there be riots because all of these rioters so object to Siri being Pope? Or riots because all of these people wanted Roncalli and didn't get him? I seriously doubt there was a place anywhere in the Catholic world, where any large groups of people would have objections either way. Did Roncalli promise all of these people something that they'd better get "or else"? And what would that have been?
Again, I can buy Siri having been elected Pope, but the other things, they don't quite add up.