Francesco Pazienza (born March 17, 1946, in Bari, Italy) was an Italian financier, businessman, and intelligence operative who served as an officer in SISMI, Italy's military intelligence agency, where he was assistant to SISMI Director Santovito. He was a leading member of the clandestine Propaganda Due (P2) Masonic lodge. Pazienza operated as a fixer and intermediary in high-stakes international dealings, linking business acumen with covert operations across political, financial, and espionage networks. He was deeply involved in major international scandals, including propaganda efforts, arms deals, and financial manipulations implicating the Vatican, major banks, and foreign governments. His notoriety peaked during the 1980s Banco Ambrosiano scandal, in which he played a key role in the collapse of the Italian bank linked to the Vatican Bank (IOR); for this involvement, he was convicted in 1993 and sentenced to prison. Earlier, in 1982, he was convicted for mishandling state secrets related to his SISMI activities. Additional convictions include political manipulation, forgery, and the protection of criminals and terrorists. Allegations against him also involved illicit arms trafficking and disinformation campaigns, including fabricating stories to influence U.S. policy during the Cold War. His operations reportedly facilitated backchannel communications in events such as the Iran-Contra affair. After serving extensive prison time, Pazienza was paroled in April 2007 and resided in Lerici, Italy. Throughout his life, he maintained a web of influence involving politicians, spies, and tycoons, embodying the shadowy intersections of money, power, and secrecy in post-war Italy.