Propaganda Due , or
P2, was a
Masonic lodge operating under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Orient of Italy from 1945 to 1976 (when its charter was withdrawn), and a pseudo-Masonic, "black", or "covert" lodge operating illegally (in contravention of Article 18 of the
Constitution of Italy banning secret associations) from 1976 to 1981. During the years that the lodge was headed by
Licio Gelli, P2 was implicated in numerous Italian crimes and mysteries, including the collapse of the
Vatican-affiliated
Banco Ambrosiano, the murders of journalist
Mino Pecorelli and banker
Roberto Calvi, and corruption cases within the nationwide bribe scandal
Tangentopoli. P2 came to light through the investigations into the collapse of
Michele Sindona's financial empire.