num_pages: 320
description: The revealing New York Times bestseller examines the reign of Pope Benedict the papal conclave process and the history of one of the worlds oldest and most mysterious institutions For more than twenty-five years John Thavis held one of the most fascinating journalistic jobs in the world: reporting on the inner workings of the Vatican. His daily exposure to the power politics and personalities in the seat of Roman Catholicism gave him a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on an institution that is far less monolithic and unified than it first appears. Thavis reveals Vatican City as a place where Curia cardinals fight private wars scandals threaten to undermine papal authority and reverence for the past is continually upended by the practical considerations of modern life. Thavis takes readers from a bell tower high above St. Peters to the depths of the basilica and the saints burial place from the politicking surrounding the election of a new pope and the ever-growing sexual abuse scandals around the world to controversies about the Vaticans stand on contraception and more. Perceptive sharply written and witty The Vatican Diaries will appeal not only to Catholics (lapsed as well as devout) but to any readers interested in international diplomacy and the role of religion in an increasingly secularized world.
language: English
title: The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church
publisher: Viking Adult