The Vatican Diaries
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church

A revealing inside look at one of the worlds most powerful and 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 listeners 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 Diarieswill appeal not only to Catholicslapsed as well as devoutbut to anyone interested in international diplomacy and the role of religion in an increasingly secularized world.