Description
By (author) Denoël, Yvonnick; Translated by McKay, Alan
Short /annotation:
An astonishing history of the priests and missionaries whose ‘special ops’ serve the Holy See and 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
:
‘Officially’ the Vatican has no espionage service; but does no one carry out intelligence operations on its behalf? During the Second World War and Cold War, Rome was teeming with spies. A band of undercover monsignors and priests hunted for Vatican ‘moles’, led clandestine diplomacy, investigated assassinations of priests and other scandals threatening the Church, and conducted high-risk missions behind the Iron Curtain.
Drawing on freshly released archives of foreign services that worked with or against the Holy See, Vatican Spies reveals eighty years of shadow wars and dirty tricks. These include infiltrating Russian-speaking priests into the Soviet Union; secret negotiations between John XXIII and Khrushchev; the future Paul VI’s close relationship with the CIA; the Vatican’s infiltration by Eastern Bloc intelligence; the battles between the Jesuits and Opus Dei; and the secret bank funds channelled first to fight communism in South America, then to support Solidarity in Poland.This entertaining book journeys right to the present, uncovering startling machinations under Benedict XVI and, today, Pope Francis.
Review quote:
”An intriguing book… an informative resource on the modern papacy. It will certainly satisfy all those who, after watching Conclave, want to learn more about intrigue in the Holy See.”
Review quote:
”A no-holds-barred account of the Vatican’s covert operations … is revelatory … The Vatican is so secretive that the book becomes a modern history of the Holy See. There is much blood on the carpet.”
Review quote:
”Utterly absorbing.”
Review quote:
”Vatican Spies has it all; murder, blackmail, betrayal, deceit, treachery, with even priests inside the Vatican acting as double agents – through blackmail because of some sexual misdemeanour or personal greed. There is so much noir here it would have provided John le Carré with rich material for a lengthy second career, had he lived. … [Vatican Spies] is a compelling, even compulsive read. This book is, quite literally, unputdownable.”
Review quote:
”Candid [and] wide-ranging… Vatican Spies is a tale of remarkable machinations – ones that apparently continue to the current reign of Pope Francis – and a story rich in betrayals, sacrifices, compromises, “damage control” dirty tricks and even murders.”
Review quote:
”[An] even-handed study … [of] the infiltration of the Vatican by foreign powers.”
Review quote:
”Enthralling.”
Review quote:
””Blockbuster” and “rollercoaster” are words commonly associated with novels, but they also apply to this exceptional work of non-fiction. … This riveting history of the Vatican encompasses a breathtaking tumult of events, names and scandals.’
Review quote:
”On almost every page there is a story which would provide the plot for a geopolitical thriller.”
Review quote:
‘A very exciting and intriguing read.’
Review quote:
”[An] astonishing history.”
Review quote:
”A riveting read of secrecy and subterfuge with real-life detail and evocative and colourful s. At the end you”ll be agog waiting for the next chapter of history to unroll.”
Review quote:
”An entertaining and enlightening read.”
Review quote:
”An impressive and rigorous narrative.”
Review quote:
”This book finally reveals the secret service of
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.