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Holy See #2
Council
Council is the riveting story of the first American-born pope, who sends shock waves throughout the Catholic Church when he summons a new gathering of the world’s bishops. His to bring long-needed changes to the life of the Church he loves.
Council is the passionate story of the men and women who are drawn into the maelstrom of faith and politics, passion and the pope who faces the most difficult crisis of his life . . . a powerful Irish cardinal who bitterly opposes the pope’s call for a council . . . a South American businessman who once served in a death squad . . . an American priest who is torn from his troubled parish to play a role in the pope’s dream . . . all are front-line soldiers in the battle of good against evil.
Council is an intimate look at the daily life and the crushing responsibilities of the papacy, as conflict and conspiracies whirl around the controversial figure of Celestine VI. Council is a story you’ll never forget.
Council is the passionate story of the men and women who are drawn into the maelstrom of faith and politics, passion and the pope who faces the most difficult crisis of his life . . . a powerful Irish cardinal who bitterly opposes the pope’s call for a council . . . a South American businessman who once served in a death squad . . . an American priest who is torn from his troubled parish to play a role in the pope’s dream . . . all are front-line soldiers in the battle of good against evil.
Council is an intimate look at the daily life and the crushing responsibilities of the papacy, as conflict and conspiracies whirl around the controversial figure of Celestine VI. Council is a story you’ll never forget.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 17, 2002
15 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Greg Tobin
28 books7 followersGreg Tobin is the author of several books on the Catholic Church. He was the editor of The Catholic Advocate, and during the April 2005 papal transition he appeared frequently on national radio and TV programs as an expert commentator on the popes and the papal election process. His books Selecting the Pope and Holy Father were widely used as authoritative resources on the subject and were quoted in the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, as well as the Associated Press. He lives in West Orange, NJ."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 21, 2017
Very enjoyable story.
A well established storyline with good interaction between historically accurate facts of the church. The author gives a good insight into the workings of the church while also building on the novel characters. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
A well established storyline with good interaction between historically accurate facts of the church. The author gives a good insight into the workings of the church while also building on the novel characters. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 24, 2013
In Tobin’s second book of the Holy See Trilogy, he tackles the issue of, or perhaps need for, an Ecumenical Council within the Catholic Church, a mere 40 years after the previous one ended. With a newly elected pope at the helm, prepared to make sweeping changes, Tobin posits that the need for such an event is, at least through the eyes of the pope, an essential move towards clearing up some major issues within the Church. The book, though fictional, allows Tobin to provide his own narrative commentary on the issue of Vatican II and how it tried to modernise the Church, while helping to segregate it into two major camps; the traditionalists and the modernists. By using his flashback sequences, made popular in the first book, Tobin injects some history into the characters without needing to lay out vast amounts of character development, but also not summarising in a single sentence. Tobin also addresses some major issues facing the Church (female priests and celibacy), while drawing a strong fallible side to his characters, both priests and laypeople. Drawing on real happenings and some strong historical writing, Tobin presents this novel as a great follow-up to the initial foray into the backroom politics of the Vatican and the Catholic Church. What comes of these frank and historic discussions may help formulate some strong opinions in the reader’s mind, or simply add to the confusion.
Tobin’s expertise in this area cannot be discounted, nor should his knowledge be held against him. He will, as most with knowledge, steer the story in a direction with which he is comfortable. He has, apparently, dropped the overly formal nature of the story and let language and storylines become more modern and less ‘pure as the driven snow’. Tobin’s desire to re-examine what some will call the most dramatic change in the Church, Vatican II, through another round of Vatican Council meetings can only show that he sees the strong need to address the issues at hand and not sweep them under the table. Slight jabs at John Paul II’s dismissal of female priests and using the ultra right-wing group within the Church as strongest opponents, Tobin lays the groundwork for what could be a great story and an exciting glimpse into the political decision-making process, with all its pomp and circumstance.
If I had to offer some criticism, it would be the brevity with which the entire Council is addressed in the book. I do not doubt, even with technological advances being what they are, that it takes time to bring 4000+ bishops and cardinals to the Vatican for such an event (Tobin’s constant reminder that John XIII took three years to put the first session of Vatican II together), but the entire discussion from the Council seemed anti-climactic and was stuffed into a small portion of the book. I cannot help but wonder if the lead-up, complete with some of the back story, would have been better placed as the second book in the series (complete with the attempts to derail the process) and then used the last to thoroughly address the Council and the thorny issues at hand. Perhaps using a format similar to Conclave, in which the actual event spans most of the book and digresses to offer some excellent character development and historical flashbacks.
I am unsure if, or when, Tobin wishes to pen the last book in the trilogy. Much has happened since this book came out (the actual death of John Paul II, the papacy of Benedict XVI, and the conclave that brought us Francis I) and I am at a loss as to what might be addressed. World Peace? An inter-religion Council of sorts? The merging of Catholics and Protestants? Tobin seems to have been busy with his non-fiction work and perhaps this trilogy is destined to remain unfinished. Some loose ends were tied off at the end of the second book, leaving the reader to wonder if a third is needed, or if the knowledge found therein would make a great novel to address the ever-growing schism in the Church.
Kudos Mr. Tobin. Another enjoyable book that addresses some of the political and policy questions that keep the Vatican moving forward.
Tobin’s expertise in this area cannot be discounted, nor should his knowledge be held against him. He will, as most with knowledge, steer the story in a direction with which he is comfortable. He has, apparently, dropped the overly formal nature of the story and let language and storylines become more modern and less ‘pure as the driven snow’. Tobin’s desire to re-examine what some will call the most dramatic change in the Church, Vatican II, through another round of Vatican Council meetings can only show that he sees the strong need to address the issues at hand and not sweep them under the table. Slight jabs at John Paul II’s dismissal of female priests and using the ultra right-wing group within the Church as strongest opponents, Tobin lays the groundwork for what could be a great story and an exciting glimpse into the political decision-making process, with all its pomp and circumstance.
If I had to offer some criticism, it would be the brevity with which the entire Council is addressed in the book. I do not doubt, even with technological advances being what they are, that it takes time to bring 4000+ bishops and cardinals to the Vatican for such an event (Tobin’s constant reminder that John XIII took three years to put the first session of Vatican II together), but the entire discussion from the Council seemed anti-climactic and was stuffed into a small portion of the book. I cannot help but wonder if the lead-up, complete with some of the back story, would have been better placed as the second book in the series (complete with the attempts to derail the process) and then used the last to thoroughly address the Council and the thorny issues at hand. Perhaps using a format similar to Conclave, in which the actual event spans most of the book and digresses to offer some excellent character development and historical flashbacks.
I am unsure if, or when, Tobin wishes to pen the last book in the trilogy. Much has happened since this book came out (the actual death of John Paul II, the papacy of Benedict XVI, and the conclave that brought us Francis I) and I am at a loss as to what might be addressed. World Peace? An inter-religion Council of sorts? The merging of Catholics and Protestants? Tobin seems to have been busy with his non-fiction work and perhaps this trilogy is destined to remain unfinished. Some loose ends were tied off at the end of the second book, leaving the reader to wonder if a third is needed, or if the knowledge found therein would make a great novel to address the ever-growing schism in the Church.
Kudos Mr. Tobin. Another enjoyable book that addresses some of the political and policy questions that keep the Vatican moving forward.
October 9, 2007
A novel of passion and the papacy.
I enjoyed reading this book on the story about the first american born pope (not something I think we will see but would be nice!) who shakes up the vatican by summoning a new ecumenical council. To discuss issues regarding married priest and female priest and the surge to prevent the council from happening.
I enjoyed reading this book on the story about the first american born pope (not something I think we will see but would be nice!) who shakes up the vatican by summoning a new ecumenical council. To discuss issues regarding married priest and female priest and the surge to prevent the council from happening.
April 21, 2014
This is such a good book! I truly hated to have it end the same as I hated to have 'Conclave' end before it. I am waiting impatiently for the third book of the trilogy. Although I wonder if there will be a third. It has been a long time since this one came out. I can recommend these two books to anyone.
October 22, 2014
A novel about the first American born pope. It follows the story of his rise through the Church to the Chair of Peter. It is also a tale of faith, politics, power, and passion. This is one of several novels by the author aabout the papacy.
March 11, 2025
As excellent as Conclave was, Council was disappointing. The key turning points in the book landed without much impact. The characters were not sharply drawn. The novel ended in a whimper by the author. Not sure about reading the third book.
August 16, 2012
a bit disappointing. so much build up. so much character development. but the council seems a byline and the ending comes suddenly without a review of the accomplishments of the Council.
August 10, 2012
Pretty good read - 2nd in a trilogy. Not sure if I'll read #1 or #3, but who knows...
August 8, 2013
Reading this book, makes me want to change my life to be a better pastor and shepherd to my Church.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews