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The Vatican #3
Lazzaro
Leone XIV, pontefice dal pugno di ferro che ha soffocato ogni dissenso all'interno della Chiesa, è due volte minacciato di morte: deve essere sottoposto a un delicatissimo intervento di cardiochirurgia e nel contempo un nuovo e misterioso gruppo terroristico, la Spada dell'Islam, lancia contro di lui oscuri messaggi di morte. Domande senza risposta e polemiche senza soluzione sconvolgono l'anziano vicario di Cristo, il Vaticano e tutto il mondo cattolico.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
46 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Morris L. West
133 books174 followersMorris Langlo West was born in St Kilda, Melbourne in 1916. At the age of fourteen, he entered the Christian Brothers seminary ‘as a kind of refuge’ from a difficult childhood. He attended the University of Melbourne and worked as a teacher. In 1941 he left the Christian Brothers without taking final vows. In World War II he worked as a code-breaker, and for a time he was private secretary to former prime minister Billy Hughes.
After the war, West became a successful writer and producer of radio serials. In 1955 he left Australia to build an international career as a writer. With his family, he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA, including a stint as the Vatican correspondent for the British newspaper, the Daily Mail. He returned to Australia in 1982.
Morris West wrote 30 books and many plays, and several of his novels were adapted for film. His books were published in 28 languages and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Each new book he wrote after he became an established writer sold more than one million copies.
West received many awards and accolades over his long writing career, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the W.H. Heinemann Award of the Royal Society of Literature for The Devil's Advocate. In 1978 he was elected a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1985, and was made an Officer of the Order (AO) in 1997.
Morris West died at his desk in 1999.
After the war, West became a successful writer and producer of radio serials. In 1955 he left Australia to build an international career as a writer. With his family, he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA, including a stint as the Vatican correspondent for the British newspaper, the Daily Mail. He returned to Australia in 1982.
Morris West wrote 30 books and many plays, and several of his novels were adapted for film. His books were published in 28 languages and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Each new book he wrote after he became an established writer sold more than one million copies.
West received many awards and accolades over his long writing career, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the W.H. Heinemann Award of the Royal Society of Literature for The Devil's Advocate. In 1978 he was elected a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1985, and was made an Officer of the Order (AO) in 1997.
Morris West died at his desk in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 11, 2025
Oct 10 ~~ Review asap.
Oct 11 ~~ The Pope in Lazarus faces cardiac surgery and the prospect of intense emotional changes afterwards. If he survives the procedure, of course.
He is known as a stern, hardline throwback to earlier strict Popes who expected blind obedience to rigid rules and had nothing to do with the modern world which has changed so many aspects of life both within the Vatican and out in the world.
Will the operation and its aftermath change our Pope into a human being with a heart? Or will he continue with his usual cold approach to life? Which option is better for the church?
Although this is book three in what is known as the Vatican Series by West, it is not absolutely necessary to read books 1 and 2 before this one. If you do, you will understand certain references and easily recognize a few minor characters, but if you don't, it's no problem, the story will still be captivating.
Oct 11 ~~ The Pope in Lazarus faces cardiac surgery and the prospect of intense emotional changes afterwards. If he survives the procedure, of course.
He is known as a stern, hardline throwback to earlier strict Popes who expected blind obedience to rigid rules and had nothing to do with the modern world which has changed so many aspects of life both within the Vatican and out in the world.
Will the operation and its aftermath change our Pope into a human being with a heart? Or will he continue with his usual cold approach to life? Which option is better for the church?
Although this is book three in what is known as the Vatican Series by West, it is not absolutely necessary to read books 1 and 2 before this one. If you do, you will understand certain references and easily recognize a few minor characters, but if you don't, it's no problem, the story will still be captivating.
April 27, 2023
Valoración exacta: 7,5/10
Este libro, publicado en 1990 aunque habría sido escrito con bastante anterioridad, es la tercera parte de una tetralogía de novelas ambientadas en el Vaticano, que además incluye: Las sandalias del pescador (1963), Los bufones de Dios (1981) y Eminencia (1998). Sin embargo, las cuatro son novelas que se pueden leer sin problemas de manera independiente, ya que tienen como protagonistas a distintos Pontífices, a lo largo de períodos de tiempo muy extensos.
En el caso de Lázaro, narra los últimos meses del papa León XIV (nombre inventado, que no corresponde a ningún papa existente).
La novela se divide en dos líneas argumentales simultáneas: La primera tiene que ver con el propio Papa, que se caracterizaba por ser extremadamente rígido y conservador en cuanto a la doctrina eclesiástica, pero, tras ser sometido a una operación de corazón, emerge del trauma con una mentalidad cambiada y planea realizar una serie de reformas que convertirán a la Iglesia en un organismo más piadoso y cercano a sus fieles. La segunda, involucra a un grupo terrorista islámicos llamado La espada de Dios, que intenta acabar con la vida del Papa mientras se encuentra convaleciente de su operación, y miembros del Mosad (el servicio de inteligencia israelí) que intentarán frustrar sus planes.
Hay un gran contraste entre las dos líneas argumentales. Mientras la primera está muy bien desarrollada y abundan las reflexiones de índole religiosa, así como los hechos vinculados al funcionamiento interno de la Curia Católica, la segunda es tratada mucho más superficialmente, y no me terminó de convencer.
En resumen, pese al escaso desarrollo de una de las subtramas, Lázaro me gustó. Aunque no soy creyente, siento mucha curiosidad por las cuestiones y problemáticas religiosas, por lo que la novela me enganchó mucho. Aunque entiendo que para alguien que no sienta interés por estos temas puede resultar mortalmente aburrida. Se nota mucho que West fue seminarista antes de dedicarse a la literatura: la forma en que describe las jerarquías, alianzas y conflictos dentro de la Iglesia resulta muy verosímil, aunque es evidente que en algunos puntos ha debido investigar mucho, y otros seguramente recurriría a su imaginación.
Es el tercer libro de West que leo. Los anteriores, El abogado del diablo (1959) y Arlequín (1974), me habían gustado, aunque la verdad que recuerdo bastante poco de ellos, sobre todo del segundo. Seguramente con Lázaro me ocurrirá algo parecido. Aunque lo disfruté, dudé entre calificarlo con tres o cuatro estrellas. No creo que sea un libro que me resulte especialmente memorable. Con todo, me dio cierta curiosidad por leer otras obras del autor, especialmente por Las sandalias del pescador, libro inaugural de esta saga papal.
Este libro, publicado en 1990 aunque habría sido escrito con bastante anterioridad, es la tercera parte de una tetralogía de novelas ambientadas en el Vaticano, que además incluye: Las sandalias del pescador (1963), Los bufones de Dios (1981) y Eminencia (1998). Sin embargo, las cuatro son novelas que se pueden leer sin problemas de manera independiente, ya que tienen como protagonistas a distintos Pontífices, a lo largo de períodos de tiempo muy extensos.
En el caso de Lázaro, narra los últimos meses del papa León XIV (nombre inventado, que no corresponde a ningún papa existente).
La novela se divide en dos líneas argumentales simultáneas: La primera tiene que ver con el propio Papa, que se caracterizaba por ser extremadamente rígido y conservador en cuanto a la doctrina eclesiástica, pero, tras ser sometido a una operación de corazón, emerge del trauma con una mentalidad cambiada y planea realizar una serie de reformas que convertirán a la Iglesia en un organismo más piadoso y cercano a sus fieles. La segunda, involucra a un grupo terrorista islámicos llamado La espada de Dios, que intenta acabar con la vida del Papa mientras se encuentra convaleciente de su operación, y miembros del Mosad (el servicio de inteligencia israelí) que intentarán frustrar sus planes.
Hay un gran contraste entre las dos líneas argumentales. Mientras la primera está muy bien desarrollada y abundan las reflexiones de índole religiosa, así como los hechos vinculados al funcionamiento interno de la Curia Católica, la segunda es tratada mucho más superficialmente, y no me terminó de convencer.
En resumen, pese al escaso desarrollo de una de las subtramas, Lázaro me gustó. Aunque no soy creyente, siento mucha curiosidad por las cuestiones y problemáticas religiosas, por lo que la novela me enganchó mucho. Aunque entiendo que para alguien que no sienta interés por estos temas puede resultar mortalmente aburrida. Se nota mucho que West fue seminarista antes de dedicarse a la literatura: la forma en que describe las jerarquías, alianzas y conflictos dentro de la Iglesia resulta muy verosímil, aunque es evidente que en algunos puntos ha debido investigar mucho, y otros seguramente recurriría a su imaginación.
Es el tercer libro de West que leo. Los anteriores, El abogado del diablo (1959) y Arlequín (1974), me habían gustado, aunque la verdad que recuerdo bastante poco de ellos, sobre todo del segundo. Seguramente con Lázaro me ocurrirá algo parecido. Aunque lo disfruté, dudé entre calificarlo con tres o cuatro estrellas. No creo que sea un libro que me resulte especialmente memorable. Con todo, me dio cierta curiosidad por leer otras obras del autor, especialmente por Las sandalias del pescador, libro inaugural de esta saga papal.
December 2, 2017
For years I have been a Morris West fan. The Shoes of the Fisherman, The Devil's Advocate, even the lesser known The Second Victory (set during the post-war Amerian occupation in Germany), are all thoughtful books in which Mr. West explores the struggles of Catholics as they deal with Church strictures and dogmas, and the God whom those strictures and dogmas try to present. The plots are tight and driven, the writing excellent. The struggles are sincere, the protagonists for the most part believers. Though West avoids easy answers, there is a transcendence in the struggle, as both sides are explored.
Lazarus is different. This book is one long series of boring polemics against the Catholic Church. The Church needs to decentalize, defending dogma is rigid and inflexible, the Church cares more for forms than people, priests need to marry or be women, abortion is okay, contraception... the whole litany is here. It is presented in long, predictable speeches made to a supposedly rigid Pope who immediately changes his entire outlook, even before the supposedly life-altering surgery. There is no reasoned exposition of the other side, no defense at all of the Church teaching, just cardboard, rigid, scheming traditionalists, and a silly plot that is long telegraphed and serves as window dressing for Mr. West's unburdening of his grievances against his Church. If you like cardboard criticisms of the Catholic Church, and are not easily bored, you may be able to get through this book. If you are a Catholic with any sympathy for what the Church, however imperfectly, is trying to accomplish, or if you hope for the nuances of Mr. West's other works (those named above), then pass on this weak effort.
Lazarus is different. This book is one long series of boring polemics against the Catholic Church. The Church needs to decentalize, defending dogma is rigid and inflexible, the Church cares more for forms than people, priests need to marry or be women, abortion is okay, contraception... the whole litany is here. It is presented in long, predictable speeches made to a supposedly rigid Pope who immediately changes his entire outlook, even before the supposedly life-altering surgery. There is no reasoned exposition of the other side, no defense at all of the Church teaching, just cardboard, rigid, scheming traditionalists, and a silly plot that is long telegraphed and serves as window dressing for Mr. West's unburdening of his grievances against his Church. If you like cardboard criticisms of the Catholic Church, and are not easily bored, you may be able to get through this book. If you are a Catholic with any sympathy for what the Church, however imperfectly, is trying to accomplish, or if you hope for the nuances of Mr. West's other works (those named above), then pass on this weak effort.
March 26, 2021
"Lazarus" is another book by Morris West revolving around the Catholic Church and its Seat in the Vatican. This book is considered the third volume of what's been dubbed his "Vatican Trilogy," which trilogy is now a tetralogy with the addition of West’s more recent “Eminence.”
In Lazarus, the reigning Pope Leo XIV confronts death: from cardiac disease and from a threatened assassination. While the Pope had always been a staunch conservative, his suffering begins to soften his approach to many policies. But to change his methods he must grapple with Vatican politics, the same politics he set in motion. All makes for another engaging tale by Morris West.
Once again the narrative will interest those who enjoy stories of the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and the pomp and circumstance of the religion. It was interesting to read on the book jacket that the author had been a monk for a dozen years, and that explains much of his grasp of issues and debates inside the Church. Lazarus was my personal favorite in the first three books. Recommended.
In Lazarus, the reigning Pope Leo XIV confronts death: from cardiac disease and from a threatened assassination. While the Pope had always been a staunch conservative, his suffering begins to soften his approach to many policies. But to change his methods he must grapple with Vatican politics, the same politics he set in motion. All makes for another engaging tale by Morris West.
Once again the narrative will interest those who enjoy stories of the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and the pomp and circumstance of the religion. It was interesting to read on the book jacket that the author had been a monk for a dozen years, and that explains much of his grasp of issues and debates inside the Church. Lazarus was my personal favorite in the first three books. Recommended.
July 22, 2018
Intriguing, heartfelt and elegeantly written, Lazarus is ultimately a tale of the most basic, yet profound questions human beings continue to ask; Who is God? What is religion and who gets to define it? How can we live our lives as good human beings?
Lazarus sets the stage within the intricacies of international diplomacy and internal Vatican politics, but it does not stay focused there. West has ultimately written a book of conversations and moments of private reflection centred around individuals each facing moments of crisis, from loss of faith, human mortality, our relationships with others, to personal identity, the perception of others and the allure of ambition.
Lazarus has struck an emotional chord within me because it took the Pope, a figure of utmost political and religious authority, to describe our universal human dilemma, coming to terms with who we are, our relationships with others and accepting the losses and changes that come with life. Without judgement, West has portrayed the journeys of loss, growth and change we are all on and within this journey our attempts to find peace.
I will remember Lazarus fondly. Regardless of your personal beliefs or ideologies, the issues West has covered are universal and inherently human, and I am sure everyone can find something to relate to within Lazarus.
Lazarus sets the stage within the intricacies of international diplomacy and internal Vatican politics, but it does not stay focused there. West has ultimately written a book of conversations and moments of private reflection centred around individuals each facing moments of crisis, from loss of faith, human mortality, our relationships with others, to personal identity, the perception of others and the allure of ambition.
Lazarus has struck an emotional chord within me because it took the Pope, a figure of utmost political and religious authority, to describe our universal human dilemma, coming to terms with who we are, our relationships with others and accepting the losses and changes that come with life. Without judgement, West has portrayed the journeys of loss, growth and change we are all on and within this journey our attempts to find peace.
I will remember Lazarus fondly. Regardless of your personal beliefs or ideologies, the issues West has covered are universal and inherently human, and I am sure everyone can find something to relate to within Lazarus.
November 28, 2008
Morris West has written numerous popular works concerning the Catholic Church and its relationship to the world. Lazarus is a short spy/drama/popular religious thought novel.
The hero, Pope Leo XIV, learns that he must undergo major coronary bypass surgery. He muses on the prospect of Lazarus-like coming back from death after surgery and wonders what impact the experience will have on his reign. In the meantime, an Arab terrorist squad plots to assassinate the Pope for a number of nebulous reasons. The Pope's surgeon is Jewish (with a Lutheran lover) so the Mossad enters the fray to prevent the killing. Sounds like a mess.
The irony for the Pope comes from his manner of ascension to the throne of St. Peter. He had orchestrated the downfall of his predecessor who had revealed personal communications from God. Naturally this worried the Curia, and he was removed gracefully. Now Pope Leo is having a change of heart himself. He had been known as an immovable and hard conservative, totally inflexible in matters of doctrine. The manner and mechanism of his change is what makes the book interesting; the intrigues and terrorism add spice. Despite its somewhat bizarre plotting the philosophical musings make it engrossing.
The hero, Pope Leo XIV, learns that he must undergo major coronary bypass surgery. He muses on the prospect of Lazarus-like coming back from death after surgery and wonders what impact the experience will have on his reign. In the meantime, an Arab terrorist squad plots to assassinate the Pope for a number of nebulous reasons. The Pope's surgeon is Jewish (with a Lutheran lover) so the Mossad enters the fray to prevent the killing. Sounds like a mess.
The irony for the Pope comes from his manner of ascension to the throne of St. Peter. He had orchestrated the downfall of his predecessor who had revealed personal communications from God. Naturally this worried the Curia, and he was removed gracefully. Now Pope Leo is having a change of heart himself. He had been known as an immovable and hard conservative, totally inflexible in matters of doctrine. The manner and mechanism of his change is what makes the book interesting; the intrigues and terrorism add spice. Despite its somewhat bizarre plotting the philosophical musings make it engrossing.
January 20, 2024
This is a 400 page book that is really two books intertwined really nicely. There's a papal action and love story about assassins, Vatican City politics, the Mossad, and a doctor and an ex-priest and the woman they both love and a few other things that is pretty good and really moves things along...and then there's a very philosophical book about the Catholic religion, it's leaders and their flaws in how they lead things and how one man can have his heart not just operated on but changed as he awakens a new person.
If it sounds confusing...it's shockingly really not. There's times of movement and even death, and then there's times of discussion or reflection, and they seamlessly work together in the story.
Definitely better than I was thinking when I picked up this 30+ year old paperback. Worth the time if any interest, even if some of it is a bit dense.
If it sounds confusing...it's shockingly really not. There's times of movement and even death, and then there's times of discussion or reflection, and they seamlessly work together in the story.
Definitely better than I was thinking when I picked up this 30+ year old paperback. Worth the time if any interest, even if some of it is a bit dense.
October 6, 2022
These books got worse and worse as they progressed. By the time of "Lazarus", Morris West seems to be angry and bitter that a more progressive viewpoint has not prevailed in the Catholic Church and his animosity towards the traditions of the Church are very clear. Fast forward to 2022 and we know the story. Traditional dioceses and religious communities have vocations, liberal ones do not. No one wants to be Catholic if it just means regurgitating secularism.
April 22, 2010
Great story in the 'Dan Brown' tradition of mystery and suspense. Critical of the institution of religious life and the Catholic church in particular, and some "facts" mis-researched about the faith...
April 3, 2020
Three and a half stars.
June 26, 2011
One of the best i've read this year. I wouldn't say this is a perfect novel, it has lots of shortcomings, but the crux, the main concept is engaging, at least to me. I loved those long reflections on life by the Pope, his conversations with Anton Drexel and the others in Vatican. I agree most of it didn't make sense to me, but still at least the parts that i could make sense of, really enthralled me :)
Plot: A tyrant pope just about to undergo Bypass surgery starts reflecting on his life, on the way he ruled over the church as a strict disciplinarian. Soon after the surgery, he starts laying out plans to undo all the damage he had done. Also on the sidelines there is a terrorist cell planning to kill the Pope at his most vulnerable. A minor cat-mouse game between the terrorist cell and the Mossad ensues. Mossad is in the picture as the surgeon operating on the pope happens to be a Jew and the clinic happens to be a sort of Mossad base-camp and hence their responsibility to keep the Pope safe! It's an engaging and a fitting climax at the end!
Plot: A tyrant pope just about to undergo Bypass surgery starts reflecting on his life, on the way he ruled over the church as a strict disciplinarian. Soon after the surgery, he starts laying out plans to undo all the damage he had done. Also on the sidelines there is a terrorist cell planning to kill the Pope at his most vulnerable. A minor cat-mouse game between the terrorist cell and the Mossad ensues. Mossad is in the picture as the surgeon operating on the pope happens to be a Jew and the clinic happens to be a sort of Mossad base-camp and hence their responsibility to keep the Pope safe! It's an engaging and a fitting climax at the end!
March 6, 2022
Morris West is such a good story teller and in this, the final part of the trilogy (the other two books in order are "The Shoes of the Fisherman" and "The Clowns of God") I think is the best.
I've just read a review that castigates West for having a go at the Catholic Church in this book. Someone has to; it needs to be done as more unseemly behaviour comes to light and I think that Leo XIV (the Pope in this story) got it right when he came to the conclusion that the Church did not serve the Faithful well. But, hey, it's fiction and not a philosophical tome.
I've just read a review that castigates West for having a go at the Catholic Church in this book. Someone has to; it needs to be done as more unseemly behaviour comes to light and I think that Leo XIV (the Pope in this story) got it right when he came to the conclusion that the Church did not serve the Faithful well. But, hey, it's fiction and not a philosophical tome.
October 1, 2024
Quotes from Lazarus:
“For him, faith was the gift that made mystery acceptable, while hope made it endurable and love brought joy even in the cloud of unknowing.”
“Before you stage a revolution, think what you have to put in its place - otherwise you are left with a vacuum and seven devils rush in to take possession!"
'And Jesus said to them: "The light is among you still. Finish your journey while you still have the light, before the darkness overtakes you.”
John xii: 35
“For him, faith was the gift that made mystery acceptable, while hope made it endurable and love brought joy even in the cloud of unknowing.”
“Before you stage a revolution, think what you have to put in its place - otherwise you are left with a vacuum and seven devils rush in to take possession!"
'And Jesus said to them: "The light is among you still. Finish your journey while you still have the light, before the darkness overtakes you.”
John xii: 35
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2021
Riveting
I liked the other two books in the trilogy, but this one eclipsed them. Such intrigue and also hope for a church held back by convention. As a Catholic it gave me much food for thought.
I liked the other two books in the trilogy, but this one eclipsed them. Such intrigue and also hope for a church held back by convention. As a Catholic it gave me much food for thought.
May 18, 2025
A very good read
Excellently written
Thought provoking
I Would recommend reading this book as it's an informative, compulsive, fascinating experience.
The other books in this trilogy are equally worth reading.
Excellently written
Thought provoking
I Would recommend reading this book as it's an informative, compulsive, fascinating experience.
The other books in this trilogy are equally worth reading.
June 16, 2017
disappointing ending
August 10, 2020
Atrapante novela del magistral Morris West. Intriga y suspenso en torno del Vaticano.
esc_comp
January 1, 20211994, 1990
June 20, 2021
Exorcising.
April 2, 2022
Los tres últimos capítulos arruinaron la historia entera, aunque se rescatan las disertaciones religiosas en la novela. Supongo que para las personas religiosas, será un punto a favor.
September 9, 2022
Truth
Being an old man and Catholic I found !y self enraptured by the Questions asked . I found out how political an institution founded in love has become.
Being an old man and Catholic I found !y self enraptured by the Questions asked . I found out how political an institution founded in love has become.
July 2, 2023
a must read
The story carry’s excitement and anticipation from beginning to end
Lending itself to a seamless last book in the trilogy by Morris West, who sets the level of intrigue at par with history and mysteries of the Roman Catholic Church
The story carry’s excitement and anticipation from beginning to end
Lending itself to a seamless last book in the trilogy by Morris West, who sets the level of intrigue at par with history and mysteries of the Roman Catholic Church
May 4, 2025
Excellent
Why has this not been made into a film? A great slow burning political thriller with an amazingly staged dramatic ending.
Why has this not been made into a film? A great slow burning political thriller with an amazingly staged dramatic ending.
May 5, 2025
intrigue and reality held in compassion
Honest about difficulties of the power games of large organisations yet shone through with hope from particular relationships . Good read
Honest about difficulties of the power games of large organisations yet shone through with hope from particular relationships . Good read
August 31, 2025
*Leo XIV is
*An old, overly-
*Zealous
*And ultra- conservative Pope
*Ruling a dwindling Catholic Church with an iron fist, who is about to
*Undergo a heart bypass. Will he be able to resume his Pontifical duties if he
*Survives the risky operation? Worse, will he survive a terrorist threat to his life in his vulnerable, convalescent state? Better yet, will he have a literal "change of heart" towards his rigorous traditionalist views? I nearly DNFed this as I wasn't connecting with the characters as much as I did with the first 2 books of the Vatican Trilogy. Also, the Islamic terrorist threat I felt was just too sudden without a little build-up towards it & no reasons given, just inserted out of the blue; dropped into the plot to give it conflict & dramatic tension I guess. But I did like the tidbits of Church/Papal history that were interspersed in the book, & the brief character study of a believer losing faith. I would've enjoyed it more & perhaps have connected with the character who had lost faith if West had elaborated more on the theme. But I can't complain too much, he's still a marvellous narrator of the human condition & a master storyteller... though this was for me the weaker of his 3 Vatican books so far. I'm hoping the next one, EMINENCE, will raise the star ratings to SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN level.
*An old, overly-
*Zealous
*And ultra- conservative Pope
*Ruling a dwindling Catholic Church with an iron fist, who is about to
*Undergo a heart bypass. Will he be able to resume his Pontifical duties if he
*Survives the risky operation? Worse, will he survive a terrorist threat to his life in his vulnerable, convalescent state? Better yet, will he have a literal "change of heart" towards his rigorous traditionalist views? I nearly DNFed this as I wasn't connecting with the characters as much as I did with the first 2 books of the Vatican Trilogy. Also, the Islamic terrorist threat I felt was just too sudden without a little build-up towards it & no reasons given, just inserted out of the blue; dropped into the plot to give it conflict & dramatic tension I guess. But I did like the tidbits of Church/Papal history that were interspersed in the book, & the brief character study of a believer losing faith. I would've enjoyed it more & perhaps have connected with the character who had lost faith if West had elaborated more on the theme. But I can't complain too much, he's still a marvellous narrator of the human condition & a master storyteller... though this was for me the weaker of his 3 Vatican books so far. I'm hoping the next one, EMINENCE, will raise the star ratings to SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN level.
October 4, 2022
Morris West is a great story teller, and I am particularly partial to his stories about the Catholic Church and Vatican politics. He writes with deep knowledge of his subject and its history, crystal clear criticism combined with tolerance and understanding, and sympathy for his characters. Original and gripping.
November 8, 2016
Another great read and a must for West fans
May 24, 2021
The contradiction of good will
The word of God in a melting pot of terrorists, priests, high society, doubt and search for truth. A strong tentación to be a superpope and teach from above pervades the writing and makes the author too visible. The reader moves between reflection and disappointment along a perfectly sketched plot.
The word of God in a melting pot of terrorists, priests, high society, doubt and search for truth. A strong tentación to be a superpope and teach from above pervades the writing and makes the author too visible. The reader moves between reflection and disappointment along a perfectly sketched plot.
August 22, 2013
The third book of the Trilogy. Pope Leo XIV must undergo a heart bypass procedure causing chaos in the Roman Curia. The Sword of Islam picks this time as the proper opportunity to assassinate the Pontiff as well as the loyal therapist of the Jewish doctor performing the procedure.
The plot includes the recovery of the Pope and his changed attitude toward the Church, a pair of fallen away priests, the Israeli Mossad, hired killers. In the end, someone dies (as they do throughout the book).
What is bothersome to me, is the way Morris treats the image of the Catholic Church as a bunch power grabbing Cardinals trying to take the Church back to medievil times, priest questioning their faith, finding it easier to live a God denying laymen.
The plot includes the recovery of the Pope and his changed attitude toward the Church, a pair of fallen away priests, the Israeli Mossad, hired killers. In the end, someone dies (as they do throughout the book).
What is bothersome to me, is the way Morris treats the image of the Catholic Church as a bunch power grabbing Cardinals trying to take the Church back to medievil times, priest questioning their faith, finding it easier to live a God denying laymen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews