The Mole of Vatican Council II: The True Story of Xavier Rynne

by Richard Zmuda

307 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2024

About the author

Richard Zmuda has co-authored a pair of non-fiction books for cancer survivors (I Flunked My Mammogram: What Every Woman Needs To Know About Breast Cancer; I Flunked My PSA: What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer Now!). For twenty years he served as the editor of the Johns Hopkins Breast Center’s online patient educational magazine, Artemis. After the passing of his first wife from breast cancer, he wrote an anecdotal autobiography, A Father’s Notes, excerpts from which were published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and Chicken Soup for the Single Parent’s Soul. Richard has also written a play for middle-school and high-school students, Apollo 11: Original Adaptation for the Stage, to inspire a new generation of space scientists, and he published a children’s book in 2016 titled, ‘Cuz That’s Just My Way, that offers a beautiful lesson on tolerance.

Reviews

[Kim Taft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a fascinating historical fiction tale about the priest who exposed the inner workings and the behind the scenes tactics that were tried and failed by Vatican insiders to derail Pope John XXIII's desire to modernize the Church. The story of Father Murphy (AKA Xavier Rynne) is fascinating. His daring in exposing what was happening inside the Vatican II proceedings helped to change the Church.

As a Catholic, I grew up under the changes made by the Vatican II council and have often taken for granted the way Catholics enjoy the Mass today. Many may oppose what Pope John XXIII tried to to do with this Council, but I look at him as a hero and forward thinker!

Richard Zmuda's handling of this story is very readable and educational! I highly recommend this book!

[William Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xavier Rynne was the pen name of Fr. Francis X. Murphy, a Redemptorist priest who was in Rome in 1962, during the Second Vatican Council, and wrote observations and insights, “Letters from Vatican City,” for the New Yorker.

The Vatican and Vatican watchers tried to unmask him, but he only confirmed his identity in 1998. Zmuda’s novel details the surprise election of Pope John XXIII, and the even bigger surprise of his launching Vatican Council II early in his short reign as pope. We also learn about Pope Paul VI, his successor, keeping the dream alive in the face of much opposition.

This book is a great history lesson and a very entertaining read.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enlightening read for sure. Using the true story of Fr. Murphy as a entry point is a good way to introduce Vatican II, and it's importance, to a wider audience. The book does suffer from a repetitive plot: Session opens, conservatives stall, lots of boos and cheers, Murphy goes to the bar, Murphy writes his article, conservatives fume, both sides plot, repeat. I felt the two female characters, creations of the author, really weren't needed, especially considering one acted as a love interest....for the priest. While not perfect, it is a solid avenue to share the story of Vatican II.