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THE VATICAN DIARIES By: John Thavis
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church
Viking
March 2013
On Sale: February 21, 2013
336 pages ISBN: 0670026719 EAN: 9780670026715 Kindle: B008EKOJZK Hardcover / e-Book
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Non-Fiction
A revealing, timely look at the reign of Pope Benedict, the conclave, the papal election process by the cardinals, and the history of one of the worldβs oldest and most 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 readers from a bell tower high above St. Peterβs to the depths of the basilica and the saintβs 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 Vaticanβs stand on contraception, and more. Perceptive, sharply written, and witty, The Vatican Diaries will appeal not only to Catholics (lapsed as well as devout) but to any readers interested in international diplomacy and the role of religion in an increasingly secularized world.
 Media BuzzWeekend Edition Saturday - March 9, 2013 Good Morning America - February 28, 2013
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