A pope has died. The corridors of the Vatican hum with intrigue as cardinals from all over the world gather to choose his successor. Suddenly, the election is concluded with a surprise result. The new pope is the youngest cardinal of all--a Russian. Shoes of the Fisherman slowly unravels the heartwarming & profound story of Kiril Lakota, a cardinal who reluctantly steps out from behind the Iron Curtain to lead the Catholic Church & to grapple with the issues facing the contemporary world. This is a reissue of a firm favorite, of which millions of copies have been sold worldwide. The 1968 film based on the book won best film at the National Board Review & was Golden Globe nominated.
The Vatican Tetralogy Series
This saga delves into the intricate world of the Vatican, chronicling dramatic papal elections and the profound personal journeys of those leading the Catholic Church. The series explores the clash between faith and politics, tradition and modernity, and the internal struggles of individuals facing immense responsibility. These narratives are rich with intrigue, spiritual exploration, and contemplation of humanity's greatest questions.






Recommended Reading Order
- 1
- 1
"The pope has died, and the corridors of the Vatican hum with intrigue as cardinals from all over the world gather to choose his successor. Suddenly, the election is concluded - with a surprise result. The new pope is the youngest cardinal of all - and a Russian. Shoes of the Fisherman slowly unravels the heartwarming and profound story of Kiril Lakota, a cardinal who reluctantly steps out from behind the Iron Curtain to lead the Catholic Church and to grapple with the many issues facing the contemporary world."--BOOK JACKET.
- 2
The Clowns of God
- 416 pages
- 15 hours of reading
The Pope declares he has received a private revelation that the world is about to end, and an old friend embarks on a dangerous journey to investigate whether he's mad or whether just possibly there's truth in it.
- 2
Nur noch zehn Jahre bis zum Jahre 2000! Steht der Weltuntergang kurz bevor? Zweifelnd und voller Angst blicken die Menschen in die Zukunft. Da erreicht sie aus Rom die Nachricht, daß der Papst zurückgetreten ist. Gregor XVII. hat das nahe Weltende vorausgesagt, hat die Menschen noch ein letztes Mal zur Umkehr bewegen wollen. Für das Kardinalskollegium in Rom stellt sich die Frage: Was will dieser Papst? Den Griff nach der absoluten Macht? Eine mystische Selbstbesinnung der Menschen? Das Kollegium setzt den Papst unter Druck und zwingt ihn zum Rücktritt. Was verbirgt sich hinter diesem Rücktritt, hinter den Visionen des Papstes? Wer hat ein Interesse daran, daß dieser Papst abdankt? Ein Freund Gregors, Theologieprofessor in Deutschland, versucht hinter die Geheimnisse dieser Affäre zu kommen.
- 3
Lazarus
- 374 pages
- 14 hours of reading
Ailing Pope Leo XIV is threatened by the terrorist group, The Sword of Islam, while in the Vatican, intrigue and conspiracy mount. Leo's heart surgeon gets caught up in the terrorist plot.
- 4
Eminence
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
Imagine that a Pope, known for his doctrinal conservatism, were to die and his private diaries were revealed to be full of doubts about his papacy and the future of the Catholic Church. Such is the hypothesis of Morris West's tale of Vatican politics. At its heart is Luca, Cardinal Rossini, who has suffered torture and degradation as a priest under Argentinian dictatorship but who has risen to high office in the Vatican. He is a flawed man but he is still a man of power and a candidate for election. Just as his career seems poised to reach its zenith, he is plunged back into his past, reminded of a love affair which had seemed dead. Morris West, best-selling author The Shoes of the Fisherman and The Devil's Advocate, has fashioned a thrilling tale of ambition and power-broking in the world of Vatican politics that he knows so well.