Harris, obviously, has done his homework. As the electors continue a series of votes, each round getting them closer to ultimately making their final decision, Harris locks the reader right in the Sistine Chapel with the College of Cardinals, revealing the high-tension, drama-filled moments. Between ballots, he attempts to investigate what, if anything, might have actually happened.
Little is known about him, making him a wild card.Īs Lomeli does his best to keep the meeting running smoothly, he can’t help but wonder about the pope’s death. The scandalous parts come when certain skeletons begin walking out of people’s closets, revealing things about their pasts that they wish to keep hidden. Benítez, especially, is an enigma.
With a multitude of security measures in place to ensure nobody can listen to what’s being said, Harris creates a scenario that allows readers to feel like they have a VIP seat to one of the most fascinating, private, and important gatherings on earth.Įach leading candidate has flaws, some greater than others, and each one has their own reasons for wanting to be the next pope. Not much is immediately known about him, but he’s an intriguing character and emerges as a real darkhorse candidate.Īnytime one hundred and eighteen powerful men come together to make a decision, things will become complicated and heated, especially when they’re all locked in a room until that decision is made.įor the most part, being present for those conversations is riveting. There’s also an African cardinal who, like many want to see, would be the first black pope.Īnd then there’s Vincent Benítez, who was named a cardinal by the pope, but in secret. Another wishes to continue on a more secular path that the previous pope had begun leading the church down before his sudden passing. In the running for being selected as the next pope are several prominent, well-known, and respected cardinals. And with the pope’s death already trending on social media, he desires a quick, scandal-free selection process, and is eager to address the many rumors surrounding the Vatican. Essentially, he’s in charge of the conclave. Some just hide that beneath the surface.Ĭardinal Lomeli, currently the head of the College of Cardinals, serves as the main protagonist. These might be holy men, but they have ambition and personal goals, too. As the cardinals come together to choose the next head of their church, drama, games, and sinister workings come into play. Set in the near future, Robert Harris’ latest novel follows the process of selecting a new pope. When the pope’s trending on Twitter, that’s not always a good thing.
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