Customer Reviews

Vatican

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The late Dr. Malachi Martin has written, in "Vatican", a lengthy, well-sustained "novel" about the intrigues of the Holy See from 1945 until the mid 1980's. However, in many respects, this is not a work of fiction, legal disclaimers notwithstanding. These are real characters, given false names, but functioning much as they actually did in real life. Around this, is a cleverly woven plot of conspiricy, heresy and murder which is fictional (or at least conjectural in the mind of the author!)

It is clear where Martin's sympathies lay -- and they were not with the modern Church. However, as the book was written in the mid 80's, and Martin very obviously expected Pope John Paul II to die in that time frame, (and considering that Martin himself is now dead), it is impossible to conjecture whether or not he had a real person in mind for his novel's ending.

As a public service, here is a brief comparison between Martin's "fictional" characters, and their real-life counterparts:

Papa Eugenio Profumi -- Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli)

Papa Angelica -- Pope John XXIII (Roncalli)

Papa DaBrescia -- Pope Paul VI (Montini)

Papa Serena -- Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani)

Papa Bogdan Valeska -- Pope John Paul II

Paolo Lercano -- Michele Sindona

Roberto Gonella -- Roberto Calvi

Cardinal Buff of Westminster -- Cardinal Hume of Westminster

Metropolitan Nikodim -- Metropolitan Nikodim

Brother Reginald of Zaite -- Brother Roger of Tazie

Benjamin National Bank -- Franklin National Bank

"Problem Two" aka P2 -- Italian Masonic Lodge P2

And the list goes on. . .

All the "fictional" popes in the novel lived exactly as long as their counterparts in real life, died at just the right times (although Martin is colorful about who tried to kill whom when), and did many of the same things. Many of the "fictional" criminals did what their counterparts in real life were accused of doing, etc.

So yes, this is a good novel by itself -- but remember that Martin had an agenda in writing it -- and the agenda was not at all hidden.

Malachi Martin often gets a bad rap from some Catholics who feel that his conspiratorial novels are in some way disrespectful to the Church, however I found this book incredibly informative and I actually felt that it made my faith even stronger. It's hard to know where the 'fiction' ends and reality begins, but this book is incredibly interesting and I'd recommend it. The little details about life in Rome and the way things work in the Vatican are fascinating. To continue a previous reviewer's work, I'll post a comparison of a few more real-life counterparts that relate to Martin's 'fictional' characters:

Fictional name = Real name:

Cardinal Rollinger = Cardinal Ratzinger

Archbishop LaSuisse = Abp. Lefebvre

Msgr. Sugnini = Msgr. Bugnini

Cardinal Levesque = Cardinal Lercaro

This is one of those books that you either get very bored with or which you are totally captivated by. Being a book of over approximately a thousand pages, there may be those that say Malachai Martin has gone into too much detail in many areas, however I feel that with that detail comes a very full reading experience. Mr Martin has written a book that - like no other - captures the intricacies of Vatican politics at the highest levels in a way that is fully interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a full, interesting and informative read. Is a shame that this book is out of print!

DV

This book is spooky in that it was written by Malachi Martin a number of years ago, but turns out to be very accurate regarding major events that have occurred within the Catholic Church, up to and including today. Although it is labled as Fiction, it comes amazingly close to reality in terms of its descriptions of historical events in the Church, in Europe after WWII, and in the succession of the various Popes up to and including Pope John Paul II and his predicted successor (a surprise candidate). The book takes on added reality for anyone who is Catholic and who has ever lived in Italy in the midst of many of the characters and incidents mentioned. Lastly, the story gives an interesting insight into the Vatican Councils, including their objectives and results. I found it to be a combination of a thrilling mystery and an informative history of the Catholic Church.

This book is grandly conceived and beautifully written, in the tradition of the big rambling 19th century novel which has largely disappeared. It is also one of the very few contemporary Catholic novels worth reading for any reason. These factors alone justify rating it at 5, despite the author's inability to close the book properly.

The fact is, despite all the other threads of information, history, and polemics to be found here, the deepest theme in the book is the vitality, or lack of it, of piety, devotion and the spiritual dimension of reality in the souls of the modern church hierarchy -- a truly Catholic theme.

As for warnings about the author's "agendas," well, is anybody out there familiar with the history of the novel and of literature generally?

Then there are the warnings about "thinly disguised reality," factual fiction, etcetera. Has anybody ever heard of The Sun Also Rises, All the King's Men, or for that matter Dante? Or are Catholics only allowed to write either pure fantasy literature or sheer hagiography?

Finally, one hears the dark warnings, express or implied, about danger to the Church, etcetera. The late Father John Hardon, however, whose orthodoxy and obedience were far beyond question, vouched publicly for the authority Of Malachi Martin's most pungent criticisms of our modern church. This is a book that every Catholic literate in the English language should read, if they are even moderately interested in the genesis of some of the fiascos we have not so long ago been treated to, concerning us -- yes us, from CBS, NBC, Time Magazine and the Boston Globe. And while you're at it read The Jesuits, too.

The prevalence of such warnings unfortunately has much to say about the big crater modern American Catholics have found themselves in, and who they desparately choose to lead them out. You can thus take the reactions to this book as something as a litmus test for Sister Lucia of Fatima's warning about our era "of diabolic disorientation."

No, I'm sorry kids, Malachi Martin was not perfect and neither are you. He was just a pretty well informed prelate and a damned talented writer, who used his gifts to attempt to illumine our era for us. And if you are listening to somebody saying that the literary arts are hazardous to your health, well shame on you, go to your room. And take this book with you . . . .

Malachi Martin has once again demonstrated his ability to situate facts in plausible, indeed prophetic, fictional narratives. A good read for those who are passionate about the decline of the Roman Church.

It's hard to compare novels and pick out the best ones...like comparing apples and oranges...but this is on my Top Ten of All Time. This is an absorbing, compelling, fascinating, moving, page-turning, thought-provoking, scary, and inspiring story. As a relatively new Catholic convert, I was hesitant at first to dive into this; I wasn't sure what it would be like or how I would feel..if it would make me angry, weaken my faith, cause me to question, feel more hopeful and faithful....be afraid for the future of the Church -- or all of the above. But I've found now that I've finished that my faith has not been shaken by this book -- it's been made stronger in a way while my perspective has also been widened, which to my mind is always good and a blessing. I grew especially fond of the character of the Maestro; there was something clean and honest about him, something hopeful, that lifted me up, and I missed him when the time came. Reading this book is like entering a new and mysterious world and unraveling some of the mystery yet finding the mystery itself even deeper and broader than one originally believed. In any case, just an excellent read if you're looking for one, and more than that, a real blockbuster of faith, information, intrigue, betrayal, and, yes, redemption...and then more mystery. I will enthusiastically pursue other books by Malachi Martin. And, I say, thank the Good God for books!

TECHNICALLY CHALLENGING.NEVER LABORS.MOST INTERESTING AND ACCEPTABLE FICTION.I FOUND IT VERY NECESSARY TO PAUSE AND REMIND MYSELF THAT IT IS INDEED A WORK OF FICTION

Desde su llegada a Roma, casi al final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Rico Lansing se ve envuelto en la intrincada y dificil política vaticana de la postguerra desde su primera asignación lidiando con los desplazados de la guerra en Europa y la amistad que surge con la familia de la Valle, los Guardianes de la Alianza, Lansing va ascendiendo poco a poco en la jerarquía eclesiastica sirviendo a la causa como espia, creando focos de resistencia católica en Europa del Este, mediando con la CIA, viendose envuelto en intrigas internacionales para socabar el papado tanto económica como moralmente, resistiendo los embates del Concilio Vaticano II luchando contra el liberalismo y el modernismo en la iglesia hasta ser proclamado Papa.

Una novela muy bien estructurada que abarca mas de cincuenta años de la vida del Vaticano comenzando con el reinado de Pio XII (1939-1958) y terminando con el de Juan Pablo II (1978-2005), si bien el autor usa nombres ficticios, nos sumerge en la dificil, lenta y retorcida política vaticana, las luchas de poder internas, los problemas políticos, ideológicos y económicos a los que tiene que enfrentarse esta institución que hasta hoy en día sigue siendo el gobierno autocrático y absolutista más influyente del mundo con casi dos mil millones de seguidores, de ahí tantos enemigos que ven con malos ojos esa influencia sobre la conciencia colectiva cristiana.

As most of the reviews state, this is a thinly disguised history of events from 1945 - 1985+ written by someone who wants to reverse the changes of Vatican II, including returning to a latin mass. He has an intense dislike for Pope Paul VI and virtually labels him a heretic. Having said that it presents an interesting slant on history and if true, wow! Are there freemasons in the curia? Did the Russians kill John Paul I? Did Freemasons or some other powerful American-West European power group try to kill John Paul II in 1981 and blame it on the Russians? So, the author would have us believe.