In God's Name: An Investigation into the Murder of Pope John Paul I (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The Luciani family lived in the small mountain village of Canale d'Agordo,* nearly 1,000 metres above sea level and approximately 120 kilometres north of Venice..." (more)
Key Phrases: counterfeit bonds, bank inspectors, finance police, Albino Luciani, Pope Paul, Michele Sindona (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Denounced by the Vatican... Acclaimed around the world... Vindicated by new evidence... Winner of the 1985 Crime writers' Gold Dagger Award for best non-fiction... Over 5,000,000 copies sold. -- From the Publisher

"Faniciful and absurd" - The Vatican

"His book has two strengths. It brings up to date and tells well the story of how the Vatican has conducted its finacial affairs. The portayal of hitherto little-known John Paul I is also excellently done... an engrossing and disturbing book. It reflects no credit on the Vatican that its spokesmen affect to view the charges with contempt and ignore the questions raised" - The Economist

"A thriller without an ending... he has surely proved that there is a case to answer" - The Guardian

"A vast amount of first class evidence... Read the book. Weigh the evidence. Make your own judgement" - Morris West -- From the Publisher

Product Description

AN INVESTIGATION INTO MURDER

In God's Name has been at the top of the bestseller lists all over the world. It contains some of the most explosive and dramatic revelations ever published about the internal affairs of the Vatican.

During the late evening of September 28th or the early morning of September 29th, 1978, Pope John Paul I, Albino Luciani, known as 'the smiling Pope' died only thirty-three days after his election.

David Yallop began his investigation into this death at the request of certain individuals resident in Vatican City who were disturbed by a cover-up of the true circumstances surrounding the discovery of the Pope's body. It is his conviction that murder was the fate of Albino Luciani and he presents his evidence in this enthralling book.

Over three years continual and exhaustive research, David Yallop uncovered a chain of corruption that linked leading figures in financial, criminal and clerical circles around the world in a conspiracy of awesome proportions. To this day, several years after its first publication (1984), the central questions raised in In God's Name remain unanswered and the frightening accusations still undisputed.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Corgi (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552132888
• ISBN-13: 978-0552132886
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #811,030 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A work of monumental importance, September 17, 2003

By	Bert Ruiz "Author" (Pleasantville, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: In God's Name: An Investigation into the Murder of Pope John Paul I (Hardcover)

This is a difficult book to digest for faithful Roman Catholics like myself. It is the story of a wonderful priest who loved the poor and wanted the church to improve the quality of life for Catholics. Pope John Paul the First was a man who would not seek to impose christian solutions on non-Christians; he was someone who was sensitive to social problems and open to dialogue; with a commitment to the search for unity; a good pastor, a good shepherd in the way that Jesus was; a man who sincerely believed that the church should not be out of date but be a relevant, nurturing factor in the lives of Catholics worldwide.

The press called him the "Smiling Pope." However, in reality Albino Luciani who wished to be called Pope John Paul the First and became the first double name in the history of the papacy was a man of enormous faith. What a shame his 33 days as pope in 1978 was the shortest stint since Pope Medici Leo XI in 1605 who only served 17 days. In all likelihood, he had the inner strength and intelligence to be the greatest pope in the history of the Vatican.

To this end, "In God's Name: An Investigation into the Murder of Pope John Paul I," by highly regarded journalist David A.Yallop is a work of monumental research and importance. The author dares to point a finger at the financial corruption within the Vatican. He names names...Michele Sindona, Roberto Calvi, Lucio Gelli, Cardinal John Patrick Cody of Chicago and Bishop Paul Casimir Marcinkus in Vatican City all coducted illegal activities. And Albino Luciani was determined to put an end to it.

This well-written book is difficult to put down. Quite naturally it is officially condemned by the oligarchy in the Vatican. However, I think it is important for all interested in the pursuit of truth to read this compelling book and drawn one's own conclusion. The evidence is hard to ignore. The conclusion is based on facts. It is truly hard to imagine but I am know convinced that Pope John Paul the First was murdered because he dared to promote positive change and rid the Vatican of corrupt banking practices. Highly recommended.

Bert Ruiz

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars can a leader really rule?, March 24, 2005

By	Jane Anthony "jane" - See all my reviews

When I first started reading the book, I thought well,it might be interesting to learn some more about the vatican. I didn't know it was going to be so breathtaking. I remember I heard my father comment when pope John Paul I died that he has definitely been murdered. I was young at the time and knew nothing of the ways of our world. After reading In God's Name, I have no doubt that there was a murder. Mr. Yallop's certainly knows how to conduct a research and more importantly, how to write his conclusions without passion (although his feelings do transpire and his positions with respect to corruption and crime are very clear).
However, for myself, the important part of the book was the description of Pope John Paul I. The life of this charismatic man, this priest of Christ, is simply beautiful. And the Catholic Church has lost with his death its chance to become what it never should have ceased to be: the church of the poor. This book for me was full of the spirit of papa luciani. And the corruption, the crimes, were set on one side, and this true priest on hte other. And somehow, He weighed much more in the balance.
Corruption and crime, wars all around the world, conflicts in the middle east area moved by the interest of the few, all this is the reality of our daily life. To know that we can do little to avoid a war because it would be bad for business bears a great dose of despair in itself.
But then, the good news will not come from the leaders. Only from the humble and poor men and women who dedicate their lives to relieve other people's pain and suffering. The leaders will never be allowed to be that. In a way, maybe papa luciani should never have become pope. It was his death sentence because a chief of state will never be allowed to go against the current.
Am I pessimistic? maybe but then I am from Lebanon and I have seen what corrupt leaders are able to do to a country.
I think this book is very well written and the investigation thoroughly conducted.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a comparison of similar books, August 6, 2005

By	brent howell (ny) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In God's Name (Mass Market Paperback)

"In God's Name" gets the prize as the most professionally written book about the mysterious death of John Paul I. Its limitation is that it restricts its investigation to the Great Vatican Bank Scandal - yet, there is much more than just that. Although a work of fiction, Yallop does such a riveting job of telling his tale that one is left with the convinction that everything he has to say actually happened - the mark of a great writer. If one wants the facts about the Great Vatican Bank Scandal turn to "Pontiff' If one wants the most comprehensive published record of all of the known facts surrounding the mysterious death of this good man turn to "Murder in the Vatican" by Lucien Gregoire. The latter is also the only existing biography of this Pope - of his struggles as an impoverished child - as a revolutionary priest as an outspoken bishop - and as a compassionate cardinal. It is written by a man who spent much time with this Pope. If one wants the Vatican's opinion of what happened, John Cornwell's "A Thief in the Night" is the obvious choice. Commissioned by the Vatican it is written by a world-reknown journalist. Regardless, don't pass up "In God's Name."