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All the Pope's Men: The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks

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There is nothing like reading a book and realising that there is no other book like it out there. Of course, it helps when it is a particularly good book - and given that poor books tend to have a drab similarity to each other, the good books tend to stand out as unique in some way. I am pleased to report that All the Pope's Men is exceptional in exactly this way.

First, a comment regarding content: Allen's volume is subtitled "the inside story of how the Vatican really thinks". I have never worked at the Vatican, so I cannot say with 100% certainty that the text is accurate. That being said, I have visited the Vatican, I know people who work at the Vatican, and I live with a Cardinal who is part of various Vatican congregations and councils. On top of that, I work in the diocesan curia for Montreal - meaning that there are elements of a certain mentality that I understand. I can honestly say that as I read this text, there were "moments of recognition" over and over again. Once more, I cannot say with 100% certainty that the book is accurate - but my goodness, it sure feels that way.

The first 5 chapters of the text are the most significant. They cover an introduction to the Vatican's structure, questions of Vatican and psychology and sociology, the theological background to the ways of the Vatican, and a "top 5" series of myths about the Vatican. All in all, fascinating. The last two chapters cover the Vatican response to the American sexual abuse crisis, as well as the war in Iraq. These chapters are important for an understanding of these issues, although this importance will fade as these issues fade as well. Still, given the focus on providing primary source material, even those wanting to do a historical study of these moments of history will find these chapters invaluable.

I don't know what else to write. Anyone wanting an in-depth understanding of either the Vatican or the Vatican's handling of these two issues will find this book to be essential.

Maybe John Allen doesn't quite have the dramatic flair that Woodward has for the midnight, behind closed door scenes (like Nixon asking Kissinger to pray with him), but Allen's information is just as interesting and reliable, and the writing is pretty good too. And unlike most of the people you have writing about the Vatican Allen really does seem to walk a straight line in terms of the politics. A reviewer has commented that the even-handedness has bothered him/her, but nothing bothers me more than partisan reporting through rose coloured glass or the pessimism of a disaffected church goer.

All the Pope's Men isn't much of a whodunnit but it is a very interesting examination of the psychology and the workings of the Vatican. It is a bureaucracy, of sorts, but I found it's workings fascinating nonetheless.

John Allen has always impressed me with his newspaper writing and whenever I've heard him on National Public Radio. I was happy to have come across this book here and found it a very fresh perspective on the world inside the Vatican. As those of you who read these types of books will know, there are many, many books on the topic out there and I gather that half of those that are written are merely quoting from the other half. Put this one in the TO BE QUOTED FROM PILE. It's original material, I particularly like his Myths about the Vatican section. Thank you John Allen.

Probably no one ever examined the Vatican, or Holy See, or the Curia to this extent, and I guess American Catholics should be glad there is a non-clerical person doing the examination, but Allen is so even-handed that he seems to question nothing, and everything. In his chronology of the sexual abuse crisis Allen could be writing about trade tariffs instead of horrific crimes covered up by his sources, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. And that's the problem.

Recognized as a maven when it comes to the intricacies of the workings of the Vatican, John A. Allen, Jr., Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, has written an excellent reference text that will go a long way in helping us to be better informed about its thoughts, how it reacts and why, and its perspective of the world.

Due to the complexity of the subject matter, Allen, in order to lay a solid foundation for what ensues, appropriately begins with an introductory chapter entitled Vatican 101.
Readers are quickly informed that although the media interchangeably use the terms Vatican, the Holy See and the Roman Curia as if they were one and the same, in fact, such is not the case, as they are quite distinct from one another.

Many of us are unaware that the Holy See is an institution rather than a person and it is the proper term to use for designating the authority of the papacy to govern the Church. It is the central government of the Roman Catholic Church.

More precisely, it is the Holy See that governs the Catholic Church on behalf of the Pope, not the Vatican. The Vatican refers to the 108-acre physical territory in Rome.
The Pope, through the Holy See, is the supreme governor of Vatican City.
On the other hand, it is through the Roman Curia that the Pope administers the Holy See and carries out his function both as supreme governor of the Catholic Church and as sovereign diplomatic actor.

Understanding these basic terms is essential in understanding the remaining chapters of the book, where the author delves into such topics as five myths pertaining to the Vatican, its Psychology, Sociology and Theology, and finally concluding with two very important and well researched chapters that are constantly in the news today, the American sexual abuse crisis and the war in Iraq.
What is noteworthy and extremely helpful in understanding the position of the principal actors pertaining to these two latter important events is the author's presentation of a chronological review of events involving the exchanges between the United States and the Holy See.

Some of the myths that are exposed are quite intriguing. Did you know that there is no such thing as "the Vatican?" As the author points out, "there is no "the Vatican" in the sense that most English-speaking journalists, commentators, and activists use the phrase." It is not a living creature or organism. It is rather a bureaucracy "staffed by human beings, each of whom has his or her own wants, fears, intentions, visions, hopes, and dreams."
Other myths examined are: who's in charge, Vatican secrecy, Vatican wealth, and climbing the career ladder.

It should be noted that from the very onset the author tries to maintain complete impartiality and to a very large degree has succeeded admirably.
The author refrains from offering his own personal opinions as to whether a particular Vatican document or policy choice is right or wrong, good or bad, successful or not. The primary objective, and one that has been successfully demonstrated, is the presentation to the readers of the Vatican's rationale pertaining to various actions or inactions. If you agree or disagree with this rationale is left to the reader to decide. However, based on Allen's exposé, perhaps you will arrive at a better understanding as to why decisions are made in one way or another. Lets not forget, Roman Catholicism is a world -wide communion of 1 billion people, representing every culture, language, and worldview on earth. It is little wonder that every decision must take into account this enormous divergence.

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures