The Vatican Diaries

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church

By: John Thavis

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

A revealing inside look at one of the world’s most powerful and mysterious institutions

For more than 25 years John Thavis held one of the most fascinating journalistic jobs in the world: reporting on the inner workings of the Vatican. His daily exposure to the power, politics, and personalities in the seat of Roman Catholicism gave him a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on an institution that is far less monolithic and unified than it first appears. Thavis reveals Vatican City as a place where Curia cardinals fight private wars, scandals threaten to undermine papal authority, and reverence for the past is continually upended by the practical considerations of modern life.

Thavis takes listeners from a bell tower high above St. Peter’s to the depths of the basilica and the saint’s burial place, from the politicking surrounding the election of a new pope and the ever-growing sexual abuse scandals around the world to controversies about the Vatican’s stand on contraception and more.

Perceptive, sharply written, and witty, The Vatican Diaries will appeal not only to Catholics - lapsed as well as devout - but to anyone interested in international diplomacy and the role of religion in an increasingly secularized world.

©2013 John Thavis (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A seasoned reporter on the Vatican beat takes us for an irreverent and revealing visit. Frequently from the vantage of the reportorial fly on the wall, Thavis…concentrates on the history he has witnessed firsthand.… Especially provocative are the chapters dealing with the mismanagement of diverse sex scandals and, finally, an appraisal of the opaque personality of Benedict.… Not only provocative, this report is illuminating and fully accessible to members of the faith and doubters alike." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Thavis’ anecdotal presentation will appeal to readers seeking understanding of or connection with the Catholic Church’s heart. This book is recommended for anyone who would like to challenge their own notions and perceptions of the Vatican." ( Library Journal)

great insight

I just got this book on a whim and didn't expect much but wow. thus author will teach you a lot of insider things you otherwise wouldn't know. a must have

Probably more for Catholics

Maybe only for Catholics makes sense, but I figured this would teach me more about the Vatican, things that go on, how's it's run, and deeper insights.
I found it is more a collection of story's about people in the Vatican more so than the Vatican itself. I know only the pope by name, so I just really couldn't relate to the stories. If you follow the events, this will explain interesting behind the scene things from these events which may be very interesting to you though.

Everything you wanted to know about the Popes....

But were afraid to ask...... fast moving and a great cocktail hour conversation and discussion topic.

It was worth listening ......

Wow! What an eye opener! I am a Catholic believer who KNOWS that church is run by man and man are sinners.......EVERY PERSON in the church, regardless of position is a sinner. With that in mind, I was hesitant to listen to the book, because I thought it was another attempt to bring down the Catholic Church. Instead, what I learned is that the Vatican is an institution that is broken, like any other institution, and is in need of God's grace, touch, and healing. There are rogue priests, like in any other profession. The Vatican Diaries is an account of what goes on behind the Vatican Walls. It is a book difficult to stop until the end.

Look into the Vatican's Closets Full of Skeletons

Would you consider the audio edition of The Vatican Diaries to be better than the print version?

I have more time to listen than to read.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The fact that the writer had valid credentials and access to the inner halls of the Vatican. It validated for me the truth of what he was reporting.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Everything you didn't know about the life and power of the Vatican.

Any additional comments?

This is one of those books for which I wished I'd had a "cheat sheet" to keep track of who did what and why. I should have kept a note book handy to write down all the names and what they did.

Brilliant told and narrated!

It was a very fascinating read. I appreciated the perspective that the writer took. I loved the narrator! He did a great job using different voices for the different people in the book!

Fascinating stuff!

I had expected a bit more on the current crisis the Vatican is facing, that of priests as molesters. While it was addressed on a limited basis, after reflection, I realized that it would be extremely difficult for any author to really know the extent and ins and outs of this apparently longstanding problem due to various obvious issues.

That being said, I very much enjoyed this listen. I never thought much about the politics of the Vatican or the encompassing power struggles going on in the Church at any time. This book was quite an eye opener for me and interesting all the way through. It addresses many current issues in a neutral, non-biased fashion.

Hillgartner does an excellent narration. Over all, I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the workings and politics of the Vatican.

Timely and Well Balanced

This is not a book that extols the virtues of Catholicism or the wonderful works of Catholic charitable organizations. It focuses on how the Vatican operated during the papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI from a reporters point of view. In that light, it is an interesting and very timely read for anyone who is interested in the behind the scenes workings of the Vatican. The author presents a balanced point of view and projects thoughtfulness as well as critical analysis of a number of high profile issues that have cast doubt and suspicion upon the Catholic Church in recent years. While he doesn't delve into every recent high profile scandal, he does report on some that are well known and others that are not so well known. Definitely worth the time if you're fascinated by church politics. The timing of the release of this book, just as Benedict announced his retirement and before the election of Francis, made it a most timely read.

For me, it was a page-turner

What made the experience of listening to The Vatican Diaries the most enjoyable?

While I have long known that the Vatican is far more complex than first meets the eye, this book delved deeply into that complexity, focusing primarily between the early 1990s and 2013.

Any additional comments?

The narrator Malcolm Hillgartner generally did a good job, but he had a number of annoying misses with pronunciations for some of the "churchy" language. For example, he routinely said "Habemus Papum", instead of "Habemus Papam"--although, since I do not have access to the print version of the book, this could have been the author's error, not the narrator's. All in all, I immensely enjoyed this book. I listened to it at every opportunity. It does have its shortcomings, such as a lot of chronological jumping around, but the insights it gives into the workings of the Vatican are fascinating. The chapter on "The Latinist" was particularly delightful, even though it was something of a diversion from the general theme of the book.

Interesting and Unique Insights With a Few Flaws

If you could sum up The Vatican Diaries in three words, what would they be?

Confused, Interesting, and Insightful. As the words suggest, I felt the book (both its content and narration) were overall enjoyable and worthwhile. However, it suffered from a lack of a clear structure or over-arching narrative to bind together short tales offered by the author (who had a unique insider perspective on many of them). This was somewhat compounded by a narration which was at times lacking for emotion, and at other times tried a bit too hard to give quoted persons stereotypical accents to differentiate them.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

John Thavis, the author, had a fairly unique opportunity to observe the inner workings of Vatican City and the Catholic Curia for 30 years. Only a small handful of journalists have this kind of assignment, and I am sure most do not stay that long, or form as many profitable relationships with various insiders of all ranks. His tales were all interesting, and inspire a fresh perspective on the sometimes monolithic looking Curia.

What aspect of Malcolm Hillgartner’s performance would you have changed?

As I noted above, I wish he had shown a bit more emotion or animation (especially at times when the stories became saddening), while avoiding trying so hard to differentiate the quoted personages with over the top stereotyped accents / voices.

In general, however, Hillgartner provided a very professional sounding reading.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I have no idea.