Lazarus

A bit heavy on the detail of Vatican processes and systems but interesting exploration of individual struggles in faith and life.

I haven't read Morris West since the 1960s/70s and decided to see how he had lasted. Unfortunately, the only book I could get hold of quickly was Lazarus, written in 1990 - which spoiled the original objected a little.
Anyway, the book was fine - well written, engaging characters and plot, but not quite gripping. Too many characters were just a little too good - at the top of their field, at the peak of their career, showing great potential for their future career, and so on. I staerted craving for someone more normal, more ordinary. The plot centres heavily around the Vatican and the mechanics of its operations. Gripping for some, but not so much for this reader.
So, I can see why he was successful, and I'm ready to continue the project show more by finding a book of his that I read decades ago, and re-reading it. show less

Morris West has written numerous popular works concerning the Catholic Church and its relationship to the world. Lazarus is a short spy/drama/popular religious thought novel.
The hero, Pope Leo XIV, learns that he must undergo major coronary bypass surgery. He muses on the prospect of Lazarus-like coming back from death after surgery and wonders what impact the experience will have on his reign. In the meantime, an Arab terrorist squad plots to assassinate the Pope for a number of nebulous reasons. The Pope's surgeon is Jewish (with a Lutheran lover) so the Mossad enters the fray to prevent the killing. Sounds like a mess.
The irony for the Pope comes from his manner of ascension to the throne of St. Peter. He had orchestrated the show more downfall of his predecessor who had revealed personal communications from God. Naturally this worried the Curia, and he was removed gracefully. Now Pope Leo is having a change of heart himself. He had been known as an immovable and hard conservative, totally inflexible in matters of doctrine. The manner and mechanism of his change is what makes the book interesting; the intrigues and terrorism add spice. Despite its somewhat bizarre plotting the philosophical musings make it engrossing. show less

Great

NIL

El Papa Leon XIV va a ser operado en breve de un problema cardíaco en una reputada clínica a manos de Sergio Salviati y su equipo. Han de hacerle un doble by-pass. Aunque la operación se vaticina con una probabilidad muy alta de éxito, el doctor y sus ayudantes temen que al tratarse del Papa, éste debido a su posición ejerza multitud de problemas. Más el problema vendrá cuando el Mossad avise de un más que probable atentado contra el Pontífice durante su estado de convalecencia con lo que hará dispararse todos los controles y procedimientos. Los servicios secretos deberán identificar a posibles sospechosos y lidiar con los intereses mezclados de mucha gente..

EL PAPA LEÓN XIV ES OPERADO POR EL DR. SALVIATI, MÉDICO SIONISTA, EN LA CLÍNICA CONOCE A TOVE, ASISTENTE SOCIAL, CON LA QUE CONGENIA. EL PAPA ES UN HOMBRE INFLEXIBLE QUE IMPONE LA AUTORIDAD VATICANA Y ALEJA A LOS FIELES. PROYECTA RECTIFICAR SU ACTITUD SI SOBREVIVE. LA "ESPADA DEL ISLAM" INTENTA EL ASESINATO DEL PAPA. EL PAPA PASA SU CONVALECENCIA EN LA FINCA DEL CARDENAL DREXEL QUE AYUDA Y EDUCA A NIÑOS INVÁLIDOS. EL PAPA COMIENZA UNA SERIE DE CAMBIOS IMPORTANTES EN LA CURIA Y ANUNCIA LA PROMULGACIÓN DE UN MOTTU PROPRIO.