White smoke

The cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have gathered in Rome for the papal election following the death of the incumbent pope. Torn by internal conflict and with many of its members alienated, the Church faces one of the most serious crises in its history. A coalition of cardinals favors a more moderate and pluralistic style of papal governance, but must contend with shadowy Vatican forces that oppose change and loss of their own power. These forces are determined to destroy the coalition's candidate, a gentle and brilliant Spanish scholar. The leader of the coalition is Chicago's wily Sean Cardinal Cronin, aided by his patently indispensable sidekick, Bishop John Blackwood "Blackie" Ryan. Ryan in turn enlists the aid of a New York Times reporter, lapsed Catholic Dennis Mulloy, and Mulloy's fiery ex-wife Patricia McLaughlin, now a reporter for CNN. Their marriage ended in bitter anger - but Blackie's clever guidance leads them toward a renewal of their love. However, Mulloy's investigations into international crime threaten to end their new happiness just as it begins. Someone is afraid that Mulloy will uncover and expose a new and tremendous Vatican banking scandal before the election can take place, and they'll go to any lengths to stop him. Including murder. Meanwhile a lone assassin stalks the Vatican, his crazed mission: to destroy the next pope as soon as the traditional white smoke issues from the cardinals' meeting room - the Sistine Chapel - followed by the ancient words Habemus papam.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Fiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.