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Conclave: The Politics, Personalities and Process of the Next Papal Election
A captivating insider’s guide to the politics and personalities that will have a tremendous impact on one of the world’s most secretive and important events–the election of a pope.
The next time a conclave unfolds in Rome, some 6,000 journalists are expected to descend on the Eternal City to cover the death of John Paul II and report on the election of his successor. The man in white who emerges from the Sistine Chapel at its conclusion will automatically become one of the most important figures on earth, a leader who commands a unique combination of political and spiritual power. Depending on how he chooses to exercise that power, governments and political systems may rise or fall, religious wars may heat up or abate, and the Church may undergo a radical transformation–from changes in its stances on such issues as sexuality, the place of women in the Church, to the role of the papacy itself.
Conclave is a fascinating look at the election process and at what this headline-making occasion will mean to the world. John L. Allen, Jr., takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the issues, parties, and people most likely to determine the outcome. Setting the election within a broader context, he explains why it matters who becomes pope, discusses their role in the modern world, and examines the issues that will form the agenda of the next papacy.
Although the book is not intended as a “handicapper’s guide,” Allen does offer his own informed list of the “top twenty” contenders for the position. He creates, as well, a classification system that clarifies the differences among the informal political parties that exist within the College of Cardinals, the body of 130-plus men who will elect John Paul II’s successor. In conclusion, he presents a critical, independent-minded profile of each of those cardinals–for one of them will certainly be the new pope.
The next time a conclave unfolds in Rome, some 6,000 journalists are expected to descend on the Eternal City to cover the death of John Paul II and report on the election of his successor. The man in white who emerges from the Sistine Chapel at its conclusion will automatically become one of the most important figures on earth, a leader who commands a unique combination of political and spiritual power. Depending on how he chooses to exercise that power, governments and political systems may rise or fall, religious wars may heat up or abate, and the Church may undergo a radical transformation–from changes in its stances on such issues as sexuality, the place of women in the Church, to the role of the papacy itself.
Conclave is a fascinating look at the election process and at what this headline-making occasion will mean to the world. John L. Allen, Jr., takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the issues, parties, and people most likely to determine the outcome. Setting the election within a broader context, he explains why it matters who becomes pope, discusses their role in the modern world, and examines the issues that will form the agenda of the next papacy.
Although the book is not intended as a “handicapper’s guide,” Allen does offer his own informed list of the “top twenty” contenders for the position. He creates, as well, a classification system that clarifies the differences among the informal political parties that exist within the College of Cardinals, the body of 130-plus men who will elect John Paul II’s successor. In conclusion, he presents a critical, independent-minded profile of each of those cardinals–for one of them will certainly be the new pope.
231 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
John L. Allen Jr.
23 books34 followersJohn L. Allen, Jr. (born 1965) is an American journalist serving as associate editor of the website Crux: Covering all things Catholic, specializing in news about the Catholic Church in partnership with the Catholic fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L.....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L.....
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 13, 2015
This would seem years out of date. But truly it remains very, very useful for understanding the various factions at work in the Vatican today.
Moreover, Allen's approach always endeavours to be fair and balanced. Although his own views would seem decidedly liberal, refreshingly, he does not have an axe to grind.
For anyone who may be interested, I also have at my website a long, in-depth review of another truly great book by Allen which reveals the same constructive, approach …
http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2009/...
Moreover, Allen's approach always endeavours to be fair and balanced. Although his own views would seem decidedly liberal, refreshingly, he does not have an axe to grind.
For anyone who may be interested, I also have at my website a long, in-depth review of another truly great book by Allen which reveals the same constructive, approach …
http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2009/...
May 11, 2025
definitely dated but still worth reading
Definitely dated since it’s mostly about the conclave that was going to happen after Pope John Paul II passed away. Large sections about the then candidates is not really worth reading since it’s quite a few of my dead and almost all of them are above 80. Nevertheless, given the slow pace of change in the Catholic Church, his discussion of the so-called political parties is still worth reading.
Definitely dated since it’s mostly about the conclave that was going to happen after Pope John Paul II passed away. Large sections about the then candidates is not really worth reading since it’s quite a few of my dead and almost all of them are above 80. Nevertheless, given the slow pace of change in the Catholic Church, his discussion of the so-called political parties is still worth reading.
August 27, 2025
I read this book when it first came out and it was a great read. John L. Allen has been a great author and journalist to follow ever since I read his biography on the then Cardinal Ratzinger back in 2002.
November 4, 2021
Very interesting read and was not challenging to understand.
December 28, 2008
John L. Allen Jr. covers the Vatican for the National Catholic Reporter. He wrote "Conclave" as a precursor to the papal election that would follow the death of John Paul II. The book includes a lot of information about how a conclave works and quite a bit of Vatican inside baseball, along with a smattering of history. It also includes Allen's picks for likely popes. Unfortunately, Allen left Joseph Ratzinger off of his list, despite having written a big biography of him and considering him the best-known cardinal. Oops. "Conclave" still has some value, but the way it was written makes it very dated now.
November 22, 2012
John Allen gives his insights of the upcoming Conclave that would happen should the pope at that time die (John Pope II). He provides an in-depth background and analysis of the time-honored practice of the Conclave, and seeks to make predictions of the face of the next movement of the new Papacy after the Wojtyla papacy.
July 16, 2012
A great read for understanding the workings of the church and the power and protection of The Holy Spirit.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews