It is the world's oldest political power, a vast financial empire, and a maze-like bureaucracy -- and yet its sole purpose is to proclaim and effect Christian salvation. It is the Vatican, and only an insider could reveal its complex secrets; only a bestselling author could weave its many strands into the novel that captures its full sweep and drama. Vatican is a rich and monumental saga with a scope and daring that slice through the protective secrecy of the Roman Catholic Church to reveal as never before the lives of men and women entangled in the extraordinary battle between faith and power. - Jacket flap.