Vatican Spies: From the Second World War to Pope Francis

Vatican City is the head of the worldwide Catholic Church and a city-state. It doesn’t have an official espionage agency such as the CIA, but in this book (his first to be published in English), French historian and intelligence specialist Denoël describes a world and time when the Vatican was quite active in espionage, intelligence gathering, and even organizing clandestine activities. The book shows that during World War II and the Cold War, Vatican authorities became aware of spies wanting to infiltrate the Vatican. Working under their version of a state department, monsignors and priests turned the tables and began their own excursions into clandestine diplomacy and investigations into unexplained murders of ordained ministers. They also conducted high-risk activities behind the Iron Curtain. Acting on behalf of various popes over the years, this shadow agency engaged in secret negotiations between Pope John XXIII and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, sent secret funding to South America to ward off communism, supported the Polish Solidarity movement, and more.