This interesting narrative starts in the final hours of the life of Pope Francis.  It describes how news of his death affected people in Rome, how the College of Cardinals gathered over the next days to mourn the pontiff and elect a successor, and how Pope Leo introduced himself to the world.  Throughout the narrative we get inside information, as the writer was a friend of Pope Francis and had many inside connections.  While the conclave that elects the pope is supposed to be top secret, news leaks.

Pope Francis was not popular with everyone.  His freewheeling style, his tendency to wing it and bypass tradition, and especially his emphasis on the poor often irked and offended the more conservative and tradition bound wings of the church.  And his emphasis on simple living left a number of high church officials (living high off the hog) scandalized.  The emphasis Francis placed on synodality (inviting many people to have input during a decision making process) was vehemently opposed by many in the upper echelon of the Roman Catholic Church, who preferred to maintain control in their own hands.  

One of the biggest questions in the conclave was whether to elect a pope who would continue the emphasis Francis placed on the poor and on synodality—or reverse the direction of the church—going back to a Pope Benedict or a Pope John Paul II (both very autocratic in their approaches.)

The conclave very quickly settled on a dark horse candidate—Robert Prevost, born in Chicago and serving his pastorates internationally, particularly in Peru and around the world as the head of the Augustinian order.

The writing is very personal.  The story is well told.  There is ample explanation for non-Catholics—particularly for those of us who are interested in the church and have been paying attention.  

And—it is a political thriller.  Transparency:  I have liked both Pope Francis and Pope Leo, so I felt comfortable with the author—who also respects and admires both popes.