God's Bankers

A History of Money and Power at the Vatican

By: Gerald Posner

Narrated by: Tom Parks

Length: 21 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

A deeply reported, fast-paced exposé of the money and the cardinals-turned-financiers at the heart of the Vatican - the world's biggest, most powerful religious institution - from an acclaimed journalist with "exhaustive research techniques" (The New York Times).

From a master chronicler of legal and financial misconduct, a magnificent investigation nine years in the making, this book traces the political intrigue and inner workings of the Catholic Church. Decidedly not about faith, belief in God, or religious doctrine, this audiobook is about the church's accumulation of wealth and its byzantine entanglements with financial markets across the world. Told through 200 years of prelates, bishops, cardinals, and the Popes who oversee it all, Gerald Posner uncovers an eyebrow-raising account of money and power in perhaps the most influential organization in the history of the world.

God's Bankers has it all: a rare exposé and an astounding saga marked by poisoned business titans, murdered prosecutors, mysterious deaths of private investigators, and questionable suicides; a carnival of characters from Popes and cardinals, financiers and mobsters, kings and prime ministers; and a set of moral and political circumstances that clarify not only the church's aims and ambitions, but reflect the larger dilemmas of the world's more recent history. And Posner even looks to the future to surmise if Pope Francis can succeed where all his predecessors failed: to overcome the resistance to change in the Vatican's Machiavellian inner court and to rein in the excesses of its seemingly uncontrollable financial quagmire. Part thriller, part financial tell-all, this book shows with extraordinary precision how the Vatican has evolved from a foundation of faith to a corporation of extreme wealth and power.

©2015 Gerald Posner (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Recorded by arrangement with Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Scandalous and eye opening

This account of greed and intrigue at the Vatican bank is fascinating. It gives the reader a glimpse into the stronghold the Curia has had on the Vatican for centuries. It also tells us that, like in any other microcosm of society, there are power struggles and greed among the highest levels of the Catholic Church with very unsavory results.
It gives on hope that pope Francis has made it a top priority to bring back the church to the initial teachings of humbleness and service. It remains to be seen if he can effect real lasting change

Money corrupts

Awesome story well researched would recommend to anyone interested in the history of the catholic church

Great read but pronunciation is off

Very informative. Everyone interested in religion and its power In the modern world should read it. The pronunciation of Italian names sounds extremely American, which is a little distracting.

An Institution has a terrible history

I read and reread portions of this devastating book. I was alternatingly fascinated and sickened by the politics of corruption, and cruelty of vulnerable by this very ancient institution. I am not convinced that the "election" of the last pope will begin to address the issues of this religious organization. I used to be neutral and indifferent to the Vatican but after seeking the massive waste of money, protection of individuals with massive crimes against humanity, and blatant concealment of crimes against children (pedophilia) has led me to an open critic of this benighted institution. I am grateful for this book. It has open my eyes. Phillip Lund

A fantastic book to read and remember

Amazing book that makes you think the church has been run by the devil for a very long time…..

What am Eye-Opener!

Human nature is so human and flawed but thank God for Pope Francis who has integrity and guts

Great story and narration!

Captivating story. Wish the story continued. As soon as I got engrossed in the details of the reform the end was a bit rushed.

Bad reader for a good book....

A very well researched and written book. And so it is hugely unfortunate and disappointing that it is read by someone with an incomprehensible inability to pronounce basic Italian and various European names and words - I mean At. All. A poor choice of reader.

Even setting aside pronunciation, the reader makes it sound like an episode of How Things Are Made. If it weren’t for the information, I would have bowed out. If you want to hear the wonders of someone pronouncing the same name FOUR different ways in the space of two minutes, for example, enjoy!

Unfathomable choice of reader for this important book.

Politics, Politics

Revealed issues that I never imagined to had happened. Ignoring child molestation bothered me the most.

God's Bankers -a wow!

This book could have been nothing but a hit on the Catholic Church but, instead, it was a combination of a fascinating history of the Vatican bank and the people involved. I could not stop listening!