032 - Chapter 16 Part 2

In Rome, Abbe Pierre Froment, fresh from his transformative experiences in Lourdes, pens a provocative book advocating for a new enlightened papacy. His journey to the heart of the Vatican is fraught with tension as he seeks to defend his work against impending condemnation. Immersed in the opulent world of aristocratic and ecclesiastical society during his three-month stay, Pierre grapples with the Eternal City’s storied past and uncertain future, all while filtered through Zolas piercing skepticism and modernist lens. His tale is woven with intricate details and an undercurrent of dark intrigue that profoundly impacts his worldview. By the time he returns to Paris, Pierre carries a radically reimagined vision for humanitys path forward. (Peter Tucker)