Conclave by Robert Harris (Cornerstone Digital)

Robert Harris’s Conclave invites the reader into the intense and secretive world of the Vatican papal election after the passing of a reform-oriented pontiff. The story is set for seventy-two hours inside the Sistine Chapel, where 118 cardinals from all parts of the world assemble and select the next pontiff. At the heart of this high-stakes political and religious drama is Cardinal Lomeli, the dean of the College of Cardinals, who must manage the conclave’s complex rituals while wrestling with his own crisis of faith and the competing ambitions swirling among the electors.

Lomeli’s journey is an external and internal. He not only has to deal with power plays and factional rivalries between traditionalists and reformers and conservatives and progressives, but he is also dealing with his own doubts about the Church and its future. The complementary characters, especially the liberal Cardinal Bellini, who is pushing for greater inclusion of marginalized groups, illuminate tensions within the Church concerning doctrine, social justice, and accountability. These personal and ideological conflicts have an echo in the public sphere in debates regarding the Catholic Church's role in society today.

The novel’s major themes revolve around the interplay of power, morality, and faith. Harris exposes the moral trade-offs that must be made in leading the worst within a very ancient and heavy-weight institution like the Vatican. The tension arising from the conflict between personal ambition and spiritual responsibility asks questions about integrity and the price tag on authority. Furthermore, Conclave explores the issues of institutionalized abuse, dealing with the question of the Church's involvement with women, LGBTQ+, and adherents of religions other than Christianity, and thereby laying bare the nuances surrounding the challenges faced by reform-minded and traditionalist factions. 

With clarity and fluidity, Harris strives to keep the narrative moving through the weight of his meticulous research and vivid description element that lends itself to a sort of fast-paced narrative that feels less like a piece on religion than a political thriller. He manages a tone that combines some respect toward the Church with some critical commentary about its human imperfections. Tension is recruited for quite some elevated attention through the story structure confined to the conclave's claustrophobic venue, where high-stakes dynamics bear out, with ethical dilemmas bearing witness to the conflict's unfolding. Accessibly rich prose allows the reader to feel the gravity of each moment and the atmosphere of secrecy and solemnity.

Personally, the book succeeds in provoking reflection on faith, doubt, and the nature of leadership. It evokes a mix of suspense and introspection, encouraging readers to consider how certainty can become a barrier to unity and tolerance. The emotional resonance comes from watching characters struggle with their convictions amid political intrigue, making the story feel relevant beyond its religious setting.

Conclave conventionally belongs to the political thriller genre, but it is rare to find a tale so complex with regard to religion. Deviating from Harris's other historical and political novels, this work juxtaposes reactions to church traditions with current problems. A tension-building background atmosphere of the grandeur of the Vatican, contrasting with the claustrophobic setting of the conclave, greatly enhances the story. 

For some, the ending may come off as debatable and unexpected; thus, its plausibility and implications may stimulate discussion. Yet this same ambiguity is what makes it unforgettable, rendering its themes ripe for wrestling with long after anyone has put the book down. 

In sum, a truly rare contribution, Conclave has humanized the secretive cloister; it is both a gripping thriller and a reasoned rumination on faith and power, one that encourages the reader to consider their own beliefs and the various difficulties regarding leadership embroiling any institution.

4/5