The novel is set in the early 21st century. The unexpected election of a panic striken but ultimately revolutionary Pope John XXIV re-kindles the expectations generated by the Second Vatican Council. But is does so at the cost of antagonizing powerful interests, both inside and outside of the Catholic Church. An unholy alliance of reactionary forces begins to form as politicians and media barons realise that the Pope is not going to restrict his reform agenda to matters ecclesiastical. An assassination attempt fails, both to kill the Pope and to cause him to change direction. Alarmed by the imminent prospect of war in the Middle East John XXIV undertakes a peace mission, further alienating existing enemies. His trip ends in tragedy but...out of the ashes