Paul I. Murphy

1880 La Popessa, by Paul I. Murphy with R. Rene Arlington (read 15 Nov 1984) This purports to be about Mother Pascalita, who was Pope Pius XII's housekeeper. What a stupid book! It is so ridiculous, and so poorly written it is almost impossible to believe it would be published. One does not know what can be believed. For instance, the book says the Pope was authoritarian and overbearing in his last years--and the Cardinals were very opposed to him. The author says Montini (later Pope Paul VI) was furious that he was not named a Cardinal by Pius XII, and that Cardinal Spellman was contemptuous of Cardinal Roncalli (John XXII-to-be) and voted for Cardinal Ruffini for Pope. I surely regret the book is so sloppily written--some one might believe some of the crap in it.… (mehr)