Our friend Gerald Posner returns to bring his unique insight into the story BEHIND the election of a new Pope - the overlapping financial and sexual scandals that have plagued the Vatican for many decades. Gerald explains why is has proved so hard to reform a famously opaque (and sometimes corrupt) institution - and how a Pope can pursue and punish senior officials caught with their hands in the till. Did you know that the Vatican has a legal system of its own, and a prison?

But before that Phil reflects on an extraordinary week of royal news - with a toe-curling but fascinating interview from Meghan, which seemed calculated to stir up old animosities at the Palace, William basking in praise for his recent diplomatic efforts, and yet more talk of a possible reconciliation with Harry. But - with all her talk of ‘slaying dragons' - is Meghan the one standing in the way of that now?

You can buy Gerald’s book on the Vatican here at our own bookshop...

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/god-s-bankers-a-history-of-money-and-power-at-the-vatican-gerald-posner/3501574?aid=12054&ean=9781416576594

There’s also information and extracts from Phil’s new book here...

https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/home

You can pre-order the book now on Amazon UK - and it will be available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#

***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***

Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongers

*** If you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.

THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiDbLiwypTLqMaKnNfxcTA

The Scandal Mongers...

https://x.com/mongerspodcast

Phil Craig...

https://x.com/philmcraig

You can get in touch with the show via...

team@podcastworld.org

(place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.