TY - BOOK AU - Zola,Émile AU - Vizetelly,Ernest Alfred TI - The Three Cities Trilogy: Rome, Volume 3 AV - PQ PY - 2005/// CY - Salt Lake City, UT PB - Project Gutenberg KW - Clergy -- Fiction KW - Rome (Italy) -- Fiction KW - Catholics -- Fiction KW - Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Fiction N1 - Release date is 2005-08-01; Produced by Dagny and David Widger; Original publication data not identified N2 - "The Three Cities Trilogy: Rome, Volume 3" by Émile Zola is a novel from the late 19th century that explores the intricate interplay of religion, power, and social dynamics within the context of the Catholic Church and its followers in Rome. The narrative is centered around the character Pierre, a young priest who grapples with his faith and ideals amidst the backdrop of a pivotal pilgrimage event, highlighting the contrast between the spiritual and temporal realms as emblematic figures like Pope Leo XIII come to the forefront. The opening of the novel situates Pierre in Rome, where he meets Monsignor Nani after a long day of reflection near the Vatican. Nani invites Pierre to witness the upcoming reception of the Peter's Pence Fund, an international pilgrimage aimed at consolidating the Church’s power and presence. As the ceremony unfolds, Pierre observes the fervent adoration of the crowds toward the pope, leading him to a profound internal conflict regarding the nature of faith and idolatry. Amidst the tumult of faith and political maneuvering, he begins to grasp the profound implications of the Church's temporal power and its impact on his personal aspirations for a rejuvenated Christianity, setting the stage for his ongoing struggles throughout the volume. (This is an automatically generated summary.) UR - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8723 ER -