Letters From Rome on the Council

"Letters From Rome on the Council" by Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger is a compilation of letters from the 1800s that reveal the inner workings of the Vatican Council. The book shows the political fights and theological debates as religious leaders decided the role of the Pope. The author sets up the story by clarifying that the letters are from people close to the events in Rome, and their goal is to reveal what was really happening. As the story unfolds, the letters expose a plan to declare the Pope all-knowing and always right when it comes to Church teachings. The Bishops disagreed with this plan which caused tension and worries about the effects it would have on the connection between the Church and politics. The letters show an important struggle about power and independence, as some Bishops pushed back against the Pope's increasing power.