Images

Simon & Schuster

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright © 2015 by Gerald Posner

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition February 2015

SIMON & SCHUSTER and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

Illustration credits are on page 733.

Interior design by Robert E. Ettlin

Jacket design by Christopher Lin

Jacket photograph: FLOORTJE/Getty Images

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Posner, Gerald L.

  God’s bankers : a history of money and power at the Vatican / By Gerald Posner.

    pages  cm

  1. Catholic Church—Finance.  2. Catholic Church—Corrupt practices.  3. Istituto per le opere di religione—Corrupt practices.  4. Banks and banking—Vatican City.  5. Catholic Church—History—20th century.  6. Catholic Church—History—21st century.  7. Catholic Church—Controversial literature.  I. Title.

  BX1950.P68  2015

  364.16'8—dc23        2014021061

ISBN 978-1-4165-7657-0

ISBN 978-1-4391-0986-1 (ebook)