The Last Confession is a historical mystery novel by British author John Connolly, published in 2003. The book centers around the death of Pope John Paul I in 1978 and the conspiracy theories surrounding his sudden demise.
The narrative interweaves several storylines across different time periods:
- The immediate aftermath of John Paul I's death, focusing on the Vatican's efforts to manage the situation and quell rumors.
- A contemporary investigation by a journalist, Martin Keatings, who receives a cryptic letter hinting at a possible murder.
- Flashbacks to the life and experiences of Cardinal Benelli, a prominent Vatican figure, and his interactions with key players in the Church leading up to the conclave that elected John Paul I.
The novel explores themes of faith, power, corruption, and the internal politics of the Catholic Church. It blends fictional characters and events with historical figures and documented occurrences, creating a suspenseful narrative that questions the official account of the Pope's death. The book attempts to present various motives and possible scenarios that could have led to the Pope's demise, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. The complex plot involves Vatican finances, the P2 Masonic lodge, and Cold War political intrigue.