The Shoes of the Fisherman (novel)

The Shoes of the Fisherman is a novel by Australian author Morris West, published in 1963. It tells the story of Kiril Pavlovich Lakota, a Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop of Lviv who is unexpectedly released from a Siberian labor camp after nearly two decades and brought to Rome. Lakota is then appointed a Cardinal and subsequently elected Pope, taking the name Kiril I.

The novel explores the political and spiritual challenges faced by the new Pope as he navigates the complex landscape of the Cold War and the internal workings of the Vatican. Key themes include East-West relations, the threat of nuclear war, the role of the Catholic Church in the modern world, and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in positions of power.

Lakota's papacy is marked by his attempts to use his unique position and personal experience to foster dialogue and understanding between the superpowers, striving to prevent global conflict. The title refers to the papal custom of wearing simple shoes, symbolizing the role of the Pope as the successor of Saint Peter, the fisherman. The book gained considerable attention due to its portrayal of a Slavic Pope, predating the election of Pope John Paul II. A film adaptation of the novel, also titled The Shoes of the Fisherman, was released in 1968, starring Anthony Quinn as Pope Kiril I.