In the past, the Church in Rome has made saints of those who were once womanizers and prostitutes. The new American Pope determines to have canonized a homosexual priest from the 1600's in order to advance the Church's relevance in the 21st century. This is the story of the nun and priest who are conscripted in this cause and of the tragedy that befalls them. It follows the events in the life of the candidate for canonization that have brought him to such notice, and it shows the corrupt machinations in Rome that underlie the effort.