In Ireland

Saint Coleman’s Cathedral in the picturesque town of Cobh.

I traveled to Ireland and met with John Magee, then Bishop of Cloyne, in his official residence in Cobh which he was soon to vacate. The meeting took place on Ash Wednesday, the day after he returned from meeting with Pope Benedict at the Vatican.

Magee never left the apostolic palace during John Paul’s pontificate. As a result, he was an eyewitness to the daily activities of the pope, celebrating Mass with him, accompanying him to general audiences, having lunch and dinner with him, and acting as a de facto of chief of staff for the pontiff. Magee was the first man summoned to John Paul’s bedroom immediately upon the discovery of the pope’s death.

Our interview lasted several hours during which Magee shared numerous anecdotes about his tenure as John Paul I’s personal secretary, many of which have not yet been published anywhere. The fascinating details of what he revealed will be included in my book.

We have corresponded about the book in the years since his retirement as bishop.

To the left of the Pope is John Magee, the only man in Church history to have served as personal secretary to three popes: Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II. I interviewed him at his residence when he was bishop of Cloyne, Ireland.

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