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Artwork for Riccardo: The Man Who Blew Up the Pope

Riccardo: The Man Who Blew Up the Pope

Rob Ferraro
Pope Pius XII
Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi
Vatican
Montesi Case
World War II
Wilma Montesi
Metapsychics
Roman Catholic Church
Eugenio Pacelli
Catholic Church
Riccardo Galeazzi
Italy
Italian Politics
Castel Gandolfo
Cardinal Eugène Tisserant
Thanatoparaxie
1958 Vatican Scandal
Cold War
Second World War
St. Peter's Basilica

A corpse that explodes inside the Vatican. A papal doctor who hides behind secrecy, lies, and forbidden photographs. This is not fiction — it’s a true story. For decades, the scandal surrounding Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, personal physician to Pope Pius XII, has been buried under shame and silence. Now, after years of research in hidden archives and forgotten testimonies, the truth comes to light. Fr... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes11Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTrue Crime

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Artwork for Riccardo: The Man Who Blew Up the Pope

Latest Episodes

The embalming of Pope Pius XII ends in catastrophe: his body decomposes before horrified witnesses, exploding during the funeral procession. As the Vatican scrambles to contain the disaster, scandal erupts. "Paris Match" publishes a secret medical di... more

Pope Pius XII is dead. His longtime physician, Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, remains at his side, carrying out his final duty. But above all looms Cardinal Eugène Tisserant — the iron-fisted Dean of the College of Cardinals — determined to dismantle Pacell... more

October 1958. Pope Pius XII is dying in Castel Gandolfo. Beside his bed: doctors, nuns… and Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, leaking secrets to the press.

A false death announcement shocks the world. A forbidden photograph captures the pontiff in his last mo... more

In 1954, Pius XII’s health collapses — and with it, his trust in his lifelong doctor, Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi. Newly unearthed diaries from Cardinal Domenico Tardini expose a year of rivalries, deception, and failed cures: rectal feeding, false medica... more

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Host

Rob Ferraro
Host and producer of the podcast, involved in the creative aspects of the narrative and structuring the investigative storytelling.

Reviews

2.5 out of 5 stars from 4 ratings
  • AI

    Podcast Addict
    1
    T
    2 months ago
  • A good story that deserves a real narrator

    I love a good historical scandal and this one is very well-written and researched, so I can’t help but feel disappointed in the choice of AI narration for this podcast. It sounds blatantly clunky in parts, and it’s hard to get past. I’m finishing the series but I hope the creator considers limiting AI for future projects.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    amandaginny
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback includes disappointment over the choice of AI narration versus a more human voice, indicating a desire for authentic storytelling.
Listeners appreciate the investigative depth and storytelling, often noting the intriguing historical context and research behind each episode.
Many find the blend of true crime and history compelling, applauding the way it unveils scandals related to the Catholic Church.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#183
Italy/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

9 - Anatomy of a Pontiff
Q: Why did you not consult senior specialists from Rome's top clinics?
Four doctors were present at the Pope's bedside, so there was no need to consult additional senior specialists.
9 - Anatomy of a Pontiff
Q: Is it true that shortly after the embalming, the Pope's body showed signs of decomposition?
The body of Pius XII showed no signs of decomposition as observed by journalists and was said to be well-preserved.
9 - Anatomy of a Pontiff
Q: What's the principle behind the new embalming method that was tested on the Pope's body?
The physical principle of osmosis, using volatile resins with high diffusive power, was utilized for the embalming method.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Riccardo: The Man Who Blew Up the Pope

What is Riccardo: The Man Who Blew Up the Pope about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast presents a gripping exploration of the unsettling true story surrounding Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, the personal physician to Pope Pius XII. With a focus on pivotal historical moments such as WWII and the dawn of the Cold War, it reveals a web of intrigue encompassing medical mishaps, political power struggles, and scandalous secrets that have long been concealed within the Catholic Church. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, the narrative challenges perceptions and sheds light on one of the Vatican's darkest chapters, intertwining themes of morality, ethics, and the often murky boundaries of medical practice in times of crisis.

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1. Reveal
2. Throughline
3. On the Media
4. In The Dark
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Riccardo: The Man Who Blew Up the Pope are there?

Riccardo: The Man Who Blew Up the Pope launched 4 months ago and published 11 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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