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Richard A. Zmuda is author of the new historical novel, "The Mole of Vatican Council II: The True Story of 'Xavier Rynne.'" (Courtesy photo)

Radio Interview: The true story of ‘Xavier Rynne’

July 28, 2025
By Catholic Review Staff
Catholic Review
Filed Under: CR Radio, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview

During the Second Vatican Council, a mysterious voice began reporting from inside the closed-door sessions — exposing tensions and calling for reform. That voice belonged to Xavier Rynne, the pseudonym of Father Francis Xavier Murphy, a Redemptorist priest who risked everything to write anonymously about the council’s inner workings.

George Matysek talks with Richard A. Zmuda, author of the new historical novel, “The Mole of Vatican Council II: The True Story of ‘Xavier Rynne,'” which brings Father Murphy’s remarkable story to life. Zmuda, a parishioner of the Redemptorist parish of St. Mary in Annapolis, draws on personal letters, diaries and secret Vatican files to explore why Father Murphy wrote, what he risked and how his bold reporting still echoes in today’s Church.

Click play below to listen to the full interview:

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