Oliver, raised by two women in Boston, goes to Rome during a summer break from college to meet his biological father. Their long-anticipated meeting forces each to face deep and complex questions about their sexual identity in the shadows of the Vatican. Intrigue abounds as Oliver falls in love with a handsome Roman man, Giancarlo. Their sudden and all-consuming relationship sets in motion a series of twists and turns, some fortuitous and others tragic. The plot unfolds against Roman history and the art and patrimony of the Church - with magnificent descriptions of each. The book is a touching coming of age story, a romantic tale, and a rich and in-depth exploration of whether the Catholic Church has the theological capacity and the political will to embrace gay relationships.