Two evil books are coming, but Pope Francis provides a ray of hope

Scandal-based books purport to reveal Vatican corruption, but also reveal Pope Francis' attitude.

Two scandal-filled books are about to hit shelves, claiming to expose the secrets of the Vatican revealing corruption from inside the Church. The Vatican has blasted the books and arrested two people in connection with the leaks that the books are based on.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Two books will hit shelves this week and both claim to expose corruption within Vatican City and the Church. Although the Vatican has not confirmed, or refuted the rumors which fill their pages, there is a foreboding sense that they contain at least some truth.

In general, the books detail corruption inside the Vatican revealed by Pope Francis and his investigation into the Church's internal affairs. Pope Francis has arrived as a reformer, intent on cleaning out corruption.

One story, detailed in the book, "Merchants in the Temple," tells of the Vatican's No. 2, Monsignor Guisseppe Sciacca, who wanted a larger apartment for himself. He displaced an elderly, sickly, priest, had the wall between their apartments removed, and took over the space for himself. The elderly priest returned from an extended hospital stay and found his things packed into boxes. The unfortunate priest died a short time later.

When Pope Francis learned this, he demoted the Monsignor and evicted him, ordering him to leave immediately.

Other revelations show that there wealthy donors are being asked to sponsor sainthood causes, and are charging money to do it. To get a person promoted as a saint costs $550,000 to $750,000, according to the author of "Merchants." In other words, money, not merit, is advancing sainthood causes.

In the book other, "Avarice," details leaked letters that warn Pope Francis that there is corruption including hidden accounts, high-ranking clergy living for free in Church facilities or being paid by the Church out of funds intended for other uses, and so on.

Those responsible for the leaks have been arrested by the Vatican. The Vatican is technically its own state and is entitled to dispense its own justice. However, the Vatican uses Italian facilities for suspects and to jail those who break the law.

The books are not recommended reading for Catholics because they likely contain misinformation, unfounded rumors and aren't necessarily being published with the Church's best interest at heart. They were written using information stolen from the Vatican and are the fruit of a serious breach of trust. However, one thing they apparently do reveal, even if inadvertently, is the Pope Francis is a true reformer, intent upon cleaning out corruption in the Vatican.