After a visit to the vatican in 1983, Mario Puzo, bestselling author of and, "Was so enchanted by the look, the feel and food of Italy, so taken by its history," Carol gino explains, "That he wanted to write a novel abou...After a visit to the vatican in 1983, Mario Puzo, bestselling author of and, "Was so enchanted by the look, the feel and food of Italy, so taken by its history," Carol gino explains, "That he wanted to write a novel about it." Nearly 20 years in the making, is that novel.