George Arthur Rose, a struggling writer and former priest, is unexpectedly elected Pope, thrusting him into the center of ecclesiastical power. Rose, a man defined by his intellectual arrogance and social alienation, approaches the papacy with a mixture of entitlement and radical reformist zeal. He must navigate the complex, often hostile political landscape of the Vatican while attempting to impose his idiosyncratic vision upon the Catholic Church. The narrative, presented with a distinctively ornate and self-conscious prose style, follows Rose as he confronts the institutional inertia and personal animosities that threaten his authority.

Discussion often centers on the novel's status as a unique piece of autobiographical fantasy that mirrors the author's own eccentric life. Readers frequently highlight the sharp, biting wit directed at the religious establishment and the protagonist's unapologetic self-aggrandizement. Critics often note the density of the prose, which reflects the author's obsession with ritual and linguistic precision. The work is widely regarded as a significant example of early twentieth-century eccentric literature that balances personal grievance with grand, imaginative ambition.