Review of Pilgrims by M.R. Leonard
Aboard an extraterrestrial spaceship suspended in the sky, Virgil, an advanced AI robot, serves as the host and facilitator of one of the most extraordinary moments in human history. The vessel carries three human diplomats—a U.S. military commander safeguarding Earth’s strategic interests, a Catholic priest-astronomer from the Vatican’s Arizona Observatory, and a Latin professor uniquely skilled in spoken Latin. These individuals, alongside the extraterrestrial diplomat represented by Virgil, find themselves at the forefront of humanity’s first contact with intelligent alien life.
The extraterrestrials, housed within the ship, arrive speaking fluent Latin, proclaiming themselves to be Catholics, and expressing an earnest desire to partake in the one true Eucharist of the Catholic Church. Their hybrid human-alien-machine nature, combined with their profound knowledge of biblical prophecy and centuries of observing human history, creates an unprecedented diplomatic and theological challenge. For these aliens, the Catholic Church represents a spiritual truth they have yearned to fully embrace.
The heart of Pilgrims lies in the nuanced conversations, debates, and negotiations that take place among these four diplomats. These exchanges go beyond mere theological or philosophical discussions, encompassing political strategy, ethical dilemmas, and the logistics of integrating extraterrestrial beings into human religious and social systems. Each character represents a different facet of humanity’s response to this historic event: military pragmatism, scientific inquiry, theological tradition, and linguistic-cultural interpretation.
As the extraterrestrials’ intentions and desires unfold, their arrival sparks global religious and political upheaval. Their proclamation of the Catholic God leads to mass conversions to Catholicism, reshaping the world’s religious and cultural landscapes. However, their absence from the human Church and lack of participation in its authority structure raises critical questions about the authenticity of their faith and the implications of welcoming them into the Eucharist. These tensions drive much of the story’s drama, as the diplomats grapple with the complexities of representing humanity in this unprecedented moment.
The novel also explores the historical reality of the Catholic Church’s engagement with astronomy and speculative theology, grounding its premise in plausible historical context. This adds depth and realism to the speculative narrative, while also raising questions about the theological boundaries of faith. For readers rooted in Reformed theology, the novel’s Catholic framework may appear speculative or even heretical, particularly its emphasis on the Eucharist and papal authority. The aliens’ overwhelming influence on global religious beliefs could be interpreted as aligning with biblical warnings about false gospels and end-times deception.
Strengths:
The interplay of conversations, debates, and negotiations creates a layered, immersive narrative.
The novel explores complex theological, ethical, and political issues, offering a richly thought-provoking experience.
The characters are compelling and their perspectives bring depth and realism to the story.
Weaknesses (from a Reformed perspective):
The Catholic theological emphasis, while central to the story, may feel unbiblical or speculative to Protestant readers.
The narrative’s focus on sacramentalism and papal authority contrasts sharply with the Christ-centered universality of salvation emphasized in Reformed theology.
Conclusion
Pilgrims is a masterfully written exploration of humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life, framed through the lens of faith, diplomacy, and theology. The novel’s speculative approach is bold and imaginative, pushing readers to grapple with profound questions about religion, ethics, and humanity’s place in the cosmos. While its Catholic perspective may be challenging for Protestant readers, its richly layered narrative and intellectual depth make it an essential read for those curious about the intersection of science and faith.
Narrative and performance: ★★★★★
Theological soundness (from a Reformed perspective): ★★☆☆☆
Engagement with religion, ethics, and extraterrestrial life: ★★★★★
This novel is both a thought-provoking commentary on the challenges of faith in a broader universe and a vivid portrait of how humanity might respond to the unknown. Readers grounded in biblical theology are encouraged to approach with discernment while appreciating the story’s intellectual and imaginative scope.