Pope John Paul II, pictured, does not need my defence; his reputation as a great Pope is already secure in the judgment of millions.

Pope John Paul II, pictured, does not need my defence; his reputation as a great Pope is already secure in the judgment of millions.

It might surprise some, however, if questions were not raised, nor criticism voiced, over David Yallop's new book, The Power and the Glory: Inside the dark heart of John Paul II's Vatican. Perhaps the very title gives a key to its genre. Anne Simpson takes everything at face value and opines that "Yallop has a reputation for fearless writing" (May 26). Maybe, but she should be aware that he is best known for advancing conspiracy theories and suggestions of scandal in places where the inquisitive and the prurient love to roam (pun!) With staggering irony, Yallop suggests that the Pope's obituaries "abound with myths, fantasies and disinformation". Yallop is himself master of the craft. He is the perpetrator of the myth that John Paul I was murdered (for which there is no shred of evidence); the creator of the fantasy that John Paul II inhabited the intellectual world of Pius IX (when Pope Wojtyla taught modern philosophy at Lublin University and authored a whole new theology of the body); and the author of the misinformation that the Pope had "no partnership with his fellow bishops. No collegiality. No dialogue or discussion".

Sorry, but my time as a bishop (30 years) covered all the years of his papacy. I have personally witnessed his daily attendance at the Synod of Bishops listening to interminable presentations. I have been present at more than one of his visits to churches in other countries, including Scotland, where he demonstrated his collegiality with the local hierarchy.

I have, with my fellows, enjoyed the hospitality of his dinner table and experienced his ability to initiate dialogue and discussion. No other Pope in recent history made himself so available.

I won't waste time on defending the indefensible other than to say no society should be roundly condemned for the sins and failings of its errant members. What I do consider as grossly unfair, even from an "agnostic Catholic" who should know better, is the alleging that Pope Benedict has fast-tracked the canonisation of his predecessor, when in fact he resisted the cries of "Santo subito" (a saint straight away) from great sections of the crowd in St Peter's Square on the day of Pope John Paul's funeral and insisted on the normal process proceeding. Again, I know because I was there.

How I would love to be there again when the process is completed, John Paul is canonised and Yallop is dumbfounded.

(Most Rev) Mario Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow.