Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati - dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism - is alive, well, and murderously active Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest His final discovery, anti-matter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt to prevent the incineration of civilisation