Father John Blackwood "Blackie" Ryan


Father John Blackwood "Blackie" Ryan is the protagonist in a series of 17 mystery novels by Roman Catholic priest and author Father Andrew Greeley.
Fictionally, "Blackie" is a portly, little man. As the innocuous auxiliary bishop and rector of the Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, he travels the Archdiocese of Chicago and around the world solving locked-room mysteries related to the Roman Catholic Church and its members.

Novels featuring Ryan

In his fictional biography, John Blackwood "Blackie" Ryan was born in 1945 to a large Irish-American family, ordained priest in 1970, made a Monsignor in 1983, and elevated to bishop in 1990. He is also a philosopher and author of the fictional theology books about James Joyce and William James. He regards himself as both priest and philosopher.
Ryan introduces himself by saying, "Call me Blackie," ; he is also called "Bishop Blackie." His siblings call him "Punk," and his nephews and nieces call him "Uncle Punk." Blackie's most common responses are "arguably" and "patently."
In the books, we learn that Blackie is not a fan of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who in 2005 became Pope Benedict XVI after the death of Pope John Paul II.
Aided by his psychologist sister Dr. Mary Kathleen Ryan Murphy, cousin Mike Casey, and other North Wabash Avenue Irregulars, he counsels people in crises of faith and solves puzzling locked-room murders. In the author's eyes, Blackie represents the priesthood at its best.