Chronicle of the Popes ─ The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Papacy from St. Peter to the Present

For nearly two millennia the Popes have not only shaped the course of one of the world's great religions but have also played a part--sometimes a dominant one--in the history of Europe. Chronicle of the Popes examines the lives, deeds, and misdeeds of the 264 Popes from St. Peter to John Paul II. There is an extraordinary dichotomy between the awesome dignity of the holy office and the all-too-human passions and pleasures of some of the individuals who have occupied it. The Renaissance Pope Leo X is well known for remarking on his election, "God has given Us the Papacy; now let Us enjoy it"; and the seventeenth-century pontiff Urban VIII conducted an elaborate magical ceremony in the papal apartments. Yet many of the Popes were pious and holy men, remarkable statesmen as well as spiritual leaders, and great patrons of the arts. Almost all the foremost painters, sculptors, and architects of the Renaissance benefited from Papal patronage. Chronicle of the Popes provides a grand historical overview, showing how ultimately the Papacy has come full circle--from self-consciously spiritual office, through embroilment in political power, and now, as we approach the end of the second millennium, back to spiritual office. The detailed coverage includes: * data files for every Pope, listing information such as early career and family relationships; * special features including the excavation of St. Peter's tomb and the Spanish Inquisition; * portraits of the major Popes, genealogical trees, and four-color maps; * time lines with at-a-glance visual guides to the key events of each Pope's reign.