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

This book was a bit of a disappointment in that it was shorter than I expected. However the art is beautfiul the biographies are intriguing, and all the extra information they have included in tersm of myths about the papacy, church history, and various other insersts was really interesting.

For most of us, irrespective of our religious orientation, the Papacy is a religious institution the responsibility for which was purportedly handed from Jesus to his disciple Peter and from him to his successors unto modern times. While it cannot be denied that the Church has had a pervasive influence through time and space, the Chronicle of the Popes by P. G. Maxwell-Stuart makes it abundantly clear that the Roman Catholic Church and its head were much more than mere relgious bystanders in world history. For much of its existance the Papacy was a temporal power subject to the political realities of its times, the luck, stengths and weaknesses of the individuals serving in the role of Pope, and the machinations of the other powers around it with agendas of their own. Setting aside the religious aspect of the institution, Chronicle of the Popes reads like the history of a small kingdom struggling to exist in the face of fierce competition, international intrigue and vast social changes. Maxwell-Stuart discusses the excesses of some of the Popes, their attempts to advance the causes of members of their own families, the furtherence of the interests of illegitimate children, the sale of church offices and indulgences, and the repression of other religious points of view. He discusses the bravery of early leaders who persisted in their pursuit of their religious beliefs despite the personal danger in which this placed them, and the efforts of church leaders to define the institution as a religious construct in times as rapidly changing as our own. It becomes apparent that the Church underwent changes in orientation, stressing temporal over spiritual or the reverese, as political circumstances dictated the need. In fact one might almost compare this to the invisble hand that directs supply and demand economics. Though from a strictly religious standpoint it often failed to meet the expectations of its purported founders, the Papacy served a mediating political influence on the behaviors of the world powers around it and contributed to the evolution of the world in which we presently live. Given that it outlived most of the political entities that it encountered throughout it's history, one might almost say it provided a critical element of stability that permitted that evolution.The author, Peter Maxwell-Stuart, has served as Head of both the History Department and the Classics Faculty at Chesterton College, Cambridge, and his present work reflects this orientation; he does not appear to have any pet religious orientation to advance. Like any good historian he approaches his subject as a study of a political and social institution and one of considerable longevity.The book is beautifully illustrated with reproductions of early art and architecture, which make the personalities of the various Popes and their world setting clearer for the reader. Charts recording the known data regarding each church leader summarize the pertinate information

I am a History Major in college and one of my area's of interest is the Middle Ages (400AD-1500AD). Of course this means that to study the time of the Middle Ages, one must study Papal History as well. I find that this book is essential in researching not only the history of the Papacy but also the Emperors who were allies and enemies of individual Popes. This reference is easy to follow, outstanding timeline references, great drawings, paintings and pictures, but MOST OF ALL it has the brief history of each Pope since St. Peter and also significant achievements of each Pope as well. It also tells about other significant events around the world during the history of the Catholic Church as well. Without this reference book (I consider it a tool) I would be at a definite disadvantage. This book is a MUST have for Medieval-Church Historians as well as those who are Medieval History Buffs as well.

Fantastic book of the papal history. Easy to understand, yet enough information to satisfy those who want to know not only the history of the Popes from St. Peter to John Paul II but also the growth of the Catholic Church. Illustrations are numerous and colorful. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fascinating journey thru the struggles, controversies and history of the Church.

I bought this book, because I already have the Chronicles of the Pharaohs & the Roman Emperors. I haven't read it thru yet, but it's great to have beside other books when I want to know something about a special pope. Now I see there's also one about Chinese Emperors. That will be the next book to buy!