The Pontiffs from Saint Peter to John Paul II.
The best, the worst, the most notorious - this captivating history provides a complete portrait of the papacy. Compiled and written by one of the leading scholars in the field, the book details the great variety of popes over the course of nearly two thousand years: warriors and peacemakers, saints and scoundrels, politicians and pastors, reformers and nepotists alike.
The book features fascinating profiles of all 262 popes; essays on the papal election process and its future; timelines of papal, ecclesiastical, and secular persons and events; and ratings of all the popes, from the best to the worst. Detailed, comprehensive, and highly accessible, 'Lives Of The Popes' captures the remarkable stories of the popes and poignantly reveals how they transformed Christianity and the world.
