THE PAPACY by Paul Johnson

THE PAPACY

Hardcover First Edition

Coffee Table Book Large Fabulous on Table

by Paul Johnson 

1997 Illustrated

History of Catholic Popes 

History of the Papacy RELIGION 

THE PAPACY For nearly two thousand years, one institution has successfully survived the rise and falls of empires, kingdoms and cultures. To Catholics and non-Catholics alike, the workings of the Vatican, together with its colourful history, are a source of endless fascination, this magnificently illustrated book presents a definitive look at both. As we enter the third millennium, the papacy remains of huge global significance. How did this 'monarchy' arise, and who were the men who made it a central part of our lives? The Papacy starts with St. Peter, Christ's 'rock on which the church shall stand...But equally there is Julius II, who initiated the rebuilding of St. Peter's , and hired both Raphael and Michelangelo. The decline of the papal states as a political entity is seen under Pius VI, who was arrested and taken to France by Napoleon. Nearly a hundred years later, under Pius IX (d. 1878), the papal states finally disappeared.

Some extraordinary illustrations