Surviving wars, political intrigue, and the rise and fall of empires, the Holy See of Rome has held sway for nearly 2,000 years, often wielding a power to shame the mightiest monarch. In this book, nine eminent historians review two millennia of papal history, from the days of St. Peter, the first bishop of Rome, to the current reign of John Paul II, the first non-Italian Pope in over 200 years. Exploring such topics as the relationship between the Vatican and the Holy Roman Empire, the Great Schism, the papal states, the rebuilding of St. Peter's, and more, this balanced study illuminates the achievements of the papacy. 10 "x 11 1/2" . 224 pp.

1 The Origins of the Papacy
2 Popes and Emperors
3 Reform and the Papacy
4 Papal Monarchy
5 The Renaissance Papacy
6 The Reformation-And the Counter-Reformation
7 The Emergence of the Modern Papacy
8 The Papacy in the Twentienth Century