Pontifex Maximus A Short History of the Popes edition by Christopher Lascelles Religion Spirituality eBooks
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“Lascelles has achieved the seemingly impossible a concise and highly readable history of Catholic Popes that manages to be extremely entertaining and informative at the same time.”
– Gerald Posner, author of "God’s Bankers"
"A brilliant book on a number of different levels. Lascelles has an engaging prose style and an amazing eye for detail and apposite anecdote. Surely only purblind Catholic zelanti will object to this outstanding analysis.”
– Frank McLynn, author of "Genghis Khan", "Napoleon" and "1066"
“Lascelles has taken an overwhelming subject, and not been overwhelmed by it in any way. A highly enjoyable read.”
– Paul Strathern, author of "The Medici"
“Pontifex Maximus is a subtle and convincing explanation of how the successors of an impoverished fisherman from Galilee became a globally powerful monarch - all without getting lost in the bewildering historical weeds. Lascelles writes with both verve and humor; once started it’s hard to put down.”
– Lars Brownworth, author of "The Normans" and "The Sea Wolves"
"An invaluable, gripping compendium, narrating Papal history from the Catholic Church’s humble beginnings almost 2000 years ago to today’s international paedophilia scandals that have shaken true believers to their very souls."
– Mark Aarons, author of "The Secret War Against the Jews"
"An honest history of the papacy such as Pontifex Maximus can only serve to help the Catholic church be more honest and consequently more true to its calling."
– Fr. Thomas P. Doyle, priest, canon lawyer, author and columnist for National Catholic Reporter
"Pontifex Maximus is a substantive but snappy read through the sweep and swamp of papal history. Once I started I could hardly put it down. Reading it will be time well spent."
– Fr. Emmett Coyne, author of “A Theology of Fear”
"Lascelles' insightful and astute analysis makes the book unique and leads to a deeper understanding of the papacy and the Church."
– Mary Stroll, author of "Popes and Antipopes"
BOOK DESCRIPTION
For many people, the popes are an irrelevance if they consider them at all, it may be as harmless old men who preach obscure sermons in Latin. But the history of the popes is far from bland. On the contrary, it is occasionally so bizarre as to stretch credulity. Popes have led papal armies, fled in disguise, fathered children (including future popes), and authorised torture. They have been captured, assaulted and murdered. While many have been admired, some have been hated to such a degree that their funeral processions have been disrupted and statues of them torn down after their deaths. Many have been the enemies of freedom and progress – divisive rather than unifying figures.
In a fascinating read for Catholics and non-Catholics alike, Christopher Lascelles examines the history of the popes through the ages, laying bare the extent to which many of them fell so very short of the Christian ideals they supposedly represented. He explains how it was that, professing to follow a man who said ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ and 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth’, they nevertheless became heads of a rich state that owned more land in Europe than any king, relying on foreign military aid to keep power; and how pride, greed and corruption became commonplace in an institution founded on love, faith and forgiveness.
This book is aimed at the general reader who is short on time and seeks an accessible overview unencumbered by ecclesiastical jargon and scholarly controversies.
Pontifex Maximus A Short History of the Popes edition by Christopher Lascelles Religion Spirituality eBooks
This non-Catholic author presents a highly critical history of the popes focused on the negative aspects of behavior and shortcomings. For example, the chapter on Pope Benedict XVI did not even mention his many writings, which will be read well into the future. Now clearly, there are many, many things the Church and the Popes have not done well or in the spirit of Church teachings (we can all provide our own list!). However, the Church has survived the fallibility of many leaders. As an Episcopal priest of my acquaintance once said: “It is only through the active intervention of the Holy Spirit that the Church has survived at all.”A more balanced presentation would have been appreciated. Disclosure: I converted to Catholicism in 1990.
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Pontifex Maximus A Short History of the Popes edition by Christopher Lascelles Religion Spirituality eBooks Reviews
Wonderful overview of the culture of the Vatican through the ages. I enjoyed it very much, and especially since much of what I read had been pretty well ignored, or suppressed by the church when I was growing up. If many of these popes were considered infallible at the time, this is proof that they were and are, just men. A few great ones, but mostly avaricious and grasping.
Truly interesting topic. Sheds much light on the history of the Catholic Church. But it makes me wonder if other organized religions are much different under the surface. Very repetitious but only the names change. Not sure the year by year was the best way to tell the story.
A precise and thorough history of Catholic popes which makes a reader wonder how this institution is still in action today. Clearly most of their worship is flawed and man made. Reading this made me sad and wishing for a more simple church like the days of the first Christians. But, I do recommend this book even if tedious .
This may be called a 'short history' but it is rather long. It has been informative and somewhat depressing. So much deceit, crime, murder and incompetence in the long list of Popes. How has the Catholic Church managed to survive and still honor the office of the Pope today. The only problem is that the brief history of each Pope centers on their bad deeds and seldom mentions anything good. It should be entitled "A Negative History of the Papacy."
While at times interesting and eye opening, it was clear from the very beginning that the author was not only a non-Catholic, but seems to have a certain amount of hatred for the Church. He focuses entirely on the dark side of the Church and regularly omits certain details that would shine a softer light on the various popes he presents as horrible men.
With the subtitle "A Short History of the Popes," I had expected an objective book about the papacy. That is not what I got. Instead, the book is full of the author pontificating on the perceived unreasonableness of the Church's stance on birth control, the appropriateness of various canonizations, and Catholic doctrine. He regularly denigrates conservative Catholics, even going so far as to compare them to hard-core communists, you know, the ones responsible for over 100 million deaths in the 20th century.
I read the whole book because I wanted to know more about the popes. However, I wish I'd stopped reading the book after the first chapter, as all it did was irritate me.
If you're looking for an objective history of the popes, look elsewhere. If you want to read liberal anti-Catholic propaganda, this is the book for you.
I would have enjoyed this book far more - I confess that I gave up in Chapter Three and deleted it from my - had it stuck to being a concise history of the various popes, good and bad. The author presents an unbalanced view, in my opinion; he is not sufficiently detached from his subject to refrain from negative comments. It is written in a very critical manner, on what could have been a very interesting subject. I found the tone depressing and negative. Too much emotional involvement, too little balanced commentary.
Recommend to I would only recommend this book to people that already have some understanding of the formation of the church, western history in general, and more importantly the ability to read critically.
What I enjoyed this book helped plug some historical gaps.
What I didn’t enjoy the author fails to contain his contempt and his judgement. While everyone is entitled to opinion, a book titled “a short history” should attempt at presenting facts and history, instead it is a string of judgement after judgement. As a former member and student of the church’s theology and history, I am very critical of a great many aspects and events, so I wasn’t expecting a hagiography at all, what I also wasn’t expecting was to be able to feel the author’s anger and contempt as I read his work.
This non-Catholic author presents a highly critical history of the popes focused on the negative aspects of behavior and shortcomings. For example, the chapter on Pope Benedict XVI did not even mention his many writings, which will be read well into the future. Now clearly, there are many, many things the Church and the Popes have not done well or in the spirit of Church teachings (we can all provide our own list!). However, the Church has survived the fallibility of many leaders. As an Episcopal priest of my acquaintance once said “It is only through the active intervention of the Holy Spirit that the Church has survived at all.”
A more balanced presentation would have been appreciated. Disclosure I converted to Catholicism in 1990.
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