Pontifex Maximus: A Short History of the Popes

by Christopher Lascelles

For many people, the popes are an 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 authorized 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.

Genres: History, Religion, Christianity, Christian History, Catholic, Historical, Nonfiction

398 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2017

About the author

Christopher Lascelles studied modern languages and history at St Andrews University in Scotland. His first book, A Short History of the World, became a New York Times and Amazon bestseller and was translated into seven languages. He is currently writing A Short History of the Future. He lives in London with his wife and daughter. Visit www.lascelleshistory.com

Reviews

[Geoff Atwater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focused on the negative

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.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book describes an institution and the men who built a 2000 year old position encompassing 266 who held the position for varying lengths of time. It is one man's view and of necessity is a brief sketch of the men and their actions. It does however lay bare and lean heavily toward an overriding negative portrayal of virtually all of the men and their weaknesses.

As a lifelong Roman Catholic, educated through to university at religious institutions I am admittedly inclined to think the author harsh and opinionated. That said, I came away after finishing the book believing that he had an agenda that was less than unbiased. I do admit, as a student of history on the other hand, that the Catholic church and historical popes have sanctioned or participated in murder, theft, greed, and throughout the centuries not conducted themselves in the image of Jesus.

I gave the book 3 stars not because I either liked or disliked it but because it was thought-provoking and inspired me to do further research, on the author and the topic. The most serious danger of this book is that bigots and haters will have their own evil reinforced. That's on the author too.

[Rev. M. M. Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

When writing about the long history of the Papacy, it may be almost impossible to be completely objective and not allow your own opinions and feelings enter into the narrative. Christopher Lascelles does a fairly good job of this, but his prejudices are not entirely hidden, especially when he gets to the Popes of the twentieth century. Given the constraints of writing a short history, he does cover the ground with enough detail for the casual reader, and the extensive bibliography can point those interested in more detail with places to go.

Except for a few well-known rascals, we tend to think of the popes as being almost supernaturally holy men. Lascelles shows us that this is certainly not always the case. It may be said that the surest proof of the divine origin of the Church is that it still exists in spite of our best efforts to destroy it.

The book is a good introduction to papal history and provides a good overview of the history of the Church.

[Rick Flagstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking to say the least!

The author has taken a very difficult subject and made it seem so easy. As a practicing Catholic, this book was met with a mixture of scorn and disbelief. It is hard to believe the amount of corruption and immoral activities the leaders of the Church got away with. Certainly can not describe those popes as godly people. Yet, after so many evil acts in the name of the Church, the Church still stands and is attempting once again to right the ship. A fantastic read. You will laugh at times, You will cry at times, but you will not be able to walk away.

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an exhaustive history of the papacy. And I do mean exhaustive. The first 2/3rds of the book were a litany of popes, one after the other, who were murdered, served as short a term as a few days, were embroiled in politics, behaved badly for anyone, much less the Pope. etc. I slogged on until the reformation at which point it became somewhat more interesting and less chaotic. The author clearly doesn't think much of the leaders of the Catholic church, usually with good reason. However, he rather belabored the point. His discussion of 20th and 21st century Popes was not worth the trek through the details of the first 2 centuries.

[Thomas Kus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well researched and very readable account of papal history. Following a strict chronological order every pope (and most antipodes) get a mention with all the good, bad and ugly bits pointed out with reasoned and fair arguments. It's a fascinating history that manages to inform and entertain in equal measure.

[Gordon Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Because of the two-thousand-years of discussion, only thumbnail descriptions of each Pope are possible. However, they are pithy. An amazing overview of the Catholic Church.

[Vince Hamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will confirm your suspicion s

This book examines the pontificate of every single pope. Many were in power for only a few months, so there was little to say. But for those with extensive backgrounds, the tales abound with corruption, greed, degeneracy, and dead.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author's main thrust is about hypocrisy.

[Barry Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the sections on the later Popes most.

[Collin Vinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely biased but I still was interesting