Frank Coppa Boeken

"Describing the triumphs, controversies and failures of popes over the past 200 years - including Pius IX, who was criticized for his campaign against Italian unification and his proclamation of papal infallibilty, and Pius XII, denounced for his 'silence' during the Holocaust and 'impartiality' during the Second World War - this book offers a comprehensive and enlightening view of the papal state. Examining a wide variety of source, some only recently made available by the Vatican archives, The Papacy in the Modern World sheds new light on this institution and offers valuable insights into events previously shrouded in mystery." --Back cover.

Focusing on the Vatican's evolution from the Renaissance to the 1990s, this source book provides a detailed exploration of its historical context within European and global events. It includes entries on all popes and significant councils, emphasizing the church's structure and its political, social, and cultural interactions. The text examines the Vatican's responses to major historical events, theological debates, and current social issues, offering a comprehensive view of its influence and position on various ideological movements and contemporary topics.