
audiobook
This volume offers a sweeping survey of the leaders of Rome, tracing each pontiff from the earliest bishops through the first centuries of the Church. Arranged in a clear, chronological format, the work presents concise biographies, key events, and the evolving role of the papacy within the wider Christian world. The author’s meticulous notes and cross‑references make it easy to follow the complex succession and the shifting political landscape that shaped each reign.
Written from a distinctly Protestant standpoint, the narrative highlights how the growing authority of the papal office intersected with the religious and civil life of Europe. It examines the tension between papal claims and emerging reform movements, illustrating how historical truth was often contested by competing interests. By the close of the first act, readers will see the early foundations of the conflict that later defined the Reformation and the enduring impact of the papacy on European affairs.
Language
en
Duration
~20 hours (1165K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by KD Weeks, Charlene Taylor, Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Books project.)
Release date
2020-09-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1686–1766
Raised in the Catholic world but later active in Protestant England, this 18th-century writer built a career out of controversy as much as scholarship. He is best remembered for a widely read history of the popes and for the dramatic turns in his own religious life.
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