Encyclopedia of the Vatican and Papacy
Encyclopedia of the Vatican and Papacy
Edited by Frank J. Coppa
Published by Greenwood Press, 1999
This is a 6.5" by 9.5" hardback book running to 484 pages including the index and appendices, plus a brief preface.
The emphasis on this book, which is not stated in the title, is on the modern period, or anyway the period since the Renaissance. The preface begins, "This volume, which is a collaborative effort involving more than forty contributors from the United States and abroad, focuses on the historical, politcial, diplomatic, social, cultural, and religious role of the Vatican and the papacy in the modern world." This saves the editor from having to deal with the many uncomfortable facts about the Church during the periods of its greatest corruption and most obviously evil activities. There is plenty of evil left to talk about in the history that is covered, but, predictably, this is mostly whitewashed by the "neutral" approach of the editor. Most of the entries provide basic historical information about popes, diplomatic relations, and the organization of the Church. Some uncomfortable topics are addressed, but often more defensively than objectively (for example, apologizing for and excusing Pius XII's passive response to Hitler's crimes).
This book is a reliable source for the "official line" on papal history in the modern era, but shouldn't be relied on for more than that.
Edited by Frank J. Coppa
Published by Greenwood Press, 1999
This is a 6.5" by 9.5" hardback book running to 484 pages including the index and appendices, plus a brief preface.
The emphasis on this book, which is not stated in the title, is on the modern period, or anyway the period since the Renaissance. The preface begins, "This volume, which is a collaborative effort involving more than forty contributors from the United States and abroad, focuses on the historical, politcial, diplomatic, social, cultural, and religious role of the Vatican and the papacy in the modern world." This saves the editor from having to deal with the many uncomfortable facts about the Church during the periods of its greatest corruption and most obviously evil activities. There is plenty of evil left to talk about in the history that is covered, but, predictably, this is mostly whitewashed by the "neutral" approach of the editor. Most of the entries provide basic historical information about popes, diplomatic relations, and the organization of the Church. Some uncomfortable topics are addressed, but often more defensively than objectively (for example, apologizing for and excusing Pius XII's passive response to Hitler's crimes).
This book is a reliable source for the "official line" on papal history in the modern era, but shouldn't be relied on for more than that.