It is the world's oldest political power, a vast financial empire, and a maze-like bureaucracy -- and yet its sole purpose is to proclaim and effect Christian salvation. It is the Vatican, and only an insider could reveal its complex secrets; only a bestselling author could weav…
Revealing a history of mysterious deaths, shady characters, and moral and political tensions, exposes the inner workings of the Catholic Church to trace how the Vatican evolved from an institution of faith into an extremely wealthy corporate power. --Publisher's description. By…
"Examining the urban and architectural developments in Rome during the Pontificate of Julius II (1503-13) this book focuses on the political, religious and artistic motives behind the changes. Each chapter focuses on a particular project, from the Palazzo dei Tribunali to the St…
A startling account of corruption and hypocrisy at the heart of the Vatican. In the Closet of the Vatican exposes the rot at the heart of the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church today. This brilliant piece of investigative writing is based on four years' authoritative research…
"This comprehensive sourcebook focuses on the Vatican from the Renaissance through the 1990s. Developments are studied within the context of European and world history. Crucial pre-Renaissance events are included as are entries on all of the popes, and the twenty-one councils fr…