Keepers of the Keys of Heaven : A History of the Papacy

One of the most enduring and influential of all human institutions, the papacy has also been amongst the most controversial. No one who seeks to make sense of modern issues within Christendom—or, indeed, world history—can neglect the vital shaping role of the popes. In Keepers of the Keys of Heaven , eminent religion scholar Roger Collins offers a masterful account of the entire arc of papal history—from the separation of the Greek and Latin churches to the contemporary controversies that threaten the unity of the one billion-strong worldwide Catholic community. A definitive and accessible guide to what is arguably the world’s most vaunted office, Keepers of the Keys of Heaven is essential reading for anyone interested in the role of faith in the shaping of our world. Roger Collins Offers An Account Of The Entire Arc Of Papal History--from The Separation Of The Greek And Latin Churches To The Contemporary Controversies That Threaten The Unity Of The One Billion-strong Worldwide Catholic Community.--from Publisher Description. Bishop Of Rome -- Primacy Is Given To Peter -- The Successor Of The Fisherman -- Peter Himself -- The Two Swords -- Slave Of The Slaves Of God -- The Keys Of The Kingdom -- Judging All Men, Judged By None -- Our Mother Of The Holy Roman Church -- Free, Chaste And Catholic -- The Successor Not Of Peter But Of Constantine -- Less Than God But Greater Than Man -- False Guilt-laden Babylon -- Three Bishops On One Seat -- A Leader Of The World, Not Of The Church -- Beautiful As A Dove -- Sundial Of The Church -- The Last Pope -- The Last Great Thing Left To Italy -- The Prisoner Of The Vatican -- The Impregnable Rock Of Peter. Roger Collins. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 535-548) And Index. One of the most enduring and influential of all human institutions, the papacy has also been amongst the most controversial. No one who seeks to make sense of modern issues within Christendom — or, indeed, world history — can neglect the vital shaping role of the popes. In Keepers of the Keys of Heaven , eminent religion scholar Roger Collins offers a masterful account of the entire arc of papal history — from the separation of the Greek and Latin churches to the contemporary controversies that threaten the unity of the one billion-strong worldwide Catholic community. A definitive and accessible guide to what is arguably the world's most vaunted office, Keepers of the Keys of Heaven is essential reading for anyone interested in the role of faith in the shaping of our world. One of the most enduring and influential of all human institutions, the papacy has also been amongst the most controversial. No one who seeks to make sense of modern issues within Christendom—or, indeed, world history—can neglect the vital shaping role of the popes.In __Keepers of the Keys of Heaven__, eminent religion scholar Roger Collins offers a masterful account of the entire arc of papal history—from the separation of the Greek and Latin churches to the contemporary controversies that threaten the unity of the one billion-strong worldwide Catholic community. A definitive and accessible guide to what is arguably the world’s most vaunted office, __Keepers of the Keys of Heaven__ is essential reading for anyone interested in the role of faith in the shaping of our world. Bishop of Rome Primacy is given to Peter The successor of the fisherman Peter himself The two swords Slave of the slaves of God The keys of the Kingdom Judging all men, judged by none Our Mother of the Holy Roman Church Free, chaste, and Catholic The successor not of Peter but of Constantine Less than God but greater than man False guilt-laden Babylon Three bishops on one seat A leader of the world, not of the church Beautiful as a dove Sundial of the church The last Pope The last great thing left to Italy or Vice-God of humanity The prisoner of the Vatican The impregnable rock of Peter. A complete history of one of the most enduring and influential of all human institutions. The first single-volume history of the papacy. A narrative spanning 2000 years - from the Saints, Holy War, burning martyrs and sinful Popes, to the Church's moral crisis today Collins offers a masterful account of the entire arc of papal history--essential reading for anyone interested in the role faith plays in shaping the world From Saint Peter to John Paul II, a brilliantly lucid and comprehensive single-volume history of the papacy by a distinguished religious scholar A complete history of the Papacy - one of the most enduring and influential of all human institutions.