THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE POPES An authoritative guide to the lives and works of the popes of the Catholic Church, with 450 images Charles Phillips ? A comprehensive account of the lives of the popes from the time of St Peter and the early Christian Church through the glories of Julius II and the Renaissance to John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. ? Discusses the life and works of all the most significant popes throughout history, including Gregory the Great; the only English pope Hadrian IV; and the first Polish pope John Paul II, who transformed the modern papacy. ? Beautifully illustrated with over 450 fine art paintings and photographs. For two thousand years, the pope has been the acknowledged head of the Roman Catholic Church. As the direct successor of St Peter, he holds a unique position, ruling over millions of Catholics worldwide. This comprehensive guide to the 266 men who have been pope provides a timeline of the history of the papacy, and details each pope?s life, influence and the way they have shaped the church. Divided into three historical sections ? the First Popes; the Crusades and the Reformation; and Into the Modern Era ? this lavishly illustrated reference book will fascinate and inform anyone interested in the history of Catholicism.