The Medieval Papacy

by Geoffrey Barraclough

Book Overview

The author seeks to show how its success in building up its authority and its legal and administrative machinery militated against its claim to spiritual leadership, and how an institution which rose through furthering the cause of reform later became an obstacle to reform and itself in need of reformation. In other words, he is concerned with the great dichotomies - to say nothing of the conflicting ideals and contrasting personalities - which make...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393951006
• ISBN13: 9780393951004
• Release Date: September 1979
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.3"

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CHURCH HISTORY

The medieval papacy is treated as a historical phenomenon developing and changing in response to changing historical circumstances. It details how its success in building up its authority and its legal and administrative machinery militated against its claim to spiritual leadership, and how an institution which rose through furthering the cause of reform later became an obstacle to reform and itself in need of reformation.