The speaker indicates there were 260 popes over the past 2000 years; depending on how one counts (remember the Schism and various anti-popes). Before listening to this series, I thought popes were elected without much difficulty. It was eye-opening to learn that between 1201 and 1300 CE, there were 7 anti-popes!
One thing that Dr. O'Malley said that I thought was profoundly appropriate was in reference to the Crusades. He said that Pope Urban II unleashed the 'Law of Unforeseen Circumstances.' He used this term in relation to the events that occurred during the Catholic Crusades. The blood lust must have been truly horrible when most of the Muslims and Jews were murdered when the Crusaders took the Holy Cities. Dr. O'Malley mentions that ONLY the First Crusade was successful, in relation to recapturing the Holy Lands.
The presenter picks-and-chooses the important/infamous popes over the years and centuries. The PDF book that comes with these lessons is important reading to reinforce the points made. He also asks 3 questions after each lesson, to cement the important points into the reader's mind. I liked Dr. O'Malley's style of speaking and his clear narration. I walked away with a genuine understanding of the popes and their times.
The presenter explained that the early leaders of the Church were more likely to be the erudite Bishops (St. Augustine and St. Ambrose), or later, the Abbots of Cluny. The pope, as the undisputed leader of the Catholic Church, is a fairly recent emergence. With world travel and worldwide communication, the papacy has become more acknowledged than ever before. 2000 years of the papacy has provided us with continuity and change at the same time.
One thing that Dr. O'Malley said that I thought was profoundly appropriate was in reference to the Crusades. He said that Pope Urban II unleashed the 'Law of Unforeseen Circumstances.' He used this term in relation to the events that occurred during the Catholic Crusades. The blood lust must have been truly horrible when most of the Muslims and Jews were murdered when the Crusaders took the Holy Cities. Dr. O'Malley mentions that ONLY the First Crusade was successful, in relation to recapturing the Holy Lands.
The presenter picks-and-chooses the important/infamous popes over the years and centuries. The PDF book that comes with these lessons is important reading to reinforce the points made. He also asks 3 questions after each lesson, to cement the important points into the reader's mind. I liked Dr. O'Malley's style of speaking and his clear narration. I walked away with a genuine understanding of the popes and their times.
The presenter explained that the early leaders of the Church were more likely to be the erudite Bishops (St. Augustine and St. Ambrose), or later, the Abbots of Cluny. The pope, as the undisputed leader of the Catholic Church, is a fairly recent emergence. With world travel and worldwide communication, the papacy has become more acknowledged than ever before. 2000 years of the papacy has provided us with continuity and change at the same time.
