City of Echoes. A New History of Rome, its Popes and Inhabitants

The history of the city of Rome has been intertwined with the history of the Catholic Church and its head—the Pope—for over two thousand years. The rise of Christianity, the confrontation between the Church and secular power in the Middle Ages, popes and antipopes, the Reformation and Italian fascism—Rome and the Vatican have invariably found themselves at the heart of events. Historian and member of the Royal Historical Society in London, Jessica Wernberg presents the most complete history of Rome, its popes, and its inhabitants: from the apostles Peter and Paul to Pope Francis. Drawing on numerous and diverse sources, Wernberg traces the transformation of ecclesiastical power and its influence on the Eternal City. Political intrigues, personal stories, and an unchanging love for Rome, intertwined with one another, turn the reading of this book into an exciting journey through European history. “The papal throne survives among the fading monarchies, dictatorships, and empires recorded in the annals of the past. ‘Rome is a city of echoes,’ to quote the words of the painter of the Renaissance, Giotto di Bondone.” (Jessica Wernberg)