Argentinians celebrate the elevation of one of their own to the Papacy: photo courtesy of Beatrice Murch via Wikimedia Commons
HM Gallery
April 2013: The History of the Papacy in Images
The centrality of Peter to the history of the Papacy is undeniable. Seen as the one commanded by Christ to found his church, Peter is also accredited with being the first Bishop of Rome, the only truly formal title held by the Pope throughout history. As the Roman empire became increasingly divided into eastern and western halves, and as the western half fell into the chaos of waves of barbarian invasions, the role of the Bishop of Rome as the protector of his flock became increasingly important. Eventually, all of Western Christendom would swear loyalty to that one supreme bishop.
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We can look upon this crowd from more than 100 years ago and assume that the same palpable excitement and anticipation raged in St. Peter's Square as it did this March.
(Right) Papal bull condemning the errors of reformist monk Martin Luther, issued by Leo X on the 15th of June, 1520. Luther, not one to go unheard, responded with his own condemnation in his "Against the Execrable Bull of the Anti-Christ." |
(Right) Allegory representing the city of Rome during the Avignon Papacy. This is an era when political intrigue causes the Papacy to move to Avignon, France for just under 70 years. In the painting, Rome is depicted as a widow left behind by her husband, the Church. The Avignon Papacy and the reaction of Roman Church officials would be the primary cause of the Great Western Schism of the 14th century, a scandal that seriously compromised faith in Church leadership for a considerable period of time. |