The Bad Popes...

One of the more interesting books I have read of late is Russell Chamberlain's 'The Bad Popes'. This exceptionally readable book covers the period from senatrix Marozia's domination of the Papcy (the so-called 'Pornocracy') in the 10th century to the sack of Rome by the troops of Charles V. In between one finds an account of Medicis, Borgias, the ineffectual hermit-Pope Celestine V and the extraordinary tale of Gregory VI, probably the most moral man ever to 'purchase' the Papacy. Yet despite looking at what might seem to be fodder for anti-Catholicism, Chamberlain's approach is very fair. He does not overplay the more lurid aspects of the tale and is sometimes surprisingly generous in his assesment of men who are often totally villified. He also makes excellent use of contemporary sources to give a genuine flavour of the period, whilst never failing to bear in mind the agendas at work in any contemporanious account. Of particular interest are the snippets gleaned from the diary of John Burchard, Papal Master of Ceremonies in the late 15th century. All in all, this is any enjoyable and informative read.
In a related vein...
It might be asked whether Chamberlain covers the lowst point of Papal history. I have heard it argued (I'm not inclined to agree myself) that the lowest point of all was the vacillation of Clement XIV over the supression of the Jesuits. Elected on a promise to suppress them, he then tried to escape this promised before finally being forced to do so in 1773 with the brief 'Dominus ac Redemptor'. Clement himself is buried in the Franciscan Church of XII Apostoli. Ironically, it is within short walking distance of the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Jesuit university in Rome. According to custom, every February and June students from the university gather around his tomb and read the brief of supression before facing their Jesuit examiners. There is also a Jesuit residence adjacent to the church, and according to legend, the Jesuits contrived to ensure that the room in the building nearest to Clement's remains was a lavatory.