Since the legalisation of Christianity in the 4th century the Pope has exerted an influence that remains unparalleled, maintaining formal and informal diplomatic relations with countries around the world. In an honest and opinionated look at the papacy, Coulombe portrays the men who have served on the royal throne - the saintly and the evil, the controversial and the forgotten. More relevant today than ever, this is both a history of Christianity and a fascinating and inspiring story that provides the key to an understanding of the modern world.