Pageant of the Popes by John Farrow

Description

Pageant of the Popes is a book by John Farrow, first published in 1942. This sweeping historical narrative chronicles the papacy from its founding with St. Peter through to mid‑20th‑century pontiffs, offering readers a panoramic view of two millennia of ecclesiastical leadership. Farrow, himself a devout and conservative Catholic, combines scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling, spotlighting both the triumphs and tribulations of the papacy: from medieval despotism and Renaissance nepotism—famously epitomised by the Borgias—to more modern moral and political entanglements such as pacts with Mussolini and Hitler. The author does not shy away from controversy, examining anti‑popes, brief reigns, and scandalous behavior, while also celebrating the enduring resilience and spiritual influence of the Church. Farrow’s work is enriched by vivid anecdotes—from Napoleon’s attempted seizure of the Vatican to the first declaration of papal infallibility in 1869—and concludes with a helpful chronological list of every pope up to Pius XII, making the volume both a captivating narrative and a valuable reference.

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