The Reformation Popes

Lee X was the last of the Renaissance popes. The Roman pontiffs with whom we will deal next are those that occupied the pontifical throne during the period of the Protestant Reformation on the Continent of Europe, 1517-1648. They are known as the Reformation popes of whom there were eighteen in all. Several of them were obscure men, who reigned but a few years. From the point of view of their ability to make good their claims to world dominion, they were nonentities as compared with their...