Encyclopedia of the Vatican and Papacy - Hardcover

This source book focuses on the Vatican since the Renaissance through the 1990s. Developments are studied within the context of European and world history. Pre-Renaissance events are included as are entries on all the popes and 21 councils from Nicea (325) to Vatican II (1962-1965). Alphabetically arranged, the entries provide valuable information on the structure and organization of the church. While the emphasis remains on the interaction between the Vatican and Papal Institutions within the wider political, diplomatic, social and cultural world arena, theological questions are considered as well as the attitudes and reaction of the Vatican to key historical events, such as the French Revolution, Imperialism, World War I and II, the Ethiopian War and the Holocaust. Entries on heresies and condemnations are included along with those on the Vatican reaction to various ideological movements such as Arianism, Jansenism, Gnosticism, Fascism, racism, Marxism and Americanism. Entries address current issues such as the Papal position on abortion, homosexuality, liberation theology and birth control.