The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780385531894)

The riveting story of Pope St. Celestine V, the pope who retired from the papacy.

At the close of the tumultuous Middle Ages, there lived a man who seemed destined from birth to save the world. His name was Peter Morrone, a hermit, a founder of a religious order, and, depending on whom you talk to, a reformer, an instigator, a prophet, a coward, a saint, and possibly the victim of murder. A stroke of fate would, practically overnight, transform this humble servant of God into the most powerful man in the Catholic Church. Half a year later, he would be the only pope in history to abdicate the chair of St. Peter, an act that nearly brought the papacy to its knees. What led him to make that decision and what happened afterward would be shrouded in mystery for centuries. The Pope Who Quit pulls back the veil of secrecy on this dramatic time in history and showcases a story that involves deadly dealings, apocalyptic maneuverings, and papal intrigue.

Author: Jon M. Sweeney
ISBN-10: 0385531893
ISBN-13: 9780385531894
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Language: English
Published: 02/14/2012
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.56lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.20w x 0.77d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 11/15/2011 pg. 21
Library Journal 01/01/2012 pg. 114
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2012