“Coppa draws readers into an extensive and fascinating exploration of the papacy’s journey throughout the Church’s past two hundred years. His style allows easy reading yet is packed with carefully researched information. The reader learns about each of the seventeen popes with their strengths and weaknesses. History shows their efforts to guide the Church throughout their reigns were often affected by the twists and turns of politics or wars, intrigue, human perceptions, and imperfections. . . . For those unfamiliar with or curious about the finer points of the Church’s history, The Papacy in the Modern World is an inviting ‘time travel’ opportunity to begin exploring the witness, differences, challenges, dangers, and experiences of those leaders chosen to fill the Chair of Peter. This title is highly recommended for seminaries and universities, especially those with schools of theology and parish libraries.”

Catholic Herald

“The Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican City State and its Popes have played an enormously significant role in the development of European politics (and, latterly, that of the rest of the world too). . . . This is an exploration of two millennia of history tracing the origins of the Papacy and its impact on Italian politics; its role through revolution, transformation, restoration, and reform towards modernity.” 

Italia magazine

“For those seeking a well-researched and objective study of the general outlines of the modern papacy, this book comes highly recommended.”
 

Journal of Church and State