Early Modern Papacy, The

"The book challenges the received view that the development of Papal authority during this period simply reflected the 'Absolutism' of secular governments of the European Ancien Regime. It examines the multiple commitments of the Popes of this period. Analytic in structure, covering one dimension of Papal authority per chapter, the book is not limited to European coverage, and relates this period to earlier Papal history."--Jacket.