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The Oxford Dictionary of Popes
Since World War II and especially since the election of Pope John XXIII in 1958, the papacy--the oldest of all Western institutions--has attracted steadily growing interest from non-Christians as well as Christians.
Written for people of every religious allegiance and none, J.N.D. Kelly's biographical dictionary presents a wealth of information about the papacy and the astonishing succession of churchmen who have loomed large on the world scene for almost two thousand years. It contains concise accounts
not only of all the officially recognized popes from St. Peter to John Paul II, but also of all their irregularly elected rivals, the so-called antipopes. It also includes an appendix which records the once generally accepted, but long since discarded, legend that at some date in the ninth, tenth,
or eleventh century a female pope called Joan existed.
The Dictionary provides an entry for each pope and antipope which covers--except where (as in the early centuries) information is unavailable--his family and social background and pre-papal career, as well as his activities in office. Each entry has a separate select bibliography, usually
including references to the primary source for the pope's life and his official acts. Arranged chronologically, the volume places each pope in the proper historical context and offers, in effect, a continuous history of the papacy.
Based on careful research, but eminently readable, this reference work reveals an extraordinarily diverse group of men who have designated themselves as St. Peter's successors, and records their varying involvement in great power politics, personal or family aggrandizement, patronage of the
arts, theological controversy, or spiritual leadership. It presents a graphic and moving picture of the fluctuating fortunes of the Christian Church centered in Rome, sometimes submerged by secular forces, but at other times, staging a spectacular revival and confronting the world (as today) with a
daunting challenge.
Written for people of every religious allegiance and none, J.N.D. Kelly's biographical dictionary presents a wealth of information about the papacy and the astonishing succession of churchmen who have loomed large on the world scene for almost two thousand years. It contains concise accounts
not only of all the officially recognized popes from St. Peter to John Paul II, but also of all their irregularly elected rivals, the so-called antipopes. It also includes an appendix which records the once generally accepted, but long since discarded, legend that at some date in the ninth, tenth,
or eleventh century a female pope called Joan existed.
The Dictionary provides an entry for each pope and antipope which covers--except where (as in the early centuries) information is unavailable--his family and social background and pre-papal career, as well as his activities in office. Each entry has a separate select bibliography, usually
including references to the primary source for the pope's life and his official acts. Arranged chronologically, the volume places each pope in the proper historical context and offers, in effect, a continuous history of the papacy.
Based on careful research, but eminently readable, this reference work reveals an extraordinarily diverse group of men who have designated themselves as St. Peter's successors, and records their varying involvement in great power politics, personal or family aggrandizement, patronage of the
arts, theological controversy, or spiritual leadership. It presents a graphic and moving picture of the fluctuating fortunes of the Christian Church centered in Rome, sometimes submerged by secular forces, but at other times, staging a spectacular revival and confronting the world (as today) with a
daunting challenge.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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About the author
J.N.D. Kelly
15 books19 followersJohn Norman Davidson Kelly FBA (1909–1997) was a prominent academic within the theological faculty of Oxford University and Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford between 1951 and 1979 during which the Hall transformed into an independent constituent college of the University and later a co-educational establishment.
Early life
John Kelly was born in Bridge of Allan, Perthshire on 13 April 1909 and was the fourth of five children to his Scottish schoolmaster father and English mother. John was home-schooled by his father and graduated initially at the University of Glasgow after which he went up to Queen’s College, Oxford having secured a scholarship. At Queen’s he read classical moderations, Greats, and theology and graduated with first-class honours. Despite an upbringing as a Presbyterian he was confirmed into the Church of England and entered the ministry, attending St Stephen's House, Oxford before being made deacon in Northamptonshire.
Academic achievements
John Kelly was prominent in the theology faculty throughout his association with St Edmund Hall. He was speaker’s lecturer in biblical studies from 1945 to 1948 and subsequently held a university lectureship in patristic studies until 1976. He published widely, writing on the development of the early Christian Creeds and doctrines, his Early Christian Creeds and Early Christian Doctrines becoming standard secondary works and seminary textbooks; commentaries on the pastoral epistles; biographical studies, including studies of St Jerome and St John of Chrysostom; and The Oxford Dictionary of Popes . He was working on a companion volume to the Oxford Dictionary about archbishops when he died.
In the ecclesiastical world, he became a canon of Chichester Cathedral in 1948, a position he held until 1993. He presided over the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Roman Catholic Relations from 1963 until 1968 and accompanied the archbishop, Michael Ramsey on his historic visit to Rome in 1966. He was a founder member of the Academic Council of the Institute for Advanced Theological Studies in Jerusalem.
He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1951 and fellowship of the British Academy in 1965. He died a bachelor on 31 March 1997 and his cremated remains are interred in the antechapel of St Edmund Hall.
Early life
John Kelly was born in Bridge of Allan, Perthshire on 13 April 1909 and was the fourth of five children to his Scottish schoolmaster father and English mother. John was home-schooled by his father and graduated initially at the University of Glasgow after which he went up to Queen’s College, Oxford having secured a scholarship. At Queen’s he read classical moderations, Greats, and theology and graduated with first-class honours. Despite an upbringing as a Presbyterian he was confirmed into the Church of England and entered the ministry, attending St Stephen's House, Oxford before being made deacon in Northamptonshire.
Academic achievements
John Kelly was prominent in the theology faculty throughout his association with St Edmund Hall. He was speaker’s lecturer in biblical studies from 1945 to 1948 and subsequently held a university lectureship in patristic studies until 1976. He published widely, writing on the development of the early Christian Creeds and doctrines, his Early Christian Creeds and Early Christian Doctrines becoming standard secondary works and seminary textbooks; commentaries on the pastoral epistles; biographical studies, including studies of St Jerome and St John of Chrysostom; and The Oxford Dictionary of Popes . He was working on a companion volume to the Oxford Dictionary about archbishops when he died.
In the ecclesiastical world, he became a canon of Chichester Cathedral in 1948, a position he held until 1993. He presided over the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Roman Catholic Relations from 1963 until 1968 and accompanied the archbishop, Michael Ramsey on his historic visit to Rome in 1966. He was a founder member of the Academic Council of the Institute for Advanced Theological Studies in Jerusalem.
He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1951 and fellowship of the British Academy in 1965. He died a bachelor on 31 March 1997 and his cremated remains are interred in the antechapel of St Edmund Hall.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 18, 2013
Probably the best single-volume work on the subject. Kelly's individual papal biographies stick to the known facts, avoids polemic (except when seen in a historical context), and one is left with an entirely readable introduction to this fascinating world. After Dr. Kelly's passing, eminent papal historian Michael Walsh took up the mantle and edited a new biography of John Paul II and added one for Benedict XVI for the 2010 edition. Hopefully he will continue to do so for Pope Francis, whenever the next edition is published (hopefully soon!).
November 1, 2019
Not really intended to be read in order but as a reference, this is a useful brief summary of each pope's life and acts, and is a solid refutation to a claim I heard just yesterday that the lives, morals, and acts of each pope have been exemplary and holy. Uh, no.
June 3, 2019
Kindle version is worthless.
The layout in the Kindle is horrible. I have it one star because it was impossible to give it zero stars. Save your money.
The layout in the Kindle is horrible. I have it one star because it was impossible to give it zero stars. Save your money.
February 27, 2016
The Popes began their history as administrators of the Catholic church. Over time they entrenched their power and control sometimes by dint of reacting to social pressure, more often as part of political expediency. The Renaissance Popes are particularly interesting, 'goodbye ethics' and 'hello nepotism'.
From my reading there weren't all that many great Popes. The writer liberally acknowledges that particular Popes 'enriched' the colelctions of the Vatican. Perhaps a euphemistic way of stating they splashed cash on great works of art and literature.
This is an interesting chronicle of the papacy from Peter to Benedict.
From my reading there weren't all that many great Popes. The writer liberally acknowledges that particular Popes 'enriched' the colelctions of the Vatican. Perhaps a euphemistic way of stating they splashed cash on great works of art and literature.
This is an interesting chronicle of the papacy from Peter to Benedict.
April 18, 2015
It was ad advertised an encyclopedic dictionary. I read it cover to cover. Actually I read it from front to back and simultaneously back to front just to spice things up a bit. I would not recommend a cover to cover read but has concise effective self contained articles on each Pope and anti-Pope. May not be a necessity in today's Internet world but still a solid reference work. Nice reiew of Church History though heavy on the political side since that is in many ways waht is easy for a historian to document and briefly recount.
June 5, 2008
It's remarkable what JND Kelly can cram into the short entries about the Catholic Church's Servants of the Servants of God.
Fascinating reading.
Fascinating reading.
May 17, 2014
Used this book for a research paper. Very informative and very useful. It's a good source of information for everyone, whether you want to study the popes, or just learn some things.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews