A Christian's Pocket Guide to the Papacy: Its origin and role in the 21st century

A Christian's Pocket Guide

by Leonardo De Chirico

Who are the Popes and how does the Roman Catholic Church define their role? What about the present day Popes? What is the ecumenical significance of the Papacy and what are its prospects in the global world? These and other questions are tackled as Leonardo De Chirico explores the Biblical, historical, and theological fabric of the Papacy.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2014

About the author

Leonardo De Chirico is the pastor of Breccia di Roma, a church that he helped plant in Rome in 2009. He served as Vice Chairman of the Italian Evangelical Alliance from 2003-2021 and now serves as chairman for the theological commission of the IEA.

Previously, Leonardo planted and pastored an evangelical church in Ferrara, Italy, from 1997 to 2009. He earned degrees in History (University of Bologna), Theology (ETCW, Bridgend, Wales) and Bioethics (University of Padova).

His PhD is from King's College (London); it was published as Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism.

In 2015, he published A Christian Pocket Guide to Papacy and A Christian Pocket Guide to Mary: Mother of God? through Christian Focus.

He is a lecturer of Historical Theology at Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy.

Additionally, Leonardo is the Director of the Reformanda Initiative, which aims to equip evangelical leaders to better understand and engage with Roman Catholicism, and the leader of the Rome Scholars & Leaders Network (RSLN).

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I wanted to like it, but the reasoning and arguments were very weak and I think RC's would simply dismiss it as loaded with straw men. For example, that Jesus rebuked Peter in Matthew 16 does not show that Peter did not, therefore, posses infallibility.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you looking for a book that summarizes a biblical look at the Roman Catholic Pope and also the history of the papacy? I would recommend this book. Written by an author who wrote his doctoral dissertation on Roman Catholicism, the book takes a Protestant perspective and he is balance and fair and more importantly he is biblical and Gospel centered. The author Leonardo De Chirico is a pastor in Rome and the director of the Reformed Initiative which aims to equip Protestants to better understand and engage with Roman Catholicism. I am also glad that Christian Focus published this book since these days it seems new books addressing Roman Catholicism biblically is rare (this book was published 2015).
There are seven chapters. Chapter one is on the current Pope Francis taking his office as an opening introduction to the book. Chapter two is on Peter, chapter three is titled "head of the Church" and chapter four raises the question "Is the Pope the AntiChrist?" Chapter five looks at whether the Pope is an absolute ruler or embracing father which is about the crisis of Roman Catholicism after the Reformation with Catholic attempt to revise and renew the Papacy in a Counter-Reformation resurgency. Chapter six is on portraits of present popes and chapter seven is titled 'That they be one" which talks about what future popes would be like. Evaluating the book this work looks at the lack of Biblical support for the Papacy, then it presents a historical survey with the origin, early history and present history of the Pope and then pivot to a discussion of what future direction of the Papacy would look like.
There were many things I learn from this work. I thought early on the author made a profound observation of how the Pope has a lot of power but one of the few things he has power over is picking the next Pope since the papacy is not a hereditary office. I learned from this book more of how current Roman Catholicism goes about selecting the next pope. I did wish the book’s discussion about the alleged Bible’s support for Papacy could have been longer but the book does sufficiently demonstrate the problem of Catholic proof text for the Pope is problematic. One insight that the author shared was from Isaiah 22:22 which indicate how having keys in of itself is what a servant does, with opening and closing door for the master and therefore Peter having the keys is not meant to be imply Peter had absolute power or regal authority. I thought the author made a good point that the papacy would not have arisen without the Roman Empire and the relationship of the empire with Roman Catholic Church is a complex one that at times was competitive against one another and used each other. While reading chapter four’s looks at early Protestant leaders’ belief that the Pope was the AntiChrist, I thought about how things have changed so much in Protestant circles today. I have read previous works critiquing Roman Catholicism’s understanding of the Gospel and the doctrine of Justification and this book was a plus to those work since it tackle on an important authority issue with Roman Catholicism: That of the Pope being the Vicar of Christ. Both kinds of critiques are needed, since the former touch on the issue of salvation and the second is the basis for Roman Catholic dogma.

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short history of how papacy began together with an analysis of the last few popes. Short, Bible-based evaluation of papacy + last popes.

[Jason Mccool · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short read covering past, present and possible future roles of the Pope. The historical section was particularly informative for me to learn where, when and how the office of Pope came to be, along with the slow accretion of power and imperiousness that seems so foreign to followers of the Suffering Servant. Throughout the book, critiques are offered on key points, and changes in papal doctrine are examined to see whether they are changes in form only or more substantial reformations that a Christian could stand with. In the end, the author concludes that, unfortunately, hopeful signs of reformation in RC papal doctrine are relatively shallow and do nothing to address the foundational theological problems with the office of the Pope as "Vicar of Christ", infallible, etc. Leonardo does a good job of highlighting the lack of biblical support for papal succession, the reliance of the RCC on extrabiblical tradition, and the strong biblical reasons against such a role in the church. Overall, I think Leonardo lays some good groundwork for honest dialogue between Protestants and Catholics on the matter.

[Jane Fischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick overview of the papacy from its inception to today and a look at how it may project itself as the main voice for ALL Christians in the future. Written by a Protestant pastor who shepherds a church in Rome, he helpfully highlights points of interest and warnings throughout, making for a more interesting read. I've pre-ordered the author's handbook on Marioligy coming out in the fall.

[Mark Loughridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good solid introduction - not so much to Roman Catholicism, but to the office of the Pope, its origins, role, and future--although of course it covers aspects of Catholicism as they impinge on the office of the pope.

[Isaac Goodspeed Overton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be honest, when I started this book I thought it was written by a catholic scholar. Finding out that it wasn’t a argument for the papacy, but against it was a shock. That being said, I continued to read anyways as my point was to learn more about the papacy and catholicism in general. (I’ll just have to find a catholic perspective in another book).

While his bias is very clear, being unapologetic in being protestant and living in the center of the catholic epicenter, I felt he brought many good points to the argument. Leonardo highlighted the history of the development of the papacy, as well as made many arguments for scripture to it being off-base. His arguments from historical accounts were particularly compelling as on of the more alluring aspects of catholicism is it’s apparent adherence to church tradition.

I’d recommend this book perhaps alongside another writer from a catholic perspective. I feel their could have been far more leniency in Leonardo’s perspective that would allow space for those Christians within the Catholic church. I do not believe that every catholic is merely deceived, even in my disagreement with many of the dogmas of the church. I know many faithful sisters and brothers in Christ that find their home within catholicism.

[Gordon Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful overview of the development of one of the defining institutions of the Roman Catholic Church. Its shortness is both a weakness (some arguments, particularly in the opening chapters are simply asserted rather than demonstrated) and a strength. The narrow focus allows us to track one specific theological and sociological trajectory through a massive field of study. Simplification is the price you pay for the benefit of a broad orientation. They key is to be prepared to refine that perspective. De Chirico's work in general is helpful in that he interacts, not with a version of Catholicism frozen in the debates of the 17th century, but with contemporary developments post Vatican II.

[Scott Morter II · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal brief treatment of the papacy. Leaning on the historical foundations, De Chirico offers a clear presentation, from the evangelical perspective, of the Roman Catholic understanding of the Pope, the Church and the world at large.

[Michael Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but dense book filled with information about the Papacy, the RCC and its doctrine. Leonardo is thorough and careful and he loves the church and wants all to be biblically and historically informed. Worth reading again!

[Alyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some chapters are thorough and well researched, but skims over the first 700 years of the papacy while focusing mostly on the time of the Reformation. From the book's summary I would have expected more representation from Catholic sources, rather than a seemingly biased perspective.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, brief introduction to the papacy. Understanding how it began, what it believes, and why Protestants reject it.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent primer on a very complex issue.

[Saul W · Rating 4 out of 5]

“frociaggine”-Jorge Bergoglio

[Kris Lundgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise yet effective and informative. Excellent analysis from an evangelical perspective.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Protestant, I found it a helpful, and concise, explanation of the Papacy. Seems to me a problematic organization. (The religious and secular world look to him as a sort of star?) "The only revision that is necessary is to go back to the Scriptures and be willing to follow its teaching, no matter what the cost."

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but dense and dry. Scope was a bit too big for a "pocket guide" though de Chirico's research is unquestionably sound.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great basic introductory read on the Papacy. Really easy and accesible.