The history of the city of Rome has been intertwined with the history of the Catholic Church and its head, the Pope, for more than two millennia. The rise of Christianity, the confrontation of the Church and secular power in the Middle Ages, popes and antipopes, the Reformation and Italian fascism – Rome and the Vatican invariably found themselves in the thick of events. Historian, member of the Royal Historical Society of London, Jessica Wernberg presents the reader with the most complete history of Rome, its popes and its inhabitants: from the apostles Peter and Paul to Pope Francis. Drawing on numerous and diverse sources, Wernberg traces the transformation of church authority and its impact on the Eternal City. Political intrigues, personal stories and an abiding love for Rome, closely intertwined with each other, turn reading this book into a fascinating journey through European history. "The Papal Throne survives among monarchies, dictatorships and empires fading in the annals of the past. "Rome is a city of echoes," in the words of the Renaissance painter Giotto di Bondone." (Jessica Wernberg)