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Private Notes
It was an outlawed theology destined to alter the course of Western civilization. Discover the roots of that miraculous transformation as Sir Peter takes you on a tour that begins in the Vatican's inner sanctums, including the Secret Archives and the Vatican Grottos. Travel to the mighty Colosseum in the days of the Roman Empire and meet emperor Constantine, the fearsome warrior whose remarkable conversion made Christianity a state religion. Visit Constantinople, now Instanbul, the mysterious Eastern outpost of Christianity. And be there as Sir Peter "interviews" the Pontiff who brought Christ's message to the West - the beloved Pope Gregory the Great - setting the stage for a tumultous transformation!
Gripped by darkness and turmoil, Europe was hungry for a spiritual awakening. Travel the continent with Sir Peer and observe how Christianity answered the call. Meet Charlemagne, the enlightened monarch who embraced the Christian faith, and St. Francis of Assisi, the remarkable nobleman who gave up his birthright and founded one of the most venerable Orders in all Christendom. See how the Papcy itself was plunged into turmoil and exiled to Avignon. and come face to face with the woman who changed the course of history, as Sir Peter introduces you to the indomitable St. Catherine of Siena, the simple nun whose miraculous vision brought the Papacy back to Rome.
Civilization was awakening from its dark slumber, and theologians were beginning to question the moral and legal authority of the Vatican, threatening the very foundation of the church. Journey back to those turbulent times with Sir Peter. Meet Savonarola, the fiery mystic priest who railed against vice, and Martin Luther, whose battles against religious corruption wrought the Reformation. Witness the creation of the greatest works of art the world has ever known. Pope Julius II defied public wrath by tearing down the 1,000 year-old St. Peter's Basilica, and gave Michelangelo the Vatican to use as his canvas to crate a masterpiece that still inspires awe and reverence today.
This final chapter brings the story of the Vatican from the Middle Ages to the present and into the future. It begins with the struggle against Protestantism waged by Pope Paul III, a battle which begat one of the most infamous chapters in Church history, the Congregation of Roman Inquisition. Sir Peter introduces you to Galileo, the scientific genius forced to recant his beliefs on pain of death. See the Vatican's rigid stance almost bring about its demise, and witness the controversial "reconciliation" of Mussolini and Pope Pius XI. Finally, meet Pope John Paul II, the Pontiff whose popularity and activism have set the stage for the next millennium.
