2,000 Years of Papal History: The History of the Popes, the Papacy, and the Catholic Church

By: John W. O'Malley

Narrated by: John W. O'Malley

Internationally best-selling author, renowned professor, and the dean of American Catholic Historians, Fr. John O’Malley presents his monumental course on the papacy. This masterpiece series covers the most fascinating history in the Western world. Now, you can trace the amazing history of the papacy, the oldest still-functioning institution of any kind in the Western world in 36 erudite lectures.

By focusing on popes who shaped vital moments in global history, you will gain a deep understanding of the people, issues, and ideas that gave us the Catholic church and our world.

The story features both trouble and triumph - and Fr. O'Malley deftly tackles both aspects - but above all, it tells of resilience. You will be enthralled as you listen to Fr. O'Malley explaining how pope after pope responded to challenges from barbarians, "Christian" monarchs, disgruntled bishops, and, above all, the faults and failures of human nature in order to guide Peter's bark through the rugged seas of time.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2006 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2006 Now You Know Media Inc.

Critic reviews

“John W. O'Malley, S.J., is not only the dean of American Catholic historians, he is also one of the church's greatest and most accomplished teachers.” (James Martin S. J., author of My Life with the Saints)

Concise yet detailed

Thought this was a great lecture series covering 2000 years of the papacy - going into detail where it was important, glossing over less significant papacies or events and putting it all in the context of the times. Very interesting, well written and excellent narration.

Horrible delivery

The content was interesting, but I felt like I was back in high school, listening to my history teacher thrown on and on and on.

An amazing overview of 2000 years of papacy

While this course may seem daunting with 33 chapters, I found it to be well worth listening to and I’m amazed at the authors depth and breath of knowledge, and to be able to see the entirety of the papal history. He makes it clear that the history of the popes is not the history of Catholicism, but it is an amazing story to the men who have lead it from Saint Peter to John Paul, the second

Really well done series of lectures

FR O’Malley is great at keeping it interesting and hitting main points of papal history. Don’t grab this if you want a history of the Church or Catholicism, purely about the Papacy.

Surprisingly pleasant story

I found the story of the Popes to be surprisingly pleasant and easy to listen to. I also particularly liked that the author narrated his own book.