Forming of the Papacy w. Dr Rosamond McKitterick

Professor Emerita & Chair in Medieval History, University of Cambridge, Dr Rosamond McKitterick, joins the show to discuss the formation of the papacy (office of the pope). Dr McKitterick is also a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College.

Some topics explored

  • Jesus’ apostles and the Pentecost
  • Peter and Paul ending up in Rome
  • Paul becoming the first Bishop and why
  • How long it’s believe Peter was in Rome, and why he was executed
  • The changing attitudes to Christianity over time in Roman territories
  • When it’s believed the Papacy, as an institution, formed
  • Constantine’s conversion to Christianity (the first Roman emperor to do so)
  • The congenial relationship between Roman Emperor Constantine & Pope Sylvester I
  • The Catacombs
  • Why the Catholic Church formed in Rome
  • When the Catholic Church is clearly an established organization
  • How governance operates in the Catholic church
  • Different positions in the Catholic Church and their purposes
  • The neologism of Saints and their relevance
  • The process for which popes are selected
  • The purpose of the papacy (the office of the pope)
  • When the papacy grew its geographical auspices
  • Papal decrees and canon law collections, legislation of the church
  • What the office of the papacy may have been influenced by or modelled after
  • Various Roman emperor’s relationship with the papacy over the years
  • Secular royalty’s relationship (e.g., Charlemagne, Otto I) with the Pope over the years

Listen to the episode

The episode can be streamed below and is also available on major podcast apps: Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Amazon Music.

Show Notes

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