Along the way we are offered an illuminating catechism in ecclesiology, the nature of the Magisterium, and the limits of papal authority. Especially helpful are de Mattei’s discussion of the hypothesis of a heretical pope, his clear explanation of the difference between filial resistance and disobedience to the Successors of the Apostles when they make heterodox pronouncements, and his ample treatment of the significance and profound implications of recent public remonstrations with the current pontificate on behalf of orthodoxy. The author’s rich historical narratives, deftly intertwined with dogmatic, moral, and canonical principles, make this work a potent resource for grappling with the current crises of the Church.
ROBERTO DE MATTEI is President of the Lepanto Foundation and the founder and director of the Lepanto Cultural Center in Rome. He is the editor of the magazine Radici Cristiane as well as the news agency "Corrispondenza Romana." He served as Vice President of the Italian National Research Council from 2003 to 2011. He is the author of numerous books, including The Second Vatican Council: An Unwritten Story.