The Pope, the Kings and the People
A History of the Movement to Make the Pope Governor of the World by a Universal Reconstruction of Society from the Issue of the Syllabus to the Close of the Vatican Council
"The Pope, the Kings and the People" by William Arthur is a historical account written in the late 19th century. This work chronicles the movement to elevate the Pope to a position of universal governance over society, beginning with the issuance of the Syllabus of Errors and concluding with the close of the Vatican Council. The book likely explores the intersection of religious authority and political power, revealing the ambitions of the Papacy and the cultural and political ramifications of this movement during a significant period in European history. At the start of the narrative, a pivotal meeting convened by Pope Pius IX is highlighted, where he expresses a desire for a General Council to address contemporary societal issues. The Pope believes the remedy lies in reaffirming the Church's authority, which he sees as a response to modern challenges to ecclesiastical power, including calls for religious equality and the independence of civil law from Church doctrine. This meeting sets the stage for a series of significant proclamations—including the Encyclical "Quanta Cura" and the Syllabus of Errors—that form the foundation for the Papal Council's later decisions and the Church's response to political upheaval.