{"id":1098,"date":"2015-06-20T07:44:16","date_gmt":"2015-06-20T05:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vaticanfiles.org\/?p=1098"},"modified":"2015-06-20T07:47:18","modified_gmt":"2015-06-20T05:47:18","slug":"a-christian-pocket-guide-to-the-papacy-a-book-review-by-chris-castaldo-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vaticanfiles.org\/it\/2015\/06\/a-christian-pocket-guide-to-the-papacy-a-book-review-by-chris-castaldo-2\/","title":{"rendered":"A Christian Pocket Guide to the Papacy. A Book Review by Chris Castaldo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here is a review of my book on the papacy by Chris Castaldo (PhD,\u00a0London School of Theology), lead pastor of New Covenant Church<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Naperville, Illinois. He is the author of Talking with Catholics about the Gospel<\/a><\/em>. Chris blogs at www.chriscastaldo.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Leonardo De Chirico. A Christian\u2019s Pocket Guide to the Papacy: Its Origin and Role in the 21st\u00a0Century<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0<\/em>Ross-shire,\u00a0Scotland, UK:\u00a0Christian Focus, 2015. 128 pp. $7.99.<\/p>\n

The office of the papacy is an enigma to most evangelical Protestants. The spectacle of medieval regalia,\u00a0papal coronation, gem-studded tiara (several of which are displayed at the Vatican), red leather loafers, and the popemobile tend to provoke curiosity, skepticism, and bewilderment.\u00a0Add to these visible symbols the pope\u2019s claim to supremacy, monarchial titles (over the Vatican, of which he is a head of state), infallibility, and a standing army, and the portrait gets even more perplexing.<\/p>\n

Cutting through the fog of mystery and confusion is Leonardo De Chirico\u2019s new book, A Christian\u2019s Pocket Guide to the Papacy: Its Origin and Role in the 21st\u00a0Century<\/em>. De Chirico is ideally suited to write this volume. An Italian\u00a0historical theologian with specialization in Roman Catholic history and thought, he has spent numerous years teaching in the Eternal City. He sits at the table in ecumenical dialogue with Vatican scholars\u00a0while simultaneously pastoring a Protestant congregation (which he planted in partnership with Redeemer Presbyterian Church\u2019s City to City initiative). Consequently, we\u2019re getting a treatment that is in some sense \u201cinsider,\u201d intimately acquainted with the finer points of the Vatican, and at the same time thoroughly evangelical, rock-ribbed in its commitment to Scripture\u2019s supreme authority.<\/p>\n

De Chirico begins by examining the historical development of the papal office through its titles and symbols. Readers are then escorted to the Sistine Chapel to observe cardinals in conclave (\u201cfrom the Latin cum clave, \u201clocked up with a key\u201d). By the way, such parenthetical definitions fill each chapter, providing insight into a myriad of Latin expressions (e.g., Pontifex Maximus, plenitude potestatis, ex-cathedra). A couple of paragraphs later, he consults the\u00a0Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/a> to note how such formulations are explicitly defined by contemporary Roman Catholic teaching. Whether it\u2019s the \u201ckeys\u201d of Peter, the pope\u2019s throne, or his pallium (a woolen cloak), De Chirico explains how such symbols convey the form and substance of papal authority.<\/p>\n

to continue reading the book review, please go to<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/article\/a-christians-pocket-guide-to-the-papacy<\/p>\n

Another review of the book by James Dudley-Smith was published on Evangelicals Now<\/em> (July 2015) p. 26 (https:\/\/www.e-n.org.uk\/2015\/07\/reviews\/rome-alone\/)<\/p>\n

I am also pleased to announce the publication of the Italian edition of the book<\/p>\n

Il papato. Una guida evangelica<\/em>, Firenze, BE Edizioni 2015, pp. 116.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.beedizioni.it\/shop\/48-il-papato-.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Il<\/p>\n

”Gaudium magnum: habemus papam”<\/p>\n

Questo annuncio presenta un nuovo papa al mondo. Il papa \u00e8 uno degli ultimi esempi di sovranit\u00e0 assoluta nel mondo moderno e rappresenta una delle istituzioni pi\u00f9 antiche, anche\u00a0se nel 2013 l\u2019attuale papa Francesco \u00e8 stato nominato dal Time \u201cpersona dell\u2019anno\u201d. Questo libro risponde alle seguenti domande introduttive: chi \u00e8 il papa e in che modo la chiesa cattolica romana definisce il suo ruolo? Che relazione c\u2019\u00e8 tra Pietro e il papa? Pietro \u00e8 stato il primo papa? Come pu\u00f2 una posizione di guida nella chiesa cristiana avere assunto una forma cos\u00ec \u201cimperiale\u201d? Perch\u00e9 Roma \u00e8 stata cos\u00ec importante in questo processo? Come veniva visto dai riformatori protestanti del XVI secolo e oltre? Che cosa si pu\u00f2 dire dei papi contemporanei? Qual \u00e8 il significato ecumenico del papato e quali sono le sue prospettive nel mondo globale? Queste e altre domande costituiscono lo sfondo delle nostre indagini sull\u2019intreccio biblico, storico e teologico del papato da un punto di vista evangelico.<\/p>\n

Video of the presentation of the book at the National Book Fair in Torino<\/p>\n