The objective of this dissertation is to clarify Calvin's thought and attitude towards the papacy by tracing the development of his critique of the bishop of Rome throughout his career. Chapter One introduces the state of research on Calvin's critique of the papacy in the last century. This brief examination reveals that studies on Calvin's critique are hampered by a lack of historical treatment of the development of Calvin's thought as well as biased by the ecumenical assumptions of some of the researchers. Our thesis is that Calvin did reject the pope's primacy absolutely and this is based on the pope's relation to the true doctrine of the gospel and to Christ. This apparently simple conclusion, however, can only be arrived at by studying Calvin's thought in its historical development, exploring his attitude and the themes and reasons of his criticism of the papacy in each phase. Upon reading and rereading of Calvin' s works relating to his critique of the papacy the thesis organises Calvin's critique into five phases in which his conflicts with the papacy progresses from one stage to another. Chapter Two explores the earliest period of Calvin's reform career. It confirms not only that there were already latent conflicts in Calvin' s mind against the papacy, but also that the chief concerns evident in his later critique of the papacy were already present. Chapter Three studies how Calvin came into open conflicts with the papacy through his correspondence with his friend du Tillet and Cardinal Sadoleto. It also recounts how Calvin reshaped the purpose of his 1536 Institutio to enable editions from 1539 onwards to become a theological platform against his opponents. Chapter Four investigates how Calvin's conflicts with the papacy intensified. It demonstrates the importance of Calvin's participation in the colloquies of 1540-41 for leading the reformer to concentrate his effort to refute the primacy of the Roman see. This reaches its fulfilment in his publication of the highly important 1543 Institutio in which Calvin rejects the primacy of the pope comprehensively. Chapter Five examines a stage of climactic conflicts. It culminates in his unforgiving rejection of the pope in his Antidote to the Council of Trent. But this stage also reveals surprising information about Calvin's 'concessions' to the papacy, yet without compromising his consistent rejection of papal primacy. Chapter Six delineates the limits of Calvin's ecumenical vision and recounts the unbending attitude of the reformer towards the pope at the end of his life. In all these chapters we find consistent reasons explaining Calvin's absolute rejection of the primacy of the pope. At the same time we also detect that there is a form of papacy that could have been acceptable to Calvin. Therefore in the last chapter, apart from linking up the connections of Calvin' s criticism of the papacy in its historical development, a theological interpretation is given of the complexities of these seemingly incompatible ideas, and we also attempt to draw out the ecumenical implications of Calvin's criticism.

Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-87).

Habilitationsschrift--Freiburg i. B. / Bibliography: p. [223]-230.

Thesis (S.T.M.)--Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-147).

Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-87).

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Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Over the last decade the Catholic Church in Cuba has experienced a changing relationship with the Castro regime. The Church, it seems, has been able to find more space within which to operate despite the historically significant decades of repression after the 1959 Revolution. The Papal Visit of 1998 further enhanced this growth of the Church in Cuban society and acted as an accelerator of positive change. This thesis examines Church-State relations in Cuba from an international, domestic, and individual perspective focusing mainly on events leading up to and after the Papal visit. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Annotation: This masters thesis deals with prominent figure of the Pope Gregory the Great (540-604), whose life and especially pontificate became a model for many of his successors as well as for the overall direction of the Roman Church. Despite the indisputable authority of the Pope there is no full consensus about its meaning or some of its steps. The aim of this work is as faithful as possible to capture his life, the concept of the Church and political activity. The work will not appreciation of Gregory's theological concept, but rather to capture its political and organizational-legal approaches to fulfilling idea of the power of the papacy. The work will be primarily based on sources which Gregory himself left behind, which will primarily reflected his correspondence. They will use other historical sources as well as secondary literature. A method of processing work will consist in the logical analysis of the sources, comparison with literature secondary and subsequent summary and evaluation.

Italie phare selon les mots de Jacques Le Goff, Italie proie durant les invasions étrangères ou simple « expression géographique » selon le prince de Metternich, l’Italie a depuis son premier souffle offert à l’histoire du monde de nombreux visages. A ce titre, elle fait figure de véritable étrangeté dans le paysage européen actuel. Une Italie politique et religieuse dans une Europe intensément laïque. Une toute jeune nation au milieu de patries millénaires. Un pays où, encore aujourd’hui, politique et religion marchent main dans la main. Où les consciences s’éveillent à la messe comme dans l’isoloir. Un pays où l’humain cherche désespérément à toucher du doigt le divin. Où le divin lui-même devient humain en la personne des successeurs de Saint-Pierre, pendants aussi appréciés que redoutés des dirigeants temporels italiques. Or, si l’Italie occupe une telle place pour notre humanité, c’est avant tout du fait de la dichotomie qui l’a toujours habitée. Âme guerrière et conquérante autant qu’émanation sanctifiée de la religion catholique, elle est la terre qu’humain et divin se sont disputés pendant des décennies. Et c’est à la Renaissance que ce combat atteint son apex. Car temporel et spirituel furent animés d’une même tension créatrice dans leur âpreté à « faire l’Italie » et leurs affrontements incessants allaient façonner l’essence même de l’Italie d’aujourd’hui, lui donnant ce caractère bicéphale qui est probablement l’un des aspects les plus constitutifs de l’identité italienne actuelle. Et lui confère une spécificité sans pareille en Europe / Italy lighthouse according to Jacques Goff’s words, Italy prey during the French and Spanish invasions ou simple « geographic expression » according to the prince of Metternich ; Italy has since her very first breath given the world history many visages. As such, Italy is a true strangeness in our modern European landscape, deeply proud of still exposing today the two side of her personnality. A politic and religious Italy in a very secular Europe. A very young nation among millenial homelands. A country transcended by its stormy story, by its intrinsic fragilities. A country where today, politic and religious are walking together. Where the minds awakes during the mass or in the voting booth. A country where human is begging for divine. Where divine himself becomes human in the sanctified person of St-Peters’s successors, equivalent as appreciated as feared of Italic secular leaders. And whose power exceeds the Vatican confines to radiate in the whole world, making Italy a real beacon illuminating the whole planet. Or, if Italy occupies such a place in our humanity, it is because of the dichotomy who always inhabited it. Warrior soul and hallowed emanation of catholicity, Italy is the place that human and divine have fought about during centuries. And this quarrel reaches its climax during the Renaissance era. Where temporal and spiritual power were also guided by a same creative strenght in their acerbity to do Italy et their ceaseless quarrels were going to shape the very soul of modern Italy, giving her this two-headed dimension which is likely the most constituent aspect of Italian identity. And gives this Nation an unparalleled specificity in Europe