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6 Episodes 2018 - 2018
Episode 1
Sun, Mar 11, 201841 mins
The modern pope is the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics, the head of an independent nation, who wields international influence on a wide range of both religious and secular issues. But to understand how one man and one institution rises to such heights, we must go back 2,000 years to the remarkable origins of the Catholic Church. Beginning with Peter's perilous grassroots movement in the wake of Christ's crucifixion, we'll follow Christianity's dramatic journey through the time of the Crusades, undertaken to recover the Holy Land from Islamic rule. Through blood, battle, and faithful perseverance, we will watch as the pope evolves from the spiritual leader of an outlawed cult to one of the most powerful men on earth.
Episode 2
Sun, Mar 18, 201841 mins
An examination of the growing authority of the papacy, as the balance of spiritual and worldly interests begins to shift.
Episode 3
Sun, Mar 25, 201841 mins
The Renaissance marks the end of a fractured church and the emergence of the papacy as a chief patron of art, architecture, music and literature. But cultural advancement is accompanied by increasing corruption and ambition, as popes acquire temporal power and political influence. With Rodrigo Borgia on the throne of Peter, the papacy reaches a nadir, scandalizing people inside and outside the church and planting the seeds of reform.
Episode 4
Sun, Apr 1, 201841 mins
Following the excess and scandal of the Renaissance era, the papacy looks to reclaim its sense of morality and leadership. Men like Martin Luther and Henry VIII begin to question the previously absolute power of the papacy and initiate a splintering of what was once a universal church. Rome responds by making deep reforms and launching spiritual movements. Ignatius Loyola founds the Jesuits, a new sect of Catholicism focused on universal education for all. Pope Francis comes to power as the first Jesuit pope in history.
Episode 5
Sun, Apr 8, 201841 mins
An examination of the pope who bore witness to the Nazi party's rise and the actions of the Catholic Church during one of the most tumultuous times in modern history.
Episode 6
Sun, Apr 15, 201841 mins
Pope John Paul II is the world's first "famous" Pope. He comes into power during the height of the Cold War and serves for nearly three decades, the second longest term in papal history. Having come of age during the Nazi invasion of his native Poland, and keenly aware of the shortcomings of the Vatican during World War II, John Paul II immerses the religious office into global affairs. He works tirelessly alongside world leaders in an effort to destroy communism, and in the process, becomes an international icon for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. His reign represents the birth of the papacy as we know it today. JPII showed the world how a man of devout faith, and immeasurable power, can re-imagine an ancient institution in contemporary times, a tradition that continues with the reform of Pope Francis.