To Kidnap a Pope

Napoleon and Pius VII

By: Ambrogio A. Caiani

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

A groundbreaking account of Napoleon Bonaparte, Pope Pius VII, and the kidnapping that would forever divide church and state.

In the wake of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France, and Pope Pius VII shared a common goal: to reconcile the church with the state. But while they were able to work together initially, formalizing an agreement in 1801, relations between them rapidly deteriorated. In 1809, Napoleon ordered the Pope's arrest.

Ambrogio Caiani provides a pioneering account of the tempestuous relationship between the emperor and his most unyielding opponent. Drawing on original findings in the Vatican and other European archives, Caiani uncovers the nature of Catholic resistance against Napoleon's empire; charts Napoleon's approach to Papal power; and reveals how the emperor attempted to subjugate the church to his vision of modernity. Gripping and vivid, this book shows the struggle for supremacy between two great individuals - and sheds new light on the conflict that would shape relations between the Catholic church and the modern state for centuries to come.

©2021 Ambrogio A. Caiani (P)2021 Tantor

Good story, stupid conclusions by author

This book is worth listening to despite the authors occasional personal philosophizing, which is always off. For the most part, the authors simply presents historical facts in a compelling narrative. The book reads like a novel, but is also clearly the product of series original research. The title is misleading. The book covers the whole papacy of Pius VII and the whole rule of Napoleon through his death on St. Helena. The actual kidnapping is only a small part of the book. The book also covers briefly the papacy of Pius VI and the French revolution. That the title was misleading is a mark in favor of this book, for me.

The author's personal interpretation of events is naive and betrays his ignorance of theology and political philosophy. He is a liberal and constantly insists that it was "unfair" for 19th century Catholics and historians to portray Napoleon as anti-Catholic or a foreshadowing of anti-Christ since, after all, Napoleon didn't want to get rid of the Church and though religion was good! Napoleon merely wanted to subordinate religion to the state and make it useful by closing down monasteries and contemplative life! The pope meanwhile was reactionary and couldn't recognize the need to modernize.

Here, I've paraphrased the content of basically all of the places where the author gives his own interpretation of events. Luckily such interpretations are rare enough that they don't make the book unbearable. The author fails to realize that subordinating the Church to the state, making the Church "useful" by destroying contemplative life, and treating all religions as equal IS anti-Catholic even if these things are done in the name of "saving the Catholic Church" or "reforming" it or whatever else. Moreover, although the author's history is itself a powerful demonstration of why the Church has, for over a millennia, insisted on the need for the pope to have temporal sovereignty to avoid being controlled in spiritual matters by secular rulers, the author himself doesn't notice what his own book demonstrates. The author continually acts as if the popes insistence on temporal sovereignty was a personal hangup or reactionary sentiment.

One revealing story from the book is Napoleon's instructions to those who were sent to convince the pope to concede to Napoleon. Napoleon is supposedly the representative of "reason" and "enlightenment" as opposed to the "dark ages," but he instructed the negotiators to not try to use reason with Pius VII since he'd only answer their arguments. Instead, he instructed them to apply psychological torture, misinformation, and appeal to emotional blackmail.

Despite the shortcomings, this book is well-worth the read. The picture that emerges is that of a truly saintly pope who withstood a form of martyrdom far more challenging than being thrown to the lions, and who may even, in the very end, have saved his own persecutor's soul through prayer and forgiveness.

History...So Interesting and Entertaining!!!!

I have a library of 4,374 books. I’ve listened to hundreds of truly great books, but for whatever reasons, I’ve never provided a review.
This is a Great Book. I recommend it as one of my best. I envy you, in that you still have this to purchase, and lean and enjoy.
Don’t pass this one up

Just Get It !!!!

Fascinating work

Deeply interesting work about the kidnapping of a Pope! Great details and easy to listen too. I was worried at first after the sample that the reader would be difficult ti listen to, but it did not turn out to be a problem and I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book.