Customer Reviews

Pope John XXII and His Franciscan Cardinal: Bertrand de la Tour and the Apostolic Poverty Controversy (Oxford Historical Monographs)

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This ancient controversy was well examined in the novel The Name of the Rose: including the Author's Postscript (but not the Sean Connery movie). That pope maybe wasn't so infallible.

A Dominican Inquisitor declared Franciscan poverty a heresy, and the belief that Jesus and the Apostles held no private nor communal property false, even though it was upheld in Pope Nicholas III's Exiit qui seminat. A Franciscan at the trial objected to the auto de fe proceedings on these grounds, and appealed to the apostolic see, who brought it to Pope John XXII in Avignon. Pope John XXII loved his wealth, and took the opposing side, and thus declared prior papal statements open to question opening a can of worms which will never be closed despite current efforts.

A favorite of the Pope, a Franciscan who had been named a Cardinal, was caught in the middle. As Umberto Ecco writes as well, he did not wish to oppose his benefactor, but also did not wish to see his order and its Friars Minor burned as heretics for practicing their vow of Gospel poverty.

This excellent long and learned book reveals documents from that time which expose new light and perspective. Until now only one document told of that age and this controversy; the author here translates and publishes for the first time much more. It includes as well an interesting examination of William of Ockham (famed for his Razor).

This book is necessary for all of us to read to reflect upon the ins and outs of papal power as well as the spiritual significance of poverty for followers of Jesus Christ, and the trap which is material wealth. The author does not dwell on such theological considerations, but provides us generous evidence and documents from which to draw our conclusions and to pray for our poor pilgrim Church.

Overlooked is the significance of the name of the good Pope John XXIII who surprised everyone in selecting his name with the Latin phrase from the Gospel John is his Name, written by the father of Saint John the Baptist. The selection of this name was controversial, as it was not clear how many actual Pope John's there had been, and whether to count the one featured in this book, but like so many other things Pope John XXIII generously and lovingly settled the controversy with wisdom, intelligence, simplicity and good humor. How much we need him now . . .

Read thus this book. Know our history. Know our path.