Sex Lives of the Popes: An Irreverent Expose of the Bishops of Rome from st Peter to the Present Day [Paperback]

Nigel Cawthorne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2001

The Popes have been responsible for setting the sexual agenda for almost a quarter of the world's population for centuries. It was St Paul, scholars say, who set up the church's strong anti-sex stance. Popes ever since have publicly praised the virtues of chastity and fidelity. But many may not have practised what they preached, and some may have been far more promiscuous than the most dissolute heathen. This is an irreverent expose of the Bishops of Rome, from St Peter to the 1990s, casting a humorous, yet historically accurate eye on the history of Papal infidelity. From the Borges to the Antipopes it unearths all the duplicity and scandal, including marriage, adultery, illegitimate children, homosexuality and pornography.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Prion’s internationally best–selling Sex Lives series presents lighthearted accounts of the sexual escapades of major figures in history, politics, religion, the arts, and the Silver Screen. Irreverent and gossipy, the books are packed with carnal tidbits and eye–opening revelations. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Prion Books (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185375207X
• ISBN-13: 978-1853752070
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,067,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars selling licenses for keeping mistresses, December 29, 2001

By 

J. N. W. Bos "Joan" (Utrecht, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex Lives of the Popes: An Irreverent Expose of the Bishops of Rome from st Peter to the Present Day (Paperback)

This book emphasizes on the attitude of the popes towards the sex lives of their priests. Many popes were concerned with the celibacy of their priests and forbade marriage for priests. However, they used to sell them licenses for keeping mistresses. Usually, they were prepared to tolerate priests who kept incestuous relations with female relatives or raped women in the church. "When a woman fainted during confession and the priest seized the opportunity to rape her, the Inquisition found that this, technically, was not a case of soliciting." The pope's only concern was that priests would defile the sacrament when handling it afterwards.
The passages about the sex lives of the popes themselves are mainly based on hearsay. Cawthorne accuses several popes of incest with either their sisters or bastard daughters, like pope Alexander VI Borgia, who retired with his daughter to "an interior room and remained locked up together for more than an hour". In secret she gave birth to a baby that was hidden, but that doesn't prove that her father was the father. Many other popes seem to have had preferences for young boys, prostitutes or sex-and-food orgies in general.
Despite many unproven accusations, the book clearly shows that many popes were mainly concerned with their own pleasures and did not give a damn about Christian values. Anyway, the book is good reading stuff.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex Lives of the Popes -- a Fascinating Read, May 20, 2006

By 

Sasha "nazitechno.atspace.com" (nazitechno.atspace.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex Lives of the Popes: An Irreverent Expose of the Bishops of Rome from st Peter to the Present Day (Paperback)

The author managed to keep an excellent sense of humor throughout the entire book, starting from Peter and ending with the late Jean Paul II. Fascinating, revealing, exposing -- great in one word.

Taboos are shattered, beliefs given new horizons. I recomend this book to any reader. Interesting read.

I liked the phrase "Julius II was an insatiable bisexual"...

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Indulgence in all God has forbidden., June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sex Lives of the Popes: An Irreverent Expose of the Bishops of Rome from st Peter to the Present Day (Paperback)

This book emphasizes on the attitude of the popes towards the sex lives of their priests. Many popes were concerned with the celibacy of their priests and forbade marriage for priests. However, they used to sell them licenses for keeping mistresses. Usually, they were prepared to tolerate priests who kept incestuous relations with female relatives or raped women in the church. "When a woman fainted during confession and the priest seized the opportunity to rape her, the Inquisition found that this, technically, was not a case of soliciting." The pope's only concern was that priests would defile the sacrament when handling it afterwards. The passages about the sex lives of the popes themselves are mainly based on hearsay. Cawthorne accuses several popes of incest with either their sisters or bastard daughters, like pope Alexander VI Borgia, who retired with his daughter to "an interior room and remained locked up together for more than an hour". In secret she gave birth to a baby that was hidden, but that doesn't prove that her father was the father. Many other popes seem to have had preferences for young boys, prostitutes or sex-and-food orgies in general. Despite many unproven accusations, the book clearly shows that many popes were mainly concerned with their own pleasures and did not give a damn about Christian values. Anyway, the book is good reading stuff.