Alexander VI (r.1492-1503)...”You must know that for those destined to dominate others, the ordinary rules of life are turned upside down and duty acquires an entirely new meaning!”

Julius II (r. 1503-1513)....”I enter Rome as a second Julius Caesar, heir to the majesty of Rome's imperial glory, and in the likeness of Christ, whose vicar I am, and who in that capacity governs the universal Roman Church."

Leo X (r. 1513-1521)....the first Medici pope, he said, “”Since God has given us the papacy, let us enjoy it.” He left the Church bankrupt.

Adrian VI (r.1522-3)....a Fleming, a reformer and an outsider, it is said the people of Rome rejoiced at the early, mysterious death of this “barbarian.”

Clement VII (1523-1534)....the Medici return, only to see the Reformation spiral out of control, the sack of Rome by the Holy Roman Emperor, and the loss of England. A broken man, Clement succumbed to poisoning by the Death Cap mushroom.

The Year is 1534, Reformation continues its spread across Europe, the Turk threatens the gates of Christendom, Rome has fallen to the squabbles of Christian monarchs, England has severed its ties, the two previous popes died under mysterious circumstances....can the Papacy survive?