The succession multiplied the harm. Each passed on his conception of the papacy unchanged.
In "The March of Folly," Barbara W. Tuchman explores the enduring nature of the papacy, emphasizing how each successive pope perpetuated the same flawed ideas and practices of his predecessors. This continuity of thought and mission within the papacy compounded the challenges faced by the church over time, highlighting a cycle of unchanging leadership that failed to adapt to the evolving needs of society and governance.
Tuchman's analysis suggests that the...