The editors (coordinating with introduction and conclusion) set out through the twelve main chapters to highlight changes in papal roles, and perceptions of them, from the warrior Julius ii to the personality cult figure and global communicator John Paul ii. The authors do not provide potted histories of papal reigns, assuming that readers have a general knowledge of the popes concerned. The concentration is on some contributions of wider import, whether in what was developed, or perceived to be contributed, adversely as well as positively, in this papal evolution. Most authors concentrate on one pope: Julius ii (Frederic Baumgartner), Clement vii (Kenneth Gouwens), Urban viii (Sheila Barker), Pius vii (Thomas Worcester), Pius ix (Ciarán O'Carroll), Leo xiii (Thomas Massaro), Benedict xv (Charles Gallagher) and John Paul ii (James Corkery). Some very illuminatingly embrace several popes: Pamela Jones, ‘The pope as saint: Pius v in the eyes of Sixtus v and Clement xi.’; Gemma Simmonds, ‘Jansenism versus papal absolutism’; John Pollard, ‘Electronic pastors: radio, cinema, and television: from Pius xi to John xxiii’; Linda Hogan, ‘Mixed reception: Paul vi and John Paul ii on sex and war’. Communication and ‘perception’ are two major, interconnected themes through the collection. When power and influence could no longer be exercised by warrior popes like Julius ii or by organising diplomatic alliances, encyclicals were given increasing prominence for teaching and pastoral care, notably under Benedict xiv (partly responding to challenges to authority under Jansenist and Enlightenment prods), and Leo xiii, facing the challenges of industrialised society. Where earlier image-making cum teaching had come from prints, paintings and sculptures, the twentieth-century popes added electronic communication, then personal globe-trotting (Paul vi and John Paul ii). Successful popular image-making, as by the latter, and earlier by John xxiii, did not guarantee that the teachings would be heeded by the ‘faithful’, as Linda Hogan well stresses. She and James Corkery provide timely balanced judgements on John Paul ii, but are unlikely to forestall an untimely rush to beatification. Other studies here beneficially rehabilitate some popes, or at least aspects of their roles. Kenneth Gouwens follows up on his recently edited work on Clement vii, stressing cultural patronage, as in music, and his attempts at ‘collaboration’ under crises. Sheila Barker provides a fair and well-rounded assessment of Urban viii (this reviewer's favourite), much damned by pasquinades and adverse publicity (as well quoted). With Pius ix Ciarán O'Connell moves away from his much publicised post-1848 conservatism, and considers his pastoral care for, and education of, Irish Catholics – hitherto ill-educated and poorly led. Simmonds brings out the complexities of Jansenist struggles, seeking more focus on early stages, and on the beneficial contributions of Port-Royal, but also on long-term impacts, negative and positive, in challenges to authority. Charles Gallagher, in looking at Benedict xv, points (rather too cryptically), to the puzzlement and angst in Britain at the pope's stance on neutrality and ‘absolute impartiality’ in the Great War, interpreted by some as ‘moral cowardice’, given ‘German atrocities’ in Belgium. Throughout this is a stimulating and coherent essay collection.