The Popes in the Divina Commedia of Dante. By L.
C. Casartelli. (Sands. 3s. 6d. net.)—This scholarly little book by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford deals, in chronological order, with the Popes mentioned by Dante, giving the text of the passages with a translation and a brief commentary. He suggests courteously that the poet was unduly prejudiced against Boniface VIII., who is, of course, one of the chief villains of the piece ; he reminds us that the outrageous maltreatment of the Pope by Nogaret and Colonna is inferentially condemned in the Purgatorio. Dr. Casartelli doubts but does not deny the theory that the man
" Che face per vilta lo gran rifiuto " —who from cowardice made the great renunciation—was Celestine V., who abdicated and who is now known as St. Peter Celestine. In the closing pages we are told how recent Popes have paid homage to Dante ; the late Pope Benedict XV.'s Encyclical on the Sexcentenary celebrations did credit to his good sense in distinguishing between Dante as a pious Christian and Dante as an eager politician.
Previous page
