Pope Francis heralds a new era for the Catholic Church, and all of the pomp and circumstance-and hope-is captured in this commemorative LIFE volume, that features all of the best photography from coronation day in Rome. In addition, LIFE's editors present a visual and anecdotal history of the Vatican and of the papacy itself, a narrative with triumphs and tragedies, saints and scoundrels. The same team that created the bestselling Pope John Paul II: a Tribute, and the recent Jesus: Who Do You Say the I Am? has now brings forth this lavishly illustrated and right-up-to-date volume on Francis, the Church in our day and the Church down the centuries, beginning with St. Peter. This is the complete story, in words and pictures.

"Commemorative"--Cover.