This first volume of Inventing the Modern Papacy provides a fascinating look at the development of political ultramontanism between 1789 and 1914. Carolina Armenteros expertly chronicles how the papacy evolved into a global soft power, shaping both the religious and political landscape of the modern world. By exploring the key figures and movements that drove this transformation, the book offers an essential historical perspective on the authority and influence of the Church. If you are interested in church history, political science, or the historical origins of institutional power, this volume is an invaluable addition to your library. It offers you a clear, comprehensive account of how the papacy reinvented itself to survive and thrive during one of history’s most volatile periods.