Hyperbole is fine in friendly (or not so friendly perhaps) discussions but logic dictates that most popes are a good deal more highly regarded than the Borgias.
Oh, you’re giving too much credit. Let’s say that the Borgias are the grain (or, a grain, since there were other bad apples) of truth behind legends which were used to indiscriminately characterize all medieval and renaissance popes.
Oh, you’re giving too much credit. Let’s say that the Borgias are the grain (or, a grain, since there were other bad apples) of truth behind legends which were used to indiscriminately characterize all medieval and renaissance popes.
CASE IN POINT: Do you think the miniseries will mention the Pope Calixtus, the Borgia who weakened the temporal power of the papacy by irritating the kings of Europe because he lived an austere lifestyle? Or Saint Francis Borgia, founder of Gregorian University, teacher of hundreds of missionaries to entire globe, miarculous exorcist and humble mustic? No, the subtitle is “the original crime family.”
Truth is, there’s a great classical tragedy behind the fall of Alexander VI, and it might make for great drama. But great drama makes for lousy propaganda.
(Just to be clear, by the fall of Alexander VI, I do mean his perdition.)
Actually: There is a third Borgia pope. Again, quite virtuous: Innocent X.