The Last Pope: The Decline and Fall of the Church of Rome by John Hogue

John Hogue, a leading expert on Nostradamus, analyzes the 111 Latin mottoes of 12th-century Bishop Malachy of Ireland, who predicted the succession of popes. Hogue combines prophecy and history with a touch of humor, comparing Saint Bernard and the monastic movement to Elvis Presley and rock 'n' roll. "The Last Pope" excels as a history of the papacy, a study of Malachy's prophecy, and an evaluation of Catholicism's future. --Brian Patterson