Maksim Tkachенко is a historian of religion, theologian, teacher, and translator. Author of academic articles on Christian theology and publications on the “Great Russian Encyclopedia” portal. Originally, the book was titled “Under the White Muar”—named after the precious French silk used to make the famous white garments of Roman pontiffs of the 19th–20th centuries. On the pages of this edition, you’ll find biographies of outstanding individuals whose destinies were inseparably linked not only to the history of Italy, but to the whole world. The life of the pontiffs was extraordinarily interesting, and the events surrounding them deserve the best film adaptations. Each of the Roman popes was in some way similar to us. They loved and hated, suffered and rejoiced. Today we enjoy watching historical serials that vividly display events from the past, but why not turn to a text that will let your imagination portray even more vividly what you’re reading? This book is neither a textbook nor religious literature. It is a historical saga—only not filmed, but written on paper.