In the book by the Soviet historian S. G. Lozinsky, from an atheistic standpoint, the history of the Catholic hierarchy is presented: it shows the centuries-long drive of the papacy to spread its domination in different countries of the world. The scholar considers the history of the papacy from its origin to the end of the 19th century. The book first appeared in 1934 and was reissued in 1961.
The basis of the present, third edition of the book "The History of the Papacy" is the text of the second edition from 1961. The book includes an afterword titled "Papacy after Pius IX," written by a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, I. R. Grigulevich (1913–1988).
It is intended for readers interested in the history of religion and the church.