Most of the 20 papers were presented at the March 2000 annual meeting of the Renaissance Society of America, held in Florence, Italy. European, North American, and Australian scholars describe the pontificate of Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, elevated as Pope in November 1523, and on watch during the spread of the Lutheran heresy, the sack of Rome, and the loss of Britain to the church. They cover his character, politics, and family; the sack of Rome and its aftermath; resynthesis; Clement VII as patron; artists, musicians, and literati in his Rome; and antiquity revived and Renovatio in religion and art. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)