Pastor's tomes span the pontificates of 56 popes, from Clement V to Pius VI. He had one of the shortest pontificates in papal history. The Council was held during the pontificates of Pope Agatho and Pope Leo II. Throughout the novel, Richard both pontificates on and must actively deal with morality. Although there have been 115 pontificates since 1461, there have only been 84 individual Patriarchs. The process was continued under the Pontificates of Clement XIII and Clement XIV.