I get the impression that many Europeans love the Pope, but that few of them actually do what he says.

Our media might be a little (just a little) less controlled than yours. Plenty of shows attack from both the left and the right...as long as they get good ratings, that's what matters over here. My understanding is that the government has much more direct control of the media in Italy.

I did get the books. As soon as I finish this other French book I'm reading I will probably start the Saint-Just book. I haven't started the Dante book, but it's title is _Dante, le sue opere, il suo tempo_ by Claudio Redi