Commentary Par XXVII 49-51

The first four of Peter's complaints ([Par XXVII 40-54]) about papal misconduct seem both generalizable and yet specific to Boniface's reign (1294-1303).  The papacy was often portrayed by Dante as using its temporal power incorrectly; this passage may particularly remember Boniface's 'crusade' against the Colonna family, already alluded to at [Inf XXVII 85-90], as Benvenuto (DDP Benvenuto.Par.XXVII.49-54) was the first to suggest.