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Where is/are...?
Where Is the Vatican?
Did you know that the Vatican is a country--the smallest in the world? Find out the amazing history of the headquarters of the Catholic Church.
It's time to elect a new pope. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in front of St. Peter's Basilica to learn who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church. A white puff of smoke from a chimney signals the cardinals--the "princes" of the church--have elected one of their own who will continue to be the leader of the faith that has been around for more than two thousand years. Author Megan Stine charts the beginning of Christianity and its hold on members of the faith as well as the countless struggles for power (one pope was poisoned by his own men!), the building of the Vatican and creation of the Sistine Chapel, and the Secret Archives that hold papers the church has accumulated over the centuries.
It's time to elect a new pope. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in front of St. Peter's Basilica to learn who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church. A white puff of smoke from a chimney signals the cardinals--the "princes" of the church--have elected one of their own who will continue to be the leader of the faith that has been around for more than two thousand years. Author Megan Stine charts the beginning of Christianity and its hold on members of the faith as well as the countless struggles for power (one pope was poisoned by his own men!), the building of the Vatican and creation of the Sistine Chapel, and the Secret Archives that hold papers the church has accumulated over the centuries.
112 pages, Paperback
Published December 24, 2019
33 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Megan Stine
195 books57 followersMegan Stine is the Editor-in-Chief of Real U Guides and the author of more than 100 books for young readers including Trauma-Rama, an etiquette book for teenagers published by Seventeen magazine, and several titles in a series based on the popular 1990’s television series Party of Five. A frequent writer of books in the enormously popular Mary-Kate and Ashley series, she is the best-selling author of Likes Me, Likes Me Not and Instant Boyfriend. She has worked with CBS and ABC in developing comedy and drama television pilots, and has written comedy material for a well-known radio personality in New York.
When she isn’t writing, she is a portrait and fine art photographer and a contributing photographer for the Real U series of guides.
When she isn’t writing, she is a portrait and fine art photographer and a contributing photographer for the Real U series of guides.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 11, 2021
I was raised Catholic but I don't know much about the church or its history and some of its customs. This book was very fascinating and covered quite a bit considering it's a short book aimed at children. The one problem I had with this book was that they didn't always mention the names of popes involved or dates of events, but this only happened once in a while.
Facts I learned or found interesting:
--St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world.
--In order of rank, from lowest to highest:
1. Priests. They are usually in charge of one church.
2. Bishops. They watch over several churches in a small area called a diocese.
3. Archbishops. They are in charge of a larger area called an archdiocese.
4. Cardinals. They are basically bishops who are appointed to special duties and can give advice to the pope, help run the Vatican, and are able to vote for a new pope.
5. Pope.
--When voting for a new pope, white smoke means a pope has been chosen. Black smoke means no consensus yet. At least 2/3 of the votes are needed for a pope to be chosen.
--The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, 109 acres in size (Disney World is 275 times bigger.)
--Roman emperor Nero did not want a new religion taking over. He wanted his people to obey him and pray to the Roman gods. He persecuted and killed many Christians. Emperor Constantine changed all that when he came into power in the 4th century, allowing people to worship whatever religion they chose. He donated land and churches to the Christians.
--In 1049, Pope Leo IX created new rules. Priests could no longer marry or have children. Popes could no longer be chosen by kings or emperors.
--After Pope Clement IV died in 1268, the cardinals could not come into agreement on a new pope. This went on for 3 years until they were finally forced to vote. They were locked inside the pope's house. When that didn't work, they had some of their food taken away, then more food, then the roof was removed, until they finally chose Pope Gregory X. Pope Gregory X came up with the rule that cardinals would be locked in the house where the pope had died (a conclave), they had to choose in 3 days or their food would be less and less, and their pay would get cut. Their food was served through a small opening in the door in order to keep them inside.
--King Henry VIII started the Church of England when the pope refused to grant him a divorce from his wife.
--Construction of St. Peter's Basilica was expensive. Some of the marble used in St. Peter's and other Vatican buildings was taken from the Colosseum. Pope Leo X (c. 1953) decided to raise money by selling "indulgences" where the pope would forgive people's sins in exchange for money. Martin Luther, a German priest, thought this was wrong and wrote a letter listing ninety-five problems with the church and ways to reform it. Those who followed his ideas became Protestants. After that, the church in Rome became known as the Roman Catholic Church to set it apart from other groups.
--Italian army marched into Rome wanting the city back but the Pope refused. The Italian government offered to let the Pope keep the Vatican City in exchange for giving up other lands. He refused, so he and three other popes after him remained trapped as "prisoners" in the Vatican for the next 59yrs.
--Pope Pius XI made a deal with Benito Mussolini in 1929 that the Vatican City would be its own one city country. There are only two others in the world, Singapore and Monaco.
--Nearly 100 popes are buried in St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter lying directly under the center of the dome. A few of the dead popes are on display in glass coffins. Only six women are buried at St. Peter's.
--The ostentatious treasures contained in the Vatican are unbelievable and somewhat disturbing, in my opinion. I learned of a pallium, which is a collar worn by popes, which is made of wool from sheep who wear crowns of red and white flowers on their head before being slaughtered. I was confused by that and what the purpose or meaning of this was. The treasures are hidden from public view.
--The Swiss Guards all live at the Vatican in barracks.
--The Vatican flag is one of two square flags in the world, the other being Switzerland. The Vatican flag was taken to the moon in 1969.
--Before 1966, Catholics were only allowed to eat fish on Fridays.
Before 1962, masses were held in Latin.
--Nuns take a vow of poverty. Priests and bishops however are given a small salary, a place to live, a car, and travel money.
Facts I learned or found interesting:
--St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world.
--In order of rank, from lowest to highest:
1. Priests. They are usually in charge of one church.
2. Bishops. They watch over several churches in a small area called a diocese.
3. Archbishops. They are in charge of a larger area called an archdiocese.
4. Cardinals. They are basically bishops who are appointed to special duties and can give advice to the pope, help run the Vatican, and are able to vote for a new pope.
5. Pope.
--When voting for a new pope, white smoke means a pope has been chosen. Black smoke means no consensus yet. At least 2/3 of the votes are needed for a pope to be chosen.
--The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, 109 acres in size (Disney World is 275 times bigger.)
--Roman emperor Nero did not want a new religion taking over. He wanted his people to obey him and pray to the Roman gods. He persecuted and killed many Christians. Emperor Constantine changed all that when he came into power in the 4th century, allowing people to worship whatever religion they chose. He donated land and churches to the Christians.
--In 1049, Pope Leo IX created new rules. Priests could no longer marry or have children. Popes could no longer be chosen by kings or emperors.
--After Pope Clement IV died in 1268, the cardinals could not come into agreement on a new pope. This went on for 3 years until they were finally forced to vote. They were locked inside the pope's house. When that didn't work, they had some of their food taken away, then more food, then the roof was removed, until they finally chose Pope Gregory X. Pope Gregory X came up with the rule that cardinals would be locked in the house where the pope had died (a conclave), they had to choose in 3 days or their food would be less and less, and their pay would get cut. Their food was served through a small opening in the door in order to keep them inside.
--King Henry VIII started the Church of England when the pope refused to grant him a divorce from his wife.
--Construction of St. Peter's Basilica was expensive. Some of the marble used in St. Peter's and other Vatican buildings was taken from the Colosseum. Pope Leo X (c. 1953) decided to raise money by selling "indulgences" where the pope would forgive people's sins in exchange for money. Martin Luther, a German priest, thought this was wrong and wrote a letter listing ninety-five problems with the church and ways to reform it. Those who followed his ideas became Protestants. After that, the church in Rome became known as the Roman Catholic Church to set it apart from other groups.
--Italian army marched into Rome wanting the city back but the Pope refused. The Italian government offered to let the Pope keep the Vatican City in exchange for giving up other lands. He refused, so he and three other popes after him remained trapped as "prisoners" in the Vatican for the next 59yrs.
--Pope Pius XI made a deal with Benito Mussolini in 1929 that the Vatican City would be its own one city country. There are only two others in the world, Singapore and Monaco.
--Nearly 100 popes are buried in St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter lying directly under the center of the dome. A few of the dead popes are on display in glass coffins. Only six women are buried at St. Peter's.
--The ostentatious treasures contained in the Vatican are unbelievable and somewhat disturbing, in my opinion. I learned of a pallium, which is a collar worn by popes, which is made of wool from sheep who wear crowns of red and white flowers on their head before being slaughtered. I was confused by that and what the purpose or meaning of this was. The treasures are hidden from public view.
--The Swiss Guards all live at the Vatican in barracks.
--The Vatican flag is one of two square flags in the world, the other being Switzerland. The Vatican flag was taken to the moon in 1969.
--Before 1966, Catholics were only allowed to eat fish on Fridays.
Before 1962, masses were held in Latin.
--Nuns take a vow of poverty. Priests and bishops however are given a small salary, a place to live, a car, and travel money.
June 6, 2023
Where Is The Vatican?: By Megan Stine
Since my mother and I have some time in Rome between flights in about a month or so, I thought I would do a bit of investigation into the Vatican City, and at least see the sort of things that are written about it for general audiences. This book is by no means a detailed examination of the history of the Vatican City, but it does offer a history that presents what the current papal establishment wants people to believe about the capital of the Roman Catholic Church. In reading this book, I found at least a few things that I was rather skeptical about, but at the same time it was an informative book when it talked about matters of architecture and institutions, and that makes this book a worthwhile read, especially for young readers who take an interest in geography and who have parents capable of correcting the book's pro-Catholic bias and the misinformation it presents about Christian origins. If this book is not wholly worth recommendation, it is at least a worthwhile read if one approaches it from a critical but appreciative perspective.
In terms of its contents, this book is a bit more than 100 pages, somewhat large text, with a fair amount of illustrations (including a helpful map of the Vatican City and what it contains). The book begins with the titular question of the book, answering where the Vatican City is as a small part of the city of Rome that is surrounded by Italy's capital. After that the book delves into pseudohistory with an account of Rome as being a safe place for Christians. The author then turns her attention to the struggles for power of the medieval popes who ruled over the Papal States and dealt with (and sometimes quarreled with) various emperors and other rulers. Then comes the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica in the 16th century, which allows the author to briefly discuss the beginnings of the Protestant reformation. The next two chapters look at the birth of the Vatican City as a new country after the Papal States were largely conquered by the Italian army in 1870-1871, as well as St. Peter's Basilica being the largest church in the world. The rest of the book then turns from matters of history to a discussion of the sorts of contents and actions that take place in the contemporary Vatican City, including the treasures of the Vatican, the secret archives that are open to researchers with official permission, the Vatican in modern times, the private world of the pope, and a year in the life of a pope. The book concludes with timelines and a bibliography.
It appears, looking at this book in some detail, that this particular book is part of a series that is at least somewhat officially connected with the Roman Catholic church and its approach. Other books in the WHOHQ series include a book on Pope Francis that seeks to praise him for his simplicity and desire to relate to others, a discussion of the Colosseum (part of which was re-used for the Vatican construction of the late Renaissance), as well as books on Jesus and the Ten Commandments that likely share the same sort of biases as this particular book. One can tell that the author re-uses bits from other books into this particular book, so some overlap can easily be imagined existing within the series as a whole. Despite the fact that the book gives undue credence to some of the supposed icons of faith that can be found in the Vatican City and gives perhaps too much praise to the contemporary self-criticism and openness of the Catholic Church, there is still a fair amount of worthwhile information to be found, including a detailed discussion of the buildings and gardens that are found within the Vatican City, many of which are off-limits to tourists, as well as a discussion of gardens, the Vatican jail, police force, Swiss Guard, and fire department. These touches add a great deal of information value to this volume.
Since my mother and I have some time in Rome between flights in about a month or so, I thought I would do a bit of investigation into the Vatican City, and at least see the sort of things that are written about it for general audiences. This book is by no means a detailed examination of the history of the Vatican City, but it does offer a history that presents what the current papal establishment wants people to believe about the capital of the Roman Catholic Church. In reading this book, I found at least a few things that I was rather skeptical about, but at the same time it was an informative book when it talked about matters of architecture and institutions, and that makes this book a worthwhile read, especially for young readers who take an interest in geography and who have parents capable of correcting the book's pro-Catholic bias and the misinformation it presents about Christian origins. If this book is not wholly worth recommendation, it is at least a worthwhile read if one approaches it from a critical but appreciative perspective.
In terms of its contents, this book is a bit more than 100 pages, somewhat large text, with a fair amount of illustrations (including a helpful map of the Vatican City and what it contains). The book begins with the titular question of the book, answering where the Vatican City is as a small part of the city of Rome that is surrounded by Italy's capital. After that the book delves into pseudohistory with an account of Rome as being a safe place for Christians. The author then turns her attention to the struggles for power of the medieval popes who ruled over the Papal States and dealt with (and sometimes quarreled with) various emperors and other rulers. Then comes the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica in the 16th century, which allows the author to briefly discuss the beginnings of the Protestant reformation. The next two chapters look at the birth of the Vatican City as a new country after the Papal States were largely conquered by the Italian army in 1870-1871, as well as St. Peter's Basilica being the largest church in the world. The rest of the book then turns from matters of history to a discussion of the sorts of contents and actions that take place in the contemporary Vatican City, including the treasures of the Vatican, the secret archives that are open to researchers with official permission, the Vatican in modern times, the private world of the pope, and a year in the life of a pope. The book concludes with timelines and a bibliography.
It appears, looking at this book in some detail, that this particular book is part of a series that is at least somewhat officially connected with the Roman Catholic church and its approach. Other books in the WHOHQ series include a book on Pope Francis that seeks to praise him for his simplicity and desire to relate to others, a discussion of the Colosseum (part of which was re-used for the Vatican construction of the late Renaissance), as well as books on Jesus and the Ten Commandments that likely share the same sort of biases as this particular book. One can tell that the author re-uses bits from other books into this particular book, so some overlap can easily be imagined existing within the series as a whole. Despite the fact that the book gives undue credence to some of the supposed icons of faith that can be found in the Vatican City and gives perhaps too much praise to the contemporary self-criticism and openness of the Catholic Church, there is still a fair amount of worthwhile information to be found, including a detailed discussion of the buildings and gardens that are found within the Vatican City, many of which are off-limits to tourists, as well as a discussion of gardens, the Vatican jail, police force, Swiss Guard, and fire department. These touches add a great deal of information value to this volume.
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October 28, 2021My favorite character in the Vatican was the pope it kind of was because he is a very interesting man he also likes owns the Pope's and Vatican Pope the Vatican he hit the folks but yeah just it's inspiring I don't know why it just in case interesting because he gets down from generation to generation and then now he is the poop and he owns the Vatican and he's a part of a church and he likes it I'm not so don't get me wrong I like hurt cool but like to be approved at the Vatican can I get to travel I think what surprised me I know this sounds weird but it would have to be that the Vatican was in rome I used to think it was like in California with my family is talked about it a lot and they just talked about like churches and all that stuff but yes that it was in Rome it just surprised me I didn't think it would be there it'll be like so many places of it to like many different one I don't know we'll just be one whole big one thought to be like so many more of them not just in one place which means there's only one what was in the box but I wouldn't change the ending because it is history about the Vatican I know you are going to last one I said history that for the Titanic you can't change history Inn at the cityBeautiful to it just blows my mind and I wouldn't change their name because its history that you can never change history because then I probably wouldn't be here right now if there's a history changing but if history changes I get history can change for the better but it is very sad how history can change all history was but you must be grateful enough that those people are those lives have done this for that so I think that's would be it and now it will not change your name because I just liked it a lot
September 12, 2021
Informative
Megan Stone has given the reader an excellent tour of the Vatican both from a historical and geographical view. We are there at the Vatican and get a grand tour of Vatican city. We get a history lesson that is accompanied with great illustrations. For those who need a quick and easy check before visiting the Vatican, this book is the one you need to go to. Besides being informative, this book is an enjoyable read. I would check out all of the author's books on the "Where is" series. Enjoy the your.
Megan Stone has given the reader an excellent tour of the Vatican both from a historical and geographical view. We are there at the Vatican and get a grand tour of Vatican city. We get a history lesson that is accompanied with great illustrations. For those who need a quick and easy check before visiting the Vatican, this book is the one you need to go to. Besides being informative, this book is an enjoyable read. I would check out all of the author's books on the "Where is" series. Enjoy the your.
June 18, 2025
I took the ACT at a Catholic high school and my mom and I were looking at the photos on the wall. I saw an older man in a fancy outfit and asked if he was the principal. My mom just looked at me and said, "No, Emma, that's the Pope."
September 25, 2020
A good introductory book for young Catholics or anyone wanting to know more about the Vatican. I will use it in my religious education classes.
February 26, 2021
This was a very informative book about the history of the Vatican and Catholic religion in general. It was a nice short version of a very significant building well known throughout the world.
January 1, 2023
There was actually a ton I didn't know about Vatican City, apparently.
January 8, 2023
Read this aloud to my grandmother. Left it behind so she could browse it.
Thought it was well written.
Thought it was well written.
March 26, 2023
The book has a plethora of information about the Vatican, but it is not written for a Catholic audience specifically, so it states , "Catholics believe..." when presenting tenets of the faith.
April 24, 2023
Quite interesting - some of this I knew - some of it I didn't.
August 5, 2024
Library borrow
August 11, 2025
I really liked all the info with the pope;and all the info about the Vatican becoming a cuountry
October 3, 2025
Gave good information and stories plenty of details too great book.
March 2, 2024
Read with the boys in preparation for our upcoming trip to Rome and the Vatican. It was good and informational.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews