Where Is the Vatican?

Product Description

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.

About the Author

Megan Stine has written several books for young readers, including
Where Is the White House?,
What Was the Age of the Dinosaurs?,
Who Was Ulysses S. Grant?,
Who Is Michelle Obama?, and
Who Was Sally Ride? She lives in Clinton, Connecticut.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Where Is the Vatican?
 
 
It was a cold, wet day in March 2013. Crowds of Catholics filled a huge square outside the largest church in the world: St. Peter’s Basilica. More than fifty thousand people had come to find out who would be the next pope.
 
The answer depended on a vote that was taking place inside a chapel beside the huge church. One hundred fifteen cardinals were locked inside to vote for the new pope. (Cardinals are the most important Catholic priests after the pope.) To be elected pope, one of the cardinals had to receive two-thirds of the votes. The cardinals wrote the name of the person they were voting for on a piece of paper. They kept their votes secret by disguising their handwriting. After being counted, the ballots were burned and smoke drifted up from the chapel.
 
The results of the votes are always announced to the world in a puff of smoke. White smoke means that a new pope has been elected. Black smoke means that no one has gotten enough votes yet.
 
On the first day of voting, no one was chosen. Black smoke billowed out of the chapel chimney. The same thing happened the next morning—black smoke. The cardinals would have to vote again.
 
Rain began to fall. Still, the crowds remained, waiting under umbrellas into the night.
 
Finally, on the evening of March 13, a plume of white smoke floated up into the air. The crowd burst into joyous cheers. They waved flags from countries all over the world. Then bells began to ring and ring, announcing that a new pope had been chosen.
 
By the time Pope Francis appeared on the balcony overlooking the square, the rain had stopped. He spoke humbly to the crowds, asking them to pray for him. He knew he had a big job ahead of him.
 
Being pope meant he would head the Catholic Church, all the world over. As pope, he would also be the leader of a country. It is the smallest country in the world, located entirely inside the city of Rome, Italy.
 
The country is called Vatican City.
 
 

Chapter 1:
A Safe Place for Christians
 
How did Vatican City become the smallest country on earth?
 
The answer lies in the story of Christianity—a story that began more than two thousand years ago when Jesus was alive.
 
The Christian religion is based on the teachings of Jesus and the events of his life. Christian people believe he is the son of God. Jesus was killed by the Romans for his preaching. He was nailed to a cross and left to die. Christians believe he rose from the dead three days later and returned to God in heaven.
 
For a long time after that, it wasn’t safe to be a Christian—especially in Rome. Rome was the center of power in the ancient Roman Empire. One leader of the empire was Nero. Nero didn’t want a new, different religion taking over his world. He want