The Incredible Book of Vatican Facts and Papal Curiosities: A Treasury of Trivia

by Nino Lo Bello

What's the pope's salary? Has a pope ever been impeached? Who was Pope Joan? Have there ever been married popes? Which pope was exhumed for a public trial?
Find the answer to these and nearly 200 other questions in this vast cornucopia of interesting, unusual, and intriguing facts and minutiae about the seat of the Roman Catholic religion (Vatican City) and the popes who have reigned there.
Drawing on almost three decades of experience as a journalist covering Italy and in particular the Vatican, Lo Bello entertains the reader on every page with trivia and fascinating anecdotes.
The book also features more in-depth Vaticaniain essays that explore such topics
• exorcism and the Vatican
• the process of making a saint
• the Vatican's involvement in the film industry
• "la Popessa" (the most powerful woman in Vatican history)
Appendices provide both a glossary of Vatican terminology and significant dates in Catholic Church history.

Nino Lo Bello is the author of ten previous books, including the New York Times bestseller The Vatican Empire, Vatican U.S.A., European Detours, The Vatican Papers, Nino Lo Bello's Guide to Offbeat Europe, and Nino Lo Bello's Guide to the Vatican. For eight years, Lo Bello was Italian correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune and for more than a quarter-century served as special correspondent to the International Herald Tribune.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction, Trivia, Reference, Humor, Catholic

235 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 1997

Reviews

[Rick Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly fine book for a knowledge of Catholic/Vatican arcana. I thought there might be more about the physical space and artifacts housed within, but this was fine for a little background information.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book of trivia, for it is packed with history about the world’s oldest bureaucracy as well as information about the great treasures that are in Vatican City. Some of the most precious artwork, a fortune in jewels as well as some of the deepest of secrets are all part of the seat of power of the Catholic Church.
While the material will of course have a special appeal for Catholics, all people that enjoy trivia will love the book. This is especially true for people with an interest in historical trivia, for significant history and the Catholic Church are intertwined.

[Noran Miss Pumkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fair read--trivia fun, but dry at times. not rhyme or reason to the order in the book, which is very distracting, the book favors john paul II a lot. a time line in the back listing when the popes reigned would helped greatly. also just listing one pope, the telling all the trvia related to him, with a little his about him, would have made this book superior. the reader is just made to fell he/she if just jumping around. there are quite a few lovely gems in this book though.

[Cat. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sounds like it would be really goofy and possibly funny, but it's really pretty serious & even scholarly. Some kind of interesting details, and of course there are quite a few apologias for "misunderstandings" over the past two millennia. For instance, he says the Pope really agreed with Galileo, and then--mysteriously--turned on him. Another guy trying to nail the Jesuits?

Fun, in a serious way.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book with small tidbits of interesting facts about the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church. The author, though clearly a believer and adherent to the Roman Church does not shy away from some unhappy facts....especially concerning the Renaissance Popes. It is the kind of book you can pick up and put down on the loo or on a bedside table. I picked it up at a second hand shop so found it particularly good value.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bathroom book, in my opinion. A book you can pick up and put down as you see fit.

It is packed with great factual data about the Vatican, which is one of my favorite topics. However, it did not bend my mind. Most of what I read, I have read about in other works, however, for the person who is curious, it is a fun read!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book of papal facts (thru JPII). Enjoyed it.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book about the pope & the vatican!

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of cool fun facts. My only criticism is that it's very unorganized and it's hard to find a specific fact unless you already know what page it's on.