How to Be Pope: What to Do and Where to Go Once You're in the Vatican [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Piers Marchant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2005

Congratulations, Your Holiness, and welcome to your first day at the Holy See. After being elected by the College of Cardinals, you'll need to don the papal vestments and get right to work. Armed with this manual, compiled over the last 2,000 years, you'll be able to navigate the Why's, How's, and Who's of your new life as Pontifex Maximus. What is your official job title? Why do you need to choose a papal name? Who does your laundry? While the church has long maintained an aura of complete secrecy to outsiders, the facts, figures, and historical anecdotes found here give the crucial information you'll need to fulfill your papal duties. Detailed diagrams reveal significant locations within the Vaticanwhere to buy gas, where to mail a letter, St. Martha's Housewhile helpful illustrations demonstrate how to perform the papal wave, the uniform of the Swiss Guards, and how to tell the difference between a mitre and a stole. All this plus a Latin primer, tips on greeting world leaders, and a list of job benefits makes for an indispensable guide to performing the role of Successor to the Prince of the Apostles.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Piers Marchant is a journalist and editor who has published travel guides with Fodor's and Not for Tourists. He lives in Philadelphia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811852210
• ASIN: B000W906HQ
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,364,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Bloody Brilliant!, November 8, 2005

By 

Piers Marchant "Author" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Be Pope: What to Do and Where to Go Once You're in the Vatican (Paperback)

Right. Well, yes, I'm biased, but I found it a bloody good read -- many facts and details about Popes -- as well as perfectly sound advice for incoming popes, all written in pithy little nuggets of information. Learn about the VC and all of its peculiar charms, become acquainted with the daily duties and responsibilities of the office, find out (extremely) hard-to-find details about the Pope's day-to-day living. Who does his laundry? What does he eat for breakfast? Who makes the Popemobile? And what's the deal with exorcisms, anyway? I don't need to tell you this would make a perfect gift this holiday season do I? I do? Well, then, there you are. Enjoy!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Respectful but Very Fun, February 12, 2006

By 

Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Be Pope: What to Do and Where to Go Once You're in the Vatican (Paperback)

What a fun little book this is! I came across it by accident, read it from cover to cover in less than an hour, and couldn't have had a more enjoyable time.

The conceit of the book is that the reader has just been elected pope. What are the essentials that a new pope with no background would have to know about being pope and living in Vatican City? Mr. Marchant has gathered together the basics (clothes, buildings of the Vatican, staff, rituals, duties, travel, recreation and much more) and outlined them in a pleasant, easy-to-read fashion.

As a Catholic, I was particular pleased that the book is completely factual and unoffensive. Unless you are bothered by the idea of imaging yourself as pope, there is nothing here but history, geography and a light touch. Nothing to get angry about. So read it and enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly Surprised, January 30, 2010

By 

L. Worthan - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Be Pope: What to Do and Where to Go Once You're in the Vatican (Paperback)

When I saw the title of this book, I expected it to be a book that was attacking my Church while "trying" to be funny. I have to say my expectations were proven to be wrong. It is a great little book that answers questions about the everyday life of the leader of my Church that I didn't even know I had! I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and was humbled. Kudos to the author.