Robert Hutchinson decided in 1996 to take his family to live in Rome for a year so he could explore the secrets of the Vatican. This is the journal of his Roman sojourn. As he settles in, Hutchinson discovers the many delights and frustrations of life in Rome, and slowly begins his exploration into the lesser known and hallowed portals of the Vatican. He relates stories of papal mistresses, the discovery and subsequent loss of St Peter's bones, the secret (and unkempt) archives, weird relics, money laundering at the Vatican Bank, the silent and simplistic bureaucracy at the hub of this worldwide church, and even advice on how you get to be a cardinal - or a pope. Despite the scandals and the shortcomings, he remains ultimately respectful to a church which has survived two millennia.
- ISBN10 0002740370
- ISBN13 9780002740371
- Publish Date 7 February 2000 (first published 6 April 1999)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 4 October 2004
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
- Edition New edition
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 304
- Language English
- URL http://harpercollins.co.uk