The Pope

Useful information for playing VATICAN The Board Game

Derived from the Greek word for “father” (pappas), the title of pope was originally applied to any priest or bishop. In Western Christianity, it gradually became associated exclusively with the bishop of Rome. It is from his position as bishop of Rome, one of the main pillars of early Christ- ianity, that the pope derives his primacy in the Church.

On the world stage, the pope is recognized as one of the world’s greatest religious and moral leaders and also plays an important political role. The key role played by Pope John Paul II in the destruction of Poland’s communist regime and the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe is just one recent example of the political power of the modern papacy.

After a pope dies, a new one is elected by the College of Cardinals who meet in the Sistine Chapel. This election is run according to procedures set forth in 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

By playing VATICAN The Board Game,  you can learn a great deal about the process of electing a new pope.