Dan Brown’s book, the Da Vinci Code, has got nothing on Dr.
Stephen Haliczer’s game, Vatican: The Board Game.
In a game that will test your theological and doctrincal knowledge, players attempt to reach the top of the Vatican to be ordained as Pope.
The game takes events from the previous papal term, with strange and bizarre circumstances, and tests the players currently at cardinal level, who aspire to the top job.
Moral and theological issues are tackled, including contraception, celibacy, stem cell research, theological censorship, and the politics of beatification.
Jucier aspects like the sin of gluttony and temptation, represented by a banquet dinner with cannelloni, also appear.
The website for the game describes it thus:Vatican is a fascinating way for all to understand a central point of Catholic identity, and will appeal to a wide variety of audiences, whatever their religious preferences… It is sophisticated, filled with nuance that makes replays as enjoyable as the first time you play it.
For teachers, it’s a powerful educational tool – for a gathering of friends, it’s a stimulating experience.
Vatican, historically accurate, is more compelling than the depictions of the Catholic Church in popular culture.
Reality and truth are always more interesting than fiction.
For more information, you can also go to the dedicated Facebook Vatican game page.