You? The next pope?

Learning about the church can be fun with "Vatican: The Board Game." Stephen Haliczer, a Northern Illinois University history professor, developed the game because he was amazed how little his adult Catholic students knew about the operations of the church. The popularity of fictional books like The Da Vinci Code also show that people are interested in the Vatican's inner workings, he says.

The goal of the game is to become the pope, but along the way, the players, or cardinals, face church politics. An "origins card" can help or hinder players from the start. Players have to build their reputations through good works; vie for offices, which are explained in a glossary; confront controversial issues; and use their influence in the conclave.