The Global Vatican: An Inside Look at the Catholic Church, World Politics, and the Extraordinary Relationship Between the United States and the Holy See

This is Rooney's account of his years (2005–08) as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, coupled with lessons in the history of the Catholic Church, particularly in relation to America. In his first, historical, section, Rooney discusses the church's impact over the course of time and its major players. One focus, for example, is the colony of Maryland's John Carroll, who became America's first Roman Catholic bishop. The author goes on to observe that "the more Catholic that America became, the greater the distance between its shores and the Holy See." Rooney next addresses how the Vatican and the United States, both considered world superpowers in different ways in the 20th century, were able to come together to achieve common aims and learn from each other. It was only in 1984 that the States formally established diplomatic relations with the Vatican. Rooney gives readers an understanding of the Holy See's significance socially, culturally, politically—and especially diplomatically—around the globe.