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Vaticanology is a term coined in the 20th century to describe thefield of journalism and research studying and reporting about how theHoly See and theRoman Catholic Church operate. It is named after theVatican City, the Holy See's sovereign territoryenclaved withinRome,Italy. Particular emphasis tend to be placed on the selection and appointment mechanisms by which the Church's leadership emerges.
A journalist or scholar focusing on this area of expertise is sometimes referred to as a Vaticanologist, Vaticanist, or Vatican watcher.
It owes its origins to the termKremlinologist, which was used to describe media, academic and commentary experts who followed the function of theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union in general and the functioning and selection of the leadership elite in particular. Both theKremlin and the Holy See operated in a great degree of secrecy and mystery, hence the attention paid to "experts" who were presumed to be able to read subtle nuances indicating who was on the "way up", who was on the "way down" and who were the "ones to watch" within their leadership elites.
Famous Vaticanologists include the author and commentatorPeter Hebblethwaite, who wrote biographies of (among others)Pope John XXIII andPope Paul VI, as well as a best-selling account of the events of 1978 inYear of Three Popes.Robert Blair Kaiser was a noted contributor in the field, who did much reporting on theSecond Vatican Council forTIME. For the2005 papal conclave, the firstpapal conclave in the age of the continuous news cycle and the Internet, many Vaticanologists became prominent through their wide dissemination both on television and in online publications.Blogs have become a popular means for amateur Vatican watchers to share their thoughts and insights.