About this item
"A heartwarming tale, which gives the papacy a human touch." -Christopher Lamb, Rome correspondent, The Tablet . "I give it one million stars!" - Luca, Mrs. Gilmans class, St. Margaret Mary School (Omaha, NE) . Meet Margaret - the Popes cat - in the very first book in this best-selling series by Jon M. Sweeney!. This is the story of a stray born on the Via della Conciliazione in Rome, how shes adopted by the Pope, and then "rules" the Vatican from museum to floorboard! First in a new series. No one has a closer view of whats happening in the worlds tiniest nation, Vatican City, than Margaret, the Popes new cat. But she wasnt always Margaret, and she wasnt always the Popes cat. She started out as a stray on the streets of Rome, and there are those in the Vatican who wish shed never been allowed inside. This fun, adorable new character will appeal to all kids! Here is a cat who does what she likes regardless of what others, even someone like the Pope, expects of her - even when the Queen of England comes on a state visit!. This new fiction series is intended for Catholic schools, elementary school teachers, Catholic librarians, superintendents of schools, reading specialists, educators, catechists, school principals, Catholic homeschoolers, and parents.
About the Author
Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and author of history, spirituality, poetry/mysticism, memoir, and young reader fiction. He's a popular interpreter of the life and work of Francis of Assisi, and author of more than 40 books including "St. Francis of Assisi," with a foreword by Richard Rohr, and "The Complete Francis of Assisi," used by Third Order Franciscans everywhere. HBO optioned the film rights to Sweeney's book on the medieval Pope Celestine V, "The Pope Who Quit." In 2020, the fourth book in his "The Pope's Cat" series for children appeared: "Margaret and the Pope Go to Assisi," and a new biography, "Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Catechist, Saint." In 2021, Jon published "Thomas Merton: An Introduction to His Life, Teachings, and Practices," with St. Martin's Press in print and ebook, and Penguin Random House Audio in audiobook; and "Feed the Wolf" in hardcover. He has been interviewed on CBS News, WGN-TV, Fox News, and CBS Saturday Morning, and by publications online ranging from CNN to Romper. He is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a congregational rabbi. Jon loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious." He is the father of four and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jon serves on the board of The Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Sacred Heart Seminary in greater Milwaukee. He works as an editor for Orbis Books and as contributing editor for books at SpiritualityandPractice.com.
