the best beat in journalism

I am convinced that the Roman Catholic Church, and especially the Vatican, is the best beat in journalism. It combines ritual, mystery, and romance with the deepest concerns of human life and religious faith and the real-world political impact of a major global institution. There is no region of human concern that is alien to the Holy See, from land-mines and the Iraq war to genetic engineering to religious pluralism. I am deeply grateful to all who make it possible for me to watch the world through this particular window, and I hope something of my passion and fascination finds an echo in these pages.

John L. Allen Jr., The Rise of Benedict XVI, pg. 13.