Introduction
Background
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, sexual misconduct by clergy, international development, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.2 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism - the world's largest Christian faith.
Geography
Location
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Area (sq km)
total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
about 0.7 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
total: 3.4 km
border countries: Italy 3.4 km
Coastline (km)
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain
urban; low hill
Elevation extremes (m)
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 75 m
Natural resources
none
Land use (%)
arable land:
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
0 sq km (2011)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Environment - international agreements
party to: Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note
landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)
People and Society
Nationality
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups (%)
Italians, Swiss, other
Languages (%)
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Religions (%)
Roman Catholic
Population
842 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Population growth rate (%)
0% (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 100% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government
Country name
conventional long form: The Holy See (Vatican City State)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Government type
ecclesiastical
Capital
name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions
none
Independence
11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to 754
National holiday
Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)
Constitution
previous 1929, 1963; latest adopted 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (Fundamental Law by Pope JOHN PAUL II); note - Pope Francis in October 2013 appointed a group of cardinals to revise the constitution (2013)
Legal system
religious legal system based on canon (religious) law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage
election of the pope is limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch
chief of state: Pope FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013)
head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Pietro PAROLIN (since 15 October 2013); note - previous Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE will remain as Camerlengo, a position he has held since 4 April 2007
cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life, or until voluntary resignation, by the College of Cardinals; election last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope); Secretary of State appointed by the pope
election results: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO elected Pope FRANCIS
Legislative branch
unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura)
note - judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946; note 2: most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts
judge selection and term of office: cardinal prefect appointed by the Pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis
subordinate courts: Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation
CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Carlo Maria VIGANO (since 16 November 2011)
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth F. HACKETT (since 20 August 2013)
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: Unit 5660, Box 66, DPO AE 09624-0066
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346
Flag description
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power
National symbol(s)
crossed keys
National anthem
name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn
lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
note: adopted 1950
Economy
Economy - overview
The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources, including investments, real estate income, and donations from Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions; these help fund the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and media outlets. Moreover, an annual collection taken up in dioceses and from direct donations go to a non-budgetary fund, known as Peter's Pence, which is used directly by the Pope for charity, disaster relief, and aid to churches in developing nations. Donations increased between 2010 and 2011. The separate Vatican City State budget includes the Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by publication sales. Its revenues increased between 2010 and 2011 because of expanded opening hours and a growing number of visitors. However, the Holy See has not escaped the financial difficulties engulfing other European countries; in 2012 it started a spending review to determine where to cut costs to reverse its 2011 budget deficit of 15 million euros. Most public expenditures go to wages and other personnel costs; the incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$NA
Labor force
2,832 (December 2011)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
Population below poverty line (%)
NA%
Budget
revenues: $308 million
expenditures: $326.4 million (2011)
Industries
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Exchange rates
Currency converter
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7634 (2013 est.)
0.7752 (2012 est.)
0.755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Communications
Telephone system
general assessment: automatic digital exchange
domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system (2012)
Broadcast media
the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's Sunday and Wednesday audiences, as well as the Pope's public celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the Holy See's official broadcasting service broadcasting via shortwave, AM and FM frequencies, and via satellite and Internet connections (2008)
Internet country code
.va
Internet hosts
107 (2012)
Military
Military branches
Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) (2013)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia): 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; must be Roman Catholic, a Swiss citizen, with a secondary education (2013)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Largest cities of Holy See (Vatican City)
These are the 50 largest cities of Holy See (Vatican City) ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|