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, international development, the Middle East, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Location
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
0.44 sq km
land
0.44 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total
3.2 km
border countries
Italy 3.2 km
Coastline
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
lowest point
unnamed location 19 m
highest point
unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources
none
Land use
arable land
0%
permanent crops
0%
other
100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Environment - international agreements
party to
Climate Change
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)
Population
821 (July 2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0% (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
none
adjective
none
Ethnic groups
Italians, Swiss, other
Religions
Roman Catholic
Languages
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Literacy
definition
NA
total population
100%
male
100%
female
100%
Country name
conventional long form
The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form
Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form
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 Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
National holiday
Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)
Constitution
new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
Legal system
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
Suffrage
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch
chief of state
Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
head of government
Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006)
cabinet
Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections
pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results
Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Legislative branch
unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch
there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See
note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation
CE (observer), CPLP (associate), IAEA, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI
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 Francis ROONEY
embassy
Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address
PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624
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
Economy - overview
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world; by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. 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
NA
Labor force - by occupation
note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
Population below poverty line
NA%
Budget
revenues
$247 million
expenditures
$243 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005)
Industries
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption
NA kWh
Electricity - imports
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid - recipient
$0
Currency (code)
euro (EUR)
Currency code
EUR
Exchange rates
euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
5,120 (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
automatic digital exchange
domestic
connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
international
country code - 39; uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations
AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)
Radios
NA
Television broadcast stations
1 (2005)
Televisions
NA
Internet country code
.va
Internet hosts
45 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
NA
Internet users
93 (2000)
Military branches
Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Disputes - international
none
Sorry, No data available for this section.
Military branches
Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
