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 environment, the Middle East,
China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious
dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an
era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide
profess the Catholic faith.
Geography
Vatican City
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
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)
People
Vatican City
Population:
824 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.003% (2008 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%
Government
Vatican City
Country name:
conventional long form:
The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short
form: 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 for the State of Vatican City
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 for the State of Vatican City
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 Mary Ann GLENDON 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
Vatican City
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):
Labor force:
NA
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: $310 million
expenditures: $307 million (2006)
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
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.7345
(2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Vatican City
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:
20 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
93 (2000)
Military
Vatican City
Military branches:
Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo
della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) (2007)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility
of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical
Swiss Guard
