Holy See (Vatican City)
monarchical-sacerdotal stateIndependence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Holy See (Vatican City) as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 84 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy
22 fieldstotal area
0.44 sq km
land area
0.44 sq km
comparative area
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
arable land
0%
permanent crops
0%
meadows and pastures
0%
forest and woodland
0%
other
100%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
NA
international agreements
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Note
- urban;
- landlocked;
- enclave of Rome, Italy;
- world's smallest state;
- outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
People
18 fieldsnoun
none
adjective
none
total population
NA%
male
NA%
female
NA%
by occupation
dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Government
Monarchical-sacerdotal state
30 fieldsconventional 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)
note
Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
chief of state
- Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978);
- election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope);
- results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals
head of government
Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)
cabinet
Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope
Member of
CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
chief of mission
Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN
chancery
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
chief of mission
Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
embassy
Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome
mailing address
PSC 59, APO AE 09624
Flag
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
Economy
10 fieldsOverview
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
revenues
$86 million
expenditures
$178 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
capacity
5,000 kW standby
production
power supplied by Italy
consumption per capita
NA (1992)
Industries
printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Exchange rates
- Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,700.2 (January 1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989);
- note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Communications
3 fieldsTelecommunications
- broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, no TV;
- 2,000-line automatic telephone exchange;
- no communications satellite systems
Defense Forces
1 fieldNote
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Holy See (Vatican City).” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/holy-see/1994.