Holy See (Vatican City)

The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)

monarchical-sacerdotal stateIndependence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Holy See (Vatican City) as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 61 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalVatican City

Area0.44 sq km

LocationSouthern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

1995

Every edition of Holy See (Vatican City)

Populationas each edition published it

830 people July 1995 est. · 774 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.15% 1995 est. · 1.15% in 1993

Geography

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

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Land useshare of 0.44 sq km

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all · irrigated 0 sq km

Area

0.44sq km

land area: 0.44 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

3.2km

total · Italy 3.2 km

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Climate

temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Environment

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

13 fields

Population

830

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.15% (1995 est.)

Labor force

NA; by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican

Government

Monarchical-sacerdotal state; Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)

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Names

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)

National holiday

Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II) note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

Constitution

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch

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

Other political or pressure groups

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Member of

IAEA, ICFTU, INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN
chancery:: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 333-7121

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
embassy:: Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153
mailing address:: PSC 59, APO AE 09624
telephone:: [39] (6) 46741

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

7 fields

Budget

Revenues

$169 millionExpenditures

$167.5 million (1993)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

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.

Electricity

capacity:: 5,000 kW standby
production:: power supplied by Italy
consumption per capita:: NA kWh (1992)

Industries

printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Currency

1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates

Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,609.5 (January 1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990);
note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely