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 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 65 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

Position41 54 N, 12 27 E

Area0.44 sq km

LocationSouthern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

1997

Every edition of Holy See (Vatican City)

Populationas each edition published it

850 people July 1997 est. · 774 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.15% 1997 est. · 1.15% in 1993

Geography

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

18 fields

Land useshare of 0.44 sq km

forests and woodland 0%other 100% (urban area)arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · permanent pastures 0% in all · irrigated 0 sq km (1993)

Area

0.44sq km

land : 0.44 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

75m

unnamed locationlowest point : unnamed location 19 m

Land boundaries

3.2km

border countries: 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 - international agreements

party to:: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified :: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - 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

6 fields

Population

850

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.15% (1997 est.)

Government

Monarchical-sacerdotal state; Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)

19 fields

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)

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)
head of government:: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)
cabinet:: Pontifical Commission appointed by Pope
elections:: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope);
secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results:: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope

Political pressure groups and leaders

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation

IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Flag description

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 fields

Budget

Revenues

$175.5 millionExpenditures

$175 million (1994)

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.

Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1568.1 (January 1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992);
note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely