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 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Popes in their secular role ruled much of the Italian peninsula, including Rome, for more than a thousand years, until 1870. Disputes between a series of popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City out of the former Papal States and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Vatican 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 the failing health of Pope John Paul II, who turns 80 on 20 May 2000, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid change. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Geography
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
18 fieldsLand useshare of 0.44 sq km
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
7 fieldsGovernment
Monarchical-sacerdotal state; Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978); Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
18 fieldsCountry 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)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
- head of government:
- Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
- cabinet:
- Pontifical Commission appointed by the 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
International organization participation
IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele MONTALVO
- chancery:
- 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 333-7121
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS
- embassy:
- Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
- mailing address:
- PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
- telephone:
- [39] (06) 46741-3428
- FAX:
- [39] (06) 5758346, 57300682
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
16 fieldsEconomy - overview
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.
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
Industries
printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Exchange rates
- euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999);
- Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,688.7 (January 1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995);
- note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
automatic exchange
- domestic:
- tied into Italian system
- international:
- uses Italian system
Transportation
5 fieldsRailways
- total:
- 862 m; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station
- narrow gauge:
- 862 m 1.435-m gauge
Military
1 fieldMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Holy See (Vatican City).” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/holy-see/2000.