Holy See (Vatican City)
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)
ecclesiasticalIndependence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Holy See (Vatican City) as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 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 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 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, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Geography
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
18 fieldsClimate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
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
10 fieldsGovernment
Ecclesiastical
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
CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (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 (vacant) embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00162 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
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
15 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
Budget
revenues: $209.6 million expenditures: $198.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries
printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Exchange rates
- euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999);
- Vatican lire per US dollar - 2,099 (2000), 1817.2 (1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996);
- note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira;
- the Vatican will start using euros in 2002 in conjunction with Italy at a fixed rate of 1,936.17 lire per euro
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system
Transportation
6 fieldsMilitary
1 fieldMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Holy See (Vatican City).” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/holy-see/2001.