Holy See (Vatican City)
The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
ecclesiasticalIndependence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Holy See (Vatican City) as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 68 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Popes in their secular role ruled portions 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 Holy See 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 religious freedom, international development, the environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Geography
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
18 fieldsLand useshare of 0.44 sq km
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Climate Change
- signed, but not ratified:
- Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note
- landlocked;
- enclave in Rome, Italy;
- world's smallest state;
- beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)
People
10 fieldsGovernment
Ecclesiastical; Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005); Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006)
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)
Capital
- name:
- Vatican City
- geographic coordinates:
- 41 54 N, 12 27 E
- time difference:
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Independence
- 11 February 1929 (from Italy);
- note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent;
- however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
Constitution
new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
- head of government:
- Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006)
- cabinet:
- Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
- elections:
- pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
- election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope);
- secretary of state appointed by the pope
- election results:
- Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Judicial branch
there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946
International organization participation
CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WFTU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI
- chancery:
- 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 333-7121
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 337-4036
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mary Ann GLENDON
- embassy:
- Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
- mailing address:
- PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624
- telephone:
- [39] (06) 4674-3428
- FAX:
- [39] (06) 575-8346
Flag description
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band
Economy
11 fieldsEconomy - overview
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world; by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications.
Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Labor force - by occupation
note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
Industries
- printing;
- production of coins, medals, postage stamps;
- a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms;
- worldwide banking and financial activities
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- automatic digital exchange
- domestic:
- connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
- international:
- country code - 39; uses Italian system
Military
Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) (2007)
2 fieldsMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Holy See (Vatican City).” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/holy-see/2008.