Holy See (Vatican City)

• landlocked;
• an 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)

noun:

none

adjective:

none

0-14 years:

NA

15-24 years:

NA

25-54 years:

NA

55-64 years:

NA

65 years and over:

NA

total dependency ratio:

NA

youth dependency ratio:

NA

elderly dependency ratio:

NA

potential support ratio:

NA

improved:

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

improved:

urban: NA

rural:

NA

total:

NA

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural:

NA

total:

NA

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

party to:

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

urban population:

100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

conventional long form:

The Holy See (Vatican City State)

conventional short form:

Holy See (Vatican City)

local long form:

La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)

local short form:

Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

etymology:

• "holy" comes from the Greek word "hera" meaning "sacred";
• "see" comes from the Latin word "sedes" meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair;
• the term "Vatican" derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin "vaticinari" (to prophesy), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times

• 11 February 1929;
• note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent;
• however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to A.D. 754

history:

• previous 1929, 1963;
• latest promulgated November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, the main governing document of the Vatican's civil entities);
• the Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus – the departments and ministries – used by the pontiff in governing the church;
• note - Pope Francis in October 2013, instituted a 9-member Council of Cardinal Advisers to reform the Roman Curia to include writing a new constitution;
• in June 2018, Pope Francis approved the Council of Cardinals' first draft of the new constitution, Predicatae Evangelium (Preach the Gospel);
• it became effective 5 June 2022, replacing Pastor Bonus , the previous governing document of the Roman Curia

amendments:

• note - although the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State makes no mention of amendments, Article Four (drafting laws), states that this legislative responsibility resides with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State;
• draft legislation is submitted through the Secretariat of State and considered by the pope

chief of state:

Pope FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013)

head of government:

President of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City and President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State is Fernando VERGEZ ALZAGA (since 1 October 2021)

cabinet:

Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope

elections/appointments:

• pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation;
• election last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope);
• Secretary of State appointed by the pope

election results:

2013: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, elected Pope FRANCIS

description:

unicameral Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City or Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano (7 seats; the president of the Governorate of Vatican City State and 6 cardinals appointed by the pope to serve 5-year terms)

elections:

last held on 11 July 2018

election results:

composition - men 7, women 0

highest court(s):

• Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura);
• note - judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946;
• most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts

judge selection and term of office:

cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis

subordinate courts:

Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City

chief of mission:

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016)

chancery:

3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 333-7121

FAX:

[1] (202) 337-4036

email address and website:

[email protected]; http://www.nuntiususa.org/

chief of mission:

Ambassador Joe DONNELLY (since 11 April 2022)

embassy:

Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome

mailing address:

5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC 20521-5660

telephone:

[39] (06) 4674-1

FAX:

[39] (06) 4674-3411

email address and website:

https://va.usembassy.gov/

• 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;
• the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power

name:

"Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn

lyrics/music:

Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD

note: adopted 1950

total World Heritage Sites:

2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City

• printing;
• production of coins, medals, postage stamps;
• mosaics, staff uniforms;
• worldwide banking and financial activities

• the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's Sunday and Wednesday audiences, as well as the Pope's public celebrations;
• CTV also produces documentaries;
• Vatican Radio is the Holy See's official broadcasting service broadcasting via shortwave, AM and FM frequencies, and via satellite and Internet connections;
• Vatican News website partners with Vatican Radio and provides Catholic news provided by the Vatican (2021)

• the Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the world's oldest libraries, formally established in 1475, but actually much older;
• it holds a significant collection of historic texts including 1.1 million printed books and 75,000 codices (manuscript books with handwritten contents);
• it serves as a research library for history, law, philosophy, science, and theology;
• the library's collections have been described as "the world's greatest treasure house of the writings at the core of Western tradition"

• the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) serves as the de facto military force of Vatican City;
• the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City (Corpo della Gendarmeriais) is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2022)

note: the Swiss Guard Corps has protected the Pope and his residence since 1506

Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps:

• 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service;
• no conscription;
• must be a single Roman Catholic male with Swiss citizenship who has completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain a certificate of good conduct;
• qualified candidates must apply to serve;
• the service contract is between 2 and 25 years (2022)