|
Home
Missions
Ministries
Bible
Institute & School
Contact
Us
Careers,
Opportunities in Ministry
|
Background:
|
 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
Middle East, terrorism, the failing health of Pope John Paul
II, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the
application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and
globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the
Catholic faith. |
|
Location:
|
Southern Europe,
an enclave of Rome (Italy) |
|
Map references:
|
Europe |
|
Area:
|
total:
0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
about 0.7 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 3.2
km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km |
|
Coastline:
|
0 km (landlocked) |
|
Climate:
|
temperate; mild,
rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers
(May to September) |
|
Terrain:
|
low hill |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
none |
|
Land use:
|
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
0 sq km (1998
est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
NA |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
NA |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to:
none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental
Modification |
|
Geography - note:
|
urban;
landlocked; enclave in 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 |
|
Population:
|
921 (July 2004
est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.01% (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
NA% |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: none
adjective: none |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Italians, Swiss,
other |
|
Religions:
|
Roman Catholic |
|
Languages:
|
Italian, Latin,
French, various other languages |
|
Literacy:
|
definition:
NA
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA% |
|
Country name:
|
conventional
long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del
Vaticano) |
|
Government type:
|
ecclesiastical |
|
Capital:
|
Vatican City |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
none |
|
Independence:
|
11 February 1929
(from Italy)
note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed
with Italy which, among other things, acknowledged 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 |
|
National holiday:
|
Coronation Day of
Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978) |
|
Constitution:
|
Apostolic
Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968) |
|
Legal system:
|
based on Code of
Canon Law and revisions to it |
|
Suffrage:
|
limited to
cardinals less than 80 years old |
|
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 |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral
Pontifical Commission |
|
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 Pius XII on 1 May 1946 |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
none |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
none (exclusive
of influence exercised by church officers) |
|
International organization participation:
|
CE (observer),
IAEA, ICFTU, 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 Gabriel MONTALVO
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008 |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief of
mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON
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) 5758346 |
|
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 - overview:
|
This unique,
noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual
contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the
world, as well as by special collections (known as Peter's
Pence); the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist
mementos; fees for admission to museums; and 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. |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
NA% |
|
Labor force:
|
NA |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
essentially
services with a small amount of industry; note - dignitaries,
priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the
Vatican |
|
Budget:
|
revenues:
$245.2 million
expenditures: $260.4 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2002) |
|
Industries:
|
printing;
production of coins, medals, postage stamps, a small amount of
mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial
activities |
|
Electricity - production:
|
NA kWh |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
NA kWh |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
none |
|
Currency:
|
euro (EUR) |
|
Currency code:
|
EUR |
|
Exchange rates:
|
euros per US
dollar - 0.886 (2003),1.1324 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
NA |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
NA |
|
Telephone system:
|
general
assessment: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 3, FM 4,
shortwave 2 (1998) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
1 (1996) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.va |
|
Internet users:
|
NA |
|
Railways:
|
total:
0.86 km
standard gauge: 0.86 km 1.435-m gauge
note: a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving
Rome's Saint Peter's station (2001 est.) |
|
Highways:
|
none; all city
streets |
|
Waterways:
|
none |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
none |
|
Airports:
|
none (2003 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Swiss Guards
Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera) |
|
Military - 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 |
|
Disputes - international:
|
none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
|