Vatican City
Vatican City, officially known as the Vatican City State (Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano; Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae), is a sovereign city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. It is the smallest independent state in the world by both area (44 hectares or 110 acres)[1] and population (approximately 882 as of 2024).[2] Governed by the Holy See, Vatican City is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the Pope, who serves as the head of state and the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church.[3] The city-state was established in its current form by the Lateran Treaty of 1929, which resolved the "Roman Question" by granting the Holy See sovereignty over a defined territory.[4]
Vatican City is the spiritual and administrative center of the Catholic Church, housing significant religious and cultural landmarks such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.[5] It serves as the residence of the Pope and the seat of the Roman Curia, the central governing body of the Catholic Church. The city-state is renowned for its unique economy, supported by donations, tourism, and the sale of postage stamps, coins, and publications, and for its role as a global diplomatic entity.[6]
History
The history of Vatican City is intertwined with the development of the Catholic Church. The area, originally part of the Ager Vaticanus in ancient Rome, became significant with the construction of a basilica over Saint Peter’s tomb in the 4th century under Constantine the Great.[7] By the 8th century, the Papal States emerged, granting the papacy temporal power over central Italy.[8] The Papal States were annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in 1870, confining the papacy to a small area in Rome.[9] The Lateran Treaty of 1929, signed with the Italian government under Benito Mussolini, established Vatican City as an independent state, restoring the temporal sovereignty of the Holy See.[4]
Government and Politics
Vatican City operates as an absolute elective monarchy, with the Pope exercising legislative, executive, and judicial powers.[3] The Holy See, distinct from Vatican City, is the entity responsible for the spiritual and administrative governance of the Catholic Church.[10] The day-to-day administration of Vatican City is managed by the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, led by a president who acts as the de facto head of government.[11] All high-ranking officials are Catholic clergy. The legal system is based on canon law, supplemented by Italian laws where applicable.[12]
Geography and Demographics
Located on Vatican Hill, Vatican City is a walled enclave on the west bank of the Tiber River in Rome.[13] Its 44-hectare territory is surrounded by medieval and Renaissance walls, with St. Peter’s Square forming its southeastern boundary.[1] The population, estimated at 882 in 2024, includes clergy, religious, and lay employees, primarily engaged in ecclesiastical or administrative roles.[2] The city has no permanent residents, and citizenship is tied to employment or ecclesiastical office.[14]
Economy
The economy of Vatican City is unique, relying on donations from Catholics worldwide (known as Peter’s Pence), revenue from the Vatican Museums, sales of postage stamps, coins, and publications, and other minor sources.[6] The city-state has no taxes, and goods are duty-free. It uses the euro as its currency under an agreement with the European Union.[15] Vatican City employs approximately 4,822 people, and its financial operations are supported by subsidies from Italy, including free water supply and tax exemptions.[6]
Culture and Landmarks
Vatican City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its unparalleled collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces.[5] Key landmarks include:
- St. Peter’s Basilica: The largest church in the world, built over the tomb of Saint Peter, designed by architects including Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini.[16]
- Sistine Chapel: Famous for Michelangelo’s frescoes, including The Last Judgment.[17]
- Vatican Museums: Housing extensive collections of art and historical artifacts, including the Raphael Rooms.[18]
- Apostolic Palace: The official residence of the Pope, containing papal apartments and administrative offices.[19]
The city also maintains its own postal service, radio station, newspaper (L’Osservatore Romano), and the Swiss Guard, responsible for the Pope’s security since 1506.[20]
Catholic Churches in Vatican City
Vatican City, as the heart of the Catholic Church, contains a small number of churches, all of which are Catholic and under the jurisdiction of the Holy See. Below is a comprehensive list of Catholic churches within Vatican City’s territory:
- St. Peter’s Basilica – The principal church of Vatican City and one of the holiest sites in Christendom, built in the 16th–17th centuries over the tomb of Saint Peter. It serves as a major pilgrimage site and the location for significant papal liturgies.[16]
- Church of Saint Anne in the Vatican – Located near St. Anne’s Gate, this is the official parish church of Vatican City. Completed in 1583 by architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, it features an elliptical design with eight side chapels and Baroque decorations.[21]
- Church of Santa Maria Madre della Famiglia – A 20th-century church located in the gardens west of St. Peter’s Basilica, constructed during the Fascist era as part of the Governatorato complex. It serves as a chapel for Vatican employees and visitors.[22]
No additional Catholic churches are documented within the boundaries of Vatican City.[23] Other chapels, such as those within the Apostolic Palace (e.g., the Sistine Chapel or the Redemptoris Mater Chapel), are not classified as standalone churches but as private chapels for papal or curial use.[17][19]
International Relations
The Holy See, not Vatican City, conducts international relations, maintaining diplomatic ties with 180 states and participating in international organizations like the United Nations (as a non-member observer state).[24] The Holy See’s sovereignty predates Vatican City, rooted in its status as a juridical entity since the 1st century.[10] Vatican City’s territory provides the Holy See with independence to exercise its universal authority.[24]
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vatican City". https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Vatican City State". https://www.vaticanstate.va/en/state.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Robbers, Gerhard (2007). Encyclopedia of World Constitutions. Facts on File. p. 1005. ISBN 978-0816060788.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Lateran Treaty". https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/archivio/documents/rc_seg-st_19290211_patti-lateranensi_en.html.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Vatican City". https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/286.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Duursma, Jorri C. (1996). Fragmentation and the International Relations of Micro-States. Cambridge University Press. p. 233. ISBN 978-0521563604.
- ↑ Chadwick, Owen (1998). A History of the Popes 1830–1914. Oxford University Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0198269229.
- ↑ "History of the Papal States". https://www.britannica.com/topic/Papal-States.
- ↑ Mann, Horace K. (1925). The Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages. Kegan Paul. p. 123.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The Holy See". https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en/holy-see.html.
- ↑ "Governance of Vatican City". https://www.vaticanstate.va/en/governance.html.
- ↑ O’Malley, John W. (2010). A History of the Popes. Sheed & Ward. p. 307. ISBN 978-1580512299.
- ↑ "Vatican City Geography". https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/vatican-city/.
- ↑ "Citizenship in Vatican City". https://www.vaticanstate.va/en/citizenship.html.
- ↑ "Monetary Agreement between the EU and Vatican City". https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/euro-area/euro/vatican-city_en.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "St. Peter’s Basilica". https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/en/storia.htm.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Sistine Chapel". https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/cappella-sistina.html.
- ↑ "Vatican Museums". https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Apostolic Palace". https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en/holy-see/apostolic-palace.html.
- ↑ "Swiss Guard". https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/index.htm.
- ↑ "Church of Saint Anne in the Vatican". https://www.vaticanstate.va/en/monuments/church-of-saint-anne.html.
- ↑ "Church of Santa Maria Madre della Famiglia". https://www.vaticanstate.va/en/monuments/church-of-santa-maria.html.
- ↑ "Churches & Cathedrals in Vatican City". https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187793-Activities-c47-t175-Vatican_City_Lazio.html.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Diplomatic Relations of the Holy See". https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20000626_diplomatic-relations_en.html.