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Introduction |
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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,
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.
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Geography |
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Location: |
Southern Europe, an
enclave of Rome (Italy)
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Geographic
coordinates: |
41 54 N, 12 27 E
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Map references: |
Europe
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Area: |
total: 0.44
sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Area -
comparative: |
about 0.7 times the
size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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Land boundaries: |
total: 3.2
km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km
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Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
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Climate: |
temperate; mild,
rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May
to September)
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Terrain: |
low hill
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Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
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Natural
resources: |
none
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Land use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2001)
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Irrigated land: |
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards: |
NA
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Environment -
current issues: |
NA
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Environment -
international agreements: |
party to:
none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental
Modification
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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
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People |
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Population: |
921 (July 2005
est.)
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Population
growth rate: |
0.01% (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult
prevalence rate: |
NA%
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HIV/AIDS -
people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA
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HIV/AIDS -
deaths: |
NA
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Nationality: |
noun: none
adjective: none
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Ethnic groups: |
Italians, Swiss,
other
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic
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Languages: |
Italian, Latin,
French, various other languages
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Literacy: |
definition:
NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
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Government |
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Country 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)
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Government type: |
ecclesiastical
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Capital: |
Vatican City
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Administrative
divisions: |
none
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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
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National
holiday: |
Coronation Day of
Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)
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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)
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Legal system: |
based on Code of
Canon Law and revisions to it
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Suffrage: |
limited to
cardinals less than 80 years old
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Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo
SODANO (since 1 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission 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
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Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
Pontifical Commission
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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
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Political
parties and leaders: |
none
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Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
none (exclusive of
influence exercised by church officers)
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International
organization participation: |
CE (observer), IAEA,
ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer),
WTO (observer)
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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
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Economy |
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Economy -
overview: |
This unique,
noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual
contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world
(known as Peter's Pence); 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.
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Labor force: |
NA
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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
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Population below
poverty line: |
NA%
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Household income
or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Budget: |
revenues:
$245.2 million
expenditures: $260.4 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2002)
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Industries: |
printing;
production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of
mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial
activities
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Electricity -
production: |
NA kWh
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Electricity -
consumption: |
NA kWh
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Electricity -
exports: |
0 kWh
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Electricity -
imports: |
NA kWh; note -
electricity supplied by Italy
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Currency (code): |
euro (EUR)
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Currency code: |
EUR
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Exchange rates: |
euros per US dollar
- 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),
1.0854 (2000)
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year
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Communications |
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Telephones -
main lines in use: |
NA
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Telephones -
mobile cellular: |
NA
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Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system
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Radio broadcast
stations: |
AM 3, FM 4,
shortwave 2 (1998)
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Radios: |
NA
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Television
broadcast stations: |
1 (1996)
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Televisions: |
NA
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Internet country
code: |
.va
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Internet hosts: |
9 (2004)
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Internet Service
Providers (ISPs): |
NA
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Internet users: |
NA
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Transportation |
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Highways: |
none; all city
streets
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Airports: |
none (2004 est.)
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Military |
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Military
branches: |
Pontifical Swiss
Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)
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Military note: |
defense is the
responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties
performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
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Transnational Issues |
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Disputes -
international: |
none
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