Holy See (Vatican City)

Holy See (Vatican City)

Introduction

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 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 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Geography

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 0.44 sq km
country comparison to the world: 250 land:0.44 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

about 0.7 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 3.2 km
border countries:Italy 3.2 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

temperate

mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain

urban

low hill

Elevation extremes

lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point:unnamed elevation 75 m

Natural resources

none

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (urban area) (2005)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

NA

Environment – international agreements

party to: Ozone Layer Protection
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 and Society

Nationality

noun: none
adjective:none

Ethnic groups

Italians, Swiss, other

Languages

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Religions

Roman Catholic

Population

832 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 236

Population growth rate

0.004% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Literacy

[definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:100%
male:100%
female:100%

Government

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)

Government type

ecclesiastical

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

Administrative divisions

none

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 centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to 754

National holiday

Election Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 19 April (2005)

Constitution

Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaced the first Fundamental Law of 1929)

Legal system

religious legal system based on canon (religious) law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals

election last held on 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

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

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, papal directive, of Pope 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, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio (vacant)

Charge d'Affaires Monsignor Jean-Francois LANTHEAUME
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 Miguel Humberto DIAZ
embassy:Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address:PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone:[39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX:[39] (06) 575-3411

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

the yellow color represents the pope’s spiritual power, the white his worldly power

National symbol(s)

crossed keys

National anthem

name: “Inno e Marcia Pontificale” (Hymn and Pontifical March)
lyrics/music:Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
note:adopted 1950

although used as such, “Inno e Marcia Pontificale” is not officially a national anthem but rather a hymn meant to appeal to Roman Catholics throughout the world

Economy

Economy – overview

The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources, including investments, real estate income, and donations from Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions

these help fund the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and media outlets. The separate Vatican City State budget includes the Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos

by fees for admission to museums

and by publications sales. Moreover, an annual collection taken up in dioceses and direct donations go to a non-budgetary fund known as Peter’s Pence, which is used directly by the Pope for charity, disaster relief, and aid to churches in developing nations. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Labor force

NA

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Budget

revenues: $355.5 million
expenditures:$356.8 million (2008)

Industries

printing

production of coins, medals, postage stamps

mosaics and staff uniforms

worldwide banking and financial activities

Electricity – production

NA kWh

Electricity – consumption

NA kWh

Electricity – imports

NA kWh

note – electricity supplied by Italy

a small portion of electricity is self-produced from solar panels

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Military

Military branches

Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) (2010)

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of Italy

ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none