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.
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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: 249 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

Population: |  |
`832 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 235`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.004% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
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`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: none adjective: none`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Italians, Swiss, other`
Religions: |  |
`Roman Catholic`
Languages: |  |
`Italian, Latin, French, various other languages`
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 theWorld 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: |  |
`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 Archbishop Pietro SAMBI 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 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)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`5,120 (2005) country comparison to the world: 211`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: automatic digital exchange domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network international: country code - 39; uses Italian system`
Broadcast media: |  |
`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 (2008)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.va`
Internet hosts: |  |
`68 (2010) country comparison to the world: 208`

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`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011