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  Holy See (Vatican City)  
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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Holy See (Vatican City)
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
urban; low hill
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Climate Change
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
821 (July 2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0% (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Italians, Swiss, other
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
   Government    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
ecclesiastical
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
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
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
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
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
CE (observer), CPLP (associate), IAEA, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Francis ROONEY; note - will be replaced by Mary Ann GLENDON
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) 575-8346
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world; 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $310 million
expenditures: $307 million (2006)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,120 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: automatic digital exchange
domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2005)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.va
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
93 (2000)

   Military    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
   Transnational Issues    Holy See (Vatican City) Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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