2010 Edition

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 one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Area

land

0.44 sq km

total

0.44 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed elevation 75 m

lowest point

unnamed location 19 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to

Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

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)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

Italy 3.2 km

total

3.2 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (urban area) (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

none

Terrain

urban; low hill

Ethnic groups

Italians, Swiss, other

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Languages

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Literacy

definition: NA

female

100%

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

adjective

none

noun

none

Population

829 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.004% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

name

Vatican City

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

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

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Miguel Humberto DIAZ

embassy

Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome

FAX

[39] (06) 575-3411

mailing address

PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624

telephone

[39] (06) 4674-3428

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI

FAX

[1] (202) 337-4036

telephone

[1] (202) 333-7121

Executive branch

cabinet

Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)

election results

Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI

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

head of government

Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006)

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

Government type

ecclesiastical

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

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)

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

Legal system

based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

National anthem

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

name

"Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March)

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy; a small portion of electricity is self-produced from solar panels

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Industries

printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

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%

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)

Telephone system

domestic

connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network

general assessment

automatic digital exchange

international

country code - 39; uses Italian system

Telephones - main lines in use

5,120 (2005)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

Military branches

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

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 19, 2011 ======================================================================