2012 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 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Area

0.44 sq km 0.44 sq km 0 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

unnamed location 19 m unnamed elevation 75 m

highest point

unnamed elevation 75 m

lowest point

unnamed location 19 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

Ozone Layer Protection Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

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

3.2 km Italy 3.2 km

border countries

Italy 3.2 km

total

3.2 km

Land use

0% 0% 100% (urban area) (2005)

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

age 15 and over can read and write 100% 100% 100%

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100%

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

none none

adjective

none

noun

none

Population

836 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

0.004% (2012 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic

Urbanization

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

rate of urbanization

0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Vatican City 41 54 N, 12 27 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaced the first Fundamental Law of 1929)

Country name

The Holy See (Vatican City State) Holy See (Vatican City) Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

conventional long form

The Holy See (Vatican City State)

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

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mario MESQUITA Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624 [39] (06) 4674-3428 [39] (06) 575-3411

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mario MESQUITA

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

Apostolic Nuncio Carlo Maria VIGANO 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 333-7121 [1] (202) 337-4036

chancery

3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Apostolic Nuncio Carlo Maria VIGANO

FAX

[1] (202) 337-4036

telephone

[1] (202) 333-7121

Executive branch

Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005) Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006) Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope 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 Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI

cabinet

Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope

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 Holy See 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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), 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 judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946

Legal system

religious legal system based on canon (religious) law

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

National anthem

"Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD adopted 1950

lyrics/music

Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD

name

"Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

crossed keys

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

Budget

$308 million $326.4 million (2011)

expenditures

$326.4 million (2011)

revenues

$308 million

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. Moreover, an annual collection taken up in dioceses and from 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. Donations increased between 2010 and 2011. 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. Its revenues increased between 2010 and 2011 because of expanded opening hours and a growing number of visitors. However, the Holy See has not escaped the financial difficulties engulfing other European countries; in 2012 it started a spending review to determine where to cut costs to reverse its 2011 budget deficit of 15 million euros. Most public expenditures go to wages and other personnel costs; the incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Labor force

2,832 (December 2011) (December 2011)

Labor force - by occupation

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

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

107 (2012)

Telephone system

automatic digital exchange connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network country code - 39; uses Italian system

domestic

connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network

general assessment

automatic digital exchange

international

country code - 39; uses Italian system

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