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Apr 1, 2016 · Rome, the Eternal City, is home to Vatican City, the 109-acre city-state run by the Catholic Church and the seat of Roman Catholicism. At St. Peter’s Basilica—or St. Peter’s Square if the ...
- Jackie Snow
As governed by the Holy See, Vatican City State is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various origins.
The Centre of Christianity since the foundation of Saint Peter’s Basilica by Constantine (4th century), and at a later stage the permanent seat of the Popes, the Vatican is at once the pre-eminently holy city for Catholics, an important archaeological site of the Roman world and one of the major cultural reference points of both Christians ...
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- History
- Government
- Economy
- Demographics
- Foreign Relations
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Ancient origins
Even before the arrival of Christianity, it is supposed that this originally uninhabited part of Rome (the ager vaticanus) had long been considered sacred, or at least not available for habitation. The area was also the site of worship to the Phrygian goddess Cybele and her consort Attis during Roman times. Agrippina the Elder (14 B.C.E.-33 C.E.) drained the hill and environs and built her gardens there in the early first century C.E. Emperor Caligula (37-41 C.E.) started construction of a ci...
Earliest church
In 326 C.E., the first church, the Constantinian Basilica, was built over the site that is believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter, buried in a common cemetery on the spot. From then on the area started to become more populated, but mostly by common dwelling houses. A palace was constructed near the site of the basilica as early as the fifth century during the pontificate of Pope Symmachus(reigned 498-514). Popes in their secular role gradually came to govern neighboring regions and, through t...
Papal holdings unresolved
In 1870, the Pope's holdings were left in an uncertain situation when Rome itself was annexed by the Piedmont-led forces which had united the rest of Italy. Between 1861 and 1929 the status of the Pope was referred to as the "Roman Question." The popes were undisturbed in their Vatican palace, and given certain recognition by the Law of Guarantees, including the right to send and receive ambassadors. But they did not recognize the Italian king's right to rule in Rome, and they refused to leav...
Political system
For historical reasons, the government of Vatican City has a unique structure. As noted, the principal figures are the Secretary of State, the President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State, and the Governor of Vatican City. These, like all other officials, are appointed by the Pope and can be dismissed by him at any time. During a papal vacancy, the Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, former Secretary of State, and former President of the Pontifical Commission form a com...
Church hierarchy
Prior to reforms made by Pope Paul VI(reigned 1963-1978), a large number of nobles existed within the government of the Vatican. A noble class still exists today and continues to form part of the papal court. The size of the papal court, however, had been reduced. All cardinals, however, continue to have the royal rank of "prince of the blood." The rank's royal character is a vestige of the temporal power of the popes who ruled the Papal States for more than a thousand years and, prior to the...
Administration
The Governor of Vatican City, sometimes known as the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City, has duties similar to those of a mayoror city executive, concentrating on material questions concerning the state's territory, including local security, but excluding external relations. Legislative power is vested in the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, led by a president. Members are cardinals appointed by the pope for terms of five years. The judicial functions are han...
The unique economy of Vatican City is supported financially by contributions (part of which is known as Peter's Pence) from Catholicsthroughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The Vatican City issues its own coins. It has used the euro as its currency since Jan...
Population and languages
Almost all of Vatican City's approximately 500 citizens either live inside the Vatican's walls or serve in the Vatican's diplomatic corps in embassies (called "nunciatures"; a papal ambassador is a "nuncio") around the world. The Vatican citizenry consists almost entirely of two groups: clergy working as officials of the Vatican as a state or of the Catholic Church; and the Swiss Guard. Most of the 3,000 lay workers who comprise the majority of the Vatican work force reside outside the Vatica...
Citizenship
Citizenship of Vatican City is conferred upon some of those who have been appointed to work in certain capacities at the Vatican, and it is usually revoked upon the termination of their employment. During the period of employment citizenship may also be extended to a Vatican citizen's spouse. Terms of citizenship are defined in the Lateran Treaty, and laws concerning the creation of the Vatican state in 1929 sought to restrict the number of people who could be granted Vatican citizenship. The...
Providing a territorial identity for the Holy See, Vatican City State is a recognized national territory under international law. However, it is the Holy See that is the legal body that conducts diplomatic relations for the Vatican City in addition to the Holy See's usual diplomacy, entering into international agreements and both receiving and send...
The Vatican City is itself of great cultural significance. Buildings such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are home to some of the most famous art in the world, which includes works by artists such as Botticelli, Bernini, and Michelangelo. The Vatican Library and the collections of the Vatican Museums are of the highest historical, sc...
Fox, Martha Capwell. Modern Nations of the World—The Vatican City. Lucent Books, 2005. ISBN 978-1590187333Lo Bello, Nino. The Incredible Book of Vatican Facts and Papal Curiosities. Grammercy, 1997. ISBN 0764801716Marchant, Piers. How to Be Pope: What to Do and Where to Go Once You're in the Vatican. Chronicle Books, 2005. ISBN 0811852210Roncalli, Francesco. Vatican City. Treasures Inc., 1996. ISBN 978-8886921077All links retrieved May 7, 2020. 1. The Holy See—The Vatican's Official Website 2. Vatican Museums 3. Vatican City 4. Vatican influence on the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other international agencies.
EN. The History of the Vatican City: From Origin to Today. The Vatican City, nestled in the heart of Rome, holds a unique and storied history that spans centuries. This independent city-state, the smallest in the world, is not only the spiritual epicenter of the Catholic Church but also a place of immense historical significance.
The basilica is considered one of the holiest shrines in the world, but it’s not the mother church of the Catholics nor the cathedral of the Roman Diocese. Importantly, the church is the burial site of Saint Peter, the main person among Jesus’s Apostles and the first bishop of Rome.
Dec 23, 2021 · 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.
