| Holy See (Vatican City) |
|
![[Country Flag of Holy See (Vatican City)]](http://z.about.com/d/atheism/1/0/J/8/vt-flag.jpg)
|
Religion Around the World: Main Page |
||
![[Country map of Holy See (Vatican City)]](http://z.about.com/d/atheism/1/0/I/8/vt-map.jpg)
Holy See (Vatican City)
Background:
Popes in their secular role ruled much of the Italian peninsula, including Rome,
for about a thousand years, until 1870. A dispute between a series of popes and Italy
was settled in 1929 by treaties that recognized the Vatican City as an independent
sovereignty and gave Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. The US established
formal diplomatic relationships with the Vatican in 1984. Present issues in the Vatican
concern the ill health of Pope John Paul II, who turns 79 on 20 May 1999, inter-religious
dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid
change. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Roman Catholic faith.
[Top of Page]
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
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The 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 mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
[Top of Page]
Population: 870 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss, other
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
[Top of Page]
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)
Data code: VT
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital: Vatican City
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22 October (1978)
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since
2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last
held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary
of state appointed by the pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation:
IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 46741
FAX: [39] (06) 5758346, 57300682
Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
[Top of Page]
Economy - overview:
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known
as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage
stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications.
The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better
than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Budget:
revenues: $175.5 million
expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - production: 0 kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,688.7 (January 1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year: calendar year
[Top of Page]
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1996)
Televisions: NA
[Top of Page]
Railways:
total: 862 m; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station
narrow gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge
Highways: none; all city streets
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
[Top of Page]
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances
to the Vatican City
[Top of Page]
Disputes - international: none
Religion Around the World: Main Page
Source: CIA
Get weekly updates about what's new on the site and news from around the world:
|
|
|
|
|
|
