The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to Vatican City:
Vatican City – an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state, being the sovereign territory of the Holy See and ruled by the Bishop of Rome—the Pope, the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. The territory of this landlocked sovereign city-state consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of just over 800. This makes Vatican City the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population.
Vatican City is:A walled enclave within the city of RomeA sovereign city-stateA European microstateLand boundaries: Italy 3.2 kmCoastline: nonePopulation: 824 (2008) - 220thSize: 0.44 square kilometres (0.17 sq mi) - 234th largest countryAtlas of Vatican CityVatican City is situated within the following regions:Eastern HemisphereNorthern HemisphereEurasiaEuropeSouthern EuropeItalian PeninsulaSurrounded by ItalySurrounded by LazioSurrounded by RomeTime zone: Central European Time (UTC+01), Central European Summer Time (UTC+02)Extreme points of Vatican CityHigh: unnamed location 75 m (246 ft)Low: Saint Peter's Square 33 m (108 ft)Climate of Vatican CityEcoregions in Vatican City: noneProtected areas of Vatican City: noneVatican City is an enclave in an urban area, and lacks the geographic features common to (much larger) countries:
Lakes: noneMountains: noneRivers: noneValleys: noneWorld Heritage Sites in Vatican City: Vatican City is itself a World Heritage SiteNoneVatican City is inside Rome, which in turn lies within the Lazio region of Italy.Vatican City lies next to the Borgo district in Rome.NoneVatican City has no administrative divisions.Demographics of Vatican City
Government and politics of Vatican City
Politics of Vatican City
Form of government: Ecclesiastical; sacerdotal-monarchical; absolute monarchy; elective monarchy; elective theocracy (disputed application).Capital: Vatican CityAssociation of Vatican Lay WorkersElections in Vatican CityPolitical parties in Vatican City: none. Vatican City is in the jurisdiction of the Holy See, which has absolute authority over it.Political scandals of Vatican CityBanco AmbrosianoGone with the Wind in the VaticanRoman QuestionVatican Secret ArchivesHead of state: Pope, currently Mario Bergoglio as Pope FrancisHead of government: President of the Governatorate of Vatican City, Giuseppe BertelloGovernatorate of Vatican CityAbsolute legislative authority: Pope, currently Pope FrancisSecretariat of StatePontifical Commission for Vatican City StatePresident of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State: Giovanni LajoloLaws passed by the Commission must be approved by the pope through the Secretariat of State prior to being published and taking effect.Absolute judicial authority: Pope, currently Pope FrancisSupreme Court of Vatican City (Corte di Cassazione)The Cardinal Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura serves ex officio as the President of the Supreme Court of Vatican City (Corte di Cassazione). The two other members of the Supreme Court are also Cardinals of the Apostolic Signatura and are chosen by the Cardinal Prefect on a yearly basis.Appellate Court of Vatican CityTribunal of Vatican City StateUnder the terms of article 22 the Lateran Treaty, Italy will, at the request of the Holy See, punish individuals for crimes committed within Vatican City and will itself proceed against the person who committed the offence, if that person takes refuge in Italian territory. Persons accused of crimes recognized as such both in Italy and in Vatican City that are committed in Italian territory will be handed over to the Italian authorities if they take refuge in Vatican City or in buildings that under the treaty enjoy immunity.Foreign relations of Vatican City – Vatican City State is a recognised national territory under international law, but it is the Holy See that conducts diplomatic relations on its behalf, in addition to the Holy See's own diplomacy, entering into international agreements in its regard. See also Foreign relations of the Holy SeeDiplomatic missions in Vatican City: none (Vatican City maintains diplomatic relations with no one, only the Holy See does. See below).Because Vatican City is too small, diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See are situated in Rome, not in Vatican City.Diplomatic missions to the Holy SeeDiplomatic missions of Vatican City: none. (See below).The Holy See, which Vatican City is the sovereign territory of, maintains diplomatic relations with 176 countries.Diplomatic missions of the Holy SeeInternational organization membership of Vatican City Vatican City State is a member of:
Law and order in Vatican City
Law of Vatican City State
Constitution: Fundamental Law of Vatican City StateCapital punishment in Vatican City: abolished in 1969Crime in Vatican City (committed mostly by tourists)Human rights in Vatican CityLGBT rights in Vatican CityLateran TreatyLaw enforcement in Vatican CityVatican City State has no military, but resident within it is the Swiss Guard.
CommandCommander-in-chief: Daniel AnrigForces — Vatican City lies within Rome, the capital of Italy, and therefore defense is the responsibility of Italy.Army of Vatican City: none, see Military in Vatican City; Army of ItalyNavy of Vatican City: none, see Navy of ItalyAir Force of Vatican City: none, see Aeronautica MilitareSpecial forces of Vatican City: none, see Special forces of ItalyMilitary ranks in Vatican CityBeing a city-state, the government of Vatican City is also the local government.History of the PapacyPrisoner in the VaticanGovernor of Vatican CityMilitary history of Vatican CityHistory of the Swiss GuardSack of Rome (1527)Architecture of Vatican CitySaint Peter's SquareChurches in Vatican City:St. Peter's BasilicaPalaces in Vatican City:Apostolic PalaceCasina Pio IVDomus Sanctae MarthaeTorre San GiovanniNational symbols of Vatican CityCoat of arms of Vatican CityFlag of Vatican CityNational anthem of Vatican CityPeople of Vatican CityReligion in Vatican City – Vatican City is the sovereign territory and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, and home of the PopeChristianityCatholicismRoman Catholic ChurchPopeVicar General for Vatican CityWorld Heritage Sites in Vatican City: Vatican City is itself a World Heritage SiteArt in Vatican CityVatican MuseumsCollection of Modern Religious ArtThe Gallery of MapsRaphael RoomsSistine ChapelSistine Chapel ceilingLiterature of Vatican CityVatican LibraryVatican Secret ArchivesMusic of Vatican CityCricket in Vatican CityVatican Cricket TeamFootball in Vatican CityVatican City national football teamVatican City at the Olympics: has not competedEconomy and infrastructure of Vatican City
Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007):Economy type: noncommercial (based on donations from church-goers)Church taxPeter's PenceAgriculture in Vatican City: None. See Vatican Gardens.Banking in Vatican CityVatican BankCommunications in Vatican CityInternet in Vatican City.vaVatican LibraryL'Osservatore RomanoVatican RadioCompanies of Vatican City: noneCurrency of Vatican City: Euro (see also: Euro topics)ISO 4217: EURHealth care in Vatican CityVatican PharmacyMining in Vatican City: noneTourism in Vatican CityTransportation in Vatican CityAirports in Vatican City: none. Rome is served by two airports which are used by travellers to the Vatican.Rail transport in Vatican CityRoads in Vatican City (see map)Being only 1.05 km long and 0.85 km wide, Vatican City has no highways.Vatican City has access roads and driveways. (See map)Academies in Vatican City:Pontifical Academy of SciencesPontifical Academy of Social SciencesPontifical Academy for LifeBiblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vatican Library)Includes the Vatican School of LibrarianshipCongregation for Catholic EducationVatican School of Palaeography, Diplomacy, and Archivistry, run by the Secret Vatican Archives.Vatican City is too small to host extensive educational facilities, but the Holy See operates 64 academic institutions close by (in Rome). The major ones are:Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)Pontifical Gregorian UniversityPontifical Urbaniana UniversityPontifical Lateran UniversityPontifical University of the Holy CrossSalesian Pontifical UniversityPontifical University Antonianum 